Shen overstand

**Matthew Tucker** · #1 11-02-2008, 02:38 AM

This is a view of part of a Shen SB300 5/8 in the workshop a couple of weeks ago.

Anyone know what that stripe is? Decorative? Or does Shen do something special in there like carbon rod?

David Potts · #2 11-02-2008, 04:22 AM

Verrrrrrrry interesting! Is the stripe wood? Could it be some sort of wedge to expand the base of the neck into the block?

Had Edvon's Shen Bass got the same stripe?

DP

Mark Carlsen · #3 11-02-2008, 07:02 AM

Shen basses made last year had some neck twisting issues....They are now using maple strips to reinforce the neck from twisting. Same concept as carbon fiber, just a cheaper way to do the job... They also have made some steps to control the wood supply that they use for their necks. I believe this bass must be a fairly new one...

gp_bass · #4 11-02-2008, 08:33 AM

an old book i have on violin making describes inlaying a strip of wood cross-grain in the heel to prevent the splitting of the heel if the instrument were dropped, etc. I never figured this would work all that well, but that could be another explanation.

Jake deVilliers · #5 11-02-2008, 02:12 PM

Let's hope its got a positive meaning - being a Shen I would think so.

I've seen some CCB type basses where they've driven a wedge into the inside of the heel to tighten the fit in the the neck mortise - its a lot quicker and easier than making the two parts fit properly.........

Eric Hochberg · #6 11-02-2008, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Carlsen

Shen basses made last year had some neck twisting issues....They are now using maple strips to reinforce the neck from twisting. Same concept as carbon fiber, just a cheaper way to do the job... They also have made some steps to control the wood supply that they use for their necks. I believe this bass must be a fairly new one...

That overstand looks quite high. Maybe that has something to do with the neck twisting...

ctregan · #7 11-02-2008, 04:09 PM

Maybe with such a high overstand the maple reinforces the heel.

**Matthew Tucker** · #8 11-02-2008, 05:23 PM

Yes the overstand is a big 36mm. To me it looks like a decorative strip to fill a routed slot up into the neck. I guess that there is an inlaid strip up the neck to stiffen. But can't be sure. I doubt whether there'd be much point in reinforcing the bottom of the heel. It's a nice "finishing touch" too, even though it's not commonly seen. In my basses I glue in a graphite rod but I have left the end of the channel visible so that luthiers down the track will know it's there.

Mark Carlsen · #9 11-03-2008, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehochberg

That overstand looks quite high. Maybe that has something to do with the neck twisting...

I don't believe so....They just had wood seasoning problems that effected basses that came here to the states....Neck issues only.

toman · #10 11-03-2008, 03:54 PM

Are we sure it's a separate material? I've seen at least one like that but not paid attention. That one was under a shorter overstand and I just assumed it was in the finish, like a strip of tape had been peeled off after some color was applied perhaps.

Mark Carlsen · #11 11-03-2008, 06:06 PM

I know because I had issues w. 6 basses last year that had neck issues. A lot of bench work later Shen replaced 3 of the 6 at no charge...
So I was involved w. this issue first hand.... I was also given info first hand about fixing the problem, so I have seen the problem resolved.

Stan Haskins · #12 11-03-2008, 09:39 PM

How long does it take for the neck twist issue to show up on those basses, Mark?

Mark Carlsen · #13 11-04-2008, 08:38 AM

Stan,
The problem would show up very quickly from about 2-3 weeks to 2-3 months.... basses would come back to have the FB re-dressed. After 3 times we figured it was a dog... Shen was very good at rectifying the problem...