Can someone explain what a "Shop Bass" is?

[godoze]

Vuillame used also to sit in the window of his home varnishing violins for all who passed to see. Of course he had bottles of "his" varnish for sale and people came from all over to purchase it. He is reported to have been seen in the evenings removing varnish from the same violin explaining to a visitor that the varnish in he bottles was not what was used in his shop as "i would not give me secrets away that easily."

[Eric Jackson]

I believe the industrial revolution-era Europeans generally produced a higher calibre of rubbish than the present day Chinese. (Yes, there are exceptions- Shen, Christopher, etc.) Better materials, better workmanship. There are lots of European shop/ factory basses still sound and sounding good after eight decades or more. Most of the Chinese Stradivebay stuff won't last eight years.
"Ebonized" fingerboard, my a$$.

[KSB - Ken Smith]

I was led to believe that most of the Basses were made by Derazey. I have played a Bass by him in NY and it was amazing. Right up there with the great Italian Orchestra quality Basses.

[godoze]

I think the prevailing attitude is that it must be better if it is made in Europe. Certainly junk is produced in Europe as it is everywhere else.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by DZ

All this about a SLAB ?

A lot of times, when we hear the word slab, we think of the electric bass guitar...
When we hear the word slab uttered by our luthiers or any of us talking about wood we or they are talking about slab cut as opposed to quarter sawn.( I guess?) wood.

[godoze]

There There Their...

I usually think "beef" when i hear "slab" but that is just me...

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by DZ

There There Their...

I usually think "beef" when i hear "slab" but that is just me...

I'm not sure Z, but whatever you been puttin' in your pipe lately, is stronger than the old stuff...no?

[cabin dweller]

The term 'shop bass' means that your bass is always in the way when you go to park your car.