Hello I am currently using the solo set of perpetuals tuned down to orchestral tuning. I am wondering how long it would take to break in as they are still a bit stiff to my hands. I'm wondering if this is due to being tuned down that they are taking longer than usual as I heard these strings break in very quickly. I have had them on for about 3 days and had my first rehearsal with them yesterday. I want to give them an honest shot before changing strings so I was wondering if anyone else had any experience with this.
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Double Bass Pirastro perpetual strings
- Thread starter Nicolas4
- Start date
You're quite possibly right. Why not tune them up to solo pitch for a few days and see what happens?
3 days is short for breaking in strings.
I definitely agree however I remember reading on gollihurs website that they break in extremely quickly. I'm not giving up on them however I was thinking perhaps I need to tune them up to their intended pitch.
There is a trick violinists do with new strings that may work for you.
I’ve tried it and it works, on violin anyways.
Take a cloth, with your primary hand make an S curve with your first finger and thumb and rub with the opposing pressure up and down the string. You need to feel the string warm up a bit. Do it on each string, sections at a time, take a break and do it again. For a violinist this process breaks the strings in and enables them to perform with brand new strings, in tune.
I would try this process with your solo strings at orchestra pitch.
I’ve tried it and it works, on violin anyways.
Take a cloth, with your primary hand make an S curve with your first finger and thumb and rub with the opposing pressure up and down the string. You need to feel the string warm up a bit. Do it on each string, sections at a time, take a break and do it again. For a violinist this process breaks the strings in and enables them to perform with brand new strings, in tune.
I would try this process with your solo strings at orchestra pitch.
I modified that procedure a bit and run the string bent over my thumb tip.
Don’t do that if you have to play the same day afterwards. And not if you have anything important to play the next day.
It is important to do that equally over the whole length of the string and also in all directions by rotating the string at each run until the string bends equally well in all directions.
I start with a short piece at an end and do that in all directions until that part is done completely and then proceed to the next part.
It took me over an hour for each string (I only did E and A), maybe two for a single string and I only made one string a day.
I haven’t done that with steel core strings yet, only with synthetic core strings to enhance sustain and sound for the lower strings.
Don’t do that if you have to play the same day afterwards. And not if you have anything important to play the next day.
It is important to do that equally over the whole length of the string and also in all directions by rotating the string at each run until the string bends equally well in all directions.
I start with a short piece at an end and do that in all directions until that part is done completely and then proceed to the next part.
It took me over an hour for each string (I only did E and A), maybe two for a single string and I only made one string a day.
I haven’t done that with steel core strings yet, only with synthetic core strings to enhance sustain and sound for the lower strings.
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I'm just curious how your Perpetual solos are going now. I put some on about a year ago and hated the tension of them even though they were solos and I had them tuned concert pitch. I took them off not long after. I was thinking about chucking them back on and giving them another chance and for a longer time.
I gave up on my set of Perpetual solo very very soon. They DID feel stiff for solo strings tuned down...compared to spiro solo for example. I didn't care for how they sounded either.
On the positive side, they were a very balanced set..
On the positive side, they were a very balanced set..
