Just on a lark I lowered my action down as far as it would go to check out how this string deals with that ....one more prediction: this is going to be a favorite of cats who play way down low. It wouldn't buzz my G harmonic at that lowness as every other string does. It confirmed what I think I am hearing which is that the formula they are using on this new string (dampening? winding?) oscillates differently. Seems sophisticated.
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Double Bass New! Pirastro Perpetual Double Bass strings
- Thread starter luisraulmunoz
- Start date
I just installed a new set of Perpetuals on my E.H. Roth with the new, thicker G string which the kind folks at Pirastro sent me to test 
It reminds me a lot of an Evah Pirazzi G string in both feel and sound. It's still easy to play like the rest of the Perpetual set, but it is darker and a bit more percussive than the original G. I can see why some people would really like this string, but the original G seemed more lively and a better match for the rest of the set. I'll reserve final judgment until I've spent more time with it and played a few gigs.
- Steve
It reminds me a lot of an Evah Pirazzi G string in both feel and sound. It's still easy to play like the rest of the Perpetual set, but it is darker and a bit more percussive than the original G. I can see why some people would really like this string, but the original G seemed more lively and a better match for the rest of the set. I'll reserve final judgment until I've spent more time with it and played a few gigs.
- Steve
I just got a note back from Adrian at Pirastro he said currently there are no plans to make a full "Stark" set. I used the word Stark when I wrote to him, so maybe he was just throwing that back at me, but I thought it was interesting that he used that word. Def feels like a tighter string. I really dig this G string. To me it has way more balls then a Pirazzi G and longer sustain, but I hear what you mean about the darker and more percussive.
I wonder how Pirastro plans to offer this string. I'm assuming the Perpetual set will remain as it was originally developed, so perhaps you will be able to buy a "Stark G" version in the same way that you can get Evah Pirazzi Slap with either gut or synthetic D & G strings.
- Steve
- Steve
Quoted from Pirastro's website at Pirastro - Strings Handmade in Germany since 1798:
DESCRIPTION
Perpetual Double Bass Strings
Features
Variations
The Perpetual double bass G „Stark“ uses a completely new design which offers a very full, clear and complex sound with a much thicker diameter compared to the Perpetual G „Mittel“. It has about the same gauge as our synthetic Evah Pirazzi G „Weich" and is the thickest G in our double bass steel string program. The Perpetual G „Stark" is great for pizz and arco and has a string tension that is only slightly higher than the Perpetual G „Mittel“. It blends beautifully with the Perpetual „Mittel“ set or any other string combination where a thicker G is desired.
DESCRIPTION
Perpetual Double Bass Strings
Features
- All strings are chrome steel wound on a uniquely designed and extremely flexible high-tensile steel rope core.
- Tremendous projection and clarity, a powerful and focused low end gives way to a full, sophisticated upper register.
- Very consistent and precise pizzicato attack with an additional punchiness on the lower strings.
- Extremely energetic with very little effort and a juicy right hand feel when played pizzicato, yet strong and complex with good stability under the bow.
- Highly articulate bow response without being brittle
- Breaks in quickly with excellent stability
- Mainly developed for pizzicato, the new Perpetual double bass strings are also for arco players looking for a precise and clear tone with a wide variety of dynamics.
- SOLO SET: The Perpetual Solo Set works very well as an arco classical string for Solo Bass material. The strings are colourful, projecting, and have a consistent clean attack, with a wonderful singing quality.
Variations
- Orchestra tuning
- Solo tuning
The Perpetual double bass G „Stark“ uses a completely new design which offers a very full, clear and complex sound with a much thicker diameter compared to the Perpetual G „Mittel“. It has about the same gauge as our synthetic Evah Pirazzi G „Weich" and is the thickest G in our double bass steel string program. The Perpetual G „Stark" is great for pizz and arco and has a string tension that is only slightly higher than the Perpetual G „Mittel“. It blends beautifully with the Perpetual „Mittel“ set or any other string combination where a thicker G is desired.
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
I know this is an old question but I got some Compas 180s on a bass I took in trade and put them on my Kay. The Perps on the Kay are over two years old and DEAD. They volume out of that bass kept diminishing and it just lost its mojo. Immediately, I’m digging the 180s. The bass is much louder and has a lot of characte; some of that organic character I got from Animas. They aren’t drastically different from new Perps but probably warmer. They seem to bow pretty well. I don’t know how old they are. It’s too bad Velvet is gone because I may like these more than Animas or Garbos.
I like the Perps and have recommended them to several local players but am not sure about the longevity.
So you're not thinking of selling those off, are you? Compas 180s were the first strings I really fell in love with when I had the opportunity to try them, and if I had a second bass at the moment they're what I'd be hunting for.
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
Should've kept the Pöllmann around to put them on!
after a yea with the perps and now the new G, I felt the Perps were getting dull (does anybody feel a dullness after a year of so...I know it is back in this thread somewhere...) anyway I put the bottom 3 Spiro 3880's back on with the new Perp G. Kazow! what a great set that is (I knew it would be) the G spiro has always not worked for me on any of several basses I've owned, but the other 3 and this Perp are just stellar. I love the perps when they are new (unlike a bunch of people here who seem to not like the new sound) AND the broken in sound, but it seems like they got dull on me after a year...
I just installed a new set of Perpetuals on my main bass, replacing a set that was 18 months old. The old set was darker sounding, but still clear with ample sustain. I can honestly say the same thing about Spircores after that much time. The big difference for me is the comfortable feel under the left hand and the arco performance, two aspects where these strings are superior to Spircores in my opinion.
- Steve
- Steve
I prefer a brighter sound and the perps are quite bright on my bass. I changed my 1st set after 13 months on the bass. To compare I changed my spiros once a year as well. Found they aged pretty much the same, with the perps having a little more life. personally I'm fine changing strings every year.
I probably won't change my year old EAD this time around as they have more life in them due to covid. The stark G being a little darker than the medium fits with the worn in EAD I think. I still haven't decided which I like more
I found the Perpetual Stark G at a German string instrument supplier. The prices there are rather on the high side and the string costs 89.95€ there. I‘m sure there will be more reasonable prices elsewhere, but it gives you an idea that it should be commercially available soon and what price you might expect for it.
IMHO you could like Genssler`s new Temperas. They remind me of the 180s but are louder and more colourful with even better bow response. They also have a great pizz sound and feel.
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
The reason I ask is I’ve gone to his website and there is very little information. I installed a set of his guts on a customer bass and they seemed to be very well made but I would need a lot more information before ordering some expensive custom made strings of unknown construction. I don’t quite know why he is so secretive.
Kaspar's thread just below this one has the most talk and info on the Temperas that you'll be able to find. They aren't custom strings like his other lines, they're actually meant to be a full production string. And while he doesn't say what the core material is (beyond "synthetic, with a few secrets"), from what I remember reading, the consensus was that they're a stabilized silk core, similar to what Velvet was using and what he uses for some of his custom strings. Not too surprising, considering he was one of the original partners for Velvet.
Or maybe that last bit is all part of some fever dream I had, I'm not sure. Genssler's main line is too expensive for me, but the Temperas aren't far off from what I paid for my Chordas - in fact, they're cheaper!
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
I just read the entire 11 page thread thread. Although the Temperas seem promising I’ll wait for them to get established before serious consideration.
The Perpetuals sound and feel amazing on the Rodier which will be my A bass unless someone offers me a lot of money for it and I don’t see any reason to drop a bunch of money on strings I don’t need. Spirocores would kill on that bass anyway and they last a long time.
The Perpetuals sound and feel amazing on the Rodier which will be my A bass unless someone offers me a lot of money for it and I don’t see any reason to drop a bunch of money on strings I don’t need. Spirocores would kill on that bass anyway and they last a long time.
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
The Perps on the Rodier are just a few weeks old but I pulled them in favor of Spirocore Mitts and an Oliv G. Immediately, the entire bass got louder and the tone has more weight. I’ll have to play a few gigs for a fair evaluation.
Is this the entire Perpetual set with the stark G everyone is raving about?
