In Search of Serious Advice! Strunal?

James Gibson · #1 06-30-2007, 08:26 PM

Hey guys,

I've gotten A LOT of very helpful advice from this board concerning topics ranging from recordings to technique. I hope I can get the same from this thread.

A friend of the family in my hometown recently informed me that he owns a Strunal bass that he is trying to sell. I'm pretty intrested, but I know very little about double bass luthiers because of the sheer number of them. Is Strunal a trustworthy luthier? I know the bass is in the intermediate range, supposedly "good for students." I've come to understand that every single individual bass is different and a gem can be snagged up from just about any source, but are there any luthiers that I should avoid all together?

Edit: I forgot to mention that I primarily play Jazz.

Kevin Hsieh · #2 07-01-2007, 02:41 AM

Hello James.

It would help us out a lot in these situations if you filled out a profile of sorts. People in the area would love to help you out. I've heard good things about the Strunal, if you search the forum i'm sure you'll come up with some opinions. Would you care to tell us how much the bass is priced for? It's a well-made instrument for it's price range but be sure you get a good setup with it. You would want to take it to your local luthier and spend a couple hundred on a decent setup for the bass. I believe Strunal is just a company label that gets slapped on a number of factory plywoods. I bet there are more people out here that are more knowledgable about this than me.

Best of luck.
Maybe you could go for the upton laminate. i have a number of friends that own or are going to order that bass. It has gotten nothing but praise.

Cheers

Dave Whitla · #3 07-01-2007, 05:50 AM

I've had a couple of students buy strunals, and they're fine. There are a number of different models- you should check out their website to inform yourself, and I see they have some sort of US link
http://www.strunal.com/new/index.php?cat=home&id=2

I agree with the guy above when he says you will probably have to put a bit more money into it to get it set up properly, but then you might have to do that with any bass you bought, really.

Michael Case · #4 07-01-2007, 08:41 AM

Strunal is not really a luthier. It is a company that produces basses and other string instruments on large scale. They are good instruments I've had mine for 7 years now and never had a problem in terms of construction. I've had big work done on my bass over the years (new bridge, fingerboard, end-pin), but this was done by choice not necessity.

James Gibson · #5 07-01-2007, 02:52 PM

Everyone, thank you so much.

I'll be sure to fill out my profile soon.

The offer for the bass is $1000. The owner said he bought it a while back for +-$1600. Given the price and the praise I've seen for Strunals in other threads on this board, and the offer's locality, I was immediately interested in it. I'll have to check out the instrument myself when I get back home.

Kevin Hsieh · #6 07-01-2007, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Gibson

Everyone, thank you so much.

I'll be sure to fill out my profile soon.

The offer for the bass is $1000. The owner said he bought it a while back for +-$1600. Given the price and the praise I've seen for Strunals in other threads on this board, and the offer's locality, I was immediately interested in it. I'll have to check out the instrument myself when I get back home.

If you're still just getting a grasp of the instrument and don't really require much arco playing or are not too picky about the bass sound, I say go for it. at 1000 that's a great deal for a strunal.

best of lucks
pics are a must if you purchase it

Silversorcerer · #7 07-02-2007, 12:29 PM

All Strunals are made in Luby, Czech Republic, which used to be Schoenbach, in a big factory there. These are not a "brand name" for a bass that could be made anywhere. That area of Europe has been building stringed instruments for hundreds of years. What was a cottage industry is now a major manufacturing and export business. Strunal makes Strunals, and always has so far.

There are three basically different models, fully laminated (all plywood) hybrid (carved top with lam sides & back) and fully carved. There may be small options between the three. If it is in good shape and is either hybrid or carved, the price is a steal. If it is laminated, it still is not a bad price. Try to find out if it has a real ebony fingerboard. That is one thing that even a laminated bass benefits from. Local availability and being able to try before you buy makes a big difference in a positive way. Check the instrument out thoroughly for possilbe damage. Cosmetic scratches don't mean much. Look for cracks, seam separations, etc. Pay particular attention to the neck join area. Good luck with the purchase if you decide to go for it. Of course you need to find a teacher too, and a bow.

mojoluthier · #8 07-11-2007, 04:34 PM

I have been to Luby y Chebu a couple of times, and it is a beautiful place. The tram ride up is wonderful.

The factory is truly that. In communist times it was the clearing house for both the distribution of materials and the resultant instruments. When the curtain fell it was bought by management, and last I was there it had not actually changed much. Before I discovered the value of the Chinese' better efforts, I bought and sold a few Strunals. They are not particularly elegant, but they are entirely serviceable. There are a number of master builders in the area of Luby, and I still occaisionally get their instruments. Possibly the best bass I have ever owned was made by Pikart, a member of that guild, who has since passed. I believe Jon Evans got that off me.

The previous post (silversorcerer) is right on the money IMO.