Upton vs Shen

Dave Irwin · #1 01-31-2011, 03:40 PM

If there's a good thread on this I missed it but for those who have been able to A/B Upton poplar carved and better Shen's. SB200 and SB300.
Sound (bow and pizz), neck chunkiness, the usual drill...

Thanks,
Dave.

rusag2 · #2 02-02-2011, 04:40 PM

Here's a thought. Call Shen and ask 'em a few questions about their basses. Then do the same with Upton. Might shed some light on what it would be like to be an owner.

Full Disclosure: I really want an Upton.

Jsn · #3 02-02-2011, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusag2

Here's a thought. Call Shen and ask 'em a few questions about their basses. Then do the same with Upton. Might shed some light on what it would be like to be an owner.

To be fair, Dave is probably capable of researching the basses separately. What he is asking for is if anyone has specific comparative experience, which is another thing entirely. An individual manufacturer is only going to focus on their bass. An impartial player, A/B'ing the two, can highlight one aspect over another.

I don't think it's wrong for him to ask for some anecdotal, hands-on player input concerning the two.

Dave Irwin · #4 02-02-2011, 07:49 PM

I have a Shen. JSN is correct, I'm really looking for.someone whose had an opportunity to compare the two. I'm nowhere near Upton but I understand they sell Shen as well.

Rockman · #5 02-02-2011, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Irwin

I have a Shen. JSN is correct, I'm really looking for.someone whose had an opportunity to compare the two. I'm nowhere near Upton but I understand they sell Shen as well.

I would try to call Upton and ask them, because they have dealt with Shens in the same shop.

Steve Swan · #6 02-02-2011, 10:19 PM

It's going to be hard to sift salesmanship from true opinions of anyone with a vested economic interest in one or the other. Far better to listen to the evangelical opinions from those that own and really love what they have.

Eric Rene Roy · #7 02-03-2011, 11:40 AM

There is usually an SB80 setup on the floor in our Connecticut & Boston workshops all the time, and we usually have a UB Standard as well, so ANYONE is free to come and do a little side by side on their own. We'll leave the room if you don't want it "salesy".

najcross · #8 02-06-2011, 01:53 PM

I played a shen rogeri willow the other day. I liked it the best out of the basses I played. Has a really nice bottom end and full sound. Sounded a little bright from infront.

Dave Irwin · #9 02-06-2011, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by najcross

I played a shen rogeri willow the other day. I liked it the best out of the basses I played. Has a really nice bottom end and full sound. Sounded a little bright from infront.

Najcross, What were you comparing the Rogeri to? Were you at Upton?

Eric, I'm happy to have your comments but I am looking at the other end of the spectrum. More likely the SB200 vs. a carved Professor or the the SB300 vs. the Bostonian.

Thanks for the responses,
Dave

najcross · #10 02-06-2011, 06:01 PM

I was comparing to a wilfer and czech basss. I was not at Upton but I wish I was. My comment was just a general statement.

Eric Hochberg · #11 02-06-2011, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by altruego

The Shen is a great sounding bass. It has great projection, tone and playability.

My Shen took a bad fall and the neck joint cracked. My luthier did a great job repairing it but he did comment on the quality of the craftsmanship of the original joint. He said the neck joint was poorly executed, very little wood to wood contact. The neck was primarily being held on the bass by glue and not a good solid dovetail joint. Since I had to have the joint rebuilt, the repair was twice as much as it would have been if the joint was properly made in the first place.

Not to excuse a bad neck join, but what makes you think another bass would fare any better in the same bad fall? Actually your poor join might have saved the neck itself from damage/breakage. Are makers using dovetail joints these days?

drurb · #12 02-07-2011, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

Not to excuse a bad neck join, but what makes you think another bass would fare any better in the same bad fall? Actually your poor join might have saved the neck itself from damage/breakage. Are makers using dovetail joints these days?

I don't think it's a matter of how another bass would fare in a fall. I think the point is that the fall was the occasion that revealed less-than-desirable craftsmanship-- at least according to the luthier.

Eric Hochberg · #13 02-07-2011, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

I don't think it's a matter of how another bass would fare in a fall. I think the point is that the fall was the occasion that revealed less-than-desirable craftsmanship-- at least according to the luthier.

Maybe so, but it doesn't seem like the bass was having problems before the fall, and that luthiers assessment regarding lack of dovetail, makes me wonder about his knowledge. Any luthiers care to comment on the dovetail thing?

Sorry to go OT, I started a thread on this in Setup/Repair.

Dave Irwin · #14 02-07-2011, 11:20 AM

Thanks for moving this topic to a new thread. Funny how these kinds of threads grow without a lot of content specific to the question

vejesse · #15 02-07-2011, 02:15 PM

Funny how these internet discussion forums work. Any clown can come in and disparage your reputation. They remain anonymous and don't have to back up their claims, regardless of the truth.

Nice

Steve Swan · #16 02-07-2011, 03:20 PM

I would like to see some photos of this particular Shen neck joint repair. I don't find these harsh assertions about the neck joint construction to be very much in keeping with Samuel Shen's generally high level of care in the design of these instruments. who was the doublebass luthier that did the repairs?

Bass · #17 02-07-2011, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vejesse

Funny how these internet discussion forums work. Any clown can come in and disparage your reputation. They remain anonymous and don't have to back up their claims, regardless of the truth.

Nice

Funny? That's hilarious!! I don't understand your post fully though. Who are you calling a clown, and who are you calling a liar?

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #18 02-07-2011, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vejesse

Funny how these internet discussion forums work. Any clown can come in and disparage your reputation. They remain anonymous and don't have to back up their claims, regardless of the truth.

Nice

This is why we in the DB forums like to encourage people to post under their real names. If you have one statement attributed to Eric Hochberg and another to AnonymousItrawebzDude49, it does tend to lend weight to the former on the face of it. Especially these days when it's so easy to check any pro poster's website if one is curious as to the source. We can't require that people use their names, though, so the system is far from perfect.

funkythumb · #19 02-07-2011, 04:19 PM

I've played Uptons of various price range and Shens of various price range and always seemed to prefer the Uptons for their depth, projection and neck comfort.
I ended up buying an Upton lami and am very happy with the result especially when comparing price vs. quality.

vejesse · #20 02-07-2011, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass

Funny? That's hilarious!! I don't understand your post fully though. Who are you calling a clown, and who are you calling a liar?

I'm not calling anyone names, I'm simply making a pointed observation. This is not a game. Were talking about people's professional reputation and their ability to make a living. If you've ever been a victim of one of these "hit and runs" it's sickening to just sit there and feel powerless.