My New Shen 7/8 Genmunder Willow Five String -First pics from Wayne Holmes Bass Viols

PRUNEFACE · #1 04-29-2011, 06:32 PM

I ordered a Shen fiver from Mr. Holmes and am expecting it sometime in the next week or so. We had to wait over a month for the Shen to arrive from China (as the only one at the distribution center in NY was, unfortunately, damaged) and Mr Holmes will be setting it up today and tomorrow (with Belcantos!). I cant wait to actually see it in person!!

Jason Sypher · #2 04-29-2011, 06:50 PM

You really live that far out in the sticks?

nicechuckh · #3 04-29-2011, 06:56 PM

Beautiful woodgrain for sure

PRUNEFACE · #4 04-29-2011, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

You really live that far out in the sticks?

Mr Holmes does. I live on the beach!

Skabasskid · #5 04-29-2011, 09:39 PM

I got mine about two months ago, and I'm madly in love with her, you will be extremely happy.

Fran Diaz · #6 04-30-2011, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicechuckh

Beautiful woodgrain for sure

+1, congrats.

ole Jason · #7 04-30-2011, 09:15 AM

Looks great. Can you do some clips when it arrives?

PRUNEFACE · #8 04-30-2011, 09:17 AM

Absolutely.

Eric Swanson · #9 04-30-2011, 10:14 AM

Oh, Baby!

That looks very, very nice. Congratulations!

ole Jason · #10 04-30-2011, 05:09 PM

I've come to really like when you can see a bit of figuring on ebony boards. I'm glad they don't use dyes to make it completely black.

Marcus Johnson · #11 04-30-2011, 05:42 PM

Me too. Nice looking bass.

PRUNEFACE · #12 05-01-2011, 09:33 AM

Mr Holmes had it delivered Sunday morning -I was NOT expecting it. Great way to wake up. Will have pics up and possibly a poorly played Eccles Largo.
Regardless, stay tuned!

Patton · #13 05-01-2011, 09:55 AM

Congrats!

I've been thinking about upgrading to a 4 string 7/8 Shen Gemunder bass for some time now. They are wonderful instruments.

PRUNEFACE · #14 05-01-2011, 10:00 AM

Having trouble with recording device unfortunately. And I think that what would show off the bass best would be to record my teacher playing some of his orchestral excerpts rather than me playing the solo pieces I know. It has a very clear, loud sound in the solo register, but I am sure that is not what you guys are coming for

I will post my First Impression in just a few minutes.

PMF1 · #15 05-01-2011, 10:29 AM

congrats :-) pics?

PRUNEFACE · #16 05-01-2011, 10:40 AM

My First Impressions:
Delivery:
Unfortunately, I was not awake when it was delivered. My parents got the bass inside and it was unpacked by the time I was up. Mr Holmes arranged for it to be delivered on Sunday by paying a person to take the bass to me -which was a big deal because it allowed for keeping the bass (and the setup) in a safer environment.

Setup:
Mr Holmes included Belcanto strings with my bass, with (roughly) 1 inch string spacing. He included, in his setup, quite a bit as they are finished at the shop selling them (not in the sense of varnish, but as in completing the process) and so the shop does: the end pin hole needs to be completed, the sound post fitted, the nut has to be notched, the bridge had to be finished or made if an upgrade is used, and then there is the camber of the finger board and installation of the bridge.
Mr Holmes did an excellent job on the setup (based on first look and my first hour or two of playing) -zero buzzing, which is a huge deal to me, and comfortable spacing and the right string height (which I left up to his judgement, as I have never asked or seen information on a five stringer's setup.) He did a great job. I also quite like the endpin unit -I am not sure if the shop supplies this or if it comes with the bass. Either way, great little piece of equipment (certainly when compared to my Shen SB180... which is constantly not holding its height.)

Appearance:
Looks great as you saw in the pictures in my previous thread. I will get more though and will post them as soon as I get them.

Sound:
Very, very warm, particularly down low. As you get higher up it gets an amazingly clean, clear, projecting tone -I was so surprised about its sound in thumb position. But it is the B and E string that surprised me most. I was expecting the bass to be pretty quiet compared to the Poellman I played that was at the UGA Bass Symposium (brought by Bob Beerman). It was actually a little more even across the strings than the Poellman (as I remember) and is a little bit louder. Could have to do with the strings (this is the first bass I have had with Belcantos) or the string height but I am not sure. Just stating what I am observing. The ways that the Poellman was better, however, were its wood, the way the body vibrated (you could feel the note, much like on my Kolstein), and it was a little more open. The last two I hope my Shen will become, as the Shen is BRAND NEW and the Poellman was from the late 90s. I cant wait to see how the Shen matures.

Service:
Excellent, excellent excellent. I got regular responses to my emails on the same day, and he got the bass to me immediately. He is VERY attentive and wants to get everything perfect for you. I really appreciated his work and effort. Of course, it helped that he provided a great setup, and that the bass is (feels, and sounds (when compared to my expectations, as the only bass I played that was truly better was about 20,000 and that Poellman was 25,000)) great as well. I recommend give Mr Holmes a call whenever you are in the market, as he is knowledgable about the instrument and enjoys what he does. He, as a dealer, can get you great prices, and as a luthier a great setup. If you are particular about your setup, you can get him to do it exactly as you wish as well -and if you are not and are experimenting you can trust his judgement. Overall, it was a great experience buying through him.

jazzbill · #17 05-01-2011, 04:44 PM

Congrats on the bass. I bought my 90 year old carved bass from Wayne last year. I drove way out in the sticks on my vacation
and spent the night and played a dozen basses.

PRUNEFACE · #18 05-01-2011, 04:51 PM

Just played it in my youth orchestra. Sounded great -louder than my SB180 in all appearances. May just have a more "cutting" sonic shape. Either way, worked great in that setting. Cant wait to try it in my string ensemble Tuesday. Once I master the use of the fifth string I will be an even happier person!

Skabasskid · #19 05-01-2011, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRUNEFACE

Just played it in my youth orchestra. Sounded great -louder than my SB180 in all appearances. May just have a more "cutting" sonic shape. Either way, worked great in that setting. Cant wait to try it in my string ensemble Tuesday. Once I master the use of the fifth string I will be an even happier person!

General note, the "low b string" is more than likely a low c string. I know on my bass of the same make, it's set to hold c-tension, as are most orchestral fifth strings (I.e. C extensions). Definitely check before tuning up, as you don't want to break the string, but if it is a c and you tune it to the c, it works magic on the projection and tone, I know from personal experience

PRUNEFACE · #20 05-01-2011, 09:06 PM

It is actually a Belcanto B string -I am assuming that it is different from their standard fifths or extension string.