Ok, I just got a DB. I purchased it off of Yahoo auction from a dealer in Texas. It's a china bass with a carved top. It's not the greatest but it's alright. It needs to be adjusted. I'm trying to do what I can myself because I have no one else to turn to. If you have any suggestions please tell me. I've started to lower the nut, it held the strings like 1/4 inch off af the fingerboard, but haven't touched the bridge, which needs to be rounded more because the strings are too flat. Anyway my alright china bass came with less than alright china strings. I haven't played arco on it yet because the bridge is so flat but when I played pizz. I could feel the string roll and I could also just grab them and roll them in my fingers. As I was adjusting the nut I would file a little and put the string back on and try it and go back and fouth untill it felt good. As I was tighening the D I plucked it gently while looking at a tuner. When it was at about C the core snapped. So I'm looking to buy a new set. Problem: I have to get them mail order, there are no good places close enough for me to go to. I play an equal amount of jazz and arco/orchestrial playing and I use a German bow (just incase it's imporntant). I don't really want to drop more that $120 on stings. Don't you hate voilins and guitars with their $13 string sets. Anyway, HELP HELP HELP HELP!!

Correlli Tungsten mediums (370M)are a good all-around string for pizz and arco work. $90.00 from http://www.quinnviolin.com or http://www.discountstrings.com
As far as cutting the bridge goes, I hope you are familiar with cutting bridges, cos' it's very easy to screw it up.
I speak from experience, and if you thought Double Bass strings were expensive, a new bridge job would send you reeling..

I'll add a vote for Correlli Tungsten strings. For more DB strings (and everything else) info go to http://www.gollihur.com and check out the links page. (All Hail Bob Gollihur)