Just got my first real double bass

[Yvarg]

After having a Palatino EUB for about a year I managed to score (what a believe to be) a great deal on a 3/4 Strunal 50/1 bass. It was purchased on the 'bay for a measly $600 and came with a heavily padded fabric case, Glasser German bow, and a stand. I picked it up last afternoon and have been enjoying myself quite a bit on it so far. Here's some pictures:

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/8282/econ002hx4.jpg
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/4287/econ005rw1.jpg
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/4016/econ006ns7.jpg
http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/3640/econ004xt1.jpg
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/5638/econ003fl4.jpg

What I want to know is what I should do to get it playing it's best? Unfortunately, having a luthier do a full setup is out of the question due to money for a the moment. Also, can anyone tell what kind of strings those are on it right now? I don't know whether I should change them or not (or whether money will allow me to do so right now), they feel rougher than the d'addario orchestrals on my EUB and the E looks pretty thin. They play alright though and are a heck of a lot easier to bow than the ones on my Palatino. Thanks in advance for the advice!

[Tyler_W]

I play one of those at my high school! with a good setup, it should be pretty decent!

also, when you get the money, get a $99 Upton Bass Bow, they'll improve your sound as well!

[Yvarg]

I don't think I'll be purchasing any bows in the near future because I really only ever play pizzicato, but I do find messing around a bow occasionally to be entertaining. I have a french style glasser bow and the hair on the german one that came with it feels a lot nicer, so I'm guessing the person had it rehaired a while ago. Also, the fingerboard feels a bit rough in places to me, is this thing not ebony? It looks like it was dyed . . .

[bassist1962]

Originally Posted by Yvarg

Also, the fingerboard feels a bit rough in places to me, is this thing not ebony? It looks like it was dyed . . .

Probably 'ebonized', which yes, means it was dyed. If that becomes an issue, you can always have the fingerboard replaced.

[Yvarg]

Ah, yeah, it's definitely dyed. It occurred to me earlier today that it may not be good to keep the bass in my room. I have a 50 gallon aquarium in there as well; would that affect the humidity in the room in a negative way for the bass or am I just being paranoid? In any case, I'm having loads of fun playing and listening to this thing!

[bassist1962]

Not paranoid, that is a good question. My parents had a humidifier in the same room with my dad's bass. I don't think that aquarium would generate enough humidity to do any harm. The damage to my bass (my dad's) was moving it from the Midwest, to the South, and changing the strings causing tension release, and seams to pop, after thirty years of no play time.

[DownLow]

The only way to be sure is get a digital hygrometer (around $20).

There are several threads about humidity and bass care on this forum.

[glivanos]

I have a Strunal Model 50/4, which is identical to yours except it has ebony fingerboard and fittings.

The stock Strunal strings are awful. I recommend either Thomastik Spirocores or Pirastro FlatChomesteel strings, orchestra guage.

That's what I'm using now with excellent results.

You might be able to find a used set in the classifieds section of this forum.

[Yvarg]

I'm almost positive these strings aren't stock; I used that one online string identifier where you input the winding colour and such, but since all of my strings have different coloured windings it was hard to find one set that they all might be. Most of the options it gave me for those colours were Thomastik brand. I've decided that I'll keep these strings for a while because they sound pretty good. Thanks for the advice everyone! I think I'll just keep a close eye out for anything suspicious about the bass and humidity and if it becomes a problem I'll move it downstairs.

[T-34]

Definitely not Thomastik, they always have the same color on the ball end in the same set.