So I got my "Carlo Strings" the other day, and had time to install them today. (Kids back in school, yay!)
They were all plenty long.
I don't know what kind/brand of strings this bass came with, but the ...ball ends? The circular metal things at the end of the original strings were about half the size of what the Carlo strings came with. I had to loosen the tailpiece to get the ends underneath it.
It all snugged back down fine though.
I took the bridge off when the strings were off, mostly so it wouldn't fall off and my 2-year old hide it or something. THe individual saddles are just kind of "pressed" in, there isn't a screw adjuster or anything. I had to make sure they didn't move while it was apart, cause I'm not sure how I'd get them back in in the right place... I'm sure I should have it intonated now, assuming I can find somewhere reasonably close to me.
It sounds nice, I REALLY like the flats on it better than the rounds it came with. I'm letting it settle for a day or 2 before I mess with it.