Shen SB80 Nut Question

GaryLC · #1 04-07-2011, 10:12 AM

Hi folks,

I haven't played upright in decades, and am looking to get back into it. A local gent has a one-month old Shen SB80 for sale, he bought it for his son, but son doesn't want to play anymore. I just went and gave it a try, it looks brand new, with bag, bow, stand, etc. He bought it from a local long-time music store that makes it's living with school rentals.
My question (and this is general, could pertain to any bass), the G string sits down too low in the nut, so that it buzzes pretty bad in first & second position. How is this fixed, do I need a new nut installed, and if so, what are we talking about?
He's asking $1000 for the package, has all the paperwork from buying it. I realize you can buy a new SB80 for around $1450 from Upton, completely set-up, with some upgrades. I guess my question is what should I expect to put into this to have it where I want it? Or is it worth springing for a new one that's set-up specifically for me?
Thanks!

Jake deVilliers · #2 04-07-2011, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryLC

Hi folks,

I'm new to the Upright forum, so I apologize if I posted this in the wrong forum (I also posted it in the Setup forum).
I haven't played upright in decades, and am looking to get back into it. A local gent has a one-month old Shen SB80 for sale, he bought it for his son, but son doesn't want to play anymore. I just went and gave it a try, it looks brand new, with bag, bow, stand, etc. He bought it from a local long-time music store that makes it's living with school rentals.
My question (and this is general, could pertain to any bass), the G string sits down too low in the nut, so that it buzzes pretty bad in first & second position. How is this fixed, do I need a new nut installed, and if so, what are we talking about?
He's asking $1000 for the package, has all the paperwork from buying it. I realize you can buy a new SB80 for around $1450 from Upton, completely set-up, with some upgrades. I guess my question is what should I expect to put into this to have it where I want it? Or is it worth springing for a new one that's set-up specifically for me?
Thanks!

If you brought that bass into my shop I would simply glue a thin ebony shim on the bottom of the nut and adjust the slots from there.

The supply of Ebony is under a lot of pressure so I'd rather keep the nut and modify it slightly. I also like to keep original parts on instruments wherever possible.

Good luck!

vejesse · #3 04-07-2011, 11:04 AM

If the strings rattle when the notes are stopped against the fingerboard as you seem to be suggesting, no amount of raising the nut is going to help that. The fingerboards on new import basses usually need to get resurfaced before they're playable and that may have never been done in this case.

KUNGfuSHERIFF · #4 04-07-2011, 11:16 AM

Hey Gary

I'm local and saw that ad. The shop that bass came from is notorious for taking advantage of young players' parents by inflating their prices ($2K+ Engelhardt EC-1s, etc.) and not doing much in the way of setup. I agree that the bass probably never got much of a setup, if any at all.

Whether you want that bass as is for $1K or another, properly set up, for 50% more is your call alone.

arnoldschnitzer · #5 04-07-2011, 11:53 AM

A low nut would not cause a buzz on fingered notes. Your problem is most likely with the fingerboard.

GaryLC · #6 04-07-2011, 12:02 PM

Thanks, gentlemen.. I was afraid of these answers, because it means I have to make a decision.

John Sprague · #7 04-07-2011, 12:14 PM

Will the seller let you take it to a shop to have the problem evaluated? If the bass is new, it would be a warranted repair in most cases, and you could pop in to our shop in Rochester to have it taken care of. Are you ever up this way?

vejesse · #8 04-07-2011, 12:28 PM

I'm getting deja vu. It's like... a parallel universe.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #9 04-07-2011, 01:15 PM

Threads merged to one thread in the setup forum.

ole Jason · #10 04-07-2011, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryLC

Thanks, gentlemen.. I was afraid of these answers, because it means I have to make a decision.

Not much of a decision to be made if you ask me. The used bass obviously needs set up work, if not a planing of the fingerboard. That's not going to be cheap.

Get the new bass for $1450

GaryLC · #11 04-08-2011, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Sprague

Will the seller let you take it to a shop to have the problem evaluated? If the bass is new, it would be a warranted repair in most cases, and you could pop in to our shop in Rochester to have it taken care of. Are you ever up this way?

John, the seller bought the bass new from a local shop about a month ago, I saw the receipt: bass, bow, bag, stand.
It's obvious it wasn't set up. Are you saying that being that new, I could bring it into your shop for a complete setup? He's a nice fellow, knows nothing about instruments, just bought it on the retailer's advice.
I'm leaning away from it, going for a new bass.....but if it's something that could be taken care of by your folks, I might reconsider!

John Sprague · #12 04-08-2011, 09:03 AM

Hi Gary,
I think the next step would be to ask the shop what is wrong with it. We don't sell to shops that can't service, so they should be able to handle it. I also doubt it was "unset", because an unset bass doesn't play.

The degree and care of setup sure can vary though. What likely happened is some wood movement as it settled in to your climate. Either the shop will adjust their setup, or fix the board and bill us for it.
Keep me posted!