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Double Bass Thoughts on this Shen?

W

webelo

Jun 7, 2011
115
7
Douglas, MA
#1
I'm a soon to be electric bass to upright convert (I've read all the stickies :-) and am on the hunt for an affordable entry into the world of double basses.

It seems like people regard Shen's pretty well and I've got a line on a one. She said she paid $2600 for it and is looking to get $1300. The issue... there is a crack on the front. She took it to a shop and said it'd be $1300 to repair it.

I don't know much about the bass and have a few questions.
- I'm still waiting to hear back from her about what model it is. She said it's a hybrid and a 4/4. Is that possible? Did/does Shen make a 4/4?
- I'm sure it's hard to tell, but do you suspect from the picture that the crack is cosmetic or structural?

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#6
g, is that bass from a craigslist ad? If it's the Shen 150 I'm thinking of, it also had the scroll snapped off and sloppily repaired. Top repairs are costly, but I'd rather deal with a well repaired top crack than a broken neck. All my old basses are cracked and they all play.

Bring it to my buddy Mark Leue in Ashfield. He's a Shen dealer, experienced luthier and bass player and he'll be able to tell you what's what. Might even make you a better deal.
 
#7
Is this the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] you're talking about?

I don't think they're the same bass. She took the bass to a luthier and they quoted her $1300 to fix it. I think it was a previously repaired crack that opened up again. If it's cosmetic and won't get worse... I really don't care. If it's structural and will lead to more problems down the road if I don't get it fixed, then I'll pass on it.
 
#8
That's the ad. What does she want for it? If you just want a bass, no cover or accessories, you could probably get a new Shen 150 for $1800 from John Keal Music in Albany, which my friend manages. And I know Mark has a ton of basses in stock. Give him a call.
 
#9
KUNGfuSHERIFF said:
That's the ad. What does she want for it? If you just want a bass, no cover or accessories, you could probably get a new Shen 150 for $1800 from John Keal Music in Albany, which my friend manages. And I know Mark has a ton of basses in stock. Give him a call.
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She wants $1300 for it, but I'm thinking I might be able to get it for less. But I also don't want to plop down my hard earned money for something that needs to be repaired.
 
#10
webelo said:
She wants $1300 for it, but I'm thinking I might be able to get it for less. But I also don't want to plop down my hard earned money for something that needs to be repaired.
Click to expand...


If you plop down $1300 and it needs $1300 in repairs that you know of it seems to be a better deal to just buy a new bass that is warranted.

And if it needs the top it's a safe bet there's something else wrong with the bass.

Walk away bro.
 
#13

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