I know....smells like clickbait, sounds like clickbait...it is. My new double bass discovery along with a very special string giveaway to celebrate hitting 5k subs. Hope you can check it out and enter to win!
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I’m happy pdbass is getting a kick out of his olive G.
To compare it to Spiro for jazz is interesting. I found his Spiro G sounds just fine on the recording, compared to his Olive.
On my jazz bass I have Spiros. The E and A I replaced a couple of years ago. The G and D, from the same set, are about 25 years old (maybe older ?) and still beautiful. They sound decent (big, warm, punchy) right up to the top end of the board. My bass is a small carved 3/4.
Oh, and these Spiros have thousands of gigs on them. 25+ years old and thousands of gigs. Still good.
So why would I go for a really expensive string that doesn’t sound significantly better? And for sure will not last long? And I know the feel of guts is not for me. I really dig in with the bow, so that alone may destroy ‘em.
Each to their own, that’s cool. There’s a nice thread here on Olive G’s if one is interested Olive G lovefest
To compare it to Spiro for jazz is interesting. I found his Spiro G sounds just fine on the recording, compared to his Olive.
On my jazz bass I have Spiros. The E and A I replaced a couple of years ago. The G and D, from the same set, are about 25 years old (maybe older ?) and still beautiful. They sound decent (big, warm, punchy) right up to the top end of the board. My bass is a small carved 3/4.
Oh, and these Spiros have thousands of gigs on them. 25+ years old and thousands of gigs. Still good.
So why would I go for a really expensive string that doesn’t sound significantly better? And for sure will not last long? And I know the feel of guts is not for me. I really dig in with the bow, so that alone may destroy ‘em.
Each to their own, that’s cool. There’s a nice thread here on Olive G’s if one is interested Olive G lovefest
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i will say that when i saw the video title i thought this was a video about Spirocores 
And it was, kind of.
And it was, kind of.
Kudos for a "fair and balanced" video.
In regards to longevity: Among 3 Oliv Gs, I've not had one fail in two years of arco and pizz use, despite being put on and taken off more than once. Hopefully, Pirastro will make you whole.
In regards to longevity: Among 3 Oliv Gs, I've not had one fail in two years of arco and pizz use, despite being put on and taken off more than once. Hopefully, Pirastro will make you whole.
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
Hard to believe the Lovefest thread is almost ten years old. I removed my Oliv over two years ago and hung it on a peg, waiting for a suitable bass to try it on. Getting the big Rodier together, I let it settle with Perpetuals for a few weeks and then thought it needed Spirocores to really get it moving. Just couldn’t put the Spiro G on it though, I went straight for that Oliv. After a couple days it really began to sing and I think that combo will stay on.
Back to the original video, although the Oliv sounds darker that pop at the beginning of the note is pretty addictive and it’s not always as audible as it is in that video.
Back to the original video, although the Oliv sounds darker that pop at the beginning of the note is pretty addictive and it’s not always as audible as it is in that video.
Thank you all for watching.
I’m still adjusting to the tension of the Oliv. You can really pulverize a Spiro G but today I had an outdoor gig where I couldn’t hear myself all that clearly. I started to really dig in and the Oliv was like “no sir—that’s as far as I’ll be going.” It really is a great string, but some adjustment of my pizz technique is definitely in order. What little bowing I’ve done has been easier than ever. I wish I could have gotten some of that into the video.
I’m still adjusting to the tension of the Oliv. You can really pulverize a Spiro G but today I had an outdoor gig where I couldn’t hear myself all that clearly. I started to really dig in and the Oliv was like “no sir—that’s as far as I’ll be going.” It really is a great string, but some adjustment of my pizz technique is definitely in order. What little bowing I’ve done has been easier than ever. I wish I could have gotten some of that into the video.
- May 16, 2012
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Great video, Paul, but it kind of reminds me of the pharmaceutical TV commercial disclaimers, where the side effects of the medicine outweigh the promised benefits: "Great string, BUT ... it costs $150 ... it's subject to premature wear or damage ... it's stretchy and hard to keep in tune ... you need to change your pizz technique...."
No, thanks, I'll stick to my all-Weich set.
No, thanks, I'll stick to my all-Weich set.
I'm not sure my 69-year-old finger could reach that point of disappearing returns.
What sells me on the Oliv is that it's so good for both arco and pizz.
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
Not quite. It’s stretchy and hard to keep in tune, yes. Given reasonable attention to the bridge and nut when first installing one, the Olive can last for years. Mine has been on and off many times and is still quite good. You need to change your pizz technique? No. You will immediately submit to its beauty.
That said, there is something to be said for a complete set of steels and just playing the thing.
The Olive D and I parted ways years ago but its been over six years with Spiro mitts and the same Olive G for me with no intention of removing it; occasional Stark E. 'On and off the bass dozens of times, but extremely careful removal. I loaned out my bass last weekend and put a Spiro mitt G on it- lasted about four minutes when it got back home. If I want a skinny mandolin string, I'll play the mandolin!
To you folks that have had decent longevity with your Oliv: do you live in a climate with swings in humidity like I do here in NYC? Hot and humid summers, dry apartment heat (I do use a humidifier, but still) in the winter. I'm using Evah Weich E and A, Orch D, and since November, Oliv G. If I get a year out of it, I'm going to try the D. Opinion seems very mixed.
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
Kansas City? It may be a step sharp or flat from one day to the next and change in the first set on the gig. The key is to be sure it can move freely as it does it’s thing.
That was my experience as well. Sounds phenomenal on its own, gets lost in the mix, bottoms out when you ask for more. If this was baseball, .333 would be great. But this ain’t baseball!
Yes, but I have a whole-house humidifier. If you keep the humidity in your domicile fairly constant (like 35-60%), you should not have a humidity-related problem as long as you keep the bass's exposure to different environments down to 8 hours or less. It takes some time for the string to absorb and shed moisture.
Once the Oliv is past its break-in period, I never have to tune it more than a quarter step.
As a gut string player primarily for 20 + years I have to agree that there wasn’t a lot of difference to my ears between the Spiro and the Oliv on this demo… just fwiw! Even on headphones…
I just tried Oliv G with Spiro Weich and really didn't like it, I much prefer the mittels as a match -- anyone else have this experience?
