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Double Bass Pirastro Perpetuals - Orchestra Playing?
- Thread starter Pietsch
- Start date
I don't know...but do you know if you have a bright bass or a mellow dark bass? Until I realized I have a bright bass, I was trying every, and any string with differing results (orchestra playing). Now I'm more satisfied with my less bright string choices. If I remember correctly the Perpetuals are a bright string (?). Keep us posted! -Al
In Jason Heath's video, he was worried about using Pirastro Perpetuals in an orchestra on his double bass. So, he put Kaplans back on. Jason's bass is much brighter sounding than my 140-year-old bass. I currently use Kaplan solo strings tuned to concert pitch (E-A-D-G) since I'm recording solos. The Kaplan solo strings also sound good on my bass for jazz pizz at concert pitch. I plan to try Pirastro Perpetuals next year after my double bass is restored. I think they will be good for jazz pizz on my double bass. I'm wondering how the Spiccato with the bow will be for playing Beethoven and Mozart with Perpetuals.
There're people using Spiros, which are brighter under the bow than Perpetuals, for strictly orchestral playing. One that comes to mind is Joseph Conyers, who plays in the Philadelphia Orchestra. Check this video from Discover Double Bass for reference.
I think it really depends on how bright/dark is your bass, but in the orchestra you're not playing alone, so the sound should be coherent with the others in the bass section and according to the orchestra needs.
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I played with Perpetuals in an orchestra bass section lately. The sound is brighter than Belcantos or Evah Pirazzis, but less screechy and less authoritative than Spiros. Overall, my feeling was very good - the strings don't shout out loud, but serve with a grace. The warmer mids allow to hear myself very well. I had Perpetuals for about a year now, and find them about ideal for arco and bow, acoustic or amplified. My bass is an old carved czech flatback, I usually feel it has unnecessarily boomy lows. With Perpetuals, everything works nicely to me.
In the 1970s and 1980s, I used Spiros on an additional double bass (1950s era Czech) that I used for jazz standards and pops orchestra. Used a pickup and amp. Good pizz and OK arco on longer notes. For me, I couldn't get fast enough response to the bow for Spiccato for playing Beethoven and Mozart using Spiros.
In contrast, my 140-year-old bass had lighting fast response with the bow using original Flexocor strings for powerful Spiccato. Flexocor strings worked well with the pickup and amp on my old bass, although very conservative sounding.
During COVID I put Kaplan light strings on my 140-year-old bass. Kaplan light strings were similar to Flexocor. I recorded a number of classical solos (arco) with the Kaplan light strings (concert pitch). They sounded good but I wanted more brightness in thumb position. So, I switched to Kaplan solo strings which gave my old bass the brightness and clarity I was seeking in thumb position (tuned to concert pitch E-A-D-G).
From what I heard/saw on Jason Heath's YouTube video, Perpetual strings might be worth a try when I have my old bass restored next year.
In contrast, my 140-year-old bass had lighting fast response with the bow using original Flexocor strings for powerful Spiccato. Flexocor strings worked well with the pickup and amp on my old bass, although very conservative sounding.
During COVID I put Kaplan light strings on my 140-year-old bass. Kaplan light strings were similar to Flexocor. I recorded a number of classical solos (arco) with the Kaplan light strings (concert pitch). They sounded good but I wanted more brightness in thumb position. So, I switched to Kaplan solo strings which gave my old bass the brightness and clarity I was seeking in thumb position (tuned to concert pitch E-A-D-G).
From what I heard/saw on Jason Heath's YouTube video, Perpetual strings might be worth a try when I have my old bass restored next year.
Here's a video of Benedikt Kany playing the Tubin concerto, using Perpetual solos:
I didn't check with a tuner but in the comments he says they're solo strings. I would imagine he'd do it in solo pitch.
I think that when Benedikt Kany plays an A-flat, a B-flat sounds, as best I could tell with a piano. So, it seems like he is using solo tuning. He sounds great!
I tune my Kaplan solo strings to concert pitch (E-A-D-G) and transcribe accompaniments in concert pitch. I record my own transcriptions of movie themes, favorite classical themes, Broadway songs, hymns, jazz standards, heavy metal rock, soundscapes, opera arias...all mostly arco double bass playing melody with my keyboard orchestra for accompaniment.
I tune my Kaplan solo strings to concert pitch (E-A-D-G) and transcribe accompaniments in concert pitch. I record my own transcriptions of movie themes, favorite classical themes, Broadway songs, hymns, jazz standards, heavy metal rock, soundscapes, opera arias...all mostly arco double bass playing melody with my keyboard orchestra for accompaniment.
