Double Bass Obligatos Last Forever!

[Rod Sroufe]

I agree the Spiro medium E would not be flabby. The Spiro weich C in 5ths tuning certainly is not flabby and speaks pretty easily when played arco. I'm taking that instrument to orchestra rehearsal tomorrow as a stress test for this set as well as my for my new adventure into the 5ths realm.

 

[Selim]

I liked obligatos when they came out, but I haven't played on them since evahs came out. And that was quite a while ago.

Sounds like some folks are now saying they bow better than evahs (which I've never considered a pure arco string).

Anyway, this has got me curious about the "new" obligatos, particularly as a viable arco string that pizz well.

If they only made a string that was a pure combination of Flexocor deluxe and evah weichs....

 

[Selim]

I don't find them dull, and they...

...bow really well

- Steve

Forgot to ask the question: do you like them better than Evahs for an arco string?

 

[Sam Dingle]

well hopefully the flexocore weich come out soon

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

Forgot to ask the question: do you like them better than Evahs for an arco string?

It's been a couple of years since I had Evah Pirazzi Weich on my bass, but I'd say they are comparable in terms of arco. As I recall, the Evah's felt a bit firmer under the bow.

- Steve

 

[Rod Sroufe]

I've had a used set of Evan mediums on the same bass as the new 5ths tuning Obligato D and A. Bowability seems to be very similar. Tonally, the Obligatos are a bit brighter on the same instrument the caveat being they are newer.

 

[martinc]

Many years ago (18?) I was tester for Obligato's when Pirastro first started making them. I liked their sound on my (at that time) Kay-C1. I later found out they only lasted for 8-9 months so I did not use them again.
Fast-forward to today. I finally settled in a while back with a 10 year old Spiro Mittel S42 E and new Weich S42 A string....with an S42 Weich D and Zyex Light G.
However, winter seems to cause me to come down with a strong case of string fever...and this year is no different. Three weeks ago I started switching around strings that I already had and ended up with the same E...but swapped out the S42 Weich A and D for the previous Weich 3885 A and D. I also went back to a Zyex medium G. After a few days I liked the sound and feel of that mix and saw no reason to go back to the lower tension strings.
Then the fever hit. After almost 20 years, I thought it might be worth checking out the Obligato's again to see how they worked on the Eberle. So I dipped into my string fund to try Obligato's on the G and D.
Now, after a few days with this combo, I must admit the Obligato G and D (orchestra) work extremely well with the 3385 Weich A and S42 Mittel E. Tensions are very compatible and so is the sound.The clincher came during Friday's band practice. Everything sounded more even and full. Our lead singer and guitarist, who is also a bass player, noticed that too. What really swung me over was that the synthetic core Obligato D and steel core Weich A sounded like they came from the same set. And the Obligato G was very close to the sound of the Zyex medium G which I like. The Zyex medium D not so much.
I have often wondered how the Upton Bass Spiro Mittle/Obligato mix would work. I never tried them because I find the tension of two Spiro Mittels hard on my wrists. But they are certainly on to something because the combination really does work well with the Spiro Weichs.
For anyone looking for a low-medium tension pizz combination, the Obligato/Spiro Weich mix (for me) does the job very well. And so does the S42 Mittel E, Weich A and D/Zyex G mix despite the slight edge I have given to the Weich/Obligato's.
Don't know yet what the lifespan of these new Obligato's will be but I have written to Adrian at Pirastro to see if they have been re-formulated.
Come onnnnn spring!

 

[Francois Blais]

I've read a few people here state they had Obligatos on since two years and showed no sign of imminent death.

 

[martinc]

I've read a few people here state they had Obligatos on since two years and showed no sign of imminent death.

Francois: Yeah...that's what makes me think Pirastro has changed something. I can't remember if the original Obligato's had a solid synthetic core.....or a multi-strand which they have now. I also have read that D'Addario's "zyex" core material is used by other stringmakers too. I hope Adrian does not accuse me of "fake news"!

 

[Francois Blais]

Honestly, I don't think Pirastro ever changes the formula of a string once it's released.
I once talked with Adrian about the E string of the Flat-Chromesteel set, and while he agreed that string could use some changes, they never modify the formulas because some people may actually like them as they are, and would not appreciate to get different strings on their next purchase.
I can only agree with that philosophy.

 

[martinc]

Unless I am really losing it and my brain is fading more quickly than I am aware... the Obligato's I tested back in 1998 or so, had a brighter finish on the chrome winding. I also think the finish on the new Obligato's is smoother. If I am correct, I like both of these changes.

 

[Francois Blais]

Maybe the prototypes you tested were not exactly the same as those that were actually released.
I have tried a prototype of Evah Pirazzis that was using a steel rope-core, not the synthetic core they have finally chosen.

 

[martinc]

Could be. I'll let you know if Adrian replies to my query.

 

[Selim]

Spirocores and Obligatos are a great combination, one that I've used myself and can recommend without reservation.

That being said, I was still aware on some level that I was playing two different types of strings, and it bothered me. My self-imposed rule has thus been "no mixing of bass strings" which is based not on logic, but on my own tendency to obsess over such things.

- Steve

I've been doing a lot of D&G string experiments lately (new bass) with Spirocore mittel on the bottom. I've tried Zyex medium, Flex Deluxe and Spiros, but I seem to keep going back to this Obligato/Spiro combo. All those other combinations (although they may sound good, esp. Flex Deluxe/Spiro) result in a set that feels too stiff. The Obligatos make the Spiros behave differently (not so stiff).

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

I seem to keep going back to this Obligato/Spiro combo.

That's the best mixed set I've tried, although a Spirocore 3/4 Weich E & A with a Zyex light D & G was pretty close. My aversion to mixing different types of strings is based on my own OCD tendencies, as opposed to any type of logic.

I didn't think the Zyex lights were especially light, so it does not surprise that you found the mediums to be stiff. The D and especially the G are quite a bit thicker too.

- Steve

 

[John Chambliss]

Yeah, I've got Spiro E mit, Spiro A weich, with Obligato D/G on my ply; and I have Spiro E Mit with Innovation Braided A/D/G on my carved bass now - both combinations working well for pizz and arco. Not sure which I like better if either.

 

[Selim]

Innovation Braided A/D/G on my carved bass now

People keep talking about them, so I guess I'm going to have to try these at some point. Even though the gigs are pizzicato, a pizz string that's also a great arco string is important to me.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

The Innovation Braided are rather arco strings that are not bad for pizz if you go down the fingerboard and dig in a bit. Not bad for most of that more or less classical jazz and latin stuff, but not bright and clear enough if you go into funk and fusion.

 

[flatback]

I have a set of the "new" Obligatos on my Andrea Spada bass and I am very pleased with them, too.
Louis

I heard a great bassist a couple years ago playing Obligatos. He had this secret grin when he told me what strings he used.
Recently I have been looking for the right string for my Andrea Spada Contrabassetto (went thru a bunch of strings so far) and finally bought a slightly used set of obligatos. They really love each other these strings and the little bass. Somehow the tension and diameter and feel is just right and the bass sings out now (with spiros I was getting some wolf notes and other strings had other problems) but I am really liking the obligatos on here. The E string is growly as hell and all the other strings are even and resonant all the way up. THe ping is just right and no plucked cello sound from the smaller instrument with these strings. I know they get a bad rap here but man they sure have found a match with this bass.

 

[Sam Dingle]

Obligatios prove to me that sometimes it just depends on the Bass. My teachers 7/8th flatback with obligatos sounds like my bass with spiros but better. No plastic sound or feel that I got on my bass with them. His bass hated spiros of any flavor other than maybe solos but he tried that once