Double Bass Oliv strings

[1logger]

Has anyone tried oliv?

 

[Ed Fuqua]

I’ve had an Oliv D on both my basses for quite some time and I dig them

 

[marcox]

There are many, many threads and posts praising the Oliv G. It is often paired with metal EAD strings, like Spirocores.

 

[marcox]

Search is your friend. Here are a few threads, starters:

J

Double Bass Thread 'Pirastro Oliv/Eudoxa Strings ... ARE SO MUCH FUN!'

Mar 24, 2021

This is the title correct format for enjoying strings threads, correct? (forgive me...)

I've been a plain gut D/G guy for years. I really like the Pirastro wound gut for A/E, but have settled on Spiros because they last longer than a freakin' year. Never tried a D/G, but I recently bit the bullet to get a set of Oliv D/G on top of Eudoxa E/A for arco stuff. They've stretched out quite a bit in the first week, but holy moly (!) these are obviously "the best" (and most expensive?) strings ever created - at least on my '61 American Standard, for jazz stuff. Pardon my inability to articulate...

• JBarz
• Replies: 59
• Forum: Double Bass Strings

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Double Bass Thread 'Is This the Greatest Bass String EVER?'

Jul 19, 2021

I know....smells like clickbait, sounds like clickbait...it is. My new double bass discovery along with a very special string giveaway to celebrate hitting 5k subs. Hope you can check it out and enter to win!

• pdbass
• giveaway oliv pirastro review
• Replies: 18
• Forum: Double Bass Strings

• 

Double Bass Thread 'Olive G lovefest'

Jan 21, 2012

I fell in love with this string almost two years ago and gradually strayed into the Gamut thing. An overcorrection to spirocores has led me back home.

Why did I sell one and have to drop the $$ on another one?
Some lessons are painful.

There is something really special about the Olive G.

• Greg Clinkingbeard
• Replies: 259
• Forum: Double Bass Strings

• 

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

Has anyone tried oliv?

I really wanted this post to be about olive vs lemon oil on the fingerboard

 

[evanrunyon]

Olivs are great, if you like an older school sound but aren’t interested in going whole hog on guts. Pirastro was have real QC issues with them 5-6 years ago but I haven’t heard of any recent problems. Only real drawback is that they are pricey, and more delicate than the steel or synthetic strings they resemble visually.

My setup for a while was Spiro E, Evah Weich A, Oliv D & G. I liked it a lot.

 

[Sean Riddle]

I used an oliv d and g for a while under Spiro Mitts. They were great strings until winding decided to break. I went back to a full set of Spiros for 2024, but as of February 2025 I have had a plain gut d and g under Spiro Mitts and I’m not going back anytime soon. The sound of the plain gut is much more warm than the olivs, but the nice thing about plain gut is that you can properly maintain the strings (i.e trimming frayed hairs and oiling them), whereas you can’t do that with olivs. Plus, there’s no windings that get affected when the strings shrink or swell. Olivs were great when I was in California and weather changes were irrelevant, but now living in New England, I can’t trust a $200+ that may decide to break during every season change.

 

[stefaniw80401]

I used an oliv d and g for a while under Spiro Mitts. They were great strings until winding decided to break. I went back to a full set of Spiros for 2024, but as of February 2025 I have had a plain gut d and g under Spiro Mitts and I’m not going back anytime soon. The sound of the plain gut is much more warm than the olivs, but the nice thing about plain gut is that you can properly maintain the strings (i.e trimming frayed hairs and oiling them), whereas you can’t do that with olivs. Plus, there’s no windings that get affected when the strings shrink or swell. Olivs were great when I was in California and weather changes were irrelevant, but now living in New England, I can’t trust a $200+ that may decide to break during every season change.

What are the brand/guages of the D&G guts you paired with spiro mitts?

 

[Sean Riddle]

What are the brand/guages of the D&G guts you paired with spiro mitts?

Aquila plain gut D and G!

 

[Ben Noblit]

I hate that I love Olivs. Best G I’ve ever played.

 

[lurk]

Great G string. Unfortunately, I had two come unwound after a few months. One at about C in the cash register and one about Bb in thumb. Neither was at the pressure points of nut or bridge. Too expensive for me for less than a year of use

 

[Povl Carstensen]

Too high tension for my taste/bass, luckily...

 

[Scott Freeman]

I just put an Oliv G back on today. I've been using Eudoxa ADG with Spiro weich long E/C. Loved them all except the G was just too twangy up around D & E. Maybe I don't play enough, but I haven't had issues with unravelling, and the tuning stabilizes after a couple of days. I'd be willing to try plain guts, but am afraid of not blending with my orchestra section.

 

[evanrunyon]

I just put an Oliv G back on today. I've been using Eudoxa ADG with Spiro weich long E/C. Loved them all except the G was just too twangy up around D & E. Maybe I don't play enough, but I haven't had issues with unravelling, and the tuning stabilizes after a couple of days. I'd be willing to try plain guts, but am afraid of not blending with my orchestra section.

I love guts. I play a bunch of early music and they’re definitely my preferred set up for (most) jazz and tango. However, don’t be the guy showing up to an orchestra gig with plain guts where everyone else is using a modern setup—we have one of those guys (“omg you guys I can’t believe I forgot to switch them out!”) and he bugs the crap out of everyone.

 

[AGCurry]

I just put an Oliv G back on today. I've been using Eudoxa ADG with Spiro weich long E/C. Loved them all except the G was just too twangy up around D & E. Maybe I don't play enough, but I haven't had issues with unravelling, and the tuning stabilizes after a couple of days. I'd be willing to try plain guts, but am afraid of not blending with my orchestra section.

The biggest issue with guts in the orchestra, IMO, is not a matter of blending; chances are that the other bassists won't even notice your strings, or care. What they WILL notice is your trouble playing in tune as long as those wound guts keep adjusting to the environment changes. Unfortunately, Olivs are wound guts, exhibiting the same problem.

When I was using guts orchestrally, I would leave my bass in the concert venue between dress rehearsal and concert, in order to let the strings acclimate to temperature and humidity.

Plain guts stay in tune fine once fully stretched, but playing plain-gut E and A is not for the faint of heart.

 

[Scott Freeman]

I have not found olivs or Eudoxas to have tuning issues, once they're stretched out. Doesn't mean I'm always in tune, but that's on me!