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Dingwall Build

Which pickup option

  • Super P pickup

    Votes: 4 21.1%

  • Super P pickup (reverse)

    Votes: 5 26.3%

  • Super P pickup w FD3 option

    Votes: 10 52.6%
  • Total voters
    19
kylierider

kylierider

Supporting Member
Apr 28, 2004
101
9
58
Cincinnati, Ohio
#1
So I am tring to figure out which way to go on a Dingwall build. I'm putting together a Super P.

As the bass will feature:

5 piece maple neck
Pau ferro fingerboard w MOP blocks
Lightweight Swamp ash Body
Black hardware w Y tuning machines
Black Pickguard
Vintage White
Gloss finish

Still deciding about the pickup(s). I'm leaning towards the standard P pickup in standard configuration or maybe in reverse position.
Even though I don't really care how it looks I'm also wondering about the P/FD3 option.

Any thoughts or experience on any of these options?
 
#3
I also recommend a 2 PUP solution. I was firmly in the 1 PUP P camp for years, until I got my P-tone neck PUP ABI, with the rotary switch one of my favorite settings was both PUPs in series. I also really like both in parallel for its convincing Jazz bass tone.

When I bought a SP5, I realized how much I missed the versatility and started planning to use the SP5 for 2 sets and the ABI for the other 2. Deciding I wanted a 1 bass solution, I commissioned an SJ5XXX build, the 3rd PUP and 3 P-tone PUPs was just a might-as-well decision.
 
#5
Sheldon D. said:
In theory we prefer the reverse P but in practice we prefer the traditional placement as this maintains the unique P character. We're also fans of the PJ setup. This is by far the most popular setup we see in our orders.
Click to expand...

Decisions...Decisions..I like the look of the traditional P the best, but I already have a 78 P that is my main player. I've been playing it consistantly since I bought it in 2006. With all the gigs I play it's just getting too heavy. Your building it's replacement. I will alway have it but will play it less.

I've heard recordings of the reverse P and really like the tone, but I also like the P FD3 tone as well...and the P sounds great too. Thats the problem. All your basses are great.

The quesion: Is the FD3 worth loosing the Tone Fusion?
I play all styles..so versitility is good. But if I have fresh strings on my P bass I can play all styles on it, even slap.
I tend to play right in back of the standard P pickup with my thumb resting on the E string. I also play softer thicker bass tones with my thumb, fingers resting on the G string. I was thinking that the FD3 pickup might be in the way when I play using these two techniques.
 
Last edited:
#7
kylierider said:
Decisions...Decisions..I like the look of the traditional P the best, but I already have a 78 P that is my main player. I've been playing it consistantly since I bought it in 2006. With all the gigs I play it's just getting too heavy. Your building it's replacement. I will alway have it but will play it less.

I've heard recordings of the reverse P and really like the tone, but I also like the P FD3 tone as well...and the P sounds great too. Thats the problem. All your basses are great.

The quesion: Is the FD3 worth loosing the Tone Fusion?
I play all styles..so versitility is good. But if I have fresh strings on my P bass I can play all styles on it, even slap.
I tend to play right in back of the standard P pickup with my thumb resting on the E string. I also play softer thicker bass tones with my thumb, fingers resting on the G string. I was thinking that the FD3 pickup might be in the way when I play using these two techniques.
Click to expand...

Without trying one you'll never know for sure. The body will be routed for both regular and reverse so it's not a big deal if you decide you want to switch later.
 
#9
LOOOOVE my Super PJ!,........and my AB1..........and my ABZ (avatar). I feel so lucky to have a World Class luthier right here in Canada that also answers and interacts with us here on Talk Bass on a regular basis,,,Sheldon and his entire staff are incredible at their craft. :)
 
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#10
Yes that is awesome! One of the reasons I'm going w a Dingwall. Every bass option I've heard sounds amazing. That's what is making this so difficult a decision.

Which would be the punchier option, the reverse P, or the regular P. I would think that the reverse would be more well defined on the lower strings. More piano like maybe?

Does anyone play slap style bass on a regular Super P using the Tone Fusion in the mid cut position?
 
#12
Not quite the same but I ordered a P-tone in the neck and an FD3 in the bridge on an ABHS to mimic a P/J setup. I really like what I hear out of the FD3s on my ABZ so I'm quite sure I'll be happy when the ABHS is done. Although I don't have much experience with a reverse P setup, I can't see how you'd go wrong slapping an FD3 in there.
 
#14
The Super P I was going to get was going to be vintage white... it looks amazing. But I won't deny that the yellow on my NG-2 is bright and beautiful and I'd be hard pressed to decide between the two. If you go with the yellow they can do color-matching perloid blocks if you want to extend the color through the neck.
 
#15
image.jpeg

Here's an early Super J 5. I replaced the neck Super Fatty with a P pup when the P pup came out. There are four very distinct gears, from the solo P, to a very jazz solo'd bridge. And two really cool gears between. With the passive tone control and the Glockenlang pre for active mode, it covers anything I might need.

This has become my "one and only" and I am really happy with it. I keep finding more things about this bass to like and new sounds I can use. Strung up E-C at the moment.

I would definitely add one of the bridge pickup options to the P tone. I like the traditional P configuration because it gives me more room between the pickup and the end of the neck.

The pearl blocks are super swanky!
 
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#17
Since Sheldon has already confirmed that the body will be routed to allow both pickup arrangements, why don't you just order an extra pickguard to give you the option of doing both?
 

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