Y’all are making me want to part ways with my current strings and get a new set of Perps with the new G.
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Double Bass New! Pirastro Perpetual Double Bass strings
- Thread starter luisraulmunoz
- Start date
I already have the stark G but am also waiting on my regular set from String Emporium. When somethings in stock, just Gollihur, the order will usually go out same day.
The way folks are talking about this one string makes me wonder what a set of these would be like - seeing as Pirastro says the stark is different and "special".
- Jul 19, 2000
- 2,014
- 2,224
- Disclosures
- Owner/President, Gollihur Music LLC
I understand that impulse! But based on conversations with the Pirastro people, it's my understanding that they are not pursuing making a full set of the strings similar to the Stark G.
It's helpful to know that many string sets have various design elements and compositions to get the full set to "balance" tonally, tensionally, and flexibility-ally. (I made up those last two words.) One might remember the Velvet Garbos, which had entirely different materials on the outer windings of each string, and inner windings that differed as well, in order to create a balanced tone and exactly the same tension on all four strings. Pirastro's own Evah Pirazzi Slap also have different compositions, with the G being wound with Aluminum and the D being wound with Chrome-Steel, for instance.
I cannot totally speak for the folks at Pirastro, but it seems to me that they have come out with a fairly new set that people are really digging, but that there were several folks who spoke up, saying that the G-string was a bit too thin and a bit "shy" in comparison to the rest of the set. (There are also plenty of people who like the original G-string perfectly fine.) So their string developer(s) set out to create a different recipe for that one string and see what they came up with. And that's the G-Stark string that is now available.
It might be useful to note that "Stark" doesn't actually mean "heavy" in German; while it's commonly been used by retailers and players to differentiate tension levels -- such as in Spirocore Weich/Mittel/Stark -- the word actually means "strong." (And "weich" means "weak.") So perhaps they are using the term to indicate a bolder TONE rather than a heavier tension (which is pretty much true on both counts, IME).
But again, I do not believe that the good folks at Pirastro have any intentions of making additional Perpetual strings to complete a "stark" set - the G was created to specifically address a particular need (and also, I'm to understand, to be a steel-cored alternative for those using the common practice of pairing Oliv Gut G strings with their otherwise steel-core sets, hence the early-used moniker on the prototypes of "Perpetual/Oliv Stark.")
And, IMHO, the set plays and sounds really great with either of the two G-string options.
I know a few people using them, one uses perp E with Olive A and gut DG, another uses Perp EA with gut DG, and I think I know someone who likes Perp EA olive D and Gut G. the perps are just a hair more flexible imo than the spiros, of either gauge.
Judging from the first time I tried them, I don’t know why anyone would feel the need to mix the Perps with other strings (I tried and didn’t come up with anything good). That was one of the things I liked most about them — they have a really nicely balanced feel and comfortable to play.
I agree. I tried a bunch of stuff over the winter and nothing made the Perp set better.
...then play guts. It's a fine choice, but this is a discussion about Perpetuals.
I would just like to take a moment to add on to this and say that schwach is weak, weich is soft. This applies especially in the sense of tension of strings—calling a set "weak" would almost guarantee it wouldn't sell, but saying that the tension is soft doesn't run the risk of directly hurting your sales.
As for why stark got used in the descriptions instead of schwer, though, I can't help you with that. Might be another case of wanting to avoid negative connotations being attached to the product.
Don't ask me to speak German, though. Ich kann viel verstehen und lesen, aber ich kann nicht gut sprechen oder schreiben.
Before the stark G perp came out, I too was experimenting with g-string substitutes, and stumbled upon the passione stark G. I love the passione stark G string. I have also paired it with S42 mitts E/A/D with similar great results.
Is there any love for the passione stark G?
Didn't mean to come across as a purist. My own experiments we're that nothing I tried made the Perp set better, but I could see a single or pair of Perps resolving issues with a set that someone was unhappy with, especially this new G.
Stark G!
I’ve been using Perpetuals since they came out. Great strings.
However, the original g string didn’t quite cut it for me. It was good enough. But I had to babysit it all night. Tried some other G’s but nothing seemed quite right. I ended up just babying it and I could make it work.
Stark G to the rescue!
Hey Pirastro…..Good job!
Probably not in the works is what I gather, but Dang,
I would definitely love a set of these.
I’ve been using Perpetuals since they came out. Great strings.
However, the original g string didn’t quite cut it for me. It was good enough. But I had to babysit it all night. Tried some other G’s but nothing seemed quite right. I ended up just babying it and I could make it work.
Stark G to the rescue!
Hey Pirastro…..Good job!
Probably not in the works is what I gather, but Dang,
I would definitely love a set of these.
Put the Stark G perpetual on a set of Spiro Mitts = Stark Perpetual set…
I just switched from this setup to a full set of perpetual on my dark American Standard last night and although it’s too early to call it, it seems like a classic “power v. nuance” trade off/balance… I miss the beef behind the Spiro E A D, but appreciate the flexibility and amount of different color you can extract from the Perpetual full set (Stark G). I’m about 24 hours in and feeling these strings stretch and break in has been like watching a flower bloom. My favorite part, and the trade-off from the Spiro beef, is the ping on the top end of the instrument with these Perps. Thumb position and above really pops when you put the action really low. Will keep these strings as a full set on for at least 3 months before I slip that Spiro Mitt E back on. There’s something magical about a Spiro Mitt E, and I feel similarly about this Perpetual Stark G now. No improving on perfection … Curious if the Perp set ages as nicely as the Spiros do.
I just switched from this setup to a full set of perpetual on my dark American Standard last night and although it’s too early to call it, it seems like a classic “power v. nuance” trade off/balance… I miss the beef behind the Spiro E A D, but appreciate the flexibility and amount of different color you can extract from the Perpetual full set (Stark G). I’m about 24 hours in and feeling these strings stretch and break in has been like watching a flower bloom. My favorite part, and the trade-off from the Spiro beef, is the ping on the top end of the instrument with these Perps. Thumb position and above really pops when you put the action really low. Will keep these strings as a full set on for at least 3 months before I slip that Spiro Mitt E back on. There’s something magical about a Spiro Mitt E, and I feel similarly about this Perpetual Stark G now. No improving on perfection … Curious if the Perp set ages as nicely as the Spiros do.
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
It’s exactly a month since I replaced the Perps with dead Spiro Reds and an Oliv G. I sensed that the bass wasn’t allowed to fully resonate; to bloom if you will. The tone was much simpler, like a lesser instrument.
In preparation for recording tonight I put them back on and, as expected, the bass came back to me. The low end is ridiculous; growly and very resonant. It’s also louder. The entire bass just sounds better.
Could be the Spirocores are just done but they probably only have five years on them.
In preparation for recording tonight I put them back on and, as expected, the bass came back to me. The low end is ridiculous; growly and very resonant. It’s also louder. The entire bass just sounds better.
Could be the Spirocores are just done but they probably only have five years on them.
At the risk of over-posting on this thread (sorry!), I just wanted to come back and say that my comments above about any lack of 'beef' were entirely unwarranted and premature on my part. The strings just needed a couple days to settle down. They're phenomenal and I am grateful to find a set I can 'lock in' with. My days of string experimentation are now behind me and I don't intend to buy any other type or set ever again. "Great! One less thing!" Viva Perpetua!!
I had the opposite experience — when I tried the perps last year, they didn’t work for this bass. I replaced them with old Spiro mitts + Oliv G - problem solved.
Now I am trying another set of new perps again (with stark G) and they are not feeling or responding or sounding at all like the first try. They are tight and just have less harmonic information. That tells me something has changed with the bass — I’m planning to take the bass up to Kieran O’Hara’s to check it out.
So I guess what I’m saying is that there may be other variables at play besides switching from one string to another.
Now I am trying another set of new perps again (with stark G) and they are not feeling or responding or sounding at all like the first try. They are tight and just have less harmonic information. That tells me something has changed with the bass — I’m planning to take the bass up to Kieran O’Hara’s to check it out.
So I guess what I’m saying is that there may be other variables at play besides switching from one string to another.
Also, the first time around with these strings, I was comparing them to Spiros (“they don’t have as much punch as Spiros” etc.). This time around I wanted to judge them on their own terms and focus on the things I liked about them the first time around and forget about Spiros but a minute. But those things I liked the first time (supple, focus on low mids, easy to start with bow, etc.) are not present with this 2nd set. So a trip to the luthier is in order.
