Pirastro-Evah Pirazzi

[Eric Hochberg]

I've been using them for a couple of months now, but split between two basses. The E and A on my '55 Juzek are wonderful, especially under the bow. The fullest, loudest sound I have heard on this bass and I've been playing it for 30 years. I think I prefer Spiro Mittels for jazz pizz for a little more sizzle, but these work well. I have Obligato D and G on this bass and the combination is fine together. It seems that the Obli D and G are louder now, too.

On my other, older, German bass with a darker sound, I have the EP G in combo with Weichs and am very happy. More meat under my finger, less twang and darker sounding with the bow on the G string. This bass seems to like less tension, hence the Weichs.

[Steve Alcott]

NS LaScala, EPs, very satisfied both pizz and arco.

[Richard Prowse]

I put a set of EPs on just under a week ago and they keep stretching (going flat). Is this normal? How long do they take to settle?

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

I put a set of EPs on just under a week ago and they keep stretching (going flat). Is this normal? How long do they take to settle?

They're settling - good pizz sound. I just put my Belcanto set back on.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

They're settling - good pizz sound. I just put my Belcanto set back on.

Please tell us how the EVs compare to the Bel's.

They are both each company's new 'wonder' string. What say you?

I have used them both but not on the same bass.

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Please tell us how the EVs compare to the Bel's.

They are both each company's new 'wonder' string. What say you?

I have used them both but not on the same bass.

Ken, my friend, the EVs were thick with a gut-ish sound. The pizz sound was big and strong, and I really liked it. They were 'harder' to bow and, with my German bow, it was tougher to get the E string to sound. They spent the week stretching. If they were the only strings on a desert island and I was shipwrecked, I'd be very happy to play them. My bass is new (about 6 years old) and I doubt if it has been bowed much. The EVs seemed to accenturate the strengths (and weaknesses) of different registers. The BCs are similar to Weichs, IMO (that's 'computer speak' for 'in my opinion') but very nice under the bow. I like how they speak so easily on the E and A strings. Surprisingly, on this new bass, they still have a tendency to 'squeak' once in a while. I spent a short period (a few weeks) trying to learn to sing (vocally) and this is the sound I'd like to get with my arco playing (not my voice, something nicer). I think that I get a nice singing sound with the BCs. I'll have to live with their slightly lesser pizz quality but, hey, I've got Weichs on my German plywood!

[Anselm Hauke]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

They're settling - good pizz sound. I just put my Belcanto set back on.

????
imho you should give the pirazzis some weeks to develop before judging

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Anselm Hauke

????
imho you should give the pirazzis some weeks to develop before judging

IMEMHO (in my even more humble opinion),
I'm sure you're right. I'll give them another run some time down the track. Right now I just want a nice bowing sound.

My daughter is staying and, while practising yesterday, I casually asked her,
"What do you think of the sound of the bass?" I'd just put the BCs on.
"It sounds like a bass." she replied.

Many years ago I wrote a tune for my daughter. I was practising it one winter morning when she got up and came and sat by the heater. I told her I'd written what I was playing for her.
She said,
"One of these mornings, if you don't shut up, someone's going to break that bass!"

I suspect that both strings would work fine for my daughter.

[Richard Prowse]

Just back from an old friend's place. He has a Christopher 600 (7/8) strung with EPs and I have a Christopher 500 (3/4) strung with BCs. Both basses seemed similar volume and sound wise, I suspect that the 600 (7/8) had a slightly bigger sound, but its action was higher and there really wasn't much in it. Both basses sounded good to us and we had a fun afternoon comparing notes about different strings we'd tried and gigs we'd done.
So, two very similar basses - which strings were better?
IMHO (in my humble opinion) the EPs had a bigger, very appealing sound and the BCs had a very beautiful 'lighter' singing sound. It was like comparing Beethoven and Mozart, a lovely sunset and a spectacular sunrise, a great lunch with friends and a wonderful night out, your best friend and your lover. Both strings were winners today.

[Calvin Marks]

Pirastro just sent me Evah Weichs and Orchestra's to try out for free. Does anyone know the gauge of the Weichs?

Thanks