Strings and Bridge for a Church Bass

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Jeff Krieger

I am finishing up restoring a church bass and was wondering if there were opinions on what kind of strings and bridge to put on it? It is a 4 string church bass. Should I put cello or bass gut strings? Someone recommended a Forster bridge which was popular in England in the early 1800's. Are there any thoughts about that?

What kind of bow would be used, a cello or bass?

What is the body length and string length as compared to a modern Cello.