Any Dingwall SP1 owners added the bridge shim yet?

[MrLenny1]

I have a new SP1 and it came with a bridge shim. Never knew that this was done.
It states on their site that it can be added if you need higher action.
Just curious to see if anyone has tried it and your results.
Thanks.

 

[BGroovy]

I may try it this week. My SP1 came setup impeccably, but a little lower action wise than I normally run my 5ers. I think the shim is about the height I'd like to raise all the strings by so why not instead of adjusting each string.

I have a set of strings on the way so just waiting on those to arrive before I get it on the bench to do it all at once.

 

[aff]

I installed a shim in my ng3 (I believe bridge is same).
I did it to get more mellow break angle on saddles/screws with non-tapered strings. Without shim the bend was a bit too sharp to my liking. But since shim raises everything at once I could lower the saddle screws to reduce the angle and achieve same action.
I posted photos in dingwall club topic.

 

[MrLenny1]

I may try it this week. My SP1 came setup impeccably, but a little lower action wise than I normally run my 5ers. I think the shim is about the height I'd like to raise all the strings by so why not instead of adjusting each string.

I have a set of strings on the way so just waiting on those to arrive before I get it on the bench to do it all at once.

the Dingwall strings feel lighter than what I use which is GHS Boomer Med Light Nickel RW.
It could be the shorter length on the D & G that makes it feel that way. I will have to try my regular GHS's for comparison.
What strings did you order? My SP1 is a 4 string and a radical change from my active 5 string basses.
Thanks for the info.

 

[MrLenny1]

I installed a shim in my ng3 (I believe bridge is same).
I did it to get more mellow break angle on saddles/screws with non-tapered strings. Without shim the bend was a bit too sharp to my liking. But since shim raises everything at once I could lower the saddle screws to reduce the angle and achieve same action.
I posted photos in dingwall club topic.

Thanks for sharing the info. I'll check out the Dingwall club.

 

[BGroovy]

the Dingwall strings feel lighter than what I use which is GHS Boomer Med Light Nickel RW.
It could be the shorter length on the D & G that makes it feel that way. I will have to try my regular GHS's for comparison.
What strings did you order? My SP1 is a 4 string and a radical change from my active 5 string basses.
Thanks for the info.

I'm going to try out DR Pure Blues which are my go to roundwounds.

 

[projectapollo]

I have a new SP1 and it came with a bridge shim. Never knew that this was done.
It states on their site that it can be added if you need higher action.
Just curious to see if anyone has tried it and your results.
Thanks.

I don't see any bridge shim with y new SP1-5. Where was it? In the tool kit? Can you post a pic of it?

 

[Albert Ross]

I didn't get a shim with my SP1 either, so I'd be curious to see what it looks like too.

 

[diptixon]

I didn't get a shim with my SP1 either, so I'd be curious to see what it looks like too.

Mine came in the tool kit.

 

[BGroovy]

I installed the shim today along with the DR Pure Blues. Didn’t get as much time to play on it afterwards but in the short time it’s much more to my preference.

Shim couldn’t be easier. Take the strings off. 5 Philips head screws to remove the bridge. I did have to move the B string saddle forward to make that screw easier to get to. Pull the ground wire through the hole in the shim and there’s even a little outline cut into the shim for where the wire sits on top of the shim. Screw the bridge back down.

My action came super low on my SP1, less than 2mm on the B string 12th fret. The saddles for the B and E were raised about halfway up.

With the shim I was able to set my preferred action - B just a hair over 2mm, E string right at 2mm and the saddles lower but still room for adjustment, not bottomed out.

Got the intonation dialed in with the Pure Blues and I feel like the bass is much more sensitive to tone knob adjustments with these strings (in a very good way).

My favorite tone right now is tone knob about 40% up and pickups in series. Punchy, deep, but articulate.

This neck feels so fast!

 

[Superbird]

I’ve really enjoyed the Pure Blues on my Lakland DJ5. Great strings. My SP1 arrives today! I’m sure a set will get one there at some point

 

[BGroovy]

I didn't get a shim with my SP1 either, so I'd be curious to see what it looks like too.

Might want to reach out to your dealer/Dingwall. Mine was in the little tool pouch. It’s just a thin piece of wood (looks like maybe rosewood?) the exact shape of the bridge.

 

[Superbird]

The SP1 is here and it didn’t have the shim anywhere I looked in the case or tool pouch. I also received another SP1 last week that I’ll be returning and no shim either? Already have a support email into Dingwall. Wow do these pickups sound great and so comfortable to play after some setup. Still getting used to the first 3 frets, but so far so good

 

[BuffaloBob4343]

I installed a shim in my ng3 (I believe bridge is same).
I did it to get more mellow break angle on saddles/screws with non-tapered strings. Without shim the bend was a bit too sharp to my liking. But since shim raises everything at once I could lower the saddle screws to reduce the angle and achieve same action.
I posted photos in dingwall club topic.

Do you like the set up a bit higher so you can dig in more without getting fret buzz?

 

[aff]

Do you like the set up a bit higher so you can dig in more without getting fret buzz?

I have exactly the same setup. But if I install lighter feeling strings I raise action indeed by about .25 to avoid buzz. I don’t think bass needs a shim for such adjustment, at least not mine. It’s a very personal setting, I just go as low as I can without introducing buzz past 15th fret. It might buzz slightly unplugged but as long as I don’t hear it amplified - I don’t care.
I also check slap/pop, sometimes having action set too low makes slapping weird, as strings don’t have enough back and forth travel for slap to sound good.

In my case with shim non-tapered strings have less bend less at the saddles, because shimming also raises string anchor point, not only screw height, and sinking screws reduces the angle at the saddle peak.
Without shimming non-tapered strings look like literal ^ at the saddles, splitting the wraps a bit and exposing the innards at witness point, depending on string construction.

 

[BuffaloBob4343]

I have exactly the same setup. But if I install lighter feeling strings I raise action indeed by about .25 to avoid buzz. I don’t think bass needs a shim for such adjustment, at least not mine. It’s a very personal setting, I just go as low as I can without introducing buzz past 15th fret. It might buzz slightly unplugged but as long as I don’t hear it amplified - I don’t care.
I also check slap/pop, sometimes having action set too low makes slapping weird, as strings don’t have enough back and forth travel for slap to sound good.

In my case with shim non-tapered strings have less bend less at the saddles, because shimming also raises string anchor point, not only screw height, and sinking screws reduces the angle at the saddle peak.
Without shimming non-tapered strings look like literal ^ at the saddles, splitting the wraps a bit and exposing the innards at witness point, depending on string construction.

I did not receive a shim in my tool kit. It makes me wonder if they might have made an adjustment at the factory so that it isn’t necessary on more recent batches. I like the Dingwall strings but I might be willing to experiment later on.

 

[aff]

I did not receive a shim in my tool kit. It makes me wonder if they might have made an adjustment at the factory so that it isn’t necessary on more recent batches. I like the Dingwall strings but I might be willing to experiment later on.

Contact your dealer or dingwall - I believe they should sort it out. It’s a very simple but very well made shim, worth having just in case.

As for Dingwall strings - they are excellent indeed, I’m on string search journey as my favorite ones do not fit 37” - I tried like 5 different sets and yet to find anything that feels right as factory set. Want to try payson next. But if Dingwall strings suit you - there’s nothing much better tbh, unless you want flats or unusual set.

 

[BuffaloBob4343]

Contact your dealer or dingwall - I believe they should sort it out. It’s a very simple but very well made shim, worth having just in case.

As for Dingwall strings - they are excellent indeed, I’m on string search journey as my favorite ones do not fit 37” - I tried like 5 different sets and yet to find anything that feels right as factory set. Want to try payson next. But if Dingwall strings suit you - there’s nothing much better tbh, unless you want flats or unusual set.

I don’t feel any need to raise the bridge at this point. The factory setup is awesome with the nickel steels. I might try the steels just for grins as well. I’ve liked the steels on my 37” Dingwalls. But the nickels are probably what you want for a PJ.

 

[Superbird]

The SP1 is here and it didn’t have the shim anywhere I looked in the case or tool pouch. I also received another SP1 last week that I’ll be returning and no shim either? Already have a support email into Dingwall. Wow do these pickups sound great and so comfortable to play after some setup. Still getting used to the first 3 frets, but so far so good

Heard back from Dingwall support and it turns out my shim is already installed. They mentioned the shim may be installed depending on the needs during the setup in Sasskatoon.

 

[Ian774]

How do they know? Based on serial number?

That being said, I don’t have a shim with my toolkit, however my SP1 4 string plays beautifully with Pure Blues on it. Sounds amazing too.