Double Bass Please help identify these strings

[tomcookpsu]

Just bought a used Knilling Budapest. It's probably about 20 years old so obviously not original strings.

Can anyone identify them?

Ball shaped end with two flat sides. One side has what appears to be letter "O". Opposite side numbered I - IV, roman numerals from G (1) - E (IV).

Very large washer, metal core and rubber (?) outside.

 

[LouisF]

Spirocores??

 

[Francois Blais]

Looks indeed like Spirocores (mediums) but the big washers are addons.
These strings are shipped without any washer.

 

[TroyK]

Definitely Spirocore Mittel. I put some Pirastro washers on mine too. No particular reason, I just like having something soft between the metal and the wood.

 

[Inky13]

Yep. S42’s.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

You cannot determine from the photos alone if these Spiro Mittel are 3/4 or 4/4. there is only a slight length difference (have a look at my Dropbox) and a difference in mass per length unit.
So, different tension for 3/4 and 4/4 Spiros if used on the same vibrating string length.

 

[TroyK]

You cannot determine from the photos alone if these Spiro Mittel are 3/4 or 4/4. there is only a slight length difference (have a look at my Dropbox) and a difference in mass per length unit.
So, different tension for 3/4 and 4/4 Spiros if used on the same vibrating string length.

Correct, unless you have the original packaging the only way to know is length. It's easiest if you have a 3/4 and 4/4 set to compare to one another.

 

[tomcookpsu]

Thank you all for the responses. I don't have the packaging and they're too twisted to get accurate measurement. I'm guessing they're 3/4 because only silk was wrapped around tuner.
This bass is a gift for my grandson. He's been playing Bass guitar but has - finally - expressed interest in an upright. I tried playing the Knilling with the Spiro strings. I'm 76 with some arthritis and had trouble with the E and A Spiro so I replaced all four with Corelli 370M's. That's what Bob Gollihur, God rest his soul, recommended many years ago for my 60 yr old Meisel and I've been very happy with them. I thought "easier to play strings, easier to encourage a beginner". My grandson lives in State College, PA so between his incredible public school system and Penn State's music department I'm sure he can find better advice than I could give him anyway.

So I'll deliver bass with both sets. I'm pretty sure he'll amplify it and both Corelli and Spiro seem to be good to use with magnetic pickups.

Again, thanks for the info. I had never purchased Spiros so didn't know they came without washers. Really confused me, in spite of all the good info on the web. Should have just turned to this site to begin with.