Loved the sound. Still have a new G ThatI haven't used. They will not stay in tune for me in Hawaii and I had one break in my bass bag as I was starting a gig. Great sound, lots of problems. IMHO YMMV .
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Double Bass Olive G lovefest
- Thread starter Greg Clinkingbeard
- Start date
Aloha Trey,
It's either an Kauai weather issue or a bad batch issue. I had an Oliv G break 5 years back. Now I/m using the Oliv G & D... no issues so far...
It's either an Kauai weather issue or a bad batch issue. I had an Oliv G break 5 years back. Now I/m using the Oliv G & D... no issues so far...
I live in Honolulu and Sonores actually are working fine here in Hawaii. I have had some issues with Olive breakage, but not Olive G, which have also lasted a long time on my basses. Both great brands ..
I just threw a set of EP Weichs on my bass and absolutely love everything except the G with the bow.
I'm taking the bass in for a setup to raise the G string side of the bridge a bit but if that doesn't help the arco tone I am contemplating an Oliv G. Besides widening the bridge and nut slots, will I need to change anything else about my setup? I've read that gut action should be higher but does this apply to a wrapped gut string such as the Oliv?
I'm taking the bass in for a setup to raise the G string side of the bridge a bit but if that doesn't help the arco tone I am contemplating an Oliv G. Besides widening the bridge and nut slots, will I need to change anything else about my setup? I've read that gut action should be higher but does this apply to a wrapped gut string such as the Oliv?
Even widening the bridge and nut slots might not apply to wound gut if you were coming from synthetic core strings. Maybe a little bit, but not necessarily.
For raising the G you might want to look for a short bend metal half-pipe that come with some higher strings (cannot remember exactly, but Super Sensitive had them with their discontinued Supreme, probably also Thomastik Spirocore or some Pirastro steel core strings). You put that between string and top of the bridge and it will raise your string about the thickness of the metal pipe, maybe a bit more if they won't fit exactly in the bridge groove (which might be good in your case). That could be a temporary solution, but also a permanent one.
I think they were made to save the bridge from cutting in by a thin higher tension string or to save the windings from being damaged when the string stretches and needs to move over the bridge. Maybe also for sound reasons.
Unfortunately I cannot remember the exact term for it (neither in English nor in German), but it was discussed here a few years ago and someone with a better recall might add the correct term here.
For raising the G you might want to look for a short bend metal half-pipe that come with some higher strings (cannot remember exactly, but Super Sensitive had them with their discontinued Supreme, probably also Thomastik Spirocore or some Pirastro steel core strings). You put that between string and top of the bridge and it will raise your string about the thickness of the metal pipe, maybe a bit more if they won't fit exactly in the bridge groove (which might be good in your case). That could be a temporary solution, but also a permanent one.
I think they were made to save the bridge from cutting in by a thin higher tension string or to save the windings from being damaged when the string stretches and needs to move over the bridge. Maybe also for sound reasons.
Unfortunately I cannot remember the exact term for it (neither in English nor in German), but it was discussed here a few years ago and someone with a better recall might add the correct term here.
After almost 6 months in my bass the Oliv G keeps sounding great and upon close inspection, the windings over the bridge and nut look like new.
Tuning is very good, I'd dare to say excellent; stays in tune even in outdoor gigs. I'm very tempted to go for the Oliv D before and might do it as soon as I have a week with no gigs (thankfully not until the end of the summer).
I have the Evah E and A and Oliv D and G on my Czech Ease...truly inspirational string...not having nay issues with tuning at all!!
Very expensive set...but well worth it!
Very expensive set...but well worth it!
I ordered a new Oliv G a few days ago. I'm currently playing spiro E,A and E-P D,G.
Will probably put on the E-P E,A,D's when the Oliv arrives.
And if this experiment goes well, I'll start looking for a used Oliv D
Will probably put on the E-P E,A,D's when the Oliv arrives.
And if this experiment goes well, I'll start looking for a used Oliv D
Picked up some used oliv G and D strings, just put them on my bass. It seems to like them, I like the pizz feel and the arco is nicer than the gamut Lyon/Pistoy for me, they were just too loose on my bass. Paired with the old worn in spiro mittel, I think I'm keeping this setup and moving along!
Also, on my current bass the Oliv D string is pretty good. The Shen sb200 I had a long time ago it was too dark for.
Also, on my current bass the Oliv D string is pretty good. The Shen sb200 I had a long time ago it was too dark for.
Two weeks now with a new Oliv G - I really like it. It's not all that different than the Evah Weich G it replaced but the tone is nicer - better growl, more complex sound but otherwise similar dynamics.
I like the thicker feel of the Oliv.
I also had tried out an Oliv D (second hand) for most of those two weeks but took it off today. I don't do much arco but the little I did, the D and G sounded excellent together. But with pizz., the D was fairly dull - No growl or shimmer. It's too bad the D doesn't respond similarly with pizzicato. But with a bow, the Olivs made me sound like I knew what I was doing!
So now my bass has Evah Weich EAD and Oliv G - Not a bad setup. But the E feels like it could be punchier so I'm thinking of swapping it for a Spirocore E. Maybe a new Evah E would be punchier than my old Evah E? Amplified using an ischell, they sound balanced but un-mic'd, the Evah E lacks the power the other strings have.
I like the thicker feel of the Oliv.
I also had tried out an Oliv D (second hand) for most of those two weeks but took it off today. I don't do much arco but the little I did, the D and G sounded excellent together. But with pizz., the D was fairly dull - No growl or shimmer. It's too bad the D doesn't respond similarly with pizzicato. But with a bow, the Olivs made me sound like I knew what I was doing!
So now my bass has Evah Weich EAD and Oliv G - Not a bad setup. But the E feels like it could be punchier so I'm thinking of swapping it for a Spirocore E. Maybe a new Evah E would be punchier than my old Evah E? Amplified using an ischell, they sound balanced but un-mic'd, the Evah E lacks the power the other strings have.
The Evah Weich E is a bit weak. I like the tension balance of the Innovation Braided (140B) better. The Braided E is stronger than the Evah Weich E, so if you can get a single Braided E string it might be worth trying.
If you want to try a Spiro E, try a Spiro Weich 4/4 E (from the S42W set). The Mittel would be too much.
If you want to try a Spiro E, try a Spiro Weich 4/4 E (from the S42W set). The Mittel would be too much.
Thanks, I have the spiro Weich set already so I'll try that E first and keep an eye out for the I-B
Still loving the Oliv G and still in great shape after 9 months. Lots of outdoor gigs without a single tuning problem...even with high humidity.
On the other side, I've tried the Oliv D and didn't do it for me: Great sound but having a D string thicker than my A doesn't feel right and my playing suffers the consequences. I've only had it for three days on my bass and maybe I could get used to it but I decided to go back to the Spiro D.
Right -- years ago I asked Pirastro for a test Olive-D, and I sent it back (with a thank-you) without even trying it because it was so thick.
Why is this thread back up?! I was just fantasizing about an Oliv G yesterday...must resist...must resist...
Partly because I just had my bridge recut to fit the Spiro G. I thought that would help with temptation. Also I gotta stop changing and trying strings. I'll stay back for now. I've been down that road before and its not the sound I need right now. Only tempting thing is potentially a dominant G again...maybe...
I just got a used set of Eudoxa's DAE with an Olive G on top. So far I'm loving it, the new setup sounds and feels very close to the Spiro Mits under Obligatos that I just took off that Bass.
I'm finding that the change from G to D under the bow is pretty noticeable. I hope that the Olive G blends better when they settle more. If I don't like it this time next month I'm going to replace the Olive with a Eudoxa.
I'm finding that the change from G to D under the bow is pretty noticeable. I hope that the Olive G blends better when they settle more. If I don't like it this time next month I'm going to replace the Olive with a Eudoxa.
3 year old Oliv G report: The Oliv G on my main bass is 3 years old and still sounds and behaves great. No sign of wear anywhere along the string from silk to silk, windings look like the first day. I love this G string, can't wait to try an Eudoxa D and be done with strings.
