Double Bass New SB100?

[Bayou_Brawler]

What is a rough fair price for a professionally set up 2012 Shen SB100?

I did some googling but couldn't put my finger on it?

I'm about to pull the trigger and move over to this side of the forum.

 

[Hqubed]

http://www.nicklloydbasses.com/

 

[Bayou_Brawler]

That's one site I came across. I assume add on another 400 for tax and shipping to Michigan....

 

[Steve Swan]

There are now violin corner and gamba corner versions available as a choice.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

You can't do better for setup than Nick Lloyd. Try Aaron Reilly in Grand Rapids for something more local. He's wonderful, too.

 

[Bayou_Brawler]

Well I'm being quoted $2,800 from Gary Ritter before tax. It sounds like a nice set up with high quality options but I'm a newb. Thoughts?

I have to imagine after shipping and tax I would be at 2,400 with nick and it would not be local....

 

[404usernamenotfound]

I hate to do this, but as a former customer of his, i really encourage you to go elsewhere. I bought my first bass from him (an SB-80), which I then had worked on elsewhere since it presented with a few problems. My school then bought an instrument (another SB-80) from him that was utterly unplayable (to be frank, sounded like a crappy bass guitar-( not a double bass). I had them both re-setup and repaired at Guarneri House and they both sound much, much better.

If you can at all make the trip to Grand Rapids or Cincinatti, do so. Go to a shop whose speciality is bass, and who is the best at what they do. You're spending a ton of money- make it all work for you.

 

[Bayou_Brawler]

Thanks for the feed back. I guess I'm more concerned with the price than individual experiences (I do realize a bad set up could increase my total cost in the long run). No business is perfect and before I went there I did some searching on here. It seems like you are the only one who had a bad experience. That doesn't make it right but no one has a 100% customer satisfaction survey.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Well I'm being quoted $2,800 from Gary Ritter before tax. It sounds like a nice set up with high quality options but I'm a newb. Thoughts?

I have to imagine after shipping and tax I would be at 2,400 with nick and it would not be local....

$2800 sounds like way too much to me as N Lloyd's price is $1940. You won't pay tax if he ships it to you. For a savings of $860, maybe you should make a road trip? If Nick is pricing it at this point, you shouldn't pay more for it anywhere else. $2800 is more like a hybrid price.

 

[404usernamenotfound]

Even on the price point, it seems you're better off elsewhere. I apologize for the tone of my post, but he essentially ripped off my (former) high school music program, and it just really made me think negatively of someone willing to put their name on something that bad.

And yes, a bad setup (not saying that the experience I had will apply to you) could cost you even more money. The instrument I had needed a few hundred dollars of work to make it even sound bearable.

Again, that's just my experience, but in my opinion, it's a much safer (and likely cheaper) option to buy from elsewhere.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Even on the price point, it seems you're better off elsewhere. I apologize for the tone of my post, but he essentially ripped off my (former) high school music program, and it just really made me think negatively of someone willing to put their name on something that bad.

And yes, a bad setup (not saying that the experience I had will apply to you) could cost you even more money. The instrument I had needed a few hundred dollars of work to make it even sound bearable.

Again, that's just my experience, but in my opinion, it's a much safer (and likely cheaper) option to buy from elsewhere.

Who is "he"?

 

[Bayou_Brawler]

Even on the price point, it seems you're better off elsewhere. I apologize for the tone of my post, but he essentially ripped off my (former) high school music program, and it just really made me think negatively of someone willing to put their name on something that bad.

And yes, a bad setup (not saying that the experience I had will apply to you) could cost you even more money. The instrument I had needed a few hundred dollars of work to make it even sound bearable.

Again, that's just my experience, but in my opinion, it's a much safer (and likely cheaper) option to buy from elsewhere.

No apology necessary. Honesty is the best policy. If there were 10 posts like yours I would avoid that place like the plague.

I mean look....if you interviewed the 3000 women I have been with...I bet 2 or 3 MIGHT say I am not the worlds greatest lover...where the other 2997 would have a different opinion....you know?

 

[ole Jason]

$2800 for an SB100? Run away as fast as you can.

 

[404usernamenotfound]

Who is "he"?

Gary Ritter? That's the guy who owns the shop.

 

[404usernamenotfound]

No apology necessary. Honesty is the best policy. If there were 10 posts like yours I would avoid that place like the plague.

I mean look....if you interviewed the 3000 women I have been with...I bet 2 or 3 MIGHT say I am not the worlds greatest lover...where the other 2997 would have a different opinion....you know?

Haha, I know what you mean. I don't know that many people that use him, but the one or two that have had said he's alright, I suppose. Just every time I've dealt with him (for years) it wasn't a pleasant experience.


That being said, you're still way better off elsewhere, in mine (and others) opinion.

 

[Tejano Bass]

. . . I guess I'm more concerned with the price than individual experiences . . .

Well, then . . . If $2,800 is the very best, final out-the-door offer for just the bass, only, - i.e., without any other goodies. . . then, that's not very competitive pricing . . . Shen's on-line MSRP is only $2,250. What else are you being offered for $550 above MRSP ???? fwiw & imho, competitive pricing at $2,800 would at the very least include a gig-ready set-up to include your choice of (reasonably priced) strings

 

[Bayou_Brawler]

Well, then . . . If $2,800 is the very best, final out-the-door offer for just the bass, only, - i.e., without any other goodies. . . then, that's not very competitive pricing . . . Shen's on-line MSRP is only $2,250. What else are you being offered for $550 above MRSP ???? fwiw & imho, competitive pricing at $2,800 would at the very least include a gig-ready set-up to include your choice of (reasonably priced) strings

Thanks for the feedback. Keep it coming.

Yes i chose $150 set of strings. He showed me some of the parts he was using and explained there were nice quality. He explained it as a "special set up". Again I'm new to this so I can't tell what is what.

For instance the bride had dials on it where the action could be adjusted as the seasons change

 

[josiah goldfish]

Thanks for the feedback. Keep it coming.

Yes i chose $150 set of strings. He showed me some of the parts he was using and explained there were nice quality. He explained it as a "special set up". Again I'm new to this so I can't tell what is what.

For instance the bride had dials on it where the action could be adjusted as the seasons change

That's an adjustable bridge, and they don't cost enough to justify the price difference.

I'm not in America, so I can't help much

 

[Matt Ides]

You don't have to buy site unseen. You are close to Grand Rapids and only a 4 hour drive from Chicago or Cincinnati. Plenty of bass shopping options.

 

[Steve Swan]

As I like to say, buying "local" for doublebass players means anywhere within a half day's drive or so. Good luck in the hint. It may surprise you which bass hangs on to your leg and won't let go!