Hey guys...
I wanted to share a setup story with you. I ordered a Shen 150 as a gigging jazz bass from FMI. I know they've been slogged in the past on this site, but I wanted to share my own personal experience with those guys.
My new bass arrived safe and sound, packed really well, with the bridge down. After the posts I've read about the setups needing a lot of attention, I was fully prepared to spend 400-500$ on fingerboard planing, properly fitting the bridge feet to the top, nut adjustment, etc.
I drove down to my setup guy/luthier in Amarillo (Kruno's Violins) fully expecting the worst...Kruno is a really picky guy, and is hard to please. The post was REALLY out of place (probably moved in shipping), so he got it in place, stood the bridge up, strung it up, and BAM! The bass plays great, really comfy string height, absolutely zero buzz anywhere on the board, and it really sounds and plays fantastic! Kruno was actually impressed with how well the fingerboard was planed.
I used to live in SoCal, and Jon Peterson at World of Strings and Dave Millard in San Diego did all my setup and repair work...Tom Kerr is NOT at the level of those guys in the repair department. But, in the setup department, he has my respect.
I'm not a bass newbie...I have my Master's in bass and percussion performance. I've played some really nice basses over the years...I have to say I am really impressed with the quality of his setups. Now, the Shen bridge wood quality blows...lots of mineral streaks, not a lot of quartersawn flecks, but it was definitely cut well. Kruno's planning on cutting a new one next month...2 tree Despeau.
I have ZERO affiliation with these guys. Just a satisfied buyer, offering an opinion. Tom did right by me. That's all I have to say about that. (To quote Forrest Gump)
I wanted to share a setup story with you. I ordered a Shen 150 as a gigging jazz bass from FMI. I know they've been slogged in the past on this site, but I wanted to share my own personal experience with those guys.
My new bass arrived safe and sound, packed really well, with the bridge down. After the posts I've read about the setups needing a lot of attention, I was fully prepared to spend 400-500$ on fingerboard planing, properly fitting the bridge feet to the top, nut adjustment, etc.
I drove down to my setup guy/luthier in Amarillo (Kruno's Violins) fully expecting the worst...Kruno is a really picky guy, and is hard to please. The post was REALLY out of place (probably moved in shipping), so he got it in place, stood the bridge up, strung it up, and BAM! The bass plays great, really comfy string height, absolutely zero buzz anywhere on the board, and it really sounds and plays fantastic! Kruno was actually impressed with how well the fingerboard was planed.
I used to live in SoCal, and Jon Peterson at World of Strings and Dave Millard in San Diego did all my setup and repair work...Tom Kerr is NOT at the level of those guys in the repair department. But, in the setup department, he has my respect.
I'm not a bass newbie...I have my Master's in bass and percussion performance. I've played some really nice basses over the years...I have to say I am really impressed with the quality of his setups. Now, the Shen bridge wood quality blows...lots of mineral streaks, not a lot of quartersawn flecks, but it was definitely cut well. Kruno's planning on cutting a new one next month...2 tree Despeau.
I have ZERO affiliation with these guys. Just a satisfied buyer, offering an opinion. Tom did right by me. That's all I have to say about that. (To quote Forrest Gump)
