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Double Bass Thomann 33 3/4 EUROPE

#21
I am very interested in getting one of these Thomann Europe basses as a first acoustic upright. The prices are very attractive compared to anything that can be sourced in the UK. Searching the forums the best info is from Mikman who states these are made by Hora (Romania) for the 22 (hybrid) and 33 (carved) - and it appears the 1E is made by Strunal (their 50/4 model, all laminated - the blonde is rather pretty).

Given that I will be playing jazz, pizz style - which would be the better bet - the 22, 33 or 1E? I expect to be using a pickup, something like the bassmax. I already have an Acoustic Image Contra which I use with EBG and keyboard.

I fully expect to have to engage a luthier to skilfully set the instrument up and probably a string change too - any suggestions for strings? Fortunately I have a DB teacher nearby and I have some idea of the journey ahead of me having tried and failed to teach myself upright on a Stagg EUB...

Thanks
Nigel
 
#22
The Strunal laminate and the Hora hybrid are in the same category as far as it concerns the pizz sound. If pressed hard i coud give a point more to the Strunal in terms of volume, because it is slightly bigger and moves more air (it tends to fall in the big 3/4" dimensions or small 7/8").
From the other hand the Hora is a much better instrument for arco work, due to the carved spruce top. When your chops will be improved you'll probably deal with the bow and in this case the importance of a carved top cannot be underestimated. Obviously the hybrid instrument needs care, since the temperature and humidity conditions have a strong importance on the top but if you can deal with it and avoid harsh conditions the hybrid is a better choice. I use my hybrid Strunal 5/27 (which is the Thomann TN 3/4") in conditions unfavourable for my fully carved instruments and i have never faced any problems. I used it under the unforgiving Greek sun in the summer, in various gigs in the beachfront or in extra humid shopping malls and it showed a remarkable endurance. Well, the choice is yours and please let us informed!
Mike
 
#23
Thanks Mikman - is this the one you have?
Invalid Link Removed

Would the Thomann 22 be comparable, the Hora with carved top?

I would not have any climate issues (England, would only ever play indoors).

Do you have any recommendations for strings?

Nigel
 
#24
Nigel the Strunal is a much better instrument than the Hora. The Tineo laminate is a more resonant tonewood than the one used in the Hora and, as you probably know, the Romanian friends tend to make the tops a bit heavier than normal. The Strunal is 50% more expensive but it is worth it. If you can afford it you will have a very good hybrid for years to come. Strongly recommended as a very good choice for European buyers.
Mike
 
#25
So this is indeed the bass i have. I bought it directly from Strunal in one of my visits in Luby. The good thing is that all these basses have a consistent quality, so you can buy it from the Thomann store with a basic set up. The Spirocore Mittel is the default string for this bass for pizz work and the Evah Pirazzi Weich the recommended one for both pizz and arco. It comes with Helicore Orchestras strings but these are strictly for bowing.
 
#26
Photo of the tuners. They looks better in real, than on Thomanns webside.
So if I got you right Mike. The Strunals sounds bigger then the Hora bass?:crying: I read somewhere that Realist pickup are great for carved basses. Maby thats the way to go for me?
 

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#27
MIKMAN said:
Nigel the Strunal is a much better instrument than the Hora. The Tineo laminate is a more resonant tonewood than the one used in the Hora and, as you probably know, the Romanian friends tend to make the tops a bit heavier than normal. The Strunal is 50% more expensive but it is worth it. If you can afford it you will have a very good hybrid for years to come. Strongly recommended as a very good choice for European buyers.
Mike
Click to expand...

Isn't the IE a laminate rather than a hybrid?
 
#28
If I read Mikman's reply correctly, he has a Strunal 5/27 which is equivalent to the Thomann Europe 2W TN, solid spruce top with laminate back and sides. This sounds ideal for me, and it is much easier (and a lot less expensive) to order from Thomann than to find an equivalent bass in the UK. I have a good luthier local to me who can finalise the setup.

I'm still hoping someone can recommend strings - jazz/pizz mainly. Spirocores seem to be the default recommendation but being new to this I don't want to make an expensive mistake at the start!

Nigel
 
#29
Hi Nigel - I got the 5/27 on Mikman's recommendation, and yes, you do have to change the strings immediately for pizz.
I went with Spiro weich, which sound nice and growly and sound just as I'd hoped. I went for the weich (light) set because I was coming from EB, and the strings that came with the bass felt horrendously stiff to me. However, now that I've been playing about with the bass for a few months and built up some callouses, I wonder if I should have gone for the mittel set, which is what most people recommend. the E on the weich set does seem a bit weak to me, and most people say that the mittels are a bit stronger and growlier, although harder on the fingers. I fear I'm stuck with the weich's for now as I can't convince my wife I need to spend another £137 on new strings when the last set are supposed to last for years! The point is - how much harder on the fingers are the mittels (for a beginner)? - perhaps someone with a bit more experience could chime in.
It IS a nice bass, and Thomann are great to deal with. It's just that DB is so VERY different from EB - it's like being a beginner all over again, which makes life more interesting than just buying yet another EB. (I keep telling myself that!)
Good luck
Mark
 
#30
Thanks Mark - did you get it from Thomann as their 2W TN model? I'm very close to ordering the "ordinary" 2W model, which has the carved spruce top with laminated maple sides and back instead of tineo wood laminate, and a satin finish - a little less expensive but plainer.

Michael at Thomann has confirmed that the 2W is indeed a Strunal 5/35, which makes it a very good purchase for the money.

Trying to second guess what strings will suit is very hard, especially given the investment needed. I am also transitioning from electric bass and like a light action, so thick high tension strings with a high action would be out! I asked Michael and he recommended either Pirastro "The Jazzer" 344020 or D'Addario Helicore HH610 L for jazz. Lots of recommendations here and elsewhere for Thomastik Spirocores. I am intending to play pizz mostly but I may want to use the bow, so I'm still a little at sea over the choices.
Nigel
 
#31
Nigel - yes I did purchase from Thomann, and you can be sure it will be packed safely - it arrived on a mini-palette!
Mikman says the TN version is more resonant than the maple version, but I haven't tried both as he has so I bow to his opinion and expertise on that score.
I haven't even tried the bow yet, so I don't know how Spiro's perform, only that opinion seems to be somewhat divided on the matter!
All the best
Mark
 
#32
Well mates, the Tineo laminate is definitely more resonant than the maple laminate in the Strunal basses. The 5/27 is an excellent jazz bass either with the Weich or with the Mittel Spirocores. The difference in tension is noticeable but the Mittel E is a floor shaking string and it can be used with the other three strings from the Weich set. The Weich can be bowed with a little practice and they can be a very good all around string. If your bowing work represents a significant percentage of your gigs take the Evah Pirazzi Weich, which can be probably the best hybrid strings for the 5/27 bass.
Mike
 
#33
Hi Mikman

you are the fount of knowledge on these instruments! One thing is bugging me - the Strunals all have a bevelled fingerboard, that is with a flat section under the E string. This doesn't look as nice as a round fingerboard, and dj5 says he feels it makes him rotate his hand further when stopping the E, but I have no idea whether it really has any bad effect on playability. What's your view?

I would think a luthier could plane this out - alternatively I have read that Strunal can supply a round fingerboard if you order direct from their factory.

The Thomann 22 (Hora) has a round fingerboard.

Thanks for all the help, what a great resource here on TB(DB).

Nigel
 
#34
Nigel the bevelled FB does not present a serious difficulty and it's only a matter of practice to get used to it. I have a couple of basses with round FB and the Strunal with the beveled one. I can switch drom one bass to the other without any problem.
 
#36
Thanks, I have emailed Strunal to ask about the fingerboard and also if they can supply from the factory direct to the UK. I will also ask Michael at Thomann if they could special order one for me. Perhaps they could also supply with an adjustable bridge (as per the 50/x laminate models), that seems like a good idea to me.
 
#37
I own a Thomann 33 3/4 since 2 years now.

According the label, it has been crafted in august 2009, so it's2.5 years now. Until now I did not encounter any problem with it : no crack, open seam...

The sound greatly benefit from following changes :
- a carbon end-pin ;
- strings with not too much tension (using d'Addario Zyex medium, which are the best strings I tested on this bass).

After it came from Thomann, I brought it to my luthier who set up the soundpost. To avoid that it falls during transportation, they adjust it very thight, and after the strings have been brought to tension, the table need to be released a bit. The strings it came with where crap, but I knew it. From what I can read here, it seems that they changed that and provide original acceptable strings.

After 2 years, playing 50% pizz and 50 % bow, the sound is nice : round and puchy under the finger, mellow and warm under the bow. Considering the price, it's a real bargain.

Here's a topic on a french forum I posted about it with photos (but it's in french) : Invalid Link Removed
 
#38
I had my first Double bass lesson on sunday. The Teacher tryed my bass, and he also had a good look at it. He really liked it. According to him, The Thomann plays good all over the neck/ board. And It`s a Beautyful bass.
I tryed he`s bass. Dont know what brand that bass is , but it`s an old bass. My opinion: He`s bass sounded a bit louder, and got a more brooken in feel. And it was easy to play. A better settup I guess, and with Spirocore strings.

Based on what I have learned from you guy`s. This upgrades is what I`m going to do: Spirocore mittel E and A string.
Eudoxa D and G string. A new Carbon End pin. About that, Does all The endpins fit my bass? Do they have the same size?
 

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#39
Concerning the carbon end-pin, I first bought a carbon rod to see if it has any effect on the sound (like that for exemple : Invalid Link Removed)

The probleme is that with the screw tightening system, you need to put some rubber between the screw and the rod, and change it often, or the screw will damage the rod.

Being convinced by the benefit on the sound, I bought an entire system, which I'm wery happy with (this one: Invalid Link Removed).

Concerning the strings, I would suggest to beginn with somewaht less expensive than Olive and Eudoxa. There are many good hybrid strings you can go for and after a year, when you play better and are sure about the sound you want, you can go for more expensive stuff. Just a suggestion of course.
 

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