Double Bass Shen SB200. Have I made a mistake?

[jrankin]

For some background: I'm an undergrad who frequently plays jazz, chamber, and symphonic pieces. I was looking for my first bass, and started shopping around and found that this was the best instrument available in my price range in my state. I bought a Shen SB200 Willow (3/4) and a De Marchi pernambuco bow for around $5000. It has decent strings, although I can't recall what they are right now. I very much enjoy playing this instrument, and it's a huge step up from the school bass I was playing, but I'm a little concerned that I overpayed. I've found the same instrument online between $3500 and $4000. There's not much I can do about it now, I'm just looking to the fine people here for some input on whether this was a good decision or not. Thanks!

 

[ErikvanD]

I do not know the value of Shen basses as those are not sold in Europe as far as I know. But I do know that as long as you love to play your bass the price paid does not matter that much. As you say, there is not much you can do about it anyhow besides enjoying the instrument!

I probably paid a bit too much for my own bass but I totally love every minute I play on it. I had a "click" with it from the beginning. And as far as I can see now I'll be keeping it for long time. So, I would probably buy it again.

So bottom line, enjoy and don't look back!

 

[Lee Moses]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed], and they typically have fair prices. Unless I'm mistaken, you've got a $1500+ bow. Sounds like you got a great deal.

 

[Robert Strickland]

Yes, you overpaid a bit. I've seen them regularly for 3500 to 4000.

But they are not all equal in terms of sound. If you like the one you got, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

[shwashwa]

you got the bass and the bow for that price? seems like a good deal to me. was the bass set up by a luthier? that alone can be worth up to $1000

 

[robgrow]

I think it comes down to whether you like your bass or not. If you like it, then it was a good deal.

 

[drurb]

I think it's possible to really like a bass and still have overpaid for it such that it was not a good deal. In your case, though, it does not seem that you overpaid.

 

[John Sprague]

$4800 bass + $1500 bow for $5000 is a $1300 discount. I'd say you did well!
Congratulations on your new bass!

 

[Steve Swan]

Different shops will prep the basses in their own way, providing their own strings and will either switch out some parts or not. There will be quite a spread in prices of this model, based on what each individual shop will do in order to get one on the sales floor, ready to play. It is very much unlike the electric bass guitar world, where it is tuned up, quickly checked for action adjustments, and put up on the sales floor for sale, bing, bang, boom.

 

[Michael Eisenman]

I paid $5500 for my SB-200 Rogeri a few years ago, and the list price then was something like $6500. So the price of the bass has come down. I could have gotten it for less, but I bought it from my luthier, and it was properly set up. I'd say that you did just fine.

 

[Lee Moses]

I paid $5500 for my SB-200 Rogeri a few years ago, and the list price then was something like $6500. So the price of the bass has come down. I could have gotten it for less, but I bought it from my luthier, and it was properly set up. I'd say that you did just fine.

The Rogeri is about a $2k step up from the standard Willow. But I agree that the OP did just fine.

 

[MostlyBass]

Different shops will prep the basses in their own way, providing their own strings and will either switch out some parts or not. There will be quite a spread in prices of this model, based on what each individual shop will do in order to get one on the sales floor, ready to play. It is very much unlike the electric bass guitar world, where it is tuned up, quickly checked for action adjustments, and put up on the sales floor for sale, bing, bang, boom.

Right. What setup, if any, was done? Many shops will cut a new bridge, possibly dress the fingerboard, and replace the factory strings. Or even add a nice case.