Pirastro Evah Pirazzi Slap - Double bass strings - Presentation 

Thank you so much, I appreciate your compliment very much 🙏🙏🙏! I try to do my best!

I've had the Slaps on my 3/4 laminate for about two months. I LOVE the sound of the D and G. Warm with a nice percussive "ping". Now looking for a good A and E to match. The Slaps A and E just don't have enough definition and fundamental for me.

Thank you very much Felix! (Sorry for the late reply)

Simon I just checked my video with the different guts on the plywood bass. I really love the combination of e/a gut-a-like swingmaster and d/g natural gut (Evah slap). You can hear it at the end of that video.

Thanks for your message. Another advantage of having all four strings synthetic is that you will have less tuning stability issues. I would love to have the EP Slap Synthetic with just a little more tension, for a more "solid" or full sound and a little more sustain. I will talk to Pirastro...

@@stringmatrix hahaha yes please talk to Pirastro!

Thank you very much!

Thank you for the feedback! Which kind of mixed set do you mean? I never tried the EP Solo. The EP light are fantastic, they "sing" and growl more than the EP Slap. So they have a little more modern sound. EP Slap are good if you like a darker sound with a quite short sustain. For punchy old school swing bass lines I think EP slap are very well suited.

@@stringmatrix I see... so they are not the same as EP but softer, the timbre is really different. I don't have a specific mixed set in mind but it was really clear when you switch instantly in your vidéo between the different G and D string and it could be really cool to hear that with other brand as well !

@@vannave5761 OK thanks, I see what you mean! As I already demonstrate in one video, I am a fan of using Oliv G and D with something else for A and E. If I find more interesting set combinations I will consider making a video.

Unfortunately I can't answer that question because I haven't had them for a long period of time on the bass... sorry!

To be honest: I never did anything to plain gut strings! I heard that you can oil them, but I never tried. As to strings with metal wrapping, I clean them with a little alcohol. Cheers!

Yes the gut version is a good option for a PC kind of sound. The D often sounds darker and shorter compared to the rest, but many players don't mind. The complete synthetic set would also be an option. Less sustain than the EP weichs. But clearer attack. Volume : apparently less than EP weichs but with the better attack you will hear yourself better playing swing. Tension: should be no problem. I would like to have these with slightly more tension.

I have played a lot of these strings from EV weichs, daddarios, Spirocore, guts, slap, perpetual, belcanto etc...I will say to get the 60s sound comes more from your amplification method, technique, action than the type of bass or string, although the string plays a more little role than the bass.. use a mic on your bass and avoid pickups/DIs, your technique also matters ( don't pick hard like stringmatrix ) tone does not mean hard plucks but power play.. the EPs weich are very close to the 60s. Bassist Carlos Henriquez ( jazz @lincoln center ) actually switched from his signature chorda gut string ( kinda abandoned it ) for EP weich...the EP Weichs are very close sounding to the 60s.. pair them with a mic and you've got what you're looking for. Some other alternatives are the Slap synthetics, spirocore and some synthetic guts...

Hi Cristian. Very difficult, there's hardly no string on the market with a similar concept as Evah Slap. You could try oliv, but of course it's a little expensive. But it's really the only string which I can imagine would work. I never tried Thomastik Belcanto, maybe they could work, but I think they have a metal core. Maybe also Galli Ouverture, but they sound much brighter.

Yes great idea to use only the G in real gut, a couple of players do that, I think it makes sense. I didn't do a loop. Just used the knot but sometimes I use a little metal disc with a hole to prevent the string from sliding through the hole of the tailpiece.

Oh very interesting because testing strings for a few days definitely doesn't give all the information one needs. I am grateful for any long term experience report!

They have a similar vibe and similar envelope. I would say the Oliv sounds a little better, it has a more natural and deeper timbre. But I never tested them directly "side to side".

@@stringmatrix Thanks for the info! That helps a lot

Thank you very much! I didn't do patreon yet, but I am considering that. I have ko-fi but PayPal take a few percent from that. Best is: direct PayPal to rwontour@gmail.com (friends option). Thank you very much 🙏!

Danke Frederik! Ich hatte mich ein bisschen zurück gehalten weil mein Englisch manchmal stockelig ist. Es freut mich zu wissen, dass mein Gelaber trotzdem gut ankommt!

Hi! I only have Nyman and Carlson (both in a violet box and I think they are similar too).

I never heard of these. Basically I would present any string. I still have a couple of sets to present and in these Corona times I use the gig-free time to make videos for this channel. So if there would be a possibility to get a test set I can also take these strings "in the queue".

@@stringmatrix That would be fantastic!

www.superiorbassworks.com/Superior_Bassworks_Deluxe_Upright_Double_Bass_Strings_Dirty_Gut/p693784_6219678.aspx Here is their webpage. I know they are available from BassBags in the Uk

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mgT5VJF7vms.html Here's a great short demo of them

The action is about G:7 mm D: 8:mm A: 9 mm E: 9,5 mm So not too high for gut. But you will get a more old school type of sound with a higher action in my opinion.

104,5 cm. They are low tension. Try and find out if it's your thing!

I wouldn't say so. Both are very nice to bow. Maybe the Evah Pirazzi weich offer more sound variation possibilities for advanced players.

The tension was very similar, I couldn't even say if one or the other felt like it had more tension.

Look on Pirastro's website, there you can see the tension. The tension of the synthetics is slightly higher.

Thanks! The tension will be slightly lower and I must say, for pizz, that the synthetic EP Slap don't make a bass sound "big" as normal EPs or Obligatos do. But they are really nice to bow! And for normal bowing (not baroque) I guess it's nicer to have all strings metal wrapped. But if you are mainly an arco player and occasionally playing jazz, I think this is a good choice, especially for a more old school kind of jazz sound.

@@stringmatrix Thank you so much for the quick response!! I’ve never actually played gut strings before, but I am intrigued by them. Do you feel that I would be missing out on anything by getting the full synthetic set versus the mixed set? In particular, playability or sound benefits, especially for arco. Thanks so much, again! P.S. you’ve got yourself a new subscriber! 😊👍🏼 Keep up the great work!

@@Lukronius Since I am more a pizzicato player, from that perspective my opinion is: Real gut had a very special feel and the synthetic g/d are an imitation. So if someone want the real feel of gut, he won't get it 100% with the synthetics. But gut also has downsides: tuning stability and the transition between a and d is not totally smooth. I think in your case it's a good plan to take the complete synthetic set.

@@stringmatrix Thank you so much. I think you’re right, and I will get the complete synthetic set. They are all four metal wound, right? On an unrelated note, I’ve got some church gigs coming up for the Advent season. I’ll be onstage with potentially drums (at least light percussion) and some other instruments. Is there a budget (perhaps around $100 or less) that you would recommend for me so that only/mostly only my bass is captured without picking up all the other sounds? Thanks so much! By the way, are you on the TalkBass forums? I’m LukeTheDrifter on there if you’d like to message me. Thanks!

@@Lukronius you mean a pickup? I would take either the Realist or the K&K Double big twin. For the K&K make sure the surface is very clean. You can stick the elements on the downside of the bridge, the surface should be flatter. You'll probably need EQing. Yes I am on talkbass but I don't visit too often.

That depends on what you want. The EP Slap are somewhat more "practical", their are not too thick and have a quite even sound. But real gut might sound a little "thicker" or fuller (but that can't be said as a general rule). Did you see the new Efrano video? I think the G + D strings are quite similar to the gut G + D of EP Slap. And the wound A + E match well.

@@stringmatrix I just saw your Efrano video and I think I will opt for their wound A+E. Just by comparing through these videos (not optimal, I know), they sound more like what I want. I'm a slapper primarily, but sometimes dwell in other traditional American styles of music as well. Need to send Efrano an email about which tension would suit me best. Thanks for the reply!

Their tension is lower than Olivs tension. On the Pirastro website you can find the tensions. Oliv D/G: 25,5/25,5 kg. EP Slap Synth: D/G 20,1/21,6 kg. The Olivs (D and G) have a stronger tone with more "substance" and sustain (talking about D and G Pizz). Actually I tried to convince Pirastro to to make an EP Slap synth set with a little more tension, because I think that would be a good synthetic alternative to Olivs. But they didn't seem too interested unfortunately.

@@stringmatrix ah thank you very much for your answer. Sad to hear that. The Oliv’s are great strings but I miss the more older/thumpier sound and these synthetics sounded closer to guts than the Oliv’s. Thanks again for your time!

@@Gmakamian You're welcome! To get "a step thumpier" than Olivs I unfortunately don't have any good tip. Gut-A-Like Swingmaster is a very thumpy string but he tension is also similar to gut.

I just read on Facebook about these strings: Gamut "Red Diamond". They are gut strings with higher tension. Maybe interesting, but I don't know them.

@@stringmatrix thanks! I’ve tried those on a friends bass and they sounded pretty good. I didn’t know they were higher tension. I’ll research that. Thanks again, that was really helpful!

I don't have the silver slaps at home (I borrowed a set when I tested them). I think the tension is similar, the EP Slaps are among the "low tension" kind of string, without feeling floppy. The diameter is maybe slightly smaller, I am not sure. I will try to measure the diameter if you want.

@@stringmatrix thanks, Bob G has the diameters on his website is see now... i guess i'm just wondering your overall impressions... i use golden slaps, and on one bass i need a super silver G string, but innovation has stopped production due to virus, and there are none in the US so i am forced to change brands. sorry innovation...

Hi Hervé, Thank you for the tremendous work, it is a great help! Question: how does the all synthetic set compare with the D'Addario Zyex, please? Sound, tension, gauge...

@@NitramTeurg I would say no. The Zyex (I only know a prototype set but I guess they remained the same) have a very growling, "pushing" sound and they have a fair amount of sustain. The EP Slap has much less sustain and less tension. Their aim is to sound "old school" and to have some thump at the beginning of the tone. They a not "singing" strings, the Zyex are in some way. As to the gauge, I am not sure. I think the Zyex are either a little thinner or similar.

Hmmm it could work, but I don't see it as an ideal match. The perpetual will be more modern (more sustain, less punch) but many players have such a combination, more modern in the lows, more old-school and punchy in the higher register. Let me know what you think if you try it.

@@stringmatrix i'm from brazil, and strings here are extrmely expensive. (Like a two minimum wage). So i realy gonna take your opinion, and i'm not gonna do this test. I will use the perpetual full set. Thanks for your response, and congratulations for your job.

Low, because they emulate a gut string. So I would recommend a higher action.

Arco works really well with EP slap. The tension is lower than oliv. I am trying to convince Pirastro to make an EP slap set with a slightly higher tension. The tone would be more "solid" and they would gain a little sustain. My dream is to have an oliv-like sound with synthetic strings. Seems that I am not the only one 👍🏻!

@@stringmatrix That would be great if they did a string like that! EP slap but a little more tension. I have been thinking about writing them myself. I also have been thinking that it would be great with a velvet Compass 180 but thicker and darker. I don't like the copper winding and I just hate thin strings so Velvet is not for me at the moment. Let's see if they continue their production or what happens...

@@linusklevebrant6006 Cool, glad to hear that you feel the same about EP slap tension!

@@stringmatrix I hope they don't honor your request.. if you want high tension there are many other options out there.. the low tension is what makes the slap very appealing..

@@joshmcdzz6925 What? I'm not saying that they should change the tension of this model but provide a second option. I have been testing strings since 2005 and I haven't found any synthetic string that has a similar "gutty" envelope like the EP Slap. If you know another set with this kind of old school punch but slightly higher tension, please let me know.

Oui la tension des evah slap est très similaire aux tension de boyaux typiques. Merci pour ta vidéo !

Of course if you are looking for a singing, growly, modern string, these are not the right ones. But this sound is not characteristic for Pirastro. If you like strings like Thomastik's Spiros, you could check the Pirastro "Perpetual". I did't have them yet, I just heard them on a friend's bass. A very different approach than the EP Slaps, and different from Spiro but beautiful.

Wow THE Larry King! Didn’t know you played, cool! Yes I had an A string a little while back, nice volume just no attack on the front of the note. The higher you went up on it the worse it got. My bass needs a little work done on it mind you but I have a solo spiro on it now and it’s not giving me problems where the slap one was.

Stringmatrix thanks for videos btw. Helpful and informative. There’s just too many damn strings out there, they’re very expensive and I’m very poor. Hope you can do a perpetual clip soon. Stay healthy. Cheers!

Hello, thanks for the review. The E and A slaps sounded and felt very good at first for jazz pizz (combined with Gut-a-like D and G) but after a couple of months, they became a lot stiffer so the perceived tension became much higher. Also, they amplify very well. They are a good match for gut strings, but only for a couple of months after that they become much harder to play. That was my experience, at least.

@@abrahamhumphrey2297 I will ask pirastro if they could send me a set.