Now available for bass also!

(see panel on the right)

Comparing Passione:

What exactly are the differences between the various new Passione strings compared to Pirastro's more traditional gut strings?

It was big news when the world's leading gut string manufacturer decided to develop a new line of gut core strings and Nova was proud to be the first to bring them to you.   Pirastro put all their expertise into developing the Passione string, a new modern, more reliable gut string for the demanding violin and cello professional.   The result is an extremely well balanced string with easy response in all the dynamic ranges and the accuracy of contact point  is similar to those found in Obligato, Wondertone Solo and Evah Pirazzi sets.

A little while back Kentaro asked Annette Müller-Zierach who is the Managing Director of Pirastro to elaborate on the differences between the Passione regular and solo strings and their more traditional Oliv gut strings.

Annette was kind enough to send us a very detailed overview and analysis which we found very helpful. Here's her reply...

 

Comparing all three:

Response:

The  Passione Solo has the fastest response followed by Passione and then Oliv.

Tension:

All three sets have nearly the same tension in medium gauge and are comparable to the medium Obligato string set. Please bear in mind that violinists are not able to feel the tension of a string when bowing the string.  What they feel is the bow resistance of the strings.

 
Sound:

The Oliv sound stands for the original gut core sound, meaning the sound is very round & complex, but also powerful.  Even today, some of the famous violinists like Daniel Hope still play Oliv E, D & G strings.  Despite the fact that he has tried the Passione sets for him they sound "too modern".  It is very difficult to tell you which string sets are more brilliant as there is a huge problem of the meaning of the word "brilliance" for violinists. In the discussions with violinists, we have found out that when they talk about brilliance they also mean that the string offers warmth. Brilliance does not mean bright.  Bright is mostly used to describe the nasty metallic sound of cheap steel core strings which actually means that we cannot use this word. However in our wording, the Evah Pirazzi is certainly brighter than a Violino string (but Evah's certainly do not sound metallic!!), but the Violino still offers brilliance.  You see, it is all very difficult to characterize string sets with words. 
 
Passione Solo & regular Passione:

Passione Solo has more power and projection than Passione  regular. Passione Solo also has a more open sound than Passione regular.Passione Solo has been designed to be an alternative to all powerful synthetic core strings for all of those violinists who desire the gut core sound but do not want to give up the ease of the playability of modern synthetic core strings. 
 
Comparing Passione & Oliv:

Playing-in-time:

It is necessary to play-in the Oliv for about 3-5 days until a violinist is able to play a concert with the string. This is not necessary with Passione and Passione Solo strings.  These two string sets behave rather like synthetic core strings, meaning they are instantly playable.  Despite that, their sound will slightly change within the first two hours of playing.

Tuning stability:

After the playing-in-time Oliv strings will more often go out of tune due to their sensitivity to changes in temperature and humidity of the air. Passione string sets react rather like synthetic core strings and they need hardly any tuning.

Playability:

The Oliv needs a different technique when bowing compared to the Passione strings.  The bow attack needs to be very refined and is not that easy.  In comparison to that, the Passione strings can be played like modern synthetic core strings. I have read some blogs in discussion forums from teachers debating whether or not their students should also use traditional gut core strings (like Eudoxa and Oliv) in order for them to be forced to learn the special bow attack. They argue that this will teach their students another bowing technique that they will be able to use to express themselves musically better.

Violinists, violists and cellists are raving about Passione.

Now it's the bassists turn to find out why

Passione Bass Overview:

Developed For Arco:

• Pirastro chose not to compromise anything in the construction of these strings and the result is a rare combination of optimal sound and optimal arco playability..  These steel strings are mainly developed for orchestra players playing with the bow. They offer a rich, broad and colourful sound together with a free and open response and an enormous strong projection. They are very easy to bow, the pizzicato sound is warm and big.

 

Sound and Playability (Bass sets): 

• The response is incredibly easy and flexible, the notes are separate and distinctively clean when played in fast passages.
• No matter whether playing Spiccato or Legato the sound can be altered as desired independently from the bowing speed.
• The big advantage of the Passione strings is that the sound does not need to be developed by using excess bow pressure as the strings vibrate freely and easily.
• The set is extremely well-balanced in both tension and sound. Immediate playability and exceptional tuning stability are important additional advantages.

Construction:

• Bass Passione is a modern and very reliable steel string suitable for even the most demanding bassist.
• The core material of the strings is a high-tensile and very flexible steel rope core.

 

Passione "Bass" color code:

• At the tailpiece end:
• Brown spiral on white  
• Wrap color at the peg end:
• Orchestra:
  G - brown; D - red; A - black; E - green;
  H5/low B - yellow; E 2.10m - green.