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Double Bass Shen Owner's Club

#441
NBD- My first Shen
My quest for a new DB began over 18 months ago. I needed to sell my 1940's Czech beast because it was becoming difficult for me to manage the longer string length and I wanted something with a different voice with less of a "nosey" tone. Fortunately, I had access to a school-owned doghouse after the consignment and was able to try out a bunch of basses. Enter the Shens...

Mark Leue in MA had over two dozen basses hanging out, about 2/3's of them were various Shen models: older, hybrid, laminates, fully carved, and some "seconds". Mark was very accommodating and patient with me, swapped strings, tweaked setups, etc. Upon returning to his showroom a second time (after a brief trial) he headed downstairs into his workshop and cut a new bridge and nut for a newly-acquired "second" with a multi-piece top and a fingerboard with slightly irregular grain. This SB150 turned out to be the one with the most even response, a tone that was going to suit my taste, a 41.25" string length, and it was considerably less expensive. :thumbsup:

Shen150.JPG

For conservation reasons, the idea of using a multi-piece spruce top really began to appeal to me when I began my search. I hope sub-$4k bass makers begin to utilize this kind of top more regularly. About the ebony- despite the irregularities, it didn't seem wonky and I think it will remain stable. If it does go humpy and warps, then I will try to find someone who will make a new fb out of Massaranduba.
 
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#443
This could go into setup and repair, but I wanted to get some input from Shen owners who have the lower-model tuning machines.

On my newly-purchased SB150, the D tuning machine cog and worm aren't fitted properly, resulting in the cog slipping and de-tuning. I am contemplating switching out to a set of Suzhou machines. Does anyone have any similar experience or advice to share? Thanks in advance!
 

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#444
Call John Sprague at CSC in Rochester. He's great.

I'm not a huge fan of those machines. It might be worth the hundred bucks or so it would cost you to replace them with Rubners. They're not a drop-in replacement -- the rollers will have to be trimmed to fit the pegbox and the cheeks will have to be lightly routed so the gears don't bind -- but they're milled rather than cast and a much higher quality machine.
 
#445
KUNGfuSHERIFF said:
Call John Sprague at CSC in Rochester. He's great.
I'm not a huge fan of those machines. It might be worth the hundred bucks or so it would cost you to replace them with Rubners. They're not a drop-in replacement -- the rollers will have to be trimmed to fit the pegbox and the cheeks will have to be lightly routed so the gears don't bind -- but they're milled rather than cast and a much higher quality machine.
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Thanks for the advice! On my last bass, I was spoiled by a set of KC Strings machines so I was expecting something very basic on the Shen- but not a defective one. I may chat with Mark to see about drop-in replacement options, as I will likely do that kind of thing myself.
The bass sounds great, but this marks the beginning of my "pimp my bass" phase.:cool:
 
#447
Hi Rodger,
Are you sure you don't want me to send you or Mark a replacement for that machine? Also, just for grins you can check that center screw tension, to make sure it's at a quarter turn past solid contact. A loose or tight center screw on that machine causes the lion's share of issues.
Let me know if we can help.
 
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#448
John Sprague said:
Hi Rodger,
Are you sure you don't want me to send you or Mark a replacement for that machine? Also, just for grins you can check that center screw tension, to make sure it's at a quarter turn past solid contact. A loose or tight center screw on that machine causes the lion's share of issues.
Let me know if we can help.
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John,
Thank you for the reply and the offer to replace the machine! Because I liked the Suzhou machines so much more and Mark happened to have a set in the shop, I decided to go that route- my tinkering nature is too strong. :)

Over the weekend, I managed to get the cog to fully engage the worm gear- first by taking all of the tension off of the string, loosening the screw and then engaging the gears- I was surprised at how much play there was in the post. I tensioned the screw well, tuned up, and the gears disengaged again by the time I got to pitch.


On another note: the 150 is sounding great and I'm looking forward to taking it out on its first gig this weekend with a Celtic group.
 
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#450
Picked this Shen 150 up late May (my very first DB) of this year & began lessons on June 1st... Been a long time electric player and was always curious but truth be told was too intimidated to try. Well, it's only been a few months but I feel like strangling myself for not picking one up years ago! I don't remember having this much fun when I first picked up an electric two decades ago...better late than never I guess. Threw a realist on it last month and have been taking it to weekly jazz jam sessions (i'm lucky as my bandmates have been both patient and supportive :D)... Picked it up from Steve Swan (pre-owned) who was truly a pleasure to deal with. Loving my Shen & excuse the crappy cell phone pic but i know the rules...no pic, doesn't exist ha ha!
 

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#451
Blen dem, I like the violin corners on your bass. Are you sure it's a Shen 150? Because I thought the 150 has the gamba corners like mine. Anyway, beautiful wood grain. And I agree with you about the shift from EBG. I can't believe it took me so long to discover how cool the upright bass is.
 
#452
Super Iridium said:
Blen dem, I like the violin corners on your bass. Are you sure it's a Shen 150? Because I thought the 150 has the gamba corners like mine. Anyway, beautiful wood grain. And I agree with you about the shift from EBG. I can't believe it took me so long to discover how cool the upright bass is.
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Thanks! Yes, it's a 150. Check out Rodger Bryan's post (scroll up) and his 150 looks identical to mine with the violin corners which I also dig! Really having a blast learning/discovering the DB...such a fun and expressive instrument.

Cheers!
 
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#454
I don't know whether it makes any difference in the sound, but the violin corners just look cool on a big bass. And yea, the sound of the upright bass (especially playing arco) and that big, fretless fingerboard are so addictive after playing only EBG for my whole life. My P-bass actually has dust on it from lack of use.
 
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#460
Muambatrete said:
Hi! new on the club! i have a Shen 200Sb Willow flatback! (pictures soon) I would like to know how you protect your instruments of the weather (up and down humidity). Thanks!
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Use a "Dampit" in dry weather, remove when it turns humid. Room humidifier is also an option. Dampit - The string and wood instrument humidifier to protect against cracking Basses don't typically dislike either dry or humid weather. What they dislike is rapid change in humidity or temp.
 

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