My new 'Mutt' DB - a couple of questions

[ikay]

Well it's a mutt, but an honest mutt! Under £300, 1960's German plywood (description from seller below). More faults than you could list probably but bags of character. Decided it was time to give it a go so just something to get me started.

[attachment=110146:P1010404.jpg] [attachment=110144:P1010397.jpg] [attachment=110145:P1010398.jpg]

Although it does have a relatively easy action for a DB, I have a long way to go in getting my fingers up to strength and thinking that some softer/lower tension strings might help to start with. Current strings not known but are steel and I think medium tension.

Can anyone recommend me a steel core string with a softer feel, something that's easier on the fingers for a beginner? Or if anyone has something lying around please let me know (even a softer G/D might help if not a full set).

Also, can anyone tell me what type of magnetic pickup this might be?

[attachment=110147:P1010406.jpg]

Thanks, Ian

[i][b]Seller's Description[/b][/i]
[i]If you're looking for a big sounding vintage bass, expertly restored look away now...
BUT if you're looking for a cheap as chips, quirky double bass perfect for electric bass players moving to double bass then this might be for you.

I used for my pupils as a loaner practise bass. Lots of them were coming from electric bass and so I set it up with a very low action and thinned down neck to give it a more bass guitarist's left hand fit. They've all loved it. It plays very well and very, very easily; again great if you're coming from electric bass.

Due to a history (before I acquired it) of quick fix internal repairs the sound is not present enough to be really considered for out and out acoustic gigs. Rather, like the EUB's on the market, this bass is only really to be used with a pick up and amp - unlike EUB's this looks a lot cooler.

The pick up is included - a magnetic pickup attached to the bridge. It gives a strong signal and sounds fantastic through a p.a or amp.

It has an interesting pedigree. The considered view is that it is a 1960's German upright, probably coming from the FRAMUS factory. As plywood as they come, it is very robust and so perfect for an all weather playing outside/damp marquee type gigs.

In short she's a mutt but every dog has its day, right?[/i]

[Beer of the Bass]

The strings look like Thomastik Superflexibles from the colour of the silks - do they also have aluminium barrel-shaped ball ends with numerals on the end? Those are fairly high tension strings, so you could definitely find something softer feeling. The pickup looks a bit like one of these: [url="http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product/2435-KRIVO_HUMBUCKING_MAGNETIC_UPRIGHT_BASS_PICKUP_INCLUDES_FREE_JACK_MOUNT.html"]http://www.gollihurm...JACK_MOUNT.html[/url]
I'm pretty sure it's not a Kent Armstrong magnetic, as those are slimmer without the offset poles.

Edited June 11, 2012 by Beer of the Bass

[ikay]

Thanks Beer of Bass. The pickup looks pretty much identical and mine's also got the velcro bonded onto one side so I think that's it. Yes the strings have aluminium barrel ends with numbers 0, 2, 3, IV on the ends. Any suggestions for a softer feeling steel core string?

[Clarky]

Looks like a Krivo mag p/u to me (a small US manufacturer who sells on eBay, amongs others if you google). Perfectly decent mag p/u

For strings that are compatible (ie, have steel core) and low tension, the ones I would go for are either the low tension Presto Nylonwound (which feel like gut) [url="http://www.kontrabass-atelier.de/saiten_e.html#nw"]http://www.kontrabass-atelier.de/saiten_e.html#nw[/url] or all-steel Kolstein heritage [url="http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product_details.cfm?ProdID=2304"]http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product_details.cfm?ProdID=2304[/url]

[ikay]

Thanks Clarky, I think the p/u is a Krivo. The Presto strings come in medium, light and ultralight, any advice on which of those in your experience? For example, would the Presto mediums be noticeably easier to play than the current Thomastik Superflexibles? I need to feel a real difference so maybe the lights or ultralights would be the way to go. New and mysterious world to me and difficult to know what's what without pestering those who do! Cheers

[Clarky]

I've used Lights which are nice but still slightly more tense than my favourite non-steels (Innovation Silver Slaps). I am guessing the Ultralights would be the easiest to play (especially as a relaive newbie) but I have no direct experience - maybe someone else can chip in here?

The alternative is to pick up a cheap piezo pickup (from BC DB forum or eBay) and then you have the choice of any string

[thisnameistaken]

TBH I think the strings are probably a good beginner string, and if you're anything like me it's likely your shoulder/upper arm will be the bit of you that will fatigue most quickly. Maybe stick with them for a few weeks and see how you get on - swapping strings gets expensive.

[ikay]

Thanks both for the good advice. Makes sense to spend a few days getting used to the strings that are on it but I'll earmark Prestos or Silver slaps and keep my eyes peeled for suitable used strings and a cheap piezo of some sort to give me more options.