Double Bass New! Pirastro Perpetual Double Bass strings

[myrick]

It's time for new strings and I am considering these Perps. Grateful for some advice from folks here who are familiar with them. By way of context, I am playing almost entirely pizz, on a Calantas-wood flatback Testore copy by Efren Tapao/Cremonasia.

After a using range of different strings over the years, I have quite liked the sound and feel of Jazzers on this bass, but current set is getting pretty tired. At the same time, I seem to be using a lot more more across-the-neck fingerings recently, and I find the tired old Jazzer E and A particularly unsatisfying when pizzed anywhere north of A or Bb on the E -- lack of clarity and evenness of the fundamental and a sluggish, muffled onset. Of course this is probably a common tendency with any string when playing up in this range on E and A, but I am wondering whether new Perp E+A would be any better at this task than new Jazzers.

Based on what I have read here, I am inclined to try regular Perp E and A, with Stark Perp D and G. Given what I am trying to achieve, I'd be grateful for any thoughts on this....

 

[TroyK]

I used Jazzers for 10+ years prior to Perps coming out. What struck me about Perps is how balanced the set was in comparison. The D and G Jazzers are not a good match with the E and A (I posted data somewhere to support that claim).

A regular set of Perps has no such problem. I tried the stark G at some point and it's a good string, but I felt like it changed the balance of the set it a way that didn't make it better. Compared to the Jazzer D and G string, the regular Perp is going to sound and feel amazing.

The Jazzer E and A are among my favorite strings. The Perpetuals don't quite have their growl, but they have their own great qualities and they balance with the set much better.

Personally, I suggest going from Jazzers to regular Perpetuals and order the stark G later only if you feel like you are really missing something.

 

[TroyK]

Just to prove that I'm walking the talk: I'm in the 12th month of the 12 month with Spirocores challenge. I'm using 3885 Spirocore Weich, which is closest to Perpetuals in gauge and tension, but I have bumped up the G string a 1/2 gauge with an S42 Mittle Spirocore.

I might put my well-burned Perpetuals back on after new years and consider a fresh pair if I like them better, but I would not bump the G on the Perpetual set.

 

[chionodoxa]

Hello, i'm being troubled by the scratchiness of Spirocores under the bow. How good are these under the bow? And are they as good as Spirocore pizz? Reading trough the stuff here i get the feeling these are in a way Spirocore+, as in being a sweeter version of them.

I'm really playing lots of both pizz and bow, curious as to if this would be a good investment if i'm not satisfied with the Spiros. I have Evahs on my ply but their pizz sounds bland to me (totally unlike gut IMO).

Also, are they softer on the hands than Spiros?

 

[Sam Dingle]

It's time for new strings and I am considering these Perps. Grateful for some advice from folks here who are familiar with them. By way of context, I am playing almost entirely pizz, on a Calantas-wood flatback Testore copy by Efren Tapao/Cremonasia.

After a using range of different strings over the years, I have quite liked the sound and feel of Jazzers on this bass, but current set is getting pretty tired. At the same time, I seem to be using a lot more more across-the-neck fingerings recently, and I find the tired old Jazzer E and A particularly unsatisfying when pizzed anywhere north of A or Bb on the E -- lack of clarity and evenness of the fundamental and a sluggish, muffled onset. Of course this is probably a common tendency with any string when playing up in this range on E and A, but I am wondering whether new Perp E+A would be any better at this task than new Jazzers.

Based on what I have read here, I am inclined to try regular Perp E and A, with Stark Perp D and G. Given what I am trying to achieve, I'd be grateful for any thoughts on this....

I think regular perps would do great for you. I think the E string is my favorite of the set because on my bass it is super even when played up the fingerboard.

Hello, i'm being troubled by the scratchiness of Spirocores under the bow. How good are these under the bow? And are they as good as Spirocore pizz? Reading trough the stuff here i get the feeling these are in a way Spirocore+, as in being a sweeter version of them.

I'm really playing lots of both pizz and bow, curious as to if this would be a good investment if i'm not satisfied with the Spiros. I have Evahs on my ply but their pizz sounds bland to me (totally unlike gut IMO).

Also, are they softer on the hands than Spiros?

I personally found perpetuals only slighlty better under the bow than Spiro mediums but others have found that they are smoother. I went through I guess a 2/3 year experiment with rosin to come to the conclusion that Pops was best for bowing on either my bass or the perpetuals. I wouldn’t say they are Spirocore plus, maybe Spiro weich plus lol. I don’t think they are as raw power as a Spiro mittle. They are soft on the hands which is nice but do have a great growl when new on my bass.

 

[TroyK]

They are distinct from Spirocores. They feel different, they sound different. They will appeal to some of the same players.

 

[DaveAceofBass]

I’ve used the Perpetual full set, but now I’m using a Perpetual Stark D&G with a Spirocore 3885 (3/4 size) Weich E&A. The tension is a good match, and the Spiro E&A is fuller sounding and not as bright as the Perp E&A.

 

[TroyK]

Good to know. Could you post a sound clip?

 

[myrick]

I think regular perps would do great for you. I think the E string is my favorite of the set because on my bass it is super even when played up the fingerboard.

Thanks Sam, just what I wanted to hear. A set is on the way from the Gollihur folks.

 

[dfp]

After 3 months with the full set of regular Perpetual I find I liked the idea of the regular G better than the reality of it, put the stark G back on just in time for a Handel concert. Reasonably happy with results but the set’s a bit gritty sounding when bowed, tricky to get a clear fundamental pitch when bowing on the low E string. Looking at trying a set of EP again after many years away from those.

 

[elmer]

Maybe you could try EP weichs. I get a warmer and more beautiful arco sound with them than with Perpetuals on my basses.

 

[dfp]

Maybe you could try EP weichs. I get a warmer and more beautiful arco sound with them than with Perpetuals on my basses.

The EP weichs were on my mind, used them several years ago. Considering the EP regulars too.

 

[myrick]

I think regular perps would do great for you. I think the E string is my favorite of the set because on my bass it is super even when played up the fingerboard.

just to update and respond, thanks Sam. I installed a set of Perps and have played them for a few weeks. your assessment and advice was spot-on; they are just what I was looking for to get more clarity of fundamental on E and A even well up the board. At the same time, the D and G seem to still possess what I liked about Jazzers on this bass.

So Perps are my new favorite string ! (at least for this bass)

BTW, just to underline how much string preference is specific to each different bass, my other bass (a big fat beast made by Rubner in the 1990s) still sounds best with Spiros, a very different string to the Perps.

 

[stefaniw80401]

I don't feel like perpetuals are much different from spirocore weichs. Where maybe the latter are more bowable?

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

I don't feel like perpetuals are much different from spirocore weichs. Where maybe the latter are more bowable?

I agree. I consider them to be a Spirocore-ish string.

- Steve

 

[Selim]

I found the perps to be a polite version of Spirocores, in my case weichs

I also didn’t find them to be any easier to start with the bow than 4/4 weichs. But I do think they would be a good multi purpose string where you want to blend in rather than stick out In the music.

 

[Jeff Kissell]

I like Perpetual solos better than the Spirocore equivalents, same with the regular Perpetual vs Spirocore weich.
On my bass, the Perps are less strident and, in general, the notes bloom a bit nicer. That said, they are all more similar than different.

 

[TroyK]

Perpetual are like Spirocores in the same way that Flexocores are like Belcantos. You wouldn't mistake one for the other, but they're playing in the same end of the sonic spectrum.

 

[jmpiwonka]

Got a nice bass in from Romania, never played it and decided when getting it setup to start out with the full perpetual setup with stark g/d.
My old bass in mostly disrepair has oliv g/d with worn out spiro e/a. If the perps don’t do it for me i will use the other setup. i read through this whole thread lol.

 

[Bar Star]

i read through this whole thread lol.

Just curious to know (since I have read this whole thread since the strings debuted), how many hours did that take?!?