Double Bass What D with Oliv G

[john-boro]

I have 3885 (3/4) spirocore weichs with an Oliv G. The sound is great, but the D string is a little off putting. (In part this might be due to how whiny it is around the octave, which I think is a resonance issue.).

that said:
- evah weich D?
- oliv D? Is it really as weird sounding as I’ve heard? My bass is pretty bright.
- other options?

thanks

 

[JBarz]

Pirastro’s new Stark perpetual D, brah.

 

[Selim]

I have been playing on the same combo as you, only with 4/4 weichs + Oliv G. I recently put on an Oliv D. Initially, the sonic jump in either direction was weird, darker and more thumpy than the Oliv G and very different overtones from the Spiros. But after a week, the D is opening up and settling in nicely with the other strings. If that continues, I think this combo will work for me. But you may have different criteria than me. I was also happy with the 3 Spiros/Oliv G.

If your bass is bright, then then the Oliv D might work. Just don’t judge it until after you’ve played on it for at least a week.

 

[Fat bob]

Iam in this same boat John. I did the Oliv D for a while but having one wrapped gut was enough to keep track of tuning wise. -but I really liked the feel of the Oliv d. Would like to try both the reg and stark perp, but 3 types of strings? I dunno Also I’ve tried Evah weich D with this but seemed dull. Curious what you try and settle on

 

[Selim]

A less expensive experiment might be innovation polychrome D.

 

[Keith Rawlings]

I guess I’m in the minority but I like my Oliv D paired with the G. It sounds warm and wonderful and pairs well with the Spiros I have on now for the E and A; and when I put my EP slap E and A back on.

 

[james condino]

Spiro mitts are very balanced with an Olive G; weich are like pairing it with a mandolin string....

 

[Selim]

Spiro mitts are very balanced with an Olive G; weich are like pairing it with a mandolin string....

I agree that the Olivs pair more naturally with mitts — the gauges are more similar. But IMO an Oliv G or DG work fine with weichs also. And I am someone who generally favors medium gauge strings.

If I was solely a pizz player, I would use my trusty 10 year old mitt EA with the Olivs. But I prefer to bow the weichs because I like their sound better and they start easier. Also, with the bow, moving from Oliv to Spiro is pretty seamless.

 

[AGCurry]

I've found the Oliv D to be the best string to go with Oliv G. You say it sounds "weird" ... wolf tone?

YMMV of course.

 

[sean_on_bass]

I have never tried an Oliv D, but i can at least say i could not really get down with a plain gut D. Lacked fundamental and just really wooly. So totally understand wanting something different.

 

[Selim]

I've found the Oliv D to be the best string to go with Oliv G. You say it sounds "weird" ... wolf tone?

YMMV of course.

As my 2 week old Oliv D settles in, I’m finding this to be true also. Other strings work (even a weich D), but not as seamlessly.

 

[erniepro]

I got a good sound pairing Eudoxa D with Olive G (and usually spiros underneath)

 

[Selim]

As my 2 week old Oliv D settles in, I’m finding this to be true also. Other strings work (even a weich D), but not as seamlessly.

Now that I've spent a good amount of time with both Oliv DG/AE Spiro weich as well as Oliv G/EAD Spiro weich combos, the bass has changed my mind: the 3 Spiro weich + Oliv works much better for my needs.

I think you have to take into account what your overall sound goal is and 2 x 2 combo tends to split the bass in half for me. In my case, my overall sound goal (for both pizz & arco playing) is achieved the most with a Spirocore sound, even with a weich G. The 2 Olivs disrupted that. It's a beautiful string in and of itself and it works great next to the Oliv G, but the transition both in sound & feel/tension between the Oliv D and Spiro A is not good.

But an Oliv G with the 3 Spiros works really well, balanced tone and feel is good.

 

[john-boro]

Thanks. And you are talking 4/4 weich I presume?

At the moment I’m trying an evah weich D as it’s what I’ve got, and I have a general feeling that lower tension than the 3/4 spiro weichs suits the bass and my hands better. Wish I had 4/4 spiro weichs to try so if anyone UK based has them ...

 

[Selim]

Thanks. And you are talking 4/4 weich I presume

Yes.

But john-boro you may have a different (more desirable) result with .3885 weichs, since they are a little stiffer and little bigger than the 4/4 weichs.

 

[john-boro]

Agreed, and they are what I currently use. They are good, but I do find that when I have my string heights where I'd like them for the Oliv to sound its best, the 3/4 spiros and in particular the A start to feel a bit tough to play and a bit tense for the bass.

 

[john-boro]

In the end I have just got an Oliv D, and left the Spirocore 3/4 light A and E. so far beautiful, the D is certainly clear sounding enough already and will stretch out over a week or so. The spiro A is slightly thinner but annoying, and it’s apparent tension when playing matches nicely.

 

[john-boro]

just to update here, I’m very pleased with the Oliv D so far. It’s a nice change to get such a fat and reassuring sound up to the octave and beyond. The transition to the 3885 A string is okay pizz, not great arco. Most striking is how the whole sound of the bass has changed by having two guts rather than one on top.

 

[RoscoeKay'54]

just to update here, I’m very pleased with the Oliv D so far. It’s a nice change to get such a fat and reassuring sound up to the octave and beyond. The transition to the 3885 A string is okay pizz, not great arco. Most striking is how the whole sound of the bass has changed by having two guts rather than one on top.

I'm currently using a similar setup. I'm using the .3885 E and A with the Perpetual Stark D and Oliv G. The sound is super warm. I've been playing more old-school stuff recently. Like 50s & 60s blue note era stuff. I'm so digging the vibe. Warm and punchy. Honestly, it feels like one complete set. The transition between the A and the Perpetual Stark D is barely noticeable. The Stark D and Oliv G sound perfect together. Pizz and arco they all really work together. After searching for that Steel E and A / Gut G and D vibe I think I may have found it with this set. I tried the Oliv D but I felt like I was playing an E and A on the bass side and another E and A on the treble side.

 

[Dave Hill]

I'm currently using a similar setup. I'm using the .3885 E and A with the Perpetual Stark D and Oliv G. The sound is super warm. I've been playing more old-school stuff recently. Like 50s & 60s blue note era stuff. I'm so digging the vibe. Warm and punchy. Honestly, it feels like one complete set. The transition between the A and the Perpetual Stark D is barely noticeable. The Stark D and Oliv G sound perfect together. Pizz and arco they all really work together. After searching for that Steel E and A / Gut G and D vibe I think I may have found it with this set. I tried the Oliv D but I felt like I was playing an E and A on the bass side and another E and A on the treble side.

I’m using this setup but with an S42 E and A. I feel obsessive having 3 brands of string on one bass, but, I’m really liking it. Very well balanced in sound and feel.