I'm happy to report that the re-formulated Pirastro Passiones are a winner. When I recently strung up my #30 bass, I tried several different sets of strings; old and new BelCantos, Flexacore Originals and Deluxe, then the Passiones. These strings have the same ease of bowing as the BelCantos, but have a wider dynamic range and a bit less tension. I sometimes buck the trend at competitions, as it has become the norm to string up with BelCantos. Yesterday I learned that my #30 bass had won a Silver medal for Tone at the Violin Society of America maker's competition (the highest tone award) with the Passiones, so I will continue to buck when warranted. Thanks to my friend and colleague, Jay VandeKopple, for suggesting these strings for this bass.
