Double Bass Zyex, Obligato, or Spiro?

[DoubleMIDI]

I don't think that cleaning Evahs (or any other synthetic string with a PEEK core) with steel wool is a good idea. PEEK stretches a lot and there will be very little gaps between neighboring windings that could be moved getting a string with non-uniformly distributed mass. (That's one way how strings can go bad.)
Alcohol might get between the core fibers and since it's never pure alcohol, the residues might glue the fibers together. Doesn't need to, but might happen.

I think it's better to wipe down the strings without too much pressure directly after playing with a soft cloth.

 

[Ortsom]

Agreed on the steel wool, 4x0 or otherwise. You can buy 96% pure ethanol cheaply in Andorra, consider that next time you're there. With the other 4% being water, I wouldn't worry about any residue. That said, I never use it on strings.

I joined in here to break a lance for the Zyexes. A few weeks ago I bought a set of those, lights, 2nd hand (allegedly 9 months old), and I can tell that I was pleasantly surprised with them. Arco I have some minor issues with the A beyond the 7th pos, but that might also be the instrument, but pizz I like them a lot. Excellent sustain, presence & balance. They are pretty light though.

 

[Ortsom]

An update on my Zyex experience: I moved those strings to another instrument, and there they bow fine. Could be the instrument, but also the scale: the 2nd one has 42", as opposed to 41" for the first. Hence a bit more tension.

 

[MostlyBass]

Interesting comments - especially about the Obligatos. I've used them on my bass as well as plenty of plywoods where I teach. They have made every bass sound better. They bow easily and have a great pizz with plenty of sustain.

 

[martinc]

Interesting comments - especially about the Obligatos. I've used them on my bass as well as plenty of plywoods where I teach. They have made every bass sound better. They bow easily and have a great pizz with plenty of sustain.

I agree. But they don't last long enough.
I was a tester for Obligato's just after they came out. Two sets of mine lasted about 8 months each with short daily use and not much gig use.

 

[MostlyBass]

I agree. But they don't last long enough.
I was a tester for Obligato's just after they came out. Two sets of mine lasted about 8 months each with short daily use and not much gig use.

When I studied with a Lyric Opera bassist he liked leaving the Obligatos. I did find with age the E string (C for my extension) tended to roll a bit. But I thought they aged nicely as far as sound. Lot's of personal preferences and different needs!

 

[TomB]

My Obligatos are now 5 years old. Granted, I've only used them lightly, but regularly. Their decline stabilized at some point into what I think (and band mates have commented) is a nice mellow gut-like sound - that took a while. I never noticed the rolling problem personally - it's not like they're super low-tension, really, and they do bow pretty well once you're used to the touch. I don't think I've ever used a string where my fingers felt better at the end of the night. I bought Zyex to replace them "just because" to try something else and because they're just getting old, but truthfully, I'm hesitating to do the install . I'm not sure how well they'd stand up to a vigorous daily routine vs. steel though.

 

[martinc]

My Obligatos are now 5 years old. Granted, I've only used them lightly, but regularly. Their decline stabilized at some point into what I think (and band mates have commented) is a nice mellow gut-like sound - that took a while. I never noticed the rolling problem personally - it's not like they're super low-tension, really, and they do bow pretty well once you're used to the touch. I don't think I've ever used a string where my fingers felt better at the end of the night. I bought Zyex to replace them "just because" to try something else and because they're just getting old, but truthfully, I'm hesitating to do the install . I'm not sure how well they'd stand up to a vigorous daily routine vs. steel though.

TomB: Glad to hear you are having long-term success with your Obligatos. I liked their sound and they made my 1949 Kay sound quite good..... better than any other string I had used on that bass at that time. But both of the sets I had would no longer stay in tune after about 8 months. They lost the"mellow gut-like" sound you are enjoying. Maybe Pirastro has made some changes. Maybe I, and others, had strings from a bad batch.

But I think you might like the Zyex.....they are a good sounding synthetic core string that can make a plywood or carved bass sound good. Of course personal taste is the ultimate judge.

 

[MostlyBass]

I searched my bass blog - Invalid Link Removed- for Zyex since I knew I had played them before.

Invalid Link Removed

I currently have Pirastro Flat Chromesteels on my Solano bass. They are a louder string with a great pizz sustain. They're not as thick or dark as Obligatos or Zyex. I really like them - but I'm currently doing solo work exclusively. If I was primarily playing in an ensemble or doing jazz I'd go with Obligatos or Zyex.
Thanks!

 

[Jeff Kissell]

I've been using Obligatos for about a month (coming from gut for the last few years.) No rolling, great with the bow and they are less synthetic sounding than most of the synthetic core strings I've tried. I think the Kaplan solos at orchestra pitch are the best sounding gut alternative but these are very close. The issue I had with the Kaplan was the the diameter, they just were too uncomfortably tiny coming from gut. The Obligatos have a great feel and the tension is really comfortable to play. My bass is very resonant with these; loud and punchy with good sustain when I want a more modern sound. When I want an old school, blunt, gut like attack it's right there.
So far so good.
-J

 

[Sam Dingle]

My teacher has obligatos on his 7/8ths bass because the tension is just right for him. His steady nightly gig is at a steak house with a piano trio and that bass sounds great in front of the band. Whenever I sit in on it though I can never here the thing.

 

[lurk]

Love my bass with Zyex lights. I'm a jazz guy, but get an occasional orchestra call and practice daily with the bow. A lot of what people like about Spiros without the nastiness and mwah, on my bass anyway. Don't know how they last yet, but I'd be astonished if they came anywhere near Spiros there. Relatively cheap tho.

 

[Michael Karn]

Thanks, I really appreciate you taking the time to do this. I feel that more of us should do the same here on TB. Describing the sound & feel of a particular set of strings is always helpful, but it's great to actually hear what they sound like.

It sure helps when you're considering your next plunge into the string $$ hole.

I posted this video on the duo thread and while i have some reservations about the playing i'm very happy with the recorded sound, which is an accurate representation of what the bass sounds like acoustically. Zyex lights on a 30's-ish Juzek

 

[TomB]

I finally installed Zyex lights on my carved German bass after removing my ancient dead Obligatos. Zyex are really a great string - lots of umph with pizz and they bow almost as well as Obs - much closer to a gut sound than many - no complaints other than feeling a bit stiff and sticky the way new strings will. So I will give them a chance for love to grow and especially for the tone to mellow as reported by some here, but so far I really miss both the sound and feel of the Obs. I'm trying to resist changing back - will report back later.

 

[Selim]

I posted this video on the duo thread and while i have some reservations about the playing i'm very happy with the recorded sound, which is an accurate representation of what the bass sounds like acoustically. Zyex lights on a 30's-ish Juzek

I enjoyed that - thanks for posting! Makes me wonder how Zyex will work on my 30's-ish German/Czech.

I'm wondering if the lights have enough bottom to them (they sound good on your bass).

 

[martinc]

I posted this video on the duo thread and while i have some reservations about the playing i'm very happy with the recorded sound, which is an accurate representation of what the bass sounds like acoustically. Zyex lights on a 30's-ish Juzek

Michael: The Zyex lights sound good....nice playing...and Vanessa is a great singer!

 

[martinc]

I finally installed Zyex lights on my carved German bass after removing my ancient dead Obligatos. Zyex are really a great string - lots of umph with pizz and they bow almost as well as Obs - much closer to a gut sound than many - no complaints other than feeling a bit stiff and sticky the way new strings will. So I will give them a chance for love to grow and especially for the tone to mellow as reported by some here, but so far I really miss both the sound and feel of the Obs. I'm trying to resist changing back - will report back later.

Tom: I have been torn between the Zyex Lights and the Spiro 4/4 weichs. Both sound good on my Eberle ply. I finally came down on the side of the 4/4 Weichs because they have a slightly quicker attack and a bit more note definition. A ply bass does not sing. However on a more responsive carved bass I would think the Zyex Light would be my choice.

 

[TomB]

Tom: I have been torn between the Zyex Lights and the Spiro 4/4 weichs. Both sound good on my Eberle ply. I finally came down on the side of the 4/4 Weichs because they have a slightly quicker attack and a bit more note definition. A ply bass does not sing. However on a more responsive carved bass I would think the Zyex Light would be my choice.

My bass is a 1930's Mittenwald. It grew up with guts and generally has reacted well to the newer synthetic core products vs. steel (I used both Helicores and Corellis for some years). It likes the Zyex tension. They're certainly louder and much clearer in the fundamental than years-old Obs - which were so old the E-string was about to break going over the bridge. And they do stand out in a stage mix better. But there's something dark, warm and gut-like missing from the Z's at the moment that characterized the Obs, at least in their dotage. As I said, I'll give the Z's time to see if the tone mellows and if I can get used to the feel.

 

[Michael Karn]

I enjoyed that - thanks for posting! Makes me wonder how Zyex will work on my 30's-ish German/Czech.

I'm wondering if the lights have enough bottom to them (they sound good on your bass).

For me they have, I've found the set to be very well balanced, but i've also seen plenty of "spiro E string" stuff around here too. The nice thing about D'Adarrio is they're not nearly as expensive as Pirastro, which makes experimenting that much easier

 

[Jim Dombrowski]

I've tried both the light and medium gauge Zyex on my Christopher hybrid, and have kept the mediums.

I prefer the feel of the light gauge, but on my bass the medium gauge have a fuller, more complex sound.

The light gauge sounded more gut-like, but they were too quiet on my bass. I expected them to be brighter than the mediums, but they were somewhat subdued sounding. I bought them used, but the previous owner said he tried them for only a few days.

The mediums sound livelier, with much more presence (similar to Spirocores, but quite as bright as Spiros).

I have the full set of lights for sale in the classifieds.

JD