Hi, I need to change the strings I have on my bass at the moment as they are the ones they came with and aren't very good at all, I've been suggested that Pirastro Evah Pirazzis are good for pizz and arco and are in my price range (£150), i've also seen D'Addario Helicore are in my price range as well, unfortunately, living in the styx in England, there isn't any retailers around here that stock DB strings and these seem to be the only two sets of strings that are affordable and available on the internet to me. Basically I'm wondering what peoples opinions are on them? at the moment I'm inclined to go with the Pirazzis, thanks
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Double Bass String choice for arco and pizz UK
- Thread starter BassBluesNRoots
- Start date
Contact Daf Lewis at the forum basschat.co.uk . He is the liason for Innovation strings, which are made in the UK. I met him personally when I was in the UK last summer. He can help you choose the best string for your playing. Innovation makes many sets of strings, all relatively inexpensive, and not just for slap or rockabilly, but for arco & pizz as well, and he can help you choose. Something like their Honeys or Braideds may be what you are looking for.
+1 for the innovation strings. My boss has a new set they're developing for orchestra playing but the pizz is great and they're very cheap too.
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A lot of these strings cost more than you're looking to spend, but the Evahs are on there, as are Presto Balance Hybrids, a very affordable choice available online. This site helped me guide my most recent string choice (Velvet Animas, great strings if a little pricy), and hopefully it serves you well.
My experience with Evah Pirazzi Mediums as a hybrid string was generally positive. I did find that, for my bass, the pizz sound was a little TOO dark on the D&G string. I was told to try the Weich (light gauge) version, but haven't had the chance.
If, by chance, you do try out the Presto strings, please post your thoughts on them, I'm very curious myself, especially at such a low price (~115 Euro, $150 USD). Cheers!
A lot of these strings cost more than you're looking to spend, but the Evahs are on there, as are Presto Balance Hybrids, a very affordable choice available online. This site helped me guide my most recent string choice (Velvet Animas, great strings if a little pricy), and hopefully it serves you well.
My experience with Evah Pirazzi Mediums as a hybrid string was generally positive. I did find that, for my bass, the pizz sound was a little TOO dark on the D&G string. I was told to try the Weich (light gauge) version, but haven't had the chance.
If, by chance, you do try out the Presto strings, please post your thoughts on them, I'm very curious myself, especially at such a low price (~115 Euro, $150 USD). Cheers!
I tried Innovation 140B, 140H, Evah Pirazzi (regular), Evah Pirazzi Weich (G only) and Presto Balance Hybrid Medium (EUB only, too short for my 4/4 5-string).
I like a medium bright sound on my bass. Spiro Mittel are a bit too bright (at least during the first months). A lot of jazz bassists I know in my area like a rather dark sound (I almost cannot play with their amp settings using their basses on a session). So the taste of sound varies a lot.
The Evah Pirazzi are really dark and with a rather short pizz sustain (or I think it was short because the very little bit of highs are damped very quickly).
The Evah Pirazzi Weich sounded nice acoustically but (maybe depending on the pickup) they sound too dark amplified for me. (Also no high C available.)
The Innovation 140H have attack power, but have no highs, only low mids. Old School sound, no my taste. They bow less good than the 140B.
I like the Innovation 140B. Some highs, less lower mids than the 140H. They bow really well. Lower tension but still enough for some power. Darker pizz sound than new Obligato, getting darker after some time. Nice sound for smaller groups, but I used them with the big band too. (I play them with an experimental high C, since the old ones don't fit the set well.)
The Presto Balance Hybrid Medium are nice strings. Just a bit short to fit on my 110cm scale to the highest (fifth) peg. Also no high C ( but I could talk to the developers). Sa a steel core string they are thinner than the sythetic core strings, but really flexible and nice to bow (but personally I still like the 140B better). I put them on my Stagg EUB where they fit very well. Might be better for for higher positions than the 140B since they are thinner. You can get them in lower tension as well, but the tension of the Medium is already a little bit lower than the tension of Spiro Weich 3/4, I think.
Both Evahs have a bit more tension than the Innovations and the Prestos.
Another string to check out is the SuperSensitive Pinnacle. Sound similar to Spiro Mittel but with a lot less tension. Rather thin compared to synthetic core strings.
I like a medium bright sound on my bass. Spiro Mittel are a bit too bright (at least during the first months). A lot of jazz bassists I know in my area like a rather dark sound (I almost cannot play with their amp settings using their basses on a session). So the taste of sound varies a lot.
The Evah Pirazzi are really dark and with a rather short pizz sustain (or I think it was short because the very little bit of highs are damped very quickly).
The Evah Pirazzi Weich sounded nice acoustically but (maybe depending on the pickup) they sound too dark amplified for me. (Also no high C available.)
The Innovation 140H have attack power, but have no highs, only low mids. Old School sound, no my taste. They bow less good than the 140B.
I like the Innovation 140B. Some highs, less lower mids than the 140H. They bow really well. Lower tension but still enough for some power. Darker pizz sound than new Obligato, getting darker after some time. Nice sound for smaller groups, but I used them with the big band too. (I play them with an experimental high C, since the old ones don't fit the set well.)
The Presto Balance Hybrid Medium are nice strings. Just a bit short to fit on my 110cm scale to the highest (fifth) peg. Also no high C ( but I could talk to the developers). Sa a steel core string they are thinner than the sythetic core strings, but really flexible and nice to bow (but personally I still like the 140B better). I put them on my Stagg EUB where they fit very well. Might be better for for higher positions than the 140B since they are thinner. You can get them in lower tension as well, but the tension of the Medium is already a little bit lower than the tension of Spiro Weich 3/4, I think.
Both Evahs have a bit more tension than the Innovations and the Prestos.
Another string to check out is the SuperSensitive Pinnacle. Sound similar to Spiro Mittel but with a lot less tension. Rather thin compared to synthetic core strings.
You might also consider the Corelli 370F set. Good for pizz and bows nicely. Clear attack. I have a set on one of my basses and considering switching out from the Spiro Weichs to the 370F. Easy on the hands, too.
check out the string zone, Invalid Link Removed a UK based shop that stocks a very good range of bass strings!
