Re: Samuel Shen viola

[viol...@musician.org]

Any owners of Samual Shen violas? Was able to play this model viola
and was very enjoyable -
considering purchasing it, but wanted to see what owners of this maker
think.

Jerry

[Karl Perry]

<viol...@musician.org> wrote in message
news:1177821252.0...@y5g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...

Are you making an investment, or buying a musical instrument? If you liked
it, and you can't find anything better for the price, buy it!

From a very brief look online, it looks like this is another factory maker,
so his violins aren't going to command big bucks today or any time in the
future. Therefore, how the violin sounds to you is far more important than
any other consideration.

[viol...@musician.org]

No investment - for playing. Nothing better that I tried for the
money.

On Apr 29, 10:25 am, "Karl Perry" <kaNOPe...@SPAMcablespeed.com>
wrote:
> <viola...@musician.org> wrote in message
>
> news:1177821252.0...@y5g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
>
> > Any owners of SamualShenviolas? Was able to play this modelviola

[Allen]

I have a sa 1000 405 (aka Wide-body) Samuel Shen viola that is
excellent. Mine is from 1999. The 1000 is the level and the 405 is body
length. I have encountered seven or eight of this particular level and
model through the years and all have been very good. I prefer this model
because the scale length is shorter. I know a couple of professionals
who play violas like mine and a cellist who had an 800-level cello as
one of his finalists when he bought a new instrument a few years ago.
You didn't mention which level number you are interested in. There are
multiple sizes and patterns at a given level. The 800 and 1000-level
instruments are the high-end. I have had limited experience with the
lower-end Shen instruments, but the one 300-level violin I encountered
was good.

Allen

--
Remove the Z's and everything between them to PM.

[viol...@musician.org]

> I have a sa 1000 405 (aka Wide-body)SamuelShenviolathat is

> excellent. Mine is from 1999. The 1000 is the level and the 405 is body
> length.

800 was the level. Is the 800 almost as good as the 1000?
I wanted at least 16".

I have encountered seven or eight of this particular level and
> model through the years and all have been very good. I prefer this model
> because the scale length is shorter. I know a couple of professionals
> who play violas like mine and a cellist who had an 800-level cello as
> one of his finalists when he bought a new instrument a few years ago.
> You didn't mention which level number you are interested in. There are
> multiple sizes and patterns at a given level. The 800 and 1000-level
> instruments are the high-end. I have had limited experience with the

> lower-endSheninstruments, but the one 300-level violin I encountered

[Allen]

viol...@musician.org wrote:
>> I have a sa 1000 405 (aka Wide-body)SamuelShenviolathat is
>> excellent. Mine is from 1999. The 1000 is the level and the 405 is body
>> length.
> 800 was the level. Is the 800 almost as good as the 1000?
> I wanted at least 16".
>

> *snip*

The 800 level should be a very good instrument. I think the main
difference is that 1000-level instruments get prettier wood. Of course,
some models are only available in certain levels. Check out this
website: http://www.cscproducts.com/. There you will find all of his
models and levels, as well as list prices.

The body length of mine is 405 mm or a cat's whisker less than 16
inches. Lower bout 253 mm or just under 10 inches. Upper bout 192 mm, or
just over 7 1/2 inches. String length is 375 mm or 14 3/4 inches.