Double Bass New! Pirastro Perpetual Double Bass strings

[TroyK]

Orchestra

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

@TroyK you're so right about strings sounding good at home but not out in the real world. Obligatos are the first ones that come to mind.

I've been playing select gigs recently (outdoors or limited audiences) and what I like about the Perpetuals is that they don't have the indistinct sound that synthetic strings often have when amplified. They don't quite offer the "punch" of Spirocores, but they have the clarity, so it's a fair trade-off for the better feel and arco response.

I'm like @Sam Dingle when it comes to mixing sets. Part of it is my OCD tendencies which I could probably get over, but when I read the threads here from people who are constantly mixing strings in an endless quest to create the ultimate set, it reinforces my decision to stick with my self-imposed "no string mixing" rule.

- Steve

 

[16fuss]

Does ANYONE use the solos as a classical solostring?

 

[DaveAceofBass]

@TroyK you're so right about strings sounding good at home but not out in the real world. Obligatos are the first ones that come to mind.

I've been playing select gigs recently (outdoors or limited audiences) and what I like about the Perpetuals is that they don't have the indistinct sound that synthetic strings often have when amplified. They don't quite offer the "punch" of Spirocores, but they have the clarity, so it's a fair trade-off for the better feel and arco response.

I'm like @Sam Dingle when it comes to mixing sets. Part of it is my OCD tendencies which I could probably get over, but when I read the threads here from people who are constantly mixing strings in an endless quest to create the ultimate set, it reinforces my decision to stick with my self-imposed "no string mixing" rule.

- Steve

I disagree about Obligatos sounding good “in the real world” or “when amplified with a band”, especially the D & G. I’ve had no issues, but the pickup and amp and bass do play a role. It’s important not to generalize...that might only apply to your setup but not fit everyone.

 

[TomB]

It's nice not to mix and that's one of the things that I instantly liked about the Perp set - it's well balanced.

I do like the Obli a little better though, I have to say, especially with the bow. It throws the balance off about 1%...so I just have to figure out if it's enough better to be worth it. I'll try a few things before I order a new set.

Would a fresh Ob blend better, do you think, or is the mellowness of an older one what makes the good fit?

 

[DaveAceofBass]

Would a fresh Ob blend better, do you think, or is the mellowness of an older one what makes the good fit?

I know you were asking TroyK, so forgive me for chiming in. I have not mixed Obligatos and Perps, but I have used a full set of Perps, Spiros, and Obligatos, and I’ve used the blended Spiro / Obligato set. My take is the Perps are noticeably looser and thinner. I don’t think they would match as well as Spiros and Obligatos. The full set of Obligatos has a weird low E and A, but the Spiros fix that. Compared to the full set of Spiros, the Obligatos warm up the D and G but they really match well. I do really like Perps, to me they remind me of a cross between Spiros and Corellis. They are excellent for what they are. I haven’t tried the Obligato D&G with Spiros on my carved bass yet... I have Flex Deluxe D & G now. I’m going to get Obligatos D&G and report back.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

I disagree about Obligatos sounding good “in the real world” or “when amplified with a band”, especially the D & G. I’ve had no issues, but the pickup and amp and bass do play a role. It’s important not to generalize...that might only apply to your setup but not fit everyone.

Point taken, and I didn't notice this when I tried the D & G in a mixed set. I was aware that I was playing a mixed set though.

- Steve

 

[PBandJazzBass]

Even with my action higher than usual, the tension of the Perpetuals was still a little low for my liking. If Pirastro ever makes these in a heavy tension, I'll probably give them another try.

That being said, I do think they're a good string and can definitely see the appeal for some players.

 

[TroyK]

Even with my action higher than usual, the tension of the Perpetuals was still a little low for my liking. If Pirastro ever makes these in a heavy tension, I'll probably give them another try.

That being said, I do think they're a good string and can definitely see the appeal for some players.

Have you tried Jazzers? They are not the same, but they are similar Pirastro strings with a bit more tension.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

@TroyK, no but those have been in the back of my mind for a few years. I think one of the things that's kept me away from them is they seem to have few users. However, the few people who do use them seem to like them. Upton's page about them seems to be a little unfair, in my opinion.

I'm also getting to the point where I'm becoming less interested in trying new strings. I know what works for me so the thought of dropping a bunch of money on something unknown, not to mention getting used to a new feel, does not appeal to me as much as it used to. I occasionally think about trying something new (see any number of posts I've made on the forum) until I play my bass and realize I don't need to.

I used to be like "yeah this string is good but maybe if I try (insert brand/model of string here) I'll like it even better and it'll make me sound better!" but I now realize that's not how it works.

This spring when it comes time for my annual string change I'm most likely going to stick with Helicore Hybrids (if I'm feeling really adventurous I MIGHT try the heavy tension) or maybe go back the the Evah Pirazzi's.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

I traded a set of Jazzers for a set of Perps. The Perps seem like tamed down Jazzers, to me. Jazzers were the growliest set of strings I've experienced, to the point of a dirty sounding tone, particularly on the E string. Like distortion through an amp.

The Perps growl, but much less, more in line with Spiros, I think. Neither Js or Ps have the weighty gravitas of Spiros though, and some may find Perps bow easier.

 

[TroyK]

@TroyK, no but those have been in the back of my mind for a few years. I think one of the things that's kept me away from them is they seem to have few users. However, the few people who do use them seem to like them. Upton's page about them seems to be a little unfair, in my opinion.

I'm also getting to the point where I'm becoming less interested in trying new strings. I know what works for me so the thought of dropping a bunch of money on something unknown, not to mention getting used to a new feel, does not appeal to me as much as it used to. I occasionally think about trying something new (see any number of posts I've made on the forum) until I play my bass and realize I don't need to.

I used to be like "yeah this string is good but maybe if I try (insert brand/model of string here) I'll like it even better and it'll make me sound better!" but I now realize that's not how it works.

This spring when it comes time for my annual string change I'm most likely going to stick with Helicore Hybrids (if I'm feeling really adventurous I MIGHT try the heavy tension) or maybe go back the the Evah Pirazzi's.

I might have and old set that I could send you if you were interested in trying them.

 

[TroyK]

I STARTED A NEW THREAD to further track my old strings vs Perps experience so as not to hijack this one.

 

[togril]

Does ANYONE use the solos as a classical solostring?

I do.
Though not "outside". I get the impression that the solo's are almost a different string - compared to what I read about the Standards. They are a LIGHT, light string - with my G comin in smaller than my 180 Velvet G in gauge. They are great under the bow - probably the best I have had for my French style. Tuned down to orchestra, they are a loose string but have that smoooooth feel that the standards has (I keep over-shooting due to "string skid"). MUCH darker than expected with a LIMITED sustain. I play a lot of contemporary music and I like a little more sustain than most. Even tuned to Solo , they are too loose to do much in the way of dynamic Jette's or that "arco-pizz" bow striking that Garcia-Fons made popular on his Spiro Solo's at Orchestral.
However, anoyingly the playabillity of these solo's means I am having issues taking the damn things OFF.

YEs - they can hold their own at Solo tuning. And they Feel GREAT at solo tuning. Note - I have a Spiro Wiech E, I really should try the Perpetual solo E.

 

[16fuss]

You are in love!

 

[flatback]

After a month of serious arco practice and focusing on new left hand techniques (for me) I have ended up with a left arm full of pins and needles (been there before) and so I put the solos back on there (tuned to orchestra) to give myself a little break, while hoping not to further injure myself.
After an hour I was almost ready to just put back on the regular tension...at least for pizz the sound has no balls, but then I raised the action way up. The solos with higher action sound and feel great on my bass. There seems to be a defined point in raising the action where they just start to speak and they speak good.
Not doing my overly tight left am any good, but even higher up they are easy to push down and they don't clatter at all.
I don't know if I will keep them on (I really like the regular perps which seem to be a perfect string to me) but at least while I am healing they will stay on. The ease of play lets me practice longer (and injure myself further)...

 

[bherman]

Could use some advice/feedback from those of you who have used the solos. I have been using the regular Perps on my DB for some time now and find them to be just about perfect for me as far as feel and tension. So I tried a set on my Eminence EUB to see if I could duplicate the sound and feel. They sound great but the tension on the Eminence is noticeably higher. I've been toughing it out for a while but realized that I just don't like playing the Eminence for extended periods (gigs - remember those?) with the higher tension. I'm considering going to a different, softer-feeling string - perhaps Obligatos or Zyex lights) but Mark Golihur suggested also trying a set of the Perps in solo gauge. I've searched through this thread as I believe that I've seen earlier posts about the solos, but didn't come up with much from the search. Anyone have any thoughts about comparing the sound of the solos (tuned to standard) vs the regulars? If I tune the regulars down a whole step on the Eminence, the tension/feel is very similar to the strings on the DB. But I'm not sure if there's much tonal difference.

 

[Mouldy]

Can anyone do an comparison of Perpetual solos v Spirocore solos especially pizz? Thanks.

 

[Sam Dingle]

Great video and sound clip of perpetuals with an olive G:

 

[TroyK]

I think this is a really good representation of these strings. Mine are currently deader than that and I'm undecided if a new set or a soundpost adjustment would fully remedy that, but this is what they more or less sound like here...playing and dancing aside.

Cool video. I love hearing and seeing the bass presented like this. Props to the bassist and film maker.