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Double Bass Hybrid Shen vs. Carved Shen

TopSpinBassist

TopSpinBassist

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Oct 26, 2014
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#1
I'm an amateur bassist and am looking into buying a bass in the $3000 to $4000 range. There is a local bass shop that I went to and there were two basses I liked. A hybrid Shen for $3400 and a carved Shen for $4900. The carved bass sounded a lot better but was a little more expensive, especially since I was originally just looking at hybrid basses and this is not factoring in a bow. Is it worth it to get the carved bass for $1500 more? What strings would you suggest? I play mostly classical and jazz, and a little bluegrass sometimes. By the way I am a senior in high school and want a bass that will carry me through college and beyond. I am not planning on majoring in music, but I love the instrument and music in general so I plan on continuing to play for a long time.
 
#2
It depends on you. Many bassists play hybrids their whole lives, and are quite happy with them. I have a carved Shen, and am quite happy with it for now. When I get another bass, I would hope it would be fully carved. You mentioned classical first in your genre preferences, and does tend to prefer carved instruments. If you are experiencing sticker shock at the price of the carved basses, I would strongly recommend checking out some used basses.

As for strings, you probably want to do some searching in the "Strings" forum here at TB. I think you'll find Evah Pirazzis and Spirocores to be good all-purpose strings, although both are quite different from each other.
 
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#3
You should be able to get a Shen Hybrid for around $2500, as at the Bass Cellar Invalid Link Removed

At $4900, you have many options for new/used Chinese fully carved and some used European. Where are you located?
What is the model of the carved Shen? Bass Cellar (quality dealer) has the Shen 3/4 Willow for $3890, for example. Look at dealer's websites for examples of basses in your price range. Go to the Shen website, too. You need to educate yourself so you get good value from a dealer. Negotiating price can be part of the game in buying and selling.

One of my students just got a kick-ass Chinese made Rogieri model from String Emporium for around $5000. Good basses are out there in your price range.

You ask "if it's worth it" to spend more money on one bass than another. Yes, if you have the money and like the more expensive bass enough to warrant it. Better sound is worth it if you can afford it. Also look at it this way, if you keep the bass 10 years and it's $1000 more than the cheaper bass, that's $100/year for a nicer instrument. Sounds pretty reasonable in the long term.
 
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#4
If you're a classical player, be sure to save enough budget for a decent bow. That's practically as important as the bass itself.

FWIW, most people here would probably tell you that they've heard well made hybrid basses that sound better than some fully carved instruments. Shen 190 is worth checking out. Also Götz hybrids and Uptons.
 
#5
I have owned a Shen Hybrid (SB-150) and fully carved willow Shen Rugeri (SB-200). Both were good, dependable workhorse basses. In terms of playability and appointments, they were pretty much even but in terms of sound the fully carved bass was the clear winner. That thing sounded like a foghorn. A hybrid bass should be more stable and less prone to weather-related damage, but the Shen Willow was shockingly hardy. All three of the old Germans I owned at the time cracked last winter, but the Shen survived intact. Maybe that bass was a freak, but I was impressed.

Shens seem to be pretty consistent. If price is a major factor, and you pursue a Shen and find a model you like, talk to Mark Leue (theluthier.us). He frequently travels to the Shen warehouse in Rochester, NY and brings back "factory second" basses that have small flaws, and sells them at huge discounts. The Rugeri I had was one of those; it had small sap holes in the top that were expertly and almost invisible filled. Mark told me the other day that he shipped a bass from central Mass to Detroit for $150. It's somewhat of a gamble, but you can do a lot better than $5k on a carved Shen.
 
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#6
I think I will go for the fully carved bass. It has significantly better tone and it sounds like it will be great for long term usage. I am going to the bass shop later today to play both again, and they allow you to check it for a week to play it a little so I will do that. They also let you check out a couple bows to get a feel for them. Thank you for all of the great input!

It sounds really good new and I know that as I play it more, the tone will only get better and it will be worth more. There are two major bass dealers in my area, both of which are really good, but mostly only carry new basses.
 
#16
Writing an OOOLLLDDD reply to this thread. I am 5'9, and have had several Shens over the years, including the 200, and as I hit 50 this year, I gave even scaled my slab basses back to 33" scale. I have come to realize that I really have small hands. I bought my son a 5/8 when I was in Suzhou, China, and he has decided it is not what he wants to pursue long term, but he still plays electric bass. I played his 5/8 bass recently again, and it felt so good under my hands, I am getting an SB 150 5/8 Shen for myself. Now, I am a relatively well-known rudimental drummer (I have endorsements with Mapex, Vic Firth, Remo, Zildjian, and others)...my hands have adapted to a less beefy stick, and I am just fine with being a jazz rat as a bassist....I don't have a need to arco, and honestly have no desire to use a bow. I just make fannies shake 4 nights a week. Perhaps I have a different take on it, since I am looking at this without the need to bow, but the 5/8 I played sounds fantastic with a set of Spiros on it, and a Full Circle. YMMV. Since I'm turning 50, I think this stands for "Your Medications May Vary"....LOL! I'm hyped to get my hands on this really soon!
 
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#18
Matt Power said:
Writing an OOOLLLDDD reply to this thread. I am 5'9, and have had several Shens over the years, including the 200, and as I hit 50 this year, I gave even scaled my slab basses back to 33" scale. I have come to realize that I really have small hands. I bought my son a 5/8 when I was in Suzhou, China, and he has decided it is not what he wants to pursue long term, but he still plays electric bass. I played his 5/8 bass recently again, and it felt so good under my hands, I am getting an SB 150 5/8 Shen for myself. Now, I am a relatively well-known rudimental drummer (I have endorsements with Mapex, Vic Firth, Remo, Zildjian, and others)...my hands have adapted to a less beefy stick, and I am just fine with being a jazz rat as a bassist....I don't have a need to arco, and honestly have no desire to use a bow. I just make fannies shake 4 nights a week. Perhaps I have a different take on it, since I am looking at this without the need to bow, but the 5/8 I played sounds fantastic with a set of Spiros on it, and a Full Circle. YMMV. Since I'm turning 50, I think this stands for "Your Medications May Vary"....LOL! I'm hyped to get my hands on this really soon!
Click to expand...

All depends on what you want the sound of. I have a 5/8ths carved Shen listed for sale and that bass sounds miles better than the 3/4 hybrid I have, but the hybrid is used for a specific reason.

When do you get your bass? I didn’t even know they made 5/8 hybrids.
 
#19
@jacochops If you want to play even mildly in tune, I suggest making friends with the bow at home for some scales at least. At 50 you really don't the decades that the "hard way" takes.
If the cavred bass is in your budget, get it. I know it is a zombie thread but, it is a common question. My own travel bass and other Shen Hybrids I've tried are "solidly adequate" where carved Shen's are "pretty nice"!
 
#20
damonsmith said:
@jacochops If you want to play even mildly in tune, I suggest making friends with the bow at home for some scales at least. At 50 you really don't the decades that the "hard way" takes.
If the cavred bass is in your budget, get it. I know it is a zombie thread but, it is a common question. My own travel bass and other Shen Hybrids I've tried are "solidly adequate" where carved Shen's are "pretty nice"!
Click to expand...

I agree with you a lot on the arco thing. I "took a break" for a week and my whole stance, technique and intonation was off. Back to doing boardwalking each day I guess.

Its not impossible. Listening to @Chris Fitzgerald seems like he has his intonation in check. I wonder if he picked up the bow what changes his playing would show, if any.

I made a quick video between the shen willow and the folding sb150. Big difference in sound.
 
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