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Old 01-01-2020, 11:34 PM
Andrew Toering Andrew Toering is offline
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Join Date: 12-01-2019
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Default First DB - Juzek vs Shen vs shop bass?

Hello everyone, I'm having a great time reading this forum top to bottom (currently on page 7) while researching basses. (I was mistakenly waiting for a confirmation email to be able to post but I just tried to log in and here I am!)

I'm a professional cellist/electric bassist/multi-instrumentalist and I finally got hired to play a theatre pit orchestra gig in February doubling on DB/BG. I've wanted a DB for years (played in HS) and I always told myself I'd buy a DB when I got a gig. I think this will mostly be used for musical theatre pit orchestra work and occasional recording in my home studio - probably not in an orchestra section as I'm more likely to be called on cello, but who knows.

I think I'd like to spend $4-5k and willing to stretch to 7 or so if I really fall in love.

So far I've gone to my local violin shop (I'm in the Detroit area) and played the luthier's personal Shen 190 Rogeri Hybrid in addition to their stock, and preferred the Shen. They can order that model for me for $4k (if I remember correctly) but I'd be buying sight unseen. The luthier is confident in Shen's consistency, and he bought his sight unseen as well.

I just went to Guarneri House in Grand Rapids and brought home 2 Juzeks on trial. One of them is this exact instrument for sale again: http://www.smithbassforums.com/showthread.php?t=2596. They were my favorites from that shop in my price range, but now that I have them at home, I remember the Shen I tried being more consistent across the range, having more bottom end, and sounding more like the sound in my head.

I've been meaning to get to the Cincinnati Bass Cellar but it hasn't worked out yet schedule-wise. I'm going to call them tomorrow and see if I can get in this week yet. It looks like they have a good selection (http://basscellar.com/product-catego.../basses-5-15k/) and I'm hoping I'll find one I like better than the Juzeks and the Shen.

Nick Lloyd's website only mentions his basses, but from my forum reading it looks like he deals Shen and maybe other instruments, so I'll give him a call as well. And Ken, your website doesn't look like it has any instruments for me, but I've seen your encourage others to give you a call anyway, so I hope you don't mind if I take you up on that offer

I initially called Mark Leue as his website has some interesting-looking instruments, but upon further research it looks like some of the old basses in my price range might be blockless and might need work later. Also I'd have to find 2 free days in a row to get to Massachusetts, and that's becoming more unlikely as school is starting (I'm a HS choir accompanist by day) and I'm gigging on weekends.

I looked at all the shops I could find in Chicago and it appears that none of them have much I'd be interested in. Please make me a suggestion if you think otherwise.

So, in short, these are my options as I see them now:

- One of the Juzeks, neither of which I'm too keen on at the moment
- Ordering the Shen Rogeri Hybrid
- Finding something I like more than the Rogeri Hybrid at the Bass Cellar
- This bass, which sounds great in the second clip but would be a 2-day trip and isn't sold by a luthier/dealer
- This Schnitzer & DeSola model but again is a long trip and a private seller
- Shen fully carved Rogeri
- Something from Nick Lloyd or Mark Leue or someone else?

I'd appreciate any general suggestions/advice. Obviously it comes down to whatever bass sounds and plays the best, but if there's anything or anywhere else you think I should look please let me know. I'll update when I go to Cincinnati. Thanks!!

Last edited by Andrew Toering; 01-01-2020 at 11:54 PM.
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