Double Bass Zyex/helicore hybrids vs evah weich vs belcanto vs flexocor deluxe

Jacob_9012

Jacob_9012

Mar 5, 2019
67
25
4,631
#1
First, for some background, I'm a student so I can't buy a bunch of strings to try them. I play mostly orchestral/arco soloing, but I also play in the jazz band. I previously had on a set of Kaplan(im not sure which gauge) and I recently got a set of zyex mediums. The Kaplans I had on previously while still in good shape and only a little over a year old, was too hard to play pizz which is why I switched them out.
However, the Zyex strings I just put on have a set of there own problems that came with them. First off, they were way louder, which while not particularly bad was a surprise. Additionally, they played pizz much better, solving that problem, but the arco is problematic. The G and D aren't that bad and bow ok, while not as well as the Kaplan's. The A and E, on the other hand, are a real problem. The E doesn't stand out as terrible it's just noticeably worse than other ones I have used. The A sounds terrible bowed and has a terrible metallic ring/echo, I don't know how to describe it exactly, and half the time when I bow it, it doesn't play correctly, letting out a terrible sound. I'm thinking of calling D'Addario customer service to see if they will replace it because it is truly unusable.
If they do replace it im thinking of asking for helicore hybrids, or if they don't just replace the bottom 2 strings with hybrids for 50 bucks, do people think that combination would work well? Also it shoul be mentioned that I have an arco solo addition in a little over a month so im going to swap out the bottom strings either way or maybe just put back on the Kaplan for that.
While I don't have money to buy sets of strings right now, aside from my current dilemma, what would people suggest as a hybrid string for someone who plays solo, orchestral, and jazz music. I really play much more arco then pizz, but I need to be able to play decent pizz when I want to and/or have a performance.
 
Last edited:
#2
Jacob_9012 said:
First, for some background, I'm in high school so I can't buy a bunch of strings to try them. I play mostly orchestral/arco soloing, but I also play in the jazz band. I previously had on a set of Kaplan(im not sure which gauge) and I recently got a set of zyex mediums. The Kaplans I had on previously while still in good shape and only a little over a year old, was too hard to play pizz which is why I switched them out.
However, the Zyex strings I just put on have a set of there own problems that came with them. First off, they were way louder, which while not particularly bad was a surprise. Additionally, they played pizz much better, solving that problem, but the arco is problematic. The G and D aren't that bad and bow ok, while not as well as the Kaplan's. The A and E, on the other hand, are a real problem. The E doesn't stand out as terrible it's just noticeably worse than other ones I have used. The A sounds terrible bowed and has a terrible metallic ring/echo, I don't know how to describe it exactly, and half the time when I bow it, it doesn't play correctly, letting out a terrible sound. I'm thinking of calling D'Addario customer service to see if they will replace it because it is truly unusable.
If they do replace it im thinking of asking for helicore hybrids, or if they don't just replace the bottom 2 strings with hybrids for 50 bucks. It should be mentioned that I have an arco solo addition in a little over a month so im going to swap out the bottom strings either way or maybe just put back on the Kaplan for that.
While I don't have money to buy sets of strings right now, aside from my current dilemma, what would people suggest as a hybrid string for someone who plays solo, orchestral, and jazz music. I really play much more arco then pizz, but I need to be able to play decent pizz when I want to and/or have a performance.
Click to expand...

I just threw a set of evah pirazzi on my bass to test out them arco only and like them. Think belcantos would be nicer but ill get to that later.

The pizz is boring but workable if you do mostly arco. better than the belcantos or flex deluxe imo
 
  • Like
Reactions: Steve Boisen
#3
Evah Weichs. Their biggest problem is their hard dynamic limit — they have a threshold above which they don’t make more sound no matter how hard you lean on them. For your application, though, they’re the best solution I can think of.

There’s a used set in the classifieds for not much money.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sam Dingle
#4
KUNGfuSHERIFF said:
Evah Weichs. Their biggest problem is their hard dynamic limit — they have a threshold above which they don’t make more sound no matter how hard you lean on them. For your application, though, they’re the best solution I can think of.

There’s a used set in the classifieds for not much money.
Click to expand...
+1
2Ho6yWz
 
#5
KUNGfuSHERIFF said:
Evah Weichs. Their biggest problem is their hard dynamic limit — they have a threshold above which they don’t make more sound no matter how hard you lean on them. For your application, though, they’re the best solution I can think of.

There’s a used set in the classifieds for not much money.
Click to expand...

Just like I said I think evah weich will be the best bet. If you don't like the E string I am using an evah medium E string with Weich ADG and its nice.
 
#7
KUNGfuSHERIFF said:
Evah Weichs. Their biggest problem is their hard dynamic limit — they have a threshold above which they don’t make more sound no matter how hard you lean on them. For your application, though, they’re the best solution I can think of.

There’s a used set in the classifieds for not much money.
Click to expand...
which set were you referring to? the only recent set I see is for 150 although there are some older posts that don't seem to have sold for less than I would need to check up on.
 
#8
Jacob_9012 said:
How do the Evah weichs and the mediums compare
Click to expand...

Evah mediums hurt to play pizz imo. They are darker than the weich and higher tension than medium spirocores. On the medium set the A string is much higher tension than the E string so it feels miss matched. The weich E string is even worse so that’s why I enjoy the medium e with weich ADG. Feels good to me. I’ll be posting a video of it soon
 
#9
Sam Dingle said:
Evah mediums hurt to play pizz imo. They are darker than the weich and higher tension than medium spirocores. On the medium set the A string is much higher tension than the E string so it feels miss matched. The weich E string is even worse so that’s why I enjoy the medium e with weich ADG. Feels good to me. I’ll be posting a video of it soon
Click to expand...
ah, thx, if I get evahs I'll get weichs then, as the reason I changed strings in the first place was to make pizz hurt less :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: JC Nelson
#10
I would never use Evah for an audition. In the orchestra on the right bass, sure. Audition, never.

Not knowing your bass, bel canto or deluxe and just try to make them work as best you can for jazz.
 
#12
wathaet said:
I would never use Evah for an audition. In the orchestra on the right bass, sure. Audition, never.

Not knowing your bass, bel canto or deluxe and just try to make them work as best you can for jazz.
Click to expand...
if we're talking just for the audition if whatever I have on isn't good enough, wouldn't it make more sense to just put the kaplans back on rather then buying a whole set with just that in mind?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sam Dingle
#13
Jacob_9012 said:
if we're talking just for the audition if whatever I have on isn't good enough, wouldn't it make more sense to just put the kaplans back on rather then buying a whole set with just that in mind?
Click to expand...
To do optimally in an audition, practise with the setup you will be using, not just a few weeks before rather months or more.

I realize yours is not a pro audition, but it is still worth noting that while I work with many great players that use evah on the job, I know of none that have won an audition on them. The two I mentioned above are commonly used for auditions and general studies.
 
Last edited:
#14
wathaet said:
To do optimally in an audition, practise with the setup you will be using, not just a few weeks before rather months or more.

I realize yours is not a pro audition, but it is still worth noting that while I work with many great players that use evah on the job, I know of none that have won an audition on them. The two I mentioned above are commonly used for auditions and general studies.
Click to expand...
I'll try to make the decision and put on whatever strings I end up within the next week or 2 for the audition on may 10th, that way I'll still have over a month.
 
#19
The more I read forums and about different strings the less sure I am about what I want. The easiest and cheepest solution would to get a helicore hybrid E A and use that with the zyex. However I think that may still be lacking in Arco sound.

Then everyone is saying evah weich would be good, but again I'm not sure if the Arco sound is good enough there, or if it's more jazz focused then i want.

There's also belcantos and flexocor deluxe on the more bow focused side, but I don't know how they compare to evahs and which of the three is a better match.
 
#20
Jacob_9012 said:
The more I read forums and about different strings the less sure I am about what I want. The easiest and cheepest solution would to get a helicore hybrid E A and use that with the zyex. However I think that may still be lacking in Arco sound.

Then everyone is saying evah weich would be good, but again I'm not sure if the Arco sound is good enough there, or if it's more jazz focused then i want.

There's also belcantos and flexocor deluxe on the more bow focused side, but I don't know how they compare to evahs and which of the three is a better match.
Click to expand...

Juzek Bass Strings - YouTube

There are my string videos on my new bass. Spirocore mediums, Spirocore weich, Zyex mediums and Evah lights with a medium long C string. The evahs are a fine arco string. Much better than Zyex. Get them. You can take mine (I’m selling them) if you want.

I’m only selling them because I prefer spirocores and need more pizz brightness. If I was doing more arco I would stick to evahs
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back