RE: Need advice on recurve
I like wood arrows, but starting out I'd go with something a little more predictable--aluminum or carbon. Wood arrows have their own particulars, and you could spend a lot of money on finished arrows before you got the right spine.
A new string would be a good idea--it's cheap, and may keep you or your bow from getting damaged if the old one were to fail. You can use endless or flemish, just be sure it's dacron (B-50 or B-500). Depending on how you like it set up, string length will be between 58 and 59". If you order a custom flemish string, I'd go with 58.5"--you can twist it up or let it out (flemish anyway) if need be. Endless, I'd go 59" and twist it up if needed.
Chad