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Double Bass Strunal love?

Fretless55

Fretless55

Jan 6, 2010
562
725
Portland Oregon
#1
Having picked up a used Strunal 5/35 hybrid a few years ago I've been happy with what's proved to be a durable and very playable entry level bass.
After auditioning others, the dreaded CCBs, as well as Shens and Thompsons, I'm pretty happy with what I have at this stage.
I realize these aren't as common in the US, but wonder if there's others out there who, if not love, but feel chuffed with their Czech choice.

...and oh yeah, I hate the finish, but that can be tempered. Still them is some heavy duty tuning machines!

Would love to hear other opinions on these workhorses.
 
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#2
I've had a 5/35 too since 2012. I use it mainly for gigs and less for studio work.
I didnt like the original setup so I changed the endpin, the soundpost, the tailgut and put on a set of Spirocore Mids. I'm more happy with it now and the way it sounds. Its nice and loud but if it needs to be amplified, it has a shadow 950 pickup.

Its a really durable reliable workhorse bass and has served quite well for the short time I've had it....
and yeah, those are exactly the 2 things I want to change sometime too... the finish and the tuners.
 
#3
I got a 5/35 husk (for which I paid $535 USD) decommissioned out of the Georgia school system several years ago. I had to aftermarket the bridge, tailpiece, etc. -- everything but the tuners.
It needs a neck re-reset but is playable as is. And I do like the deep red finish. It's the orange finish on my even more robust 50/1 I have issues with. But I like these better than the Kays I have had. The Eb neck has a lot to do with this.
 
#6
The Strunal range offers basses in many levels. The 5/35 line refers to hybrid basses, with a medium grain carved top and laminated ribs and back. They are varnished with a polyurethane varnish which can be easily stripped down and each bass can be revarnished according to each owner's choice. The tuners work perfectly and its no use to replace them.
The 5/5 and the 5/8 are fully carved basses, flatbacks the 5/5 and roundbacks the 5/8. They both feature a medium grain top plate and there is a vast selection of varnishes in each line. The flatbacks are preferred for jazz work and they can be easily and reliably amplified. From the other hand the roundbacks are good, honest basses made for arco or pizzicatto and they represent a safe choice for any enthusiast and probably the best value for money basses in the European market.
I own some of them,hybrids and roundbacks, i performed several set ups and repairs to many of them and they never failed me.
 
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#11
MIKMAN said:
If someone wants to know about possible upgrades in any bass of the Strunal line i can be of some help. I spent an awful lot of time with these instruments since for many years they represented the majority of the double bass population in my country.
Click to expand...
Right on.

I see a lot of them as the Long & McQuade house brand 'Schoenbach' labeled basses are Strunals. L&M has vast numbers of them in the rental fleets right across the country, and of course people have been buying them new and used for ages.

The hybrids can be tuned to sound pretty good for the money.
 
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#13
Thanks for all the replies!

Judging from the response, seems Struanl is a bit of a footnote in the entry level UB search here in the US.

As said before I'm happy with my 5/35 hybrid. Mine came from a grad of the University of Oregon music department, and I'm thinking school music programs may be their entry point into the US market. In any case well set up and ready for play. Not a great bass but a good bass, and glad it came from folks who knew what they were doing as opposed to an eBay listing.

Share the dissatisfaction of the endpin, and I wonder if it's that important to upgrade. But I do like the tuning machines - certainly says Strunal!

My main complaint is the finish, honestly I've seen less polyurethane on the bottom of a boat! I have taken the high gloss down a bit with 0000 steel wool and 3M pads but you can't undo orange!

Id be interested if any of you have attempted, or better yet, succeeded at complete refinish.

Thanks again for your responses.
 
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#15
I just bought a 5/35 and, sure enough, the first thing that got replaced was the endpin. Speaking of endpins, I'm a bit irritated by the fact that the part of the endpin that connects with the bass isn't perfectly flush with the bottom of the bass (there is a 2 millimeter gap one side, as if the hole wasn't drilled perfectly straight). I'm new to upright - is this a common enough thing?
 
#16
Hello!

I've been playing a lefty hybrid Strunal since 2009. Changed the endpid, nut and the bridge. Nothing wrong with my tuners. I'm not a big fan of the finish though. I noticed that Strunal company is under new management. And a bit less Strunal basses on thomann website. I hope the change is for the better..

I've been eyeballing a 5/8 fully caved roundback lately. Might pull the trigger if they agree to make a lefty one for me. I truly think that Strunal offer the bang of the buck here in europe.

ps. MIKMAN I sent you a pm again. :)
 
#17
LTTP
I just picked up used what I believe is a Strunal 504 (all laminate 3/4, but I believe ebony fingerboard, lower grade). The bass has the string shop label, made in Czech Republic, but I can’t find the maker. Maybe stamped out of the way in side. Anyway, I see one small hairline crack that I want to have looked at before I string up with new strings. But I’m enthusiastic.
 
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#18
BrassedOn said:
LTTP
I just picked up used what I believe is a Strunal 504 (all laminate 3/4, but I believe ebony fingerboard, lower grade)……
Click to expand...

This just in. Confirmed by the shop that imported and did the initial set up, this is a Strunal 504.

I’m still enthusiastic. And a bit chuffed!

12F2D66D-1E63-4643-AEA2-9E55A1832693.jpeg
 
#19
I have a Schoenbach/Strunal 50/4 laminate bass that I got used from Long & McQuade for $1300CAD and included a set up
by @Jake deVilliers. It came with a Wittner tailpiece and ultralight wire and they warrantied the stock endpin which I replaced with a maple stick. I also had Jake install his preferred ultralight bridge adjusters at my own cost along with a set of lightly used Evah Slaps that I got from @bassmanbrent.

I am fortunate to be able to keep the bass at work in a storage room. This allows me to practice slap and vomits on my lunch break so I don’t have to subject my wife and neighbours to the learning curve.

The bass sounds surprising good with the bow and works great outdoors in the cold and rain at farmers markets for bluegrass and old time. Of course, it doesn’t sound as rich as the 80 year old Hofner with 3885 Spiros that Jake restored for me but it is a solid backup that allows me to squeeze more practice and musical development in around my day job.
 
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