The string height is a little higher now. I had it a touch lower for a few days during the trial period, but this seems to be where the bass speaks the best. It also has spiro mittels on it which are stiffer than the perpetuals on my other bass. In short, yes and I’m okay with it.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Double Bass Shen Owner's Club
- Thread starter Skabasskid
- Start date
My local shop has a 200 flatback for an insane discount. Like, really crazy. Oh man, kinda wish I hadn’t seen it! No affiliation of course.
Don’t get me started…
I just parted with my Shen 88, a beauty to behold but a boring conversationalist, in favor of a Kay that’s been around the block but has plenty of history to share and more to make.
I might sell the Kay, too, but I had to jump in and wonder here whether the excitement over the referenced Shen was over its appearance or its sound.
I just parted with my Shen 88, a beauty to behold but a boring conversationalist, in favor of a Kay that’s been around the block but has plenty of history to share and more to make.
I might sell the Kay, too, but I had to jump in and wonder here whether the excitement over the referenced Shen was over its appearance or its sound.
Shen Owner's Club?
Count me in. I've been a Shen owner for a while - I bought an SB80 to learn on a while back. But it always seemed like a "learning bass," and as my arco skills improved I wanted to compare it to a bass with a real piece of spruce to hear what sort of difference that makes. From my own experience with the sturdy SB80 and reading Talkbass threads, I was certainly prepared to find a Shen as a step-up bass - I just had to find the right one.
And then, as I took a fall walk around the town square, there in the local music shop stood a rather nice-looking bass. I went inside to check it out, and it was a Shen SB190W - I had never heard of that particular hybrid, but with a spruce top, willow sides, and a what is described as a maple plywood flatback I thought it was worth trying out. After playing it and comparing it to my SB80, I decided to become a Shen owner for good.
The sound is wonderful; better and more even tone than the SB80, and it seems easier to play a greater dynamic range - especially louder even though it is smaller; perhaps because of the flatback? In any case, it is exactly the right instrument for me, and I was lucky to find it in that local shop, and get a great deal while turning in my still-good SB80 for a future student.
The appearance is also pretty neat; here are some cropped pictures that show how different the finish appears in different lighting conditions.
Count me in. I've been a Shen owner for a while - I bought an SB80 to learn on a while back. But it always seemed like a "learning bass," and as my arco skills improved I wanted to compare it to a bass with a real piece of spruce to hear what sort of difference that makes. From my own experience with the sturdy SB80 and reading Talkbass threads, I was certainly prepared to find a Shen as a step-up bass - I just had to find the right one.
And then, as I took a fall walk around the town square, there in the local music shop stood a rather nice-looking bass. I went inside to check it out, and it was a Shen SB190W - I had never heard of that particular hybrid, but with a spruce top, willow sides, and a what is described as a maple plywood flatback I thought it was worth trying out. After playing it and comparing it to my SB80, I decided to become a Shen owner for good.
The sound is wonderful; better and more even tone than the SB80, and it seems easier to play a greater dynamic range - especially louder even though it is smaller; perhaps because of the flatback? In any case, it is exactly the right instrument for me, and I was lucky to find it in that local shop, and get a great deal while turning in my still-good SB80 for a future student.
The appearance is also pretty neat; here are some cropped pictures that show how different the finish appears in different lighting conditions.
Hi everyone. I'm considering getting a shen bass, but am wondering about the flatback/ roundback options. I'm looking at either an SB150 (which has both round and flat) or the SB190 (which is just flat). I'd like a really diverse bass that can get me into different types of music (currently have an old American Standard, which is a bluegrass champion). Flat seems to be louder, but round seems to be more "complex" in tone, but how much volume does that sacrifice, or will this be a specific bass by bass situation? Does anyone here have experience with the 150 and 190, or can speak to their experience between flat and round back on shens? I know I should try everything, but shopping options in stores can be limited. Any advice is welcomed!
I have owned a stable of Shens, and have several students with them, and have had high schools and universities buy them. They are like all wooden things in a production/manufacturing setting....they vary.
My personal basses have been an SB 190 flatback,, a Willow flatback, a 180 round back, and my current bass, a 150 flatback. My affinity for flats comes from my first great jazz bass, a restored carved Czech flatback. Maaaan, do I miss that bass!!
I have had junior high programs purchase 88s and 100s, high schools and a community college get 180s, and 2 universities with a couple of 190s and fully carved maple round backs. All very good, some excellent and a couple of Golden Tickets in there! All set up by BVS, Nick Lloyd, Jon Peterson, Joey Nager (who I'm buying lunch for tomorrow! String change and setup tweak Sunday!).
The willow was not a huge sounding bass, but sounded great arco.
The 190 was a gas, but it is a BIG bass! I had it while I was living in Suzhou taking a train all the time. Great sound, and sold it when I moved back home.
The 180 was a bass I bought while I had a full top-off restoration of my nice German bass. Played it a year and sold it to a student. A HUGE sounding bass for a hybrid!
Current 150 flatback is a love/hate relationship! Finicky little bugger, but when the post is happy and the weather is good here, it's the best sounding bass of all the Shens I've had. It has a set of 3885s on there now, but Joey is putting a set of Zyex lights on for me. So, so even, and projects really well!
My bass has tried Weichs, 42s, and these 3885s. It seems happier with less tension on the top, plus I just had carpal tunnel and ulnar nerve surgery 8 days ago, and Daddy gotta lighten up, or else!! I was also a snare drummer in DCI in the Cadets, marched 11 years, and beat the pi** out of Kevlar batter heads for the last 3 years as a player. Getting old is a drag, kids....
Hoping these Zyex are the ticket....unless someone has an unopened set of Velvet Blues they'd like to donate to science...
If you like a larger bass and can locate a 190 (not made anymore, afaik), get it and play the daylights out of it!
If you like a rounder tone, get a 180.
If you play in an Arco setting primarily, consider the Willow.
If you like a very quick, forward but still warm and full, try the 150 flatback, but I don't think those are being made right now, either? If I am wrong, I will be very happy to be so...please correct me.
Of course, there's basses made by Upton, Eastman, Christopher etc. Follow your ears....and it's very ok to have one or more basses, right? Now if anyone has my old Czech flatback, repaired by David Millard in San Diego, I have a spare kidney and a BMW with the title waiting...
My personal basses have been an SB 190 flatback,, a Willow flatback, a 180 round back, and my current bass, a 150 flatback. My affinity for flats comes from my first great jazz bass, a restored carved Czech flatback. Maaaan, do I miss that bass!!
I have had junior high programs purchase 88s and 100s, high schools and a community college get 180s, and 2 universities with a couple of 190s and fully carved maple round backs. All very good, some excellent and a couple of Golden Tickets in there! All set up by BVS, Nick Lloyd, Jon Peterson, Joey Nager (who I'm buying lunch for tomorrow! String change and setup tweak Sunday!).
The willow was not a huge sounding bass, but sounded great arco.
The 190 was a gas, but it is a BIG bass! I had it while I was living in Suzhou taking a train all the time. Great sound, and sold it when I moved back home.
The 180 was a bass I bought while I had a full top-off restoration of my nice German bass. Played it a year and sold it to a student. A HUGE sounding bass for a hybrid!
Current 150 flatback is a love/hate relationship! Finicky little bugger, but when the post is happy and the weather is good here, it's the best sounding bass of all the Shens I've had. It has a set of 3885s on there now, but Joey is putting a set of Zyex lights on for me. So, so even, and projects really well!
My bass has tried Weichs, 42s, and these 3885s. It seems happier with less tension on the top, plus I just had carpal tunnel and ulnar nerve surgery 8 days ago, and Daddy gotta lighten up, or else!! I was also a snare drummer in DCI in the Cadets, marched 11 years, and beat the pi** out of Kevlar batter heads for the last 3 years as a player. Getting old is a drag, kids....
Hoping these Zyex are the ticket....unless someone has an unopened set of Velvet Blues they'd like to donate to science...
If you like a larger bass and can locate a 190 (not made anymore, afaik), get it and play the daylights out of it!
If you like a rounder tone, get a 180.
If you play in an Arco setting primarily, consider the Willow.
If you like a very quick, forward but still warm and full, try the 150 flatback, but I don't think those are being made right now, either? If I am wrong, I will be very happy to be so...please correct me.
Of course, there's basses made by Upton, Eastman, Christopher etc. Follow your ears....and it's very ok to have one or more basses, right? Now if anyone has my old Czech flatback, repaired by David Millard in San Diego, I have a spare kidney and a BMW with the title waiting...
What was your experience of the pizz volume difference between the 190 and 150?
Of course the 190 was a larger sounding bass, as it's quite a bit larger of an instrument. But for my volume needs might be different than yours. I play a lot of jazz gigs and they are always with a level of support via pickup and amp. My 150 is certainly easier to get around, if that matters to you. Once again, YMMV, carrots.
I just picked up an 2006 SB 180 today, seems to be a very nice bass. Can I ask what strings work well on these basses? I mostly play bluegrass, country and jazz all with fingers, but it came with a bow so might give that a go at some point.
I have always played Spiros, but I am a recent convert to the Xyex lights. Just a great string after break in. Growl for days.
Thanks, I have played Xyex on my old Kay for years, and I do like them but thought I might try something different.
I have time to research as I have to recover from buying the bass before putting strings in it!
I have time to research as I have to recover from buying the bass before putting strings in it!
Met up with a well respected luthier the other day and mentioned Shen while looking at basses. He seemed to not like them, thinking they were too overbuilt and had too much lumber to really get vibrating (namely the Willow models). I was surprised, since I've only otherwise heard good things about Shen. Is this something others have seen?
I understand what he's saying. Shens are durable, reliable, and typically play and sound as good as anything else in their price range. But you will probably never get an SB200 to vibrate the top like a Pollman.
I'm back in the upright game with a new Shen hybrid flatback. I'm really enjoying it. While the Palatino (YES, the dreaded P) I had previously actually sounded quite good and was tough as nails, this is a dramatic step up in every way.
I’ve got a Shen Willow Flatback. It was significantly better that the Shen hybrid in the store, and my teacher (who has an old German bass and a Shen hybrid) always makes very positive comments about the sound of my bass.
Hi all. I’m looking to pickup a Shen sb150 tomorrow with a bag and bow. Seems like it’s in good condition, but we’ll have to see. They say no popped seams or cracks.
I’m wondering this bass model has any particular issues I should look out for or be aware of when I go check it out.
Does anyone know if there are known problem with these basses I should look for?
If I buy it I’ll post a NBD soon.
I’m wondering this bass model has any particular issues I should look out for or be aware of when I go check it out.
Does anyone know if there are known problem with these basses I should look for?
If I buy it I’ll post a NBD soon.
Last edited:
