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Dingwall ABZ vs. MM Bongo HH

W

WaldoNova

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Jun 14, 2009
1,805
1,195
Millington, MD
#1
So I've got the itch to buy a new bass. I am going to play these for my own side by side comparison but I wanted to know if anyone had tried both extensively enough to offer pros and cons for each.

I will be looking at 5 strings and 6 strings. I've never owned a 6 string and have a feeling that I will be leaning towards one if it feels right.

I am currently using a 5 string Warwick Corvette std, a 4 string MIA Fender Jazz std and a 5 string MTD Artist series.

I play in a Hard Rock cover Band that I hardly use any effects( a fuzz and a wah for 1 song) but my original project, progressive metal-ish rock, I use fuzz, envelope filter, synth and octave pedals alot. I also do some slapping but not extensively.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
 
#2
I've never played a Bongo but I did play several 5-string Stingrays. They're pretty good basses.

I used to have an ABZ 5 which I let go for a Super P 5 (you'll find my samples for both on youtube). Dingwalls are the best basses I've played.
 
#4
I have owned 3 Bongos. One Dingwall with a second one on the build table.

The Bongos were good sounding basses. Hated the feel of the necks.

In spite of the Bongo being a well loved bass here by many, it is not qualified to carry the Dingwall's dirty underwear.

Not being ugly. Just speaking from the heart.
 
#5
They sound quite different. That is probably the first thing you should look at.

That said, after looking into how they sound, get a Dingwall. Especially if you're going for a 6 string, I wouldn't consider a parallel fret bass if given the choice. Evenness of tension and sound and all that.
 
#9
here are some scattered, indecisive thoughts on this topic.

dingwalls have a clear, focused sound whereas bongos have a wide or "massive" sound. of course they are both versatile instruments and aren't confined to those narrow descriptions, but im talking about their overall tendencies.

when talking about fanned frets most people only consider the left hand, but it's really the right hand that needs to make the adjustment. unless you adjust your plucking hand, you'll be playing closer to the bridge on the higher strings and further away on the lower strings, resulting in uneven tone. some people would be able to adjust to this with a little practice, but others are more set in their ways.

also it's worth noting that the ABZ is a passive bass, while the bongo is active.
 
#11
i went to New Jersey Guitar and Bass center and spent about 3 hours playing some really nice basses. From Jerzey Drozd's to Pedulla's toModulas's to the Bongo and the Dingwall. There were more boutique basses there than I've ever seen in one place!!!

I ended up putting money down on the Dingwall ABZ ([Invalid or Expired Link Removed] , it's the Whale pool blue one) I was shocked how boomy and almost uncontollable the B string was on the Bongo while it was pristine and piano like on the Dingwall. The Dingwalls Bstring rivaled favorably the most expensive Basses in the place and honestly I couldn't justify spending an extra $4,300 for the most expensive bass because it wasn't, IMO, $4,300 better than the Dingwall. I feel like I am going to be walking out of there soon with the best bass they have in there. I'm really feeling the Dingwalls!!! Awesome Awesome bass! I would suggest that everybody try one when they get a chance.
 
#16
Zoomie said:
In spite of the Bongo being a well loved bass here by many, it is not qualified to carry the Dingwall's dirty underwear.

Not being ugly. Just speaking from the heart.
Click to expand...

I finally figured out your secret identity. You are William Shakespeare reincarnate - such unrivaled eloquence. :D

WaldoNova - congratulations on "taking it to the next level". I hope you can pay off your balance quickly so you can walk out the door of that store with the best!
 
#18
Thanks everyone!!! This is the most I've ever considered to spend on a bass. I feel like it's worth it though. The main thing that worries me is that now I would probably have to buy another Dingwall if I wanted to use another bass for any thing else. Going back and forth from the "fanned frets" and standard frets seems like it may be frustrating and counter productive. Does anyone have multiple basses along with a Dingwall? If so did you find this to be an issue?

On a side note. I'm going to have to talk to Jay about his Bongo's. I played one that a buddy of mine has and it was a superb instrument where as the ones in his shop must not have been set up very well(not his fault I'm sure, they were brand new!!!) because I really didn't like them at all(especially the floppy B string!!!).
 
#20
My only 5 string is my ABZ, all the rest of my basses are parallel fret 4 strings. There's no adjustment needed going from one to the other. I love my ABZ so much that the only other Dingwall I want is the new ABXXX (ABZ with three pickups) or a Super P, but I see no need to upgrade as the ABZ is an amazing bass.
 

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