New Eurosonic Orchestra Strings!

[Ken Smith]

A New Orchestra/Jazz String is coming to town!

Last year I tested two sets of Strings for JR Music. They were light and medium tension Strings. I gave my comments and a few weeks ago received the Lights made to the specs we discussed as well as the Mediums. They produced several sets of the Light tension Strings but only one set of Mediums which I have on one of my Basses now.

What are these like? Well, I have been testing and trying many strings and as many of you know, my main String has been Flexocor for Orchestra but I have no relation with Pirastro other than trying out some strings for them and giving my results which have yielded zero in terms of response from them in design changes. They actually discontinued their best Ext. E/C String which is a reverse of the direction I think they should have gone..

These new Eurosonic Orchestra Strings Pizz great as well but not like a Spiro Red. More like an Obligato or Jargar with a softer feel. Also, I tested the Oliv/Eudoxa combo on my Bisiach Bass so I decided to put the new Lights on that Bass as well for its final test.

The results? Well in my opinion try putting Olivs, Eudoxas, Obligatos and Jargars in a blender! Both the Medium and Light sets are about the same thickness but the Tension is different. They Bow smooth, loud and deep and Pizz with a thickness better than most regular steel Jazz strings. They feel almost like Olivs under the fingers and stay in tune better. They Bow close to the Olivs and Jargars and better than Obligatos. I have them on my Bisiach and I personally vote them as the best new string on the market today.

Will I private label these as my own? No, not at this time but the offer was made by JR if I wanted to. I think that they have the most to do with this String by making them and I would rather support them than compete against my own supplier at this time.

Where to get them? I just received a few sets for Stock and now have them '4-Sale'. The direct price is $144 per set discounted. Currently, only the Light Tension is available which I would call "Regular Tension". In the future the Medium tension ("Firm Tension" to me) will be available. Also on the horizon will be a 'C/E' Extension String in both Tensions.

For Basses with a weaker sounding E in comparison to the G, D and A, the Medium E with the Light/Regular Tension set might be the fix but until the Mediums are made and in stock, that thought is on hold.

[Michael Case]

Man you're killin' me! :D

[Ken Smith]

Man you're killin' me! :D

Well, "the truth (and $144. plus shipping) will set you free". :D

[davidseidel]

Any updates from those trying these strings after a few weeks use? they certainly sound like they are worth a try.

[Ken Smith]

Any updates from those trying these strings after a few weeks use? they certainly sound like they are worth a try.

Well, I got 3 new Basses in a few weeks ago and put these Euros on them as well. They all sound great and play nice. They feel almost as soft as Obligatos but bow in the same class as Flexocor and Belcanto. I get my Bisiach back in a few days and then I will know better. Jeff has had it for the last month fitting a C-Ext. I gave him an old Superflex for the E/C as Eurosonic doesn't have the Ext. string yet. I will play the Bass with this set-up for the next few weeks in at least two concerts and then report back as far as the Strings go.

My current opinion is that these are very good strings for just about any Bass. I put them on a Plywood, a Hybrid, a new Carved Bass and my Bisiach not to mention a test set of firm tension on my 3/4 Shen. So far, all the Basses are working just fine.

[Ken Smith]

I just put a set of these Eurosonics on a new English Bass (http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/LottModel/Lott_Model.htm) I got in this week and I must say they are smooth sounding, easy to bow and light to the touch. This is a new Bass for me so I have no idea how other strings will sound on it but this is the best I have heard these strings or rather felt and played on them. This Bass here;
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/LottModel/images/lott_mod2.jpghttp://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/LottModel/images/lott_mod12.jpg

[Joel Larsson]

Ken, I get something of an idea of what they're like, but how would you say they differ from Bel Cantos for bowing and solo playing? Do they carry the tone all the way up to the end of the fingerboard? And I take it that they are responsive even if you aren't using ten strokes of Pops every day?

[Ken Smith]

I just put the exact set that was on that English bass above. I took them off because that bass is getting a C-extension and different strings by a customers request. Just yesterday I took the Guts off the Pollmann and put the 'used' Euro.Orchestra strings on it and wow, it sounds better than I recall it sounding with the Flex 92s I had on it originally. Last night I did an Orchestra rehearsal and took out the Pollmann. I don't recall ever being so loud in that hall. The G and D sound great bowed or pizz'd and the A and E have some 'bite' to them. They don't make an Extension set and will not due to the machine length they have but if you want a good 4-string set and fairly priced, these are worth the try.

[Joel Larsson]

Hm. I am for obvious reasons quite interested in strings that seem to fare well with a Pöllmann Bussetto. A Bel Canto set should arrive soon; if I am not satisfied, I suppose I could do some pioneering with those Eurosonics.

[Ken Smith]

Hm. I am for obvious reasons quite interested in strings that seem to fare well with a Pöllmann Bussetto. A Bel Canto set should arrive soon; if I am not satisfied, I suppose I could do some pioneering with those Eurosonics.

These are sweeter sounding than the Bels which I think are slightly dry sounding and with slightly less color.

You are in Europe? There they are sold under the Presto name but make sure it's the new Orchestra set, light gauge. That is what I have and use here.

[stkowalski]

hi ken,

first time posting here. after reading this thread for a few months i decided to take your advice. now, i have tried many strings in my day and have never been impressed with any strings for orchestra playing/solo playing. the best choice for me was always the flexocor (red bottoms) thin verison for the upper three strings and a stark spirocore for the E string. I tried the bel cantos and they where great sounding strings in the lower end of my old italian bass. but i hated playing anything in thumb position, the tension was just too much. since i am always looking for the best string i tried your eurosonics light tension for the upper three strings and the medium for the E string. at first i was a little sceptical, i like the way the strings felt with the bow and everything seemed easy for the left hand. the only problem was that it seemed the D string and A string were a bit tinny, bright, almost metalic sounding. the following week i was teaching a lesson and asked my student to play my italian bass with the eurosonics. after moving only five feet away i was blown away with the sound. the bright, tinny, metalic sound disappeared and the bass sounded louder and fuller then ever!! these strings are amazing, thank you ken for talking about these strings.

[Anselm Hauke]

..... my old italian bass. .....

hi mr kowalski, welcome to the forum where everybody wants to see pictures of old italian basses...:)

[Eric Rene Roy]

Yes Mr. KOWALSKI, lets see some pictures!

[Ken Smith]

hi ken,

first time posting here. after reading this thread for a few months i decided to take your advice. now, i have tried many strings in my day and have never been impressed with any strings for orchestra playing/solo playing. the best choice for me was always the flexocor (red bottoms) thin verison for the upper three strings and a stark spirocore for the E string. I tried the bel cantos and they where great sounding strings in the lower end of my old italian bass. but i hated playing anything in thumb position, the tension was just too much. since i am always looking for the best string i tried your eurosonics light tension for the upper three strings and the medium for the E string. at first i was a little sceptical, i like the way the strings felt with the bow and everything seemed easy for the left hand. the only problem was that it seemed the D string and A string were a bit tinny, bright, almost metalic sounding. the following week i was teaching a lesson and asked my student to play my italian bass with the eurosonics. after moving only five feet away i was blown away with the sound. the bright, tinny, metalic sound disappeared and the bass sounded louder and fuller then ever!! these strings are amazing, thank you ken for talking about these strings.

Ok, first off, message me with your real full name as required for the Forum and then update your 'Profile' with an actual location. Please, thank you.:)

Then, maybe instead of this,
first time posting here. after reading this thread for a few months i decided to take your advice. now, i have tried you can post like this in the future,
First time posting here. After reading this thread for a few months I decided to take your advice. Now, I have tried... etc..Oh, and the typos :eek: .. Late for a Gig with that old Italian bass?.. lol;)

Oh, and yes, these strings do sound good for the money on all of the Basses I have tried them on. Under the ear (like on so many basses and strings) they are not as pleasant as they are from a distance.

Because they do not make a low C extension string (and I like all 4 matched for sound) I don't use them on any of my regular Basses which are all Low C/Extension equipped. Other than that, they are a good string to add to the menu.

[Calvin Marks]

Ken, are these the Eurosonics (aka Prestos), you speak of?

http://www.presto-strings.com/nw.html

http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product/1250-STRING_SETS_EUROSONIC_UPRIGHT_BASS_STRINGS.html

I notice they come in ultra light, light and medium but on the PRESTO sight they mention that you should use SANDPAPER on the strings where you bow...

[Drake Chan]

Ken, are these the Eurosonics (aka Prestos), you speak of?

http://www.presto-strings.com/nw.html

http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product/1250-STRING_SETS_EUROSONIC_UPRIGHT_BASS_STRINGS.html

I notice they come in ultra light, light and medium but on the PRESTO sight they mention that you should use SANDPAPER on the strings where you bow...

Nope. Those are the regular nylon-wound Eurosonics. They're meant to be used by bluegrass and rockabilly players who slap, as they are a low-tension "gut substitute" string.

The Eurosonic Orchestrals are a steel-wound strings for orchestral playing (duh). Quinn carries them (the second row).

http://www.quinnviolins.com/qv_eurosonicbass.shtml

[Ken Smith]

Ken, are these the Eurosonics (aka Prestos), you speak of?

http://www.presto-strings.com/nw.html

http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product/1250-STRING_SETS_EUROSONIC_UPRIGHT_BASS_STRINGS.html

I notice they come in ultra light, light and medium but on the PRESTO sight they mention that you should use SANDPAPER on the strings where you bow...

The ones we have which Presto I believe makes to a design I developed for JR Music is a steel string like a Flexocor. I only have the light gauge but we did develop a medium gauge. I re-termed them as Regular and 'Firm' I believe as the Lights feel normal and just about the same gauge thickness. The Mediums are just stiffer. I have the proto-type medium set on a bass at home. I only carry the ones they call light.

Unfortunately, JR Music is using the exact same name to sell both styles of strings hence the confusion. Contact them for more information if you need.

[Martin Sheridan]

Ken,
I got around to trying these strings recently and I think they're fantastic.
Rich sent me a set called "light" but they are really a medium gage to me and he commented that they were going to change the designation to that. Anyway, they pizz and bow very well and are therefore a great string for me to use to show my basses. I'm planning on getting two more sets asap.
Thank you for telling us about these strings.

[Ken Smith]

Ken,
I got around to trying these strings recently and I think they're fantastic.
Rich sent me a set called "light" but they are really a medium gauge to me and he commented that they were going to change the designation to that. Anyway, they pizz and bow very well and are therefore a great string for me to use to show my basses. I'm planning on getting two more sets asap.
Thank you for telling us about these strings.

Yes martin, I agree on that Gauge naming thing. Measuring these and the set they marked Medium while testing the samples I found them to be almost the same exact diameter for each string.

I call this Light labeled set 'Regular' gauge and the one they call medium, 'high tension'. I happen to have that 'medium'/high tension set right here at home on my '97 Shen/Gemunder 1000 model.

I agree that they bow well and Pizz well. They are not the best Bowing or the best Pizz/Jazz string one can buy but they do deserve a spot in line with them. My problem with these strings is not the strings themselves but the fact they don't make a c-extension model. I was told that their machine cannot make them any longer than they are now. Also, when trying these on bigger basses like my 4/4 Gamba or 7/8 Mougenot, they barely reached the most upper Tuning gear. The Mougenot is closer to a 4/4 in its string length need as the neck is quite long and the peg box is as well.

They are what they are to me. A good string that works well for the bow and fingers combined. The price is slightly cheaper than the Pirastro or Thomastik line of strings. Still, I use the more expensive ones because of the C-extension issue. I am not one to mix brands or styles within a set. I like the tone and tension even across the bass.

I am glad to hear you like them. I got just about 'zero' credit for helping with their design. My fingers remember them well from changing and testing strings but unless I tell someone, they will never know I was even involved in their development. I worked only with/thru Rich at JR and in turn, JR worked with Presto. Presto probably doesn't know I was involved unless someone tells them. No problemo, I just wanted the string in the end and got it..;)

[Martin Sheridan]

I'd like to see them add that little fuzzy nubbins at the tailpiece end of the string that most string makers use. I do like that the tailpiece end has a holding piece that will fit through the hole of the tailpiece. (There must be names for these two things?)
I'd had Helicore's on my Carcassi model and first replaced the D and G with the Eurosonics. My first impression was that I didn't like them. I put the bass in the corner, came back a couple of days later and couldn't believe the volume difference between the two brands. So I changed out the E and A too.
When you are in the position of showing basses it's really a relief to have a string that will demonstrate both pizz and arco and not have to change the strings out. Until now I've used Helicor Orchestra strings because I think they're a better hybrid than the hybrid.
I'm still a big fan of the original Flexocor for arco and Spirocore Weichs for pizz. I tried a set of Bel Cantos recently and was really disappointed after hearing so much praise for them. Maybe it was the bass? The Bel Cantos came out just as I was moving to Mexico and I didn't get to try them out until late spring. Everyone has been raving about those strings, but at least on this bass the Eurosonics performed better especially on pizz, and they're about half the price.
best,

[Ken Smith]

I'd like to see them add that little fuzzy nubbins at the tailpiece end of the string that most string makers use. I do like that the tailpiece end has a holding piece that will fit through the hole of the tailpiece. (There must be names for these two things?)
I'd had Helicore's on my Carcassi model and first replaced the D and G with the Eurosonics. My first impression was that I didn't like them. I put the bass in the corner, came back a couple of days later and couldn't believe the volume difference between the two brands. So I changed out the E and A too.
When you are in the position of showing basses it's really a relief to have a string that will demonstrate both pizz and arco and not have to change the strings out. Until now I've used Helicor Orchestra strings because I think they're a better hybrid than the hybrid.
I'm still a big fan of the original Flexocor for arco and Spirocore Weichs for pizz. I tried a set of Bel Cantos recently and was really disappointed after hearing so much praise for them. Maybe it was the bass? The Bel Cantos came out just as I was moving to Mexico and I didn't get to try them out until late spring. Everyone has been raving about those strings, but at least on this bass the Eurosonics performed better especially on pizz, and they're about half the price.
best,

On the delay response with the Eurosonics I can only attribute that to the lessened tension on the Top. It took time for the Bass to respond to them. On the Basses I have here (the good ones..lol) I see immediate response in most cases when trying strings. On the Bel's, some basses they do wonders for and some not. Also, it depends on what you want to hear. On the same exact bass, one customer likes Orig Flex and I hated them but I loved the Stark 92s instead. Different ears and hands as well.

I think that for selling low to mid-priced basses, the Eurosonice are good strings to put on the bass to cover the bases. The Orch. Helicores to me are Hybrid strings as well but they are not very consistant from set to set in the gauges or the quality. I can't handle that so I avoid those strings for the most part.

Flexocor 92s is a favorite of mine as are the Evah's in both Orch and Weich gauges. I also like the Belcantos but this is the C-extension set. The regular E is different. The C-extension string feels great on one of my basses and a bit too stiff/heavy on another. On the bass that it feels heavy, the bass is even and works with the regular 92 E. The one where it feels ok is a bass that needs a Stark E 92. I mentioned to the Dist. that Tomastik needs to make this E/C a bit smaller in tension/diameter and call the current one Stark as it feels it and make a regular tension one for the basses that don't need the extra umph from a string. Too many people switch Es because of this. The E is the hardest string to get moving. Remember, many of these oldies we play never had the E/4th string in mind when they were made. Some do fine and some need a bit less tension. My Hart bass is fine with a balanced set while some others I have need help down below. Finding what works is always a hunt for me. The Eurosonice are a nice string to start with I think. They are right down the middle, as planned!;)

[John Cubbage]

Thank you for having this thread on double bass strings.

Recently I saw a video of a bass player who had strings on his bass that had green silk end wrapping with a purple thread spiraling over the green. Can you tell me what brand / model of string this was?

Thanks.

- Dr. C.

[Ken Smith]

Thank you for having this thread on double bass strings.

Recently I saw a video of a bass player who had strings on his bass that had green silk end wrapping with a purple thread spiraling over the green. Can you tell me what brand / model of string this was?

Thanks.

- Dr. C.

Not sure. A pic might help.

[John Cubbage]

Thank you for having this thread on double bass strings.

Recently I saw a video of a bass player who had strings on his bass that had green silk end wrapping with a purple thread spiraling over the green. Can you tell me what brand / model of string this was?

Thanks.

- Dr. C.

Please use the address below and watch the video segment. The player shows a close-up of the strings, green silk wrapped with purple spiral, on the video.

https://youtu.be/MX4-oSVv31M?t=206

Thank you for your input.

- Dr. C.

[Ken Smith]

Please use the address below and watch the video segment. The player shows a close-up of the strings, green silk wrapped with purple spiral, on the video.

https://youtu.be/MX4-oSVv31M?t=206

Thank you for your input.

- Dr. C.

Maybe the newish Evah Pirazzi strings from Pirastro.

[John Cubbage]

Thank you.

If you go to the website for Shar Music you can click on the camera icon under the Winding" column and see the colors each string is wrapped in silk at the ends. The Pirastro Evah Pirazzi has no picture of their end wrapping, so you could be correct about which string those colors belong to.


http://www.sharmusic.com/shop.axd/StringsWorksheet?brand=Evah\+Pirazzi\+\(Pirastro\) #fq=ATR_Brand%3aZyex%5c+%5c(D%27Addario%5c)+OR+ATR _Brand%3aTungsten%5c+Bass%5c+%5c(Corelli%5c)+OR+AT R_Brand%3aPrelude%5c+%5c(D%27Addario%5c)+OR+ATR_Br and%3aEvah%5c+Pirazzi%5c+SLAP%5c+%5c(Pirastro%5c)+ OR+ATR_Brand%3aOverture%5c+Ultra+OR+ATR_Brand%3aDo minant%5c+%5c(Thomastik%5c+Infeld%5c)+OR+ATR_Brand %3aChromcor%5c+%5c(Pirastro%5c)+OR+ATR_Brand%3aSpi rocore%5c+%5c(Thomastik%5c+Infeld%5c)+OR+ATR_Brand %3aBelcanto%5c+%5c(Thomastik%5c+Infeld%5c)+OR+ATR_ Brand%3aRed%5c+Label%5c+%5c(Super%5c-Sensitive%5c)+OR+ATR_Brand%3aPassione%5c+%5c(Piras tro%5c)+OR+ATR_Brand%3aObligato%5c+%5c(Pirastro%5c )+OR+ATR_Brand%3aKaplan%5c+%5c(D%27Addario%5c)+OR+ ATR_Brand%3aHelicore%5c+%5c(D%27Addario%5c)+OR+ATR _Brand%3aFlexocor%5c+Original%5c+%5c(Pirastro%5c)+ OR+ATR_Brand%3aFlexocor%5c+Deluxe%5c+%5c(Pirastro% 5c)+OR+ATR_Brand%3aFlexocor%5c+%5c(Pirastro%5c)+OR +ATR_Brand%3aEvah%5c+Pirazzi%5c+%5c(Pirastro%5c)&fq=ATR_Instrument%3aBass&src=&_=1464107951208


By the way, I am shocked at the string prices. Back in 1968-72 I could go to Shroeder's Music supply downtown Manhattan (S. Park Ave. or S. 5th Ave?) and buy Pirastro Flexocore bass orchestra strings for $23 to $25 dollars a set. Now they want ten times that price? Wow! I'd like to see modern manufacturing technology bring the prices down.

Thanks again for the string information.

- Dr. C.