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Double Bass Shen Owner's Club

#701
Well, here it is. I did pick it up today. Seems to be in good shape. Came with a french CF bow, decent bag, stand, quiver, and realist pickup. Not too bad. Current strings are Helicore orchestra light, so I'll be wanting to switch them over to something else. I havnt had a ton of time to mess with it and compare it to my American Standard (which may be an apples to oranges comparison) so I dont have much to say about its sound yet.

I'm noticing there is a lot of buzz down in 1/2-3rd position. I raised the bridge a bit, but still buzz. I wonder if higher tension strings will help with this, or if the fingerboard needs a full dressing.

I read people like Spiro mediums on these basses, but what would you recommend? I have Spiro med on my American Standard, which work, but am open to suggestions. I do a bunch of bowing and plucking for a group I'm in, so a hybrid string would be preferable.

More pics can be uploaded if desired, but I'm looking forward to seeing which one I'll keep.
 

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#703
I have a 150 hybrid flatback. I literally had my second carpal tunnel and ulnar nerve surgery TODAY! I am a retired bass professor..played Spiro reds and weichs for many years. I recently switched over to some Zyex strings. HIGHLY recommended! I play the lights, but both the lights and mediums have a wonderful gut like feel! Now, they sound boingy for about 2 weeks, but after that, they feel very flexible and easy on the hands, but sound like creamy Spirocores! If you like them as much as I do, playing for hours is both easy and a pleasure! I also have some absolutely delightful LaBella 7720 lights on an old carved and restored German shop bass...equally as nice to play on.

Don't get me wrong...I love Spiros. But, I'm an aging bass player (and former rudimental snare drummer. Kevlar heads are from the Hot Place), and I can personally attest to the Zyex on a carved top Shen. Like a good life mate...give them 2 weeks, and after that, you'll know if that buttery goodness is for you! 😜

If you play some bluegrass, you'll LOVE these with your action up a touch. Worth the low coin, IMO

Yes, you need a planing, and probably a whole set up. Get the work done from a reputable doublebass shop if possible. Not sure what city you are in or near, but a ton of great TB DB'ers here probably live somewhat/relatively close to you geographically and can name the good ones you could drive to.
 
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#707
2500 is a screaming deal, even if it had an open seam or needs a bridge, or a complete setup and strings and a pickup!

I just got a new 180 2 weeks ago, so I am on the NBH (New Bass High)! Joey Naeger nailed the setup and I am not in the market, but I was a few months ago.
 
#708
Ben Rose said:
Anyone here looking for a Shen? Crazy deal in Philly. Appears to be an SB200 Willow, according to the label. I have no affiliation with the seller. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
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That is a great deal. I lost mine almost just like it in our house fire. It projected like a Juzek - great tone but volume was a tad bit shy, which lends itself to better stage volumes with more headroom before feedback.
 
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#710
I have a SB80 and in need of an upgrade. Debating between 150 flatback or 200 willow flatback. Can anyone who has played both give me a comparison? Is the 200 worth the extra $? I know 'fully carved' vs. 'hybrid' means something but can you really tell? I play in a community symphony, big band and combo so need it to be pretty versatile and I need a much "bigger" sound than the 80 I have right now.
 
#711
I have a 200 Willow Flatback. When I was shopping I was able to compare the 150 hybrid and the 200 Willow Flatback side by side in my home for about a week. The carved bass had more clarity and tonal character. Not the kind of difference you'd hear from a much more expensive instrument, but enough to appreciate the price difference. But, to be honest, for the kind of playing I do I could be very happy with a 150 Hybrid for the long term. They are great sounding basses (and a very good value). At the time, I knew I was buying my last bass and I had the money so I splurged on the carved bass.
 
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#712
Earlier this year @John Sprague posted in a thread about SB200 bracing:

Regarding the ladder bracing, it resurfaced briefly, maybe 20 basses, and we went back to the X-brace mainly because we had decades into it so it's a very refined-by-experience design for us. The X was inspired by among other things the work of Al Jackstad and the boys at the Cincinnati Bass Cellar. Robertsons, on the other hand, swears by ladder bracing. So there you go, two top authorities with different opinions. They all work. If the back hasn't popped yet, you should be able to trust it just fine.
Good luck!
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I have one of those 20, and it hasn't been going so well! I had two seams on the back patched in 2022, which I chalked that up to moving the instrument from SF to WI. But I just got the bass out today for the first time after a gig a few weeks ago, and now have SIX popped seams of various severity on the back.

IMG_1657.jpeg

(Green = where the previous patches were, Pink = currently open seams.)

That gig involved an hour drive both directions, during winter in Wisconsin. I do my best to humidify my house (it's generally around 35% in the dead of winter with the whole-house humidifier going as hard as it can go) and I have a couple of Boveda packs in the case, but I can't do any better than that.

I knew getting a fully solid-wood instrument would be more finicky, and I knew a flatback could be more finicky, but man...I wish I knew about the bracing when I bought it, and I wish I knew I was going to be moving to WI when I bought it (and purchased a hybrid instead.) I don't think I can realistically own this bass and keep it safe in this climate. I'd honestly love to swap it out for a hybrid or sell it outright, but I probably need to get it fixed before I can do either and I feel like to fix this for real is going to involve taking the top off. Bleh.
 
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#715
jasonbraatz said:
Yeah, my bass before this one was an SB80 which was an indestructible tank. I probably should have kept it.
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If you aren't playing in an orchestra somewhere, the 150 and up have spruce tops, and tend to crack less than a solid flatback. I DID have a 150 hybrid flatback that was OUTSTANDING. I play mine three times a week in a variety of situations, and my hybrid sounds GREAT for a sub 10k bass, especially for jazz/trio work. My pianist (nor my tax accountant) has never busted by b*lls for having a bass with a ply back.
 
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#716
jasonbraatz said:
Yeah, my bass before this one was an SB80 which was an indestructible tank. I probably should have kept it.
Click to expand...

No, I think you hit on the problem in your previous post. The issue is not necessarily ply vs. carved. I've had an SB200 for 12+ years, and the bass is a few years older than that. It's never had a crack or an open seam. But it has Shen's X-bracing. That makes all the difference.
 
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#717
The other thing that's weird is that each spot where there were finish splotches at a seam when new - presumably glue that didn't get cleaned up before finishing - is now split. Feels like a manufacturing defect to me...

I'm on the other side of the country from where I bought it, and it's been four years since purchase, so I don't know if I can really expect anything from the seller. Now I'm basically sitting on a bass that is going to be super expensive to fix properly, but I can't sell as it sits either. Bleh!
 
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