Pirastro Evah Pirazzi Bass String Set

Best Strings for My Bass! They also do alternate tunings.

I will review the strings below, but as for Fiddlershop, I highly recommend this company. Strings were shipped right away, and received in good, short order. First, my instrument: Let's be honest: 1) You can pay less than $100 for a set of string bass strings; 2) I have a really, really cheap internet string bass that I paid less than $700 for (the purchase also included a bow [hair came undone after literally three downbows and three upbows -- not an exaggeration; and I use a German, not French bow]; gig bag which, after 20 years, is really coming apart; free $50-esque cheap strings; and free shipping, which under normal circumstances, was $150 back in the day! That's how cheap this instrument is!). That's a long sentence, and didn't include that I had to have the bridge (also supplied) cut down by a good inch or so, because they simply threw in the bridge, matching or not. Now to the review of the strings: I purchased a set of Pirastro Evah Pirazzi strings. This is the second set of the Evahs I've purchased, since I loved my first set so much! The strings are considered a hybrid classical/jazz set, both genres of which I have in my repertoire. I primarily use them for classical, but ANY time I get to "plug in," I seize that opportunity. The set I got this time is the "normal" orchestral version. Alas, I cannot remember if my last set was a "weich" (smaller scale, designed more for jazz) or not, as it's been a long time ago since I got them. The original set of strings that came with my cheapie bass were the cheapie strings mentioned above. They were simply coming unraveled -- literally. I put the Evahs on, and the tone of my cheapie bass improved easily by 200%. The difference was that notable! The "box" of my bass is very sympathetic to the note C2 -- probably 50% louder than any other note on my bass. I do not expect anything short of an entirely different bass to change that. But considering my cheapie plywood bass, the tone is so much better -- still not up to the sound of any better bass, but again, that's due to the bass, not the strings. As to the classical side: The tone is so much deeper, but it is also respectable for doing solo work, as it is not tubby or muffled; a round, lively sound, without being *too* dark. With the exception mentioned above (because of the box on my bass), the sound is consistent, without one string overpowering the others. Also to note: They are flatwound, not roundwound. Considering that I had the old set of Pirazzis on for about 8 years (I play somewhat seasonally, not 8 hours a day), they held up ever so much better than the cheapie $50 strings! So is it worth getting a legitimate, good set of strings? For the value one gets out of them, absolutely! (Of course, I do not recommend having them on as long as I did, as a rule.) As for the jazz side: These strings absolutely ROCK! As I play both electric and upright bass, I find that there is a time and a place for both instruments. But when playing Cool J or Big Band, to my mind, there is no substitute for an upright, and these strings 200% deliver! One of my all-time favorite sounds on the planet is when one plays a G1 on the E-string, because of its "growl." And I find that on my instrument, that famous upright bass growl can be found throughout all four strings, especially in the lower hand positions. MAJOR plus! I should also note that my pickup is a wing-fitted Underwood pickup that I purchased in 1981; perhaps not everybody's cup of tea, but I love it. EQ it properly, and you are in upright bass heaven. About alternate tunings: Since putting a Low C attachment would cost me easily three times more than I paid for the bass, ever since I started playing bass in college (40 years ago now), I have employed a "drop-Eb," "drop-D," and a "hybrid cello" tuning of (from high to low) G-D-G-C tuning (the G-C so that I don't have to finger all lower notes for a full major 6th to get to what would be an open-A). All that to mention that these strings do not flap or flop around at those reduced tensions, especially the low C. (I once tried being a smart-aleck and tuning to a B1: Don't do it. Just don't.) Yes, there is a somewhat reduced tension, especially going to a C1, but it is quite acceptable to me, and when one plays Copland's "Appalachian Spring," or the fourth movement of Beethoven's 5th, or whatever, it's just a glorious thing to have that C1 there at your disposal! I do have to address the string a little lighter with the bow, but that's a small price to pay; none of my other stablemates have Low-C attachments, so I alone represent in the below-E department. (There are advantages and disadvantages to the alternate fingerings used, admittedly.) NOTE: I am not aware of a Low-C-length Evah Pirazzi string, so do your research on that, before purchasing. Sorry for the long review, but I want to be thorough. To summarize: BUY THESE STRINGS, especially if you do both classical and jazz!