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Double Bass Used EP Weich vs. New EP Weich

jsf729

jsf729

Dec 12, 2014
522
467
70
Central Maryland
#1
I purchased a used set of EP Weich on TB awhile back. Seller claimed (I believe) that they were 6 months old. I put them on a Kay originally and didn't care much for them at the time since I was using the bass for swing dance gigs and jazz gigs. Went to Superflexibles and really liked them. Anyway, purchased another no name old ply bass and put the EPs on it and really love the sound of them on this bass. If I had any complaint it would be that I wish that they had slightly more tension. My question is- do these strings lose some of the perceived tension over time? If I buy a new set, will they be a little stiffer? I know that-like most strings- they lose some tonal qualities so a new set would sound better yet. Thanks for any advice!
 
#2
I found that I like used sets more. The tension is slightly less when they are broken in. I've also found that an evah weich set loses a lot of the qualits I love in them after 3 or so weeks of constant playing. then after a few weeks the sound I love comes back.
 
#3
I used them for about 6 months on my bass. Loved their tone, but they felt too stiff on my bass, that's why I changed them (I changed to Velvet Compass 180 Orch.).
On the other hand: I've played EP Weich on another bass and they felt really comfortable and easy to play, they certainly didn't feel stiff.
 
#4
Bisounourse said:
I used them for about 6 months on my bass. Loved their tone, but they felt too stiff on my bass, that's why I changed them (I changed to Velvet Compass 180 Orch.).
On the other hand: I've played EP Weich on another bass and they felt really comfortable and easy to play, they certainly didn't feel stiff.
Click to expand...
Kind all over the map already as I might have guessed. Actually thinking about getting a set for a carved bass of mine that I'm getting ready to put in service. I really do love the sound and playability of them but I trip over them on fast pizz passages due to (my opinion) not enough tension. Well, we all know the only way to find out...$$$
 
#6
Evah Pirazzi as well as Obligato and Zyex have a PEEK core (name of the synthetic material) which stretches a lot. Over time you tune up more and more due to the stretching over time and with the core also the windings which take the major part of the mass go into the peg box. That means less mass on the vibrating part of the string and for the same pitch the tension needs to be lower.
Gut and Innovations core material stretch a lot less than PEEK and steel core strings a lot less than gut strings.
Of course it also depends on the core diameter, but for a non-gut set the diameter across one set is usually the same.

Compas 180 are a bit higher tension (at least it feels higher and the published data doesn't fit reality after my measurements). Not bad if the manufacturing quality is OK, but pricey. Bowing is very different from other strings and not very forgiving.
On my bass a cannon, half the way to a Spiro Mittel 4/4 from an EP Weich. But my instrument's scale is large (110 cm).

Maybe Dominants if you are not afraid of the breakage problem some have.

Regular EP can work but the used set I once tried was unusable for pizz on my instrument because of the short sustain and extremely dark sound.
 
#8
DoubleMIDI said:
Evah Pirazzi as well as Obligato and Zyex have a PEEK core (name of the synthetic material) which stretches a lot. Over time you tune up more and more due to the stretching over time and with the core also the windings which take the major part of the mass go into the peg box. That means less mass on the vibrating part of the string and for the same pitch the tension needs to be lower.
Gut and Innovations core material stretch a lot less than PEEK and steel core strings a lot less than gut strings.
Of course it also depends on the core diameter, but for a non-gut set the diameter across one set is usually the same.

Compas 180 are a bit higher tension (at least it feels higher and the published data doesn't fit reality after my measurements). Not bad if the manufacturing quality is OK, but pricey. Bowing is very different from other strings and not very forgiving.
On my bass a cannon, half the way to a Spiro Mittel 4/4 from an EP Weich. But my instrument's scale is large (110 cm).

Maybe Dominants if you are not afraid of the breakage problem some have.

Regular EP can work but the used set I once tried was unusable for pizz on my instrument because of the short sustain and extremely dark sound.
Click to expand...
So if I understand correctly, although the string core does stretch, once in tune to pitch the perceived tension remains the same. I was hoping that the regular would be what I was looking for, but Prastro website suggests exactly what you experienced- so they are not an option. I probably will buy a new set regardless because I do like the feel of these strings. Just have had to modify my pizz style a bit to compensate
 
#9
Maybe you would like to try the Innovation Braided instead of the Evah Weich. Very similar, but less stretchy, a bit more tension on the E, maybe a bit less on the G. And more robust, for example if you need to take them down rather often. But might be more difficult to get in the USA than here in Europe.

I heard regular Evahs on basses and they sounded good pizzed, but the used strings I got haven't been that way.
 
#10
DoubleMIDI said:
Maybe you would like to try the Innovation Braided instead of the Evah Weich. Very similar, but less stretchy, a bit more tension on the E, maybe a bit less on the G. And more robust, for example if you need to take them down rather often. But might be more difficult to get in the USA than here in Europe.

I heard regular Evahs on basses and they sounded good pizzed, but the used strings I got haven't been that way.
Click to expand...

Not sure if you are refering to the 140B set which we can get here. I've tried a couple braided core strings such as the Superflexibles and Helicores and you are right- the tension is perfect for what I prefer. And for the most part that's what I've always used in some form or another. The EPs just have this gut like "organic" sound that is new to me but really grabs me. Never played gut before- mainly because of the expense- but that's the best way that I can describe it. Thanks for the reply
 
#11
Yes, the order number for the Innovation Braided set is 140B.
But Superflexibles and Helicores are steel core strings, the Innovation are synthetic core strings and all string sets from Innovation except the Honeys (140H, which are synthetic monofiber and sound too dark for me from D to E) use the same braided synthetic core material.

The sound of the Braided is much much closer to the Evah Weich than Superflexibles or Helicores.

Less stretch does also mean less separation of windings. And if I dig in pizzicato, I get a better dynamic response from the Braided than from the Evah Weich which seem to have a more or less hard upper volume limit.
 
#12
DoubleMIDI said:
Yes, the order number for the Innovation Braided set is 140B.
But Superflexibles and Helicores are steel core strings, the Innovation are synthetic core strings and all string sets from Innovation except the Honeys (140H, which are synthetic monofiber and sound too dark for me from D to E) use the same braided synthetic core material.

The sound of the Braided is much much closer to the Evah Weich than Superflexibles or Helicores.

Less stretch does also mean less separation of windings. And if I dig in pizzicato, I get a better dynamic response from the Braided than from the Evah Weich which seem to have a more or less hard upper volume limit.
Click to expand...

Ah- thanks for clearing that up. I went to the website and assumed that braided meant steel braided. I didn't know that there was such a thing as synthetic braided. You are right, they sound like a good bet. Plus they are reasonably priced. Thanks so much for the advice!
 

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