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Double Bass Thomann 33 3/4 EUROPE
- Thread starter Arild
- Start date
My Thomann 11 (reallly a Romanian Hora) arrived the other day. What a great bass for the money! Admittedly it had a hideously glossy finish when it arrived but a few hours with extra fine wire wool and a microfibre cloth polish made it look much more classy and dark. Similar to a Gedo laminate bass I had a few years ago but much better built with nice flamed laminates and a better sound. It was pretty well set up when in arrived (playable on arrival, which is unusual) although I have already done some setup work on the bridge, nut; polished the fingeboard etc. I now have the action set at 7,8,9,10mm (E to G) which is higher than usual for me but it gives a huge booming sound - much louder pizz sound than my previous fully carved, french proportioned chinese bass. As expected for a full laminate bass, its arco sound is not as good as my old carved bass (though quite acceptable) but the new bass's pizz sound is massive and it growls beautiful. Have 3 jazz gigs over the next week or so, so it will get a good testing. I've still got the strings that it came with on it but, surprisingly, they sound really good for jazz pizz and have a similar feel, tension wise, to Spiro mittels. I'll probably change them sometime for Spiro Weichs though and I'll probably take a little of the camber out of the fingerboard too - but nothing that needs doing urgently. I have to say I am bowled over by the sheer value of this bass - it's a keeper! She's called Sylvia, by the way.
Yes - g to e - that'll teach me to post when I should be in bed. Did her first gig last night - three hours of mainly fast/bop jazz. She performed well though I suffered a little. Maybe I will take that action down a little. Now where's my plane and scrapers? .....
Lots of good feedback about her big sound. It will take a few more days to fully adjust to her scale - 105.7 compared to the old bass - 103.7. A few people thought she was an old bass, so terming the gloss worked.
Lots of good feedback about her big sound. It will take a few more days to fully adjust to her scale - 105.7 compared to the old bass - 103.7. A few people thought she was an old bass, so terming the gloss worked.
Finished! (as much as these things ever are). Bridge reshaped, soundpost reset, nut refiled, to give a slightly lower action of 6, 7, 8,9mm G to E. did a bit more on the fingerboard to reduce the scoop further. Plays like a dream now and still sounds massive. Rubbed down the neck too and put on a thin coat oh boiled linseed oil - just enough to keep sweat out. looks nice. A lovely bass all round.
Hi All,
Sorry for his "little off-topic" message (in fact it isn't so much), but I would really like to get your help, since unfortunately it's seems that the one who is considered and expert for most users (Mikman) hasn't got here for a while.
I don't know if any of you have read a post I've written a few weeks ago requesting opinions about this subject but I'm finally into position of getting a good deal, and would need some advise.
To the ones who haven't read the previous post, I’m a musician since a kid (piano and bayan) but my I've has always been to learn a little of doublebass (mainly pizzicato) so this will be my first experience.
The biggest and first question is if I should by a cheap "chinese model" or some "intermediate model", since I'm afraid that probably something very cheap will be to "offer" because nobody will buy it (my experience tell's it).
Here are the deals I can get at this moment:
Thomann 33 Europe +- 980€
Strunal 50/4 +-650€
Strunal 5/27 +-1.180€
Strunal 5/5 +-1.500€
And now... what would you do if you were in my shoes?
I also have the same overall questions: round or "flat E" fingerboard?, which strings?, ply vs hybrid vs all carved, etc.
Any help will be appreaciated! Thanks a lot in advance for all the support you may provide.
Best regards,
Armando Fonseca
Sorry for his "little off-topic" message (in fact it isn't so much), but I would really like to get your help, since unfortunately it's seems that the one who is considered and expert for most users (Mikman) hasn't got here for a while.
I don't know if any of you have read a post I've written a few weeks ago requesting opinions about this subject but I'm finally into position of getting a good deal, and would need some advise.
To the ones who haven't read the previous post, I’m a musician since a kid (piano and bayan) but my I've has always been to learn a little of doublebass (mainly pizzicato) so this will be my first experience.
The biggest and first question is if I should by a cheap "chinese model" or some "intermediate model", since I'm afraid that probably something very cheap will be to "offer" because nobody will buy it (my experience tell's it).
Here are the deals I can get at this moment:
Thomann 33 Europe +- 980€
Strunal 50/4 +-650€
Strunal 5/27 +-1.180€
Strunal 5/5 +-1.500€
And now... what would you do if you were in my shoes?
I also have the same overall questions: round or "flat E" fingerboard?, which strings?, ply vs hybrid vs all carved, etc.
Any help will be appreaciated! Thanks a lot in advance for all the support you may provide.
Best regards,
Armando Fonseca
