Dingwall Owners Club Part 4

[BuffaloBob4343]

Originally Posted by 2milehighspike

They are tapered at the nut but they are, of course, built for mono scale. I have a little time to think about it, need another paycheck or two .

I believe I tried them once, and because the B is not tapered at the ball end, it was rather unruly as it bent over the screw saddles. You don't get a nice break. Also, B was too short so I had to pull silk from the string and tapered end was short of the nut.

[2milehighspike]

Thanks for the info! If its still there in a couple weeks I will snatch it up. I really liked it, mostly for the light weight and of course the way it played.

[Blues Cat]

Originally Posted by willsellout

This might have been answered already. Do any of you switch between basses with fanned frets and regular frets? I'm looking at a Dingwall for a future purchase.

Yes with no issues. 2 ABII-5's and an XB75PF fretless @ 35.25" scale.

Originally Posted by BuffaloBob4343

I believe Chromes are not guaranteed to work, as the B is a bit too short. Are Chromes tapered? If not, I think that's an issue as well.

I would try the Payson flats if I were you.

The length of the Chromes are not guaranteed to be long enough and are not tapered.

[BuffaloBob4343]

Originally Posted by Blues Cat

Yes with no issues. 2 ABII-5's and an XB75PF fretless @ 35.25" scale.



The length of the Chromes are not guaranteed to be long enough and are not tapered.

Thought so, thanks!

[TodB]

Originally Posted by 2milehighspike

Greetings Dingwallians. I am considering pulling the trigger on an ABZ that is for sale at the only store in Colorado that has one. I searched the thread and saw some posts about Circle K and Payson strings, but my Question is, can I use Chromes on it, or do I have to use specific strings. I have used Chromes forever and that is my sound. The stock strings were to clanky for my taste. Thanks!

The D'Addario website lists super long chromes that they say fit up to a 38 inch scale. I haven't tried them and would want to know about taper for a fanned fret bass.

http://www.daddario.com/DADProductDe...&productid=192

If the taper isn't right for a fanned fret bass then a standard set of extra long four string bass strings would probably fit (scale length is 36.25" for the E) then get super long singles for the B.

[Zoomie]

Originally Posted by Grand Wazoo

I don't know to be honest, it's like why take two bottles into the shower...

When you can have a Super J/P conversion?

HA ! I thought about it a lot. The issue is that I like the tone of the Super J so much that I am really uncomfortable changing anything.

That said, I still must have a Super P. Not because I am left wanting for anything with the Super J. It's just that I need to see, touch, and play Sheldon'e ideas for a P.

I saw a thread on the Dingwall board where Sheldon said maybe some day in the future they would an SPSJ. If that ever shows up, I reserve the right to change my mind.

We all have had the twins dream, sir.

[Zoomie]

A Super J is up in the classifieds if anyone is interested.

F/S Dingwall super J 5 beautiful!

[Grand Wazoo]

Originally Posted by Zoomie

A Super J is up in the classifieds if anyone is interested.

F/S Dingwall super J 5 beautiful!

Sheeeesh! That's a nice one too. Creme Caramel!

[Zoomie]

Originally Posted by Grand Wazoo

Sheeeesh! That's a nice one too. Creme Caramel!

My poor buddy is beside himself. He had a pet emergency yesterday that cost in excess of 2,000 or this would be gone.

Timing in life stinks sometimes. I am still having transmission flashbacks.

[j-raj]

Originally Posted by BuffaloBob4343

I believe I tried them once, and because the B is not tapered at the ball end, it was rather unruly as it bent over the screw saddles. You don't get a nice break. Also, B was too short so I had to pull silk from the string and tapered end was short of the nut.

I'm new to Dingwalls and recently picked up a ABZ 5'er, came with Payson ground wounds on it, which are ok, but I'm a round wound cat.

On all my mono scale basses (Benavente, Nordy, Lakland, Fender) I use non-tapered SIT Power Nickel round wound .050-.130 and have ordered a few extra long B's and E's to fit my Dingwall. Will I have an issue with non-tapered strings on my ABZ?

[Grand Wazoo]

Originally Posted by Zoomie

My poor buddy is beside himself. He had a pet emergency yesterday that cost in excess of 2,000 or this would be gone.

Timing in life stinks sometimes. I am still having transmission flashbacks.

There's a lesson for us all there... DON'T have pets.

That friend of yours need a very good friend that will buy that bass off him and keep it until he is able to buy it back...

It's been done before. I have in fact done that once to help a friend out.

[BuffaloBob4343]

Originally Posted by j-raj

I'm new to Dingwalls and recently picked up a ABZ 5'er, came with Payson ground wounds on it, which are ok, but I'm a round wound cat.

On all my mono scale basses (Benavente, Nordy, Lakland, Fender) I use non-tapered SIT Power Nickel round wound .050-.130 and have ordered a few extra long B's and E's to fit my Dingwall. Will I have an issue with non-tapered strings on my ABZ?

Welcome to the Dingwall owners club! I would try the Payson nickel steels or the Circle K conventional set. They are tapered and sound and play great!

I know that doesn't answer your question, but more a suggestion if you do have trouble with your non-tapers.

[IntrepidCellist]

Originally Posted by Grand Wazoo

There's a lesson for us all there... DON'T have pets.

That friend of yours need a very good friend that will buy that bass off him and keep it until he is able to buy it back...

It's been done before. I have in fact done that once to help a friend out.

...the amount of pleasure and life improvement that can be had by being owned by a dog FAR outweighs the pleasure and life improvement from an additional bass, especially if you have one already.

[Zoomie]

Originally Posted by IntrepidCellist

...the amount of pleasure and life improvement that can be had by being owned by a dog FAR outweighs the pleasure and life improvement from an additional bass, especially if you have one already.

I don't know why I continue to be surprised by the quality of of folks within this group.

I concur with both you and Grand !

The dogs are rescues as well. This guy has a big heart both in and out of the bass community.

And Grand, I agree sir. When I first returned to bass, I got to know a great TB er. He sent a beautiful bass and told me to just pay him whenever.

That said, I feel it my obligation to help the right people when I can.

If I thought my Super P dp would help get the deal done for him, he would be welcomed to it !

[Sheldon D.]

Originally Posted by j-raj

I'm new to Dingwalls and recently picked up a ABZ 5'er, came with Payson ground wounds on it, which are ok, but I'm a round wound cat.

On all my mono scale basses (Benavente, Nordy, Lakland, Fender) I use non-tapered SIT Power Nickel round wound .050-.130 and have ordered a few extra long B's and E's to fit my Dingwall. Will I have an issue with non-tapered strings on my ABZ?

Welcome J-raj,

Non-tapered strings will work up to about a .130" without too much trouble. They may or may not reveal everything the bass is capable of but since you're used to them they are a good place to start. I would recommend getting a couple of gauges of singles to dial in the tone and feel.

Our basses are as much about balance as they are about transparency so time spent finding the perfect mix of gauges is well worth it. For reference the original gauges were .045", .055", .075", .095", .130". You should be able to squeeze the next gauge up I.E. .050", .060" etc into the nut without needing to open up the nut slots. You'll likely need a trip to the local luthier to install larger gauges than that.

[Blues Cat]

Originally Posted by j-raj

I'm new to Dingwalls and recently picked up a ABZ 5'er, came with Payson ground wounds on it, which are ok, but I'm a round wound cat.

On all my mono scale basses (Benavente, Nordy, Lakland, Fender) I use non-tapered SIT Power Nickel round wound .050-.130 and have ordered a few extra long B's and E's to fit my Dingwall. Will I have an issue with non-tapered strings on my ABZ?

One of the things to keep in mind besides break angle over the saddles, is that a non tapered .130 may need to have the saddle be 1/4" further back to intonate properly. You may not have room to pull the saddle back that far.

On long scale Dingwall's I would opt for tapered strings.

[j-raj]

Originally Posted by Sheldon D.

Welcome J-raj,

Non-tapered strings will work up to about a .130" without too much trouble. They may or may not reveal everything the bass is capable of but since you're used to them they are a good place to start. I would recommend getting a couple of gauges of singles to dial in the tone and feel.

Our basses are as much about balance as they are about transparency so time spent finding the perfect mix of gauges is well worth it. For reference the original gauges were .045", .055", .075", .095", .130". You should be able to squeeze the next gauge up I.E. .050", .060" etc into the nut without needing to open up the nut slots. You'll likely need a trip to the local luthier to install larger gauges than that.

Ok, sounds like my current gauge selection should be cool and a good place to start, but I will take y'all's advice on getting a variety of singles to dial in the bass properly.

I've been a fan of your work for a while, along with a fan of the Novax system, ever since I first saw Charlie Hunter in Boston in the early '90's. I had the oppty to pick up a ABZ 5'er and I had to hop on it.

My ABZ that I picked up from this forum used came with an uninstalled P-Tone pick up, which I have no knowledge of. What is it? What does it do?

[Grand Wazoo]

Originally Posted by j-raj

Ok, sounds like my current gauge selection should be cool and a good place to start, but I will take y'all's advice on getting a variety of singles to dial in the bass properly.

I've been a fan of your work for a while, along with a fan of the Novax system, ever since I first saw Charlie Hunter in Boston in the early '90's. I had the oppty to pick up a ABZ 5'er and I had to hop on it.

My ABZ that I picked up from this forum used came with an uninstalled P-Tone pick up, which I have no knowledge of. What is it? What does it do?

The P-Tone pickup is a close representation of a Precision pickup, with split coils under the shell of it, if you are not planning to keep it I am willing to buy it from you.

As I also have an ABZ 5 and was contemplating buying one anyway, but as I've said if you don't fancy keeping it, I would be happy to take it off you.

[j-raj]

Originally Posted by Grand Wazoo

The P-Tone pickup is a close representation of a Precision pickup, with split coils under the shell of it, if you are not planning to keep it I am willing to buy it from you.

As I also have an ABZ 5 and was contemplating buying one anyway, but as I've said if you don't fancy keeping it, I would be happy to take it off you.

Pm'd

[Blues Cat]

Originally Posted by j-raj

Ok, sounds like my current gauge selection should be cool and a good place to start, but I will take y'all's advice on getting a variety of singles to dial in the bass properly.

I've been a fan of your work for a while, along with a fan of the Novax system, ever since I first saw Charlie Hunter in Boston in the early '90's. I had the oppty to pick up a ABZ 5'er and I had to hop on it.

My ABZ that I picked up from this forum used came with an uninstalled P-Tone pick up, which I have no knowledge of. What is it? What does it do?

Definitely install the P-Tone pu. It's a huge thick sounding pu. Sounds great in parallel too mixed with a MII in the bridge.

One thing you may want to try while waiting for new strings is make sure you're running the tone control wide open. That's what the PFGWFlats are designed for. They also tend to "reward" your sound by using the neck pu solo'd. ; )