Dingwall… should i go there?

I have had 5 Dingwalls (all CDN) in total. I have one left - Super PJ4. All passive - as I don't care for the preamp tones in the upper registers as much. To ME, it gets thin sounding - so i am out. Dingwall's playability are incredible - necks are perfect, small tiny frets feels sooooo good, neck dive on any model i have tried, is non-existent.
Some people have a mind struggle, at first, switching to fan frets, and that is fine, but i think that is the minority of users. Personally I had next to none - a buddy of mine basically told me to play without looking at fretboard and adapt that way. Prob less than 5 minutes and a few dozen botched notes - and it seems like your fingers learn the slightly different shape spacings.
Fit n finish are flawless on CDN models. I love the shapes and angles from an artsy point of view. Nice to be different some times.

 

I have never played, let alone owned a Dingwall. But I still would like to offer some observations.

I have 2 5 string fan fret basses, both Brices. One is a headless 35-32 inch active and the other a 37-34 inch passive. I installed Dingwall strings on the 37-34 inch passive and my experience with that bass alone made me see that YES, a 37 inch B string is a wonderful thing! I'm not crazy about the tone of the 32 inch G on the other bass, so it will probably get sold at some point.

I have no doubt that the electronics on any Dingwall is better than what I have, so I won't comment on that. My experience moving from parallel fret to the 37-34 was much easier than I thought it would be, although understand that I do not do much work at all at the high not end of the neck. But I would still advise anybody to try before making the leap, if possible.

I do still mostly play parallel fret basses, but that 37-34 inch bass will be one of the last ones I ever get rid of... if I ever do!

 

I got my NG3 a couple weeks ago, and I think my complete transition to fanned frets and the 37'' scale took about 18 seconds. The effect is entirely negligible below fret 15ish, and above that only becomes slightly odd if you're doing heavy chord work.

The design does make sense even with shorter scale models. I've also been playing a borrowed Ibanez EHB1505MS to compare to the Dingwall, which is a 35''-33''. It's way better than my parallel fret 34'' EHB1505.

However, with the Dingwall design I'm having different problems:
- The fretboard radius is unexpectedly small at 9sometting''. I've just discovered that it makes a big difference, at least in my hands. I like'em flat. EHB is a dream to play at 19''.

- 3 pup models force you to play over the pups at most time. Think permanent ramp, not much digging into strings possible. Combined with the radius, I find that a BIG problem on the G string, it's way too close to the pups for my liking and can't easily be fixed without messing up the otherwise wonderful action.

- Because of the variable scale, you end up playing higher strings closer to the bridge. The G string I pluck almost right next to the bridge, which messes up my tone and technique.

- I play a fair amount of fingerstyle metal and fret clank is a critical component of my sound. Guess what, it's pretty hard to clank those long and tight B & E even if you beat the poop out of the instrument. Surprisingly I have had very little success in getting a good metal sound out of the NG3. It plays a wonderfully smooth 80s Japanese city pop tho

These above required some serious mental and technique adaptation, after 2 weeks I'm still not quite there.

 

This was all I could find at the moment. Prices vary when you option them out - Plus I am in Toronto..so CAD prices.

 

I say "go for it!!!!" but you probably realize that I'd say that and it shouldn't be a surprise.

My most recent Dingwall is my first "Super" series...a Super-P with a P-Tone bridge pickup added. I got it about 10 months ago, and I REALLY like this bass. It's a great mix of the benefits of modern forward thinking bass engineering applied to a classic bass design aesthetic. I DO feel like the 32-35" fan works well...it rides the line between a tone that lovers of 'classic' basses will find comfy and the more modern tone and feel that Dingwall is generally known for.

On top of that, the fit, finish and attention to detail is really excellent. Mine can retain an action that is lower than all my others, with a neck that has the least amount of relief...and even with a 1-piece neck has not shown any signs of moving with our fairly wide seasonal humidity changes.

 

Yes.

I think the Dingwall design philosophy is founded on the concept that if there's the potential for a part to fail, it should be fixable and/or replaceable. The necks are bolt on but at very high tolerance, so they're a tight press-fit and the bolts are not into wood but into anchors that are mounted in the neck.

The supers have an option for a multi-piece neck as well, if wanted.

 

Why isn't anybody posting what they paid for their bass?

 

Probably cuz they range once you start optioning them out. 4 years ago, I could buy a Super PJ4 for around 4K CAD...highly doubt that is even close now. I'd say closer to 5 or 6K

 

I really want a Super P.

 

I have a Combustion and a Combustion NG3 and love both. Had a 6 way switch installed on the NG3 to open up more pickup combos. Both purple and sexy. Selling NG3 to have an AB built. The Dingwall Owners Club thread on here is also a cool place. They play and sound out of this world to my ears. All I need is my Dingwall and my Precision. DO IT.

 

Pricing from a dealer on Import models is locked in and pretty much the same across the board. It also changes yearly, so unless you've bought it now 'what you paid' isn't probably what you will pay buying new.

Pricing on Canadian 'custom' basses varies depending on how its optioned. But base pricing on current models is listed on the website or their facebook page.


Some recent posts on their FB:
AB1 Starting price $3980CAD
ABZ Starting price: $3455CAD
D-Roc custom 5 starting price: $4,880CAD
D-Roc Custom 4 is starting price $4,725CAD
Super J starting price $4680CAD
Super P starting price: $3,980CAD
ABII 3x 5 starting price: $4635CAD
Z3 starting price: $6055CAD
Prima Artist starting price: $16,500CAD

A good reference for the import retail pricing:
Basses - Dingwall - Page 1 - Bass Central

 

Prices also have appreciated over the years along with changes in the hardware, electronics, woods and options; as well with higher demand.

My first (new) AB1(Afterburner 1) was around 1600$ in 2005. There were no options besides color at that point. They were all passive and only 2 pickup. It's similar looking but a much different bass than offered now.

So telling someone what my AB1 cost is pretty misleading in terms of 'what will it cost if I want to buy an AB1 today.

 

Dingwalls are excellent basses. I have an NG and I'll probably never let go of it. That said, they're not necessarily the be-all end-all of five string basses. Like any brand, personal preferences come into play.

If you can afford it, though, I'd say go for it. They seem to move well on the used market so if for some reason it isn't your thing you shouldn't be out much. I will say that you need to give it a bit of time though because it can feel a bit odd at first (though there's plenty of people who feel at home on them the first time they play one).

 

I bought an AB1 recently and it's a great bass that gives some really nice options, especially the tone of the B string. Fit and finish is perfect and due to the 18 month wait list, you can sell for not much of a loss if you decide it's not for you.