Double Bass Time to change strings...

[tito mangialajo]

I think that it's time to change my G and D strings...
I play gut strings since twelve years: for long time a Gamut Set (G, A, E Lyon; D Pistoy).
Three months ago I put Pirastro Evah Slap E and A. Nice balance, feel and sound with my two upper Gamut.
Now the G and D are old: three years of very intensive playing (concerts, rehersal, practice...).
I have two choice: order two new Gamut G and D as usual...
Or switch to Eudoxa or Olive (any case I think to mantain the Slap bottom).
What do you think? I know that Eudoxa and Olive are wounded. Do the gut sound and feel remain? Or the change will be strong?

 

[AGCurry]

While the Oliv and Eudoxa are great strings, they are quite different from plain guts in both sound and feel.

 

[Don Hergert]

What do you think?

It would be nice to know your playing trends, in particular %arco vs %pizz vs %slap, %amp'ed vs %not-amp'ed, etc...

But, have you considered using the "original" branded Piastro Evah Slap D and G plain guts? Since you already have the Evah Slap E and A and they are only 3 months old, with their "original" D and G guts you'd basically be getting a matched set, so feel, tone and volume should be pretty consistent from string to string.

I've considered the Evah Slaps full set for when I make the jump to gut D and G. I'm currently using Innovation SilverSlaps EA under SBW Deluxe DG, which is a really nicely matched mix; I want to stay non-metal and I want to stay synthetic for EA but gut DG is subtly calling to me. 45%pizz, 45%slap, 10%arco, 75%not-amped, 25%amped.

 

[Sam Dingle]

I think that it's time to change my G and D strings...
I play gut strings since twelve years: for long time a Gamut Set (G, A, E Lyon; D Pistoy).
Three months ago I put Pirastro Evah Slap E and A. Nice balance, feel and sound with my two upper Gamut.
Now the G and D are old: three years of very intensive playing (concerts, rehersal, practice...).
I have two choice: order two new Gamut G and D as usual...
Or switch to Eudoxa or Olive (any case I think to mantain the Slap bottom).
What do you think? I know that Eudoxa and Olive are wounded. Do the gut sound and feel remain? Or the change will be strong?

I've played all of them. I think theres a video of someone playing evah slap EA and olive DG. I would think the olive DG would be too high tension for the low strings.

Why not try a whole evah slap set. Its pricey but order an evah slap gut DG and a synthetic D to check out.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

You probably won't get 3 years out of Olivs or Eudoxa like your previous G and D.

 

[tito mangialajo]

It would be nice to know your playing trends, in particular %arco vs %pizz vs %slap, %amp'ed vs %not-amp'ed, etc...

mumble, mumble...modern jazz and improvised music; some brazilian music; 10% arco; 90% pizz; 70%amp'ed; 30% not amp'ed

 

[tito mangialajo]

You probably won't get 3 years out of Olivs or Eudoxa like your previous G and D.

Ah...the lifespan of this kind of strings is shorter? This is an important imformation...

 

[tito mangialajo]

And what about the Chorda?

 

[Sam Dingle]

And what about the Chorda?

chorda is plain gut so depends on how badly you abuse your plain guts

 

[Reiska]

If you`re going Chorda, be sure that those are Carlos Henriquez edition, not the reqular one. These you have to order directly from Pirastro, but since it`s in EU it should be cheaper than Gamuts. Those are great strings, best guts for pizz that I`ve tried. Some have been fortunate pairing Olivs with EP slap EA, but I wouldn`t do that since Olivs are significantly higher tension than EP slaps.

In EP slap sets I kinda like the synthetic DG, but especially the G is very fragile, too much so for my taste and wallet. The EP slap gut G is a good string, I have one on my bass now with Pistoy D, but I found the D to be hopeless undefined noodle.

 

[AGCurry]

Ah...the lifespan of this kind of strings is shorter? This is an important imformation...

Let's be sure we take this as opinion or speculation rather than information.

It's safe to say that plain gut strings can last a long time. I don't see why wrapped guts wouldn't, given beneficial conditions and care. I have seen some very old wrapped guts.

 

[Biggbass]

Ahh yes...it's almost Census time...time to change strings!

 

[tito mangialajo]

If you`re going Chorda, be sure that those are Carlos Henriquez edition, not the reqular one. These you have to order directly from Pirastro, but since it`s in EU it should be cheaper than Gamuts. Those are great strings, best guts for pizz that I`ve tried.

Are the CH Chorda E and A flat or roundwound? I mean, the Gamut A and E are similar to roundwound, that I don't like very much. EP Slap (or any other kind of steel or nylon core lik Spiro, Obligato, EP...) are flat, that I prefer.

 

[Reiska]

Are the CH Chorda E and A flat or roundwound? I mean, the Gamut A and E are similar to roundwound, that I don't like very much. EP Slap (or any other kind of steel or nylon core lik Spiro, Obligato, EP...) are flat, that I prefer.

They`re roundwound and I`m like that too, can`t stand scratchy feeling strings. EP slap EA feel great under the fingers, but I`d like the E having more tension than A, not the way those are designed. It escapes me why Pirastro makes all of their strings with old school string instrument tension philosophy. Now when the E is weakest in the set they need to be cranked really high for the E to play cleanly, if it was the other way around it would be less of a problem IMO.

 

[Reiska]

...That said, EP slap EA are my go-to strings under plain guts. Carlos Chorda / EP slap mix works great for pizz, but it`s rather delicate setup process as Chorda CH feel tense and stiff, sound extremely projective and loud whereas EP slaps feel loose and sound pretty dark.