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Double Bass What D'Addario strings would you choose for free?

#21
Probably good advice. I just received my order of the Zyex mediums, on trial to replace my Evah Pirazzi Weichs which replaced my Obligatos for arco and pizz jazz playing. I like the EPWs but am frustrated with their lack of pizz sustain at the end of the fingerboard and I know that the Zyex has more sustain. I could also do with a bit more in your face punch when soloing arco and think the Zyex might meet that need. Time will tell. I may well go back to the Obligatos which seem somewhere between the two.
 
#27
Greg Clinkingbeard said:
Kaplans are the default string at the shop and I've installed them on hundreds of basses. I also use Helicore orchestras on some basses, mainly plywoods and hybrids. The Kaplans are definitely darker with a shorter attack and they are easy to bow. They are dark and lack that certain character that Evah Pirazzis have which sounds more interesting to me. They are a good value.
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I was weaned on Spirocore mittels long ago, but just bought a Krutz 200 after not having a DB for a long time. It was a 2013 NAMM show demo instrument (store mgr brought it back with him) and to my surprise it came with Zyex mediums on it instead of the standard Kaplans (the store thought they were LaBellas lol).

I am very pleasantly surprised at the definition and sustain that the Zyex strings have played pizz. I have Corelli 370s on my EUB now, but that might change soon.
 
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#28
A little late to the party, but for jazz playing exclusively I love the pizzicatos. I don't know too many other bass players who use 'em, but damn do they sound good. They bow on par with spirocores, but they can be controlled with practice. They have more upper definition than the zyex. When they settle in, they're much easier to control and sound like they have more life than the zyex (which tend to sound a little dull after they settle in, to my ear at least). My signature has links to recordings done with the pizzicatos of anyone is interested. +1 for D'Addario's customer service—easily some of the best.
 
#29
Cool. The Zyex I have are getting settled in now, after a month. I see what you mean about them dulling a bit in the process. They have a nice body to the sound, I must say. I have a recording project coming up later this year, and if we find the Zyex are needing something extra, I'll try the Pizzicatos.
 
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#32
brianrost said:
I must be the only guy here who likes Helicores :(
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I liked em'! I had a set of Helicores when they were first introduced- 95 or 96? They didn't have the different varieties, only one style, which I'm told was closest to what would become the "arco" string. They were a great all purpose string, arco or pizz, imho, on my bass. I kept them on for close to a decade. They still sounded great when I took them off- but I got the "string fever", and had to try all of the strings I hadn't yet experienced. I read that a lot of folks were displeased with the variant strings, and there was a short period of QC issues.
I might have gone back to them, but I ended up with Spiros...circle of life. :cool:

That said, in the spirit of the OP's initial query, as of this writing, if I were able to get a set of D'Addario strings gratis, I'd go for Zyex.

Joe
 
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#34
ElijahBrockway said:
Helicore Orchs. They've got just enough growl to them to suffice as a good string for more modern jazz, they've got a nice thump to go back to older stuff/other styles, and they're nice under a bow too. Pretty fun to use, imo.
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This is interesting. I have Helicore Orchs on my bass. That's what was on it when I got it. Since I am a relative newb I decided it was more important to learn to play rather than fussing with strings. Although they sound good to me when I pizz I assumed I'd "upgrade" when the time came. I don't ever recall reading anyone say anything positive about the Orchs pizz sound.

Still will likely buy into something like Zyex when the time comes but you've given me something to consider.

Cheers
Warren
 
#35
It probably depends a bit on the setup and everything, to be honest. I had a bass with medium height action and they were, yes, brighter than most normal orchestral strings, but not terribly so. Then I've come to meet a few professional players in my area, and some of them use the helicore orchs as well, and all say the same things I said up there - although they put their action quite a bit lower than that school bass I was using. The strings were still plenty dark and worked for orchestral stuff, and they sounded great on Jazz too. Not really growly or bright like spirocores or anything like that, but they were still audible enough to be picked out and they blended in relatively well with the sound of the group.

I honestly really like them, more than the hybrids. Those were never fun for me. Have yet to try the helicore pizz strings, though.
 
#36
Late to the party here and I imagine this person has long ago made their choice. Nevertheless, my fondness for the Zyex strings is something I rarely pass up an opportunity to express.

We've all been on the string search merry-go-round and to have finally found one brand that answers so many musical questions is, quite frankly, a relief. One less variable in the chain I have to consider.
 
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#37
Heyyo! I have a 2012 Upton Hybrid, which I am learning is an incredibly bright bass. I have the ultra bright sounding Helicore Pizzicato strings on it right now, and my professors/peers comment on how the notes in my walking lines "lack that hump" sound where each note dies a little after the initial attack. The bass is super loud and sustains FOREVER. I'm realizing now that this isn't ideal for the traditional jazz program I'm in.

I'm playing a gig with a D'addario employee and he's paying me with a set of D'addario strings on the house. Any suggestions for a dark sounding string to combat my bright bass? Wasn't a huge fan of the Hybrids. Are Zyex considered bright strings in general? Halp. haha
 
#40
I'm late to the thread, but I'm another who prefers Helicore Hybrids to the Zyex, at least on my particular bass. I do have a fresh set of Spiros waiting for the Helicores to die, but I've been pretty happy with the Helicores for nearly a year now and I wouldn't hesitate to keep using them. That said, my G is an Obligato, and has been through sets of old Spiros, Zyex, and the Helicores. It just keeps on going and sounding great!

What I've liked about the Helicores is that they've been very consistent and even, they feel good, they have plenty of growl and sustain, they bow well... They sound good mic'd and through a Full Circle.

The Zyex were alright, but I felt like the E was weak (and I actually used the old Spiro E with the Zyex A/D for a while), and they didn't respond to my novice bowing as well as the Helicores. Oddly enough, the dead Spiros on my other bass have been the best bowing strings for me.
 

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