New orchestral strings from Pirastro & Daddario
Hi Ken,
Have you or anyone else on here tried the new Kaplan strings from Daddario or Pirastro's new Flexocor Deluxe set? I'm due a string change & want to weigh up all my options. Best regards, Chris |
Flex.
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Haven't yet tried the D'Addario Kaplans. All I know is what I can see and hear on these clips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9IdG3m7IK4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODFzT...84FAAAAAAAACAA Any of you folks try these at the most recent ISB convention? |
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Kaplan's and the Deluxe Flex.
Ok, I posted above about the Flexocor Deluxe of which I have a set on one of my basses now. These did not have a name yet when I got the sample set so they were on the bass and being tested before I knew what they were to be called. I have to say they have improved in the short time since putting them on. I tried them on the Hart at first and took them right off as they didn't have the sound that I like on that bass. Then, I put them on the Mougenot and they were better but didn't knock me out. Now that they have settled in, they are very nice. They 'are' the Deluxe of the Flexocor sets, close to the 92s I would say in gauge but not sound. They are also similar in gauge to the regular Passione but have much more sound. This is the best new set Pirastro has put out in general since the Evah's. The Passione Starks I think work better for firm playing as the regular set is a bit light.
On the Kaplan's, I just put a set on my Hart, replacing the Passione Starks. I was not sure at first if they worked better for me on that bass but after playing just a few minutes with the strings at pitch, I think these are nice sounding strings. Sort of a mix of sound between Evah's, Passione's and Flexocor 92s. The have more grit than 92s but smoother than the Passione's. The turn less than Evah's and have more sustain in the pizz than the Passione's. The Kaplans are also a lighter gauge string but soft under the fingers like Evah weichs, just not as thick. The Hart is my main bass. If I don't like the string as soon as I put it on, it comes right off. A bummer for my fingers, hands and arms changing strings again not to mention the time wasted, but it does happen. I have to like the string in minutes. IF, I like the string which is the case with the new Kaplan's, they stay on the bass and I play them until I don't like them or they wear out. Strings that I like that I have used and tested and continue to buy for various basses I play, buy and sell include Flexocor 92s (regular and stark), Evah's (reg and stark), Belcantos and Passione's (reg and stark). I also mix on occasion a regular set with a stark E. I buy other strings as well for the basses here in complete and mixed sets as needed but they are not what I like to use personally. As I have said many times before, some basses work better with some strings. Also, depending on what I am playing with 'that' bass, I might need something different. If playing an Orchestra gig or a Jazz gig, I might need different sets for the same bass. Sometimes I am either too lazy to make the change or it's not worth it just for a gig or two as putting strings on and off shortens their life. My personal optimum string for a particular bass is one that works for both Jazz pizz and Orchestra bowing. Sometimes, the bass itself only does one thing good and the other only fair at best. This is a different topic but for now, I think the Kaplans will work for what I have coming up which includes Beethoven's 9th next week, New World Sym.(and more) early next month and a Pop's concert with a few pieces to be played with pick-up and amp. Three different orchestras and three different bass sections with one of the other guys in all three sections with me as well. Seven/7 basses for the 9th and 4 basses for the other two concerts. Two of the guys playing the Pop's thing played with me last week in another orchestra concert so as you can see, I need to spend my time practicing throughout the season and not changing strings or adjusting my bass. I like set the bass up with workable versatile strings and play them till they wear out. Then, I put on the same set new again if they worked well of if I think I need to try one of my other favorites, I put them on. If a new sting comes out, I don't always try them on my main bass. It depends on many things which bass I test new strings. So, a thumbs up for both these new sets but on my Hart, my main bass, the Kaplan's stay on for now. The Flexocor deluxe are staying as well on the Mougenot. They sound great on that bass. I played back to back a few weeks ago in a B'way type show pit and then did an Orchestra rehearsal. It worked out fine. I also played an Orchestra concert about two months ago with the Mougenot when I first put the Deluxe set on and they were a bit bright for my ear but no one seemed to mind. Brighter and slightly tighter with smooth bowing, Flexocor Deluxe. Smooth deep/clear tone with a flexible feel, the new Kaplan's. |
Thanks for the review Ken.
Do you know what gauge the Kaplans are? I think they offer light,medium & heavy. Do you think they would work for jazz pizz? Thanks Geoff |
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I think 'how' you record a bass is very important. If the engineer is used to a Juzek-type bass, then that set-up on the board wont work on a 300 year old Italian bass. Bring that Valenitini bass or what ever it is (never heard of that maker) and I will make it work. :eek: |
Ken, I know your history, and your bass isn't this bass. I'm telling you I don't care if you were playing that bass, or Ron Carter, or anyone else, and put Van Gelder or anyone else at the controls, they would have a hell of a time getting that thing to sit easily in a jazz or pop mix. ;)
We could only use mics on it as the player refused to use a pickup (to add some needed mids) and as the producer, I couldn't insist because of special circumstances. We really did try everything to tame the darkness and ended up with a decent result. The bass sounded the way it sounded. |
Cheers for the comparison Ken, I've just ordered a set of Kaplans. I'll report back soon.
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ok... update
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Yesterday while testing basses side by side (which I do a lot of) we noticed that the Mougenot was so much louder than the Hart was. When they both had Passiones, the difference was much less. So, my assistant here suggested I try switching the Jargars and Flex Deluxe sets between the Hart and the Mougenot. I had been noticing the Deluxe's smoothing out a bit as they sat on the bass with only occasional playing on them so, I thought it was worth the chance. So, yesterday afternoon I switched the two basses around. The results; The Mougenot sounds a bit less powerful with the Jargars but much smoother and deeper than it did with the Deluxe's. An improvement because that bass has power to spare. The Hart now sounds maybe better than it has in a long time if not ever. The strings are not quite as bright as when they were new and the Hart seems to have gotten more powerful than I can remember it ever being. Belcantos are the only other string that puts out as much power on the Hart but the tone is less sweet than the Deluxe set. So, I will play the Hart now with these Flex-Deluxe's on it and see how long I go before changing to something else. |
ok..
Took out the Hart out this evening for a rehearsal (Thursday, Orchestra Society or Philadelphia) and I think this is the loudest and deepest this bass has ever sounded. We were playing the Mozart Posthorn which has some smooth bowing, some fast parts and a bit of pizz, just a bit. The principal sitting on my left taps my should and motions his hand downwards, 'not so loud'! I was bowing on the fingerboard so I motioned to play over the fingerboard above the neck heel and he laughed out loud. People looked over and had no idea what he was laughing about. I had to try real hard to play softly for this scaled down sized group we had tonight.
The brightness I mentioned before with these new Flex, Dlx. strings sounded more like clarity but the smooth loud depth was the best I remember having with this bass. I had a real good and smooth bow as well, my one of my old English Bryant's. The Lipkins is actually louder on this bass but I chose the Bryant for the Mozart. |
Does anyone know what the different tensions are for Passione, Deluxe and Kaplan? With all the different gauges it's hard to compare like with like.
I'm very interested in your comment that the Passiones felt a bit "loose," Ken, because that's exactly what I'm feeling right now with them on my bass. But because I'm playing it in after a long restoration I'm not sure whether what I'm feeling is caused by strings or bass (or a bit of both)... |
tensions
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If anybody has the means, and would care to take the time and publish the findings, whether by direct observation with a tension scale, or by deduction knowing the weight of the speaking length of a string, to find out what the tension of any given Pirastro string is, I'd be interested, because they are known for not quoting or publishing their tensions beyond the traditional light-medium-heavy generalizations. The only comments I have ever been able to find out in cyberspace regarding the relative tension of Pirastro strings are anecdotal observations like Ken's for the Passiones, and several others in different contexts have put Jazzers about midway between Spiro S42 Weich and S42 Mittel. |
Following on from that, does actual tension (as measured on scale in lbs or kg) translate directly to the string feeling tight or loose, or is that feeling more abstract, like the relationship between balance and weight of bows?
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Tailpiece angle, after length, string length, bridge height, nut height, fingerboard camber, neck strength, etc., all have something to do with the tension of your bass. I never go by numbers published on string tension other than maybe one compared to another. Once on a bass, then you can see how it feels. Belcantos on my Marconcini feel different than on my Bollbach Lion or Halle Tarr or any other bass. Same strings, different basses, different tensions! |
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