Dingwall Owners Club

[spiritbass]

Ok, I asked this question in a couple of other places, so I'm asking you guys as well...

Here's a question I pose to you guys, are you guys more inclined to buy gear that you have to wait for as a general rule, or just for specific things?

My gear investments over the past few years have been completely specific. Until I bought my NG-2 from the classifieds here, all of my Dingwalls have been customs. My AB-I and SJ/P-4 convinced me that I wasn't going to find a better bass anywhere. I didn't invest in Dingwalls because I had to wait nine months, I invested because nothing else will do and there is only one source. Same story with the MAS cabs I use. IME, nothing else compares, and they are only available from a small shop, so there is a wait. I wanted a GAS-ending amplifier, and on Tom Bowlus' recommendation, I invested in a Reeves Custom 225. It doesn't exist until you order it, but it doesn't take them long to build up one of these awesome amps. My path sounds expensive. The outlays were high, but when you get exactly what you want, you actually can get off of the GAS/DAS turntable, so it's cheaper in the long run...

 

[singlemalt]

I’ll wait as long as a week, that’s about how long Fedx takes to go cross country.

I buy used when whatever I’m hunting pops up.

I’ve learned that what I think I want sometimes just isn’t all that. And somethings I didn’t expect much out of have been awesome.

If it doesn’t work out, back on the block it goes.

I kind of like the luck of the draw aspect.

 

[DeltaPhoenix]

I have bought things that took time to build. Mostly pedals from boutique builders and niche synthesizer gear. I tend to buy mostly used because a lot of things depreciate in value quickly (Dingwall are often exceptions). Of course , I have just ordered my first custom Dingwall so now I am waiting.

What I have done is decide to buy rare/out of production synthesizers (1 of 54 and 1 of 75) used, the hunt and waiting was probably similar to having something custom built.

@spiritbass Reeves...nice. Such awesome amps. I love nice tube amps.

 

[dmac1961]

I bought my D Bird because it was the only one available in the country, the only other one I found was in the U.K. I wanted it and I wanted it now. I don't think I could have endured an 18 month wait. And I'm tickled with it, in spite of never having tried one before I bit the bullet. That being said, when I do order one, now I know it will be worth the wait. But I feel you, that's a looong time.

 

[xnewyorka]

@spiritbass Reeves...nice. Such awesome amps. I love nice tube amps.

Curious if you or anyone has compared the Reeves against the Mesa Strategy, which has the same preamp tubes and the same final amp tubes, except twice as many. (It is front panel selectable to run with 2, 4 or 8 tubes depending on how much juice you need.) Instinct says that they might sound very similar, which is to say really good.
Wonder if these tube amps are particularly well suited for our bright, high-fidelity signals with piano-like bass, or if they shine more with the more harmonically simple, lower fidelity non-Dingwall instruments.

 

[Matt Dean]

I hate to wait, but I also am pretty into what my ears like, so I’ve been trending for some time now towards the booteek end of the gear spectrum. I typically buy used though which minimizes the wait.

 

[tombowlus]

Curious if you or anyone has compared the Reeves against the Mesa Strategy, which has the same preamp tubes and the same final amp tubes, except twice as many. (It is front panel selectable to run with 2, 4 or 8 tubes depending on how much juice you need.) Instinct says that they might sound very similar, which is to say really good.
Wonder if these tube amps are particularly well suited for our bright, high-fidelity signals with piano-like bass, or if they shine more with the more harmonically simple, lower fidelity non-Dingwall instruments.

I have both, and they are fairly different beasts. To be honest, though, I have not done a direct A/B of the C225 and Strategy. You have a lot of tone-shaping tools at your disposal with the Strategy, so you can probably get it in the same ballpark as the Reeves. But the Reeves has the great quality of just sounding fantastic, almost no matter how you tweak the knobs. And the low end on the C225 manages to be gloriously huge and deep, but somehow, it seems to avoid the problems you often get with "gloriously huge/deep" lows. The Strategy is no slouch, either, of course.

Again, this is a great comaprison. I'll have to try and stage an A/B sometime...

 

[pbass6811]

I have both, and they are fairly different beasts. To be honest, though, I have not done a direct A/B of the C225 and Strategy. You have a lot of tone-shaping tools at your disposal with the Strategy, so you can probably get it in the same ballpark as the Reeves. But the Reeves has the great quality of just sounding fantastic, almost no matter how you tweak the knobs. And the low end on the C225 manages to be gloriously huge and deep, but somehow, it seems to avoid the problems you often get with "gloriously huge/deep" lows. The Strategy is no slouch, either, of course.

Again, this is a great comaprison. I'll have to try and stage an A/B sometime...

I had a feeling that if anyone had both of those amps, it would be this guy...that is why he's my hero!!!

 

[Bassheart365]

Regarding the "waiting for gear" issue: back in the day when I was a full-time (and poor) musician, not only was there little if any "boutique" gear, no way I could afford it if there was. After a hiatus from bands during a non-music career, I got back to performing music and re-entered the gear market. I am now a self-admitted "boutique snob." Not because it costs more, but because hand crafted gear made in small batches by passionate people - many of whom are musicians like us (Sheldon case in point) - is generally superior in every way to mass produced corporate products. Yes, by and large the audience can't hear the difference between a Dingwall bass or a Greenboy cabinet or a Broughton Audio effects pedal and their mass-produced counterpart - but I can, and that's worth it to me. The better I sound, the better I play and the more my musical experience is enhanced and enriched. For me, that far outweighs the inconvenience of having to wait for boutique gear. Lastly, it's good karma to support the "little guys" out there that put their hearts and souls into making the best, without compromise.

 

[BuffaloBob4343]

Ok, I asked this question in a couple of other places, so I'm asking you guys as well...

Here's a question I pose to you guys, are you guys more inclined to buy gear that you have to wait for as a general rule, or just for specific things? I seem to be more inclined as a general rule. In addition to Barefaced cabs(I'm waiting on my 2nd BTII), I'm currently playing Kiesel Vader basses(I waited about 8-12 weeks for each one), I just put a deposit on four Dingwalls(3 Canadian, 1 import-gonna be around 18 months), I've got an FEA Labs compressor that I waited a year for, I've bought stuff from Iron Ether, Cog Effects, Arkham Sound, Broughton, and LDS that I've had to wait on. It's all been phenomenal stuff, but some of it I still have and some I don't. I'm gonna ask in some other threads as well. I'm just curious about the mindset when it comes to the gear we buy...

I'm pretty much a "buy what I see and like guy, instant gratification guy." Oh, and what I like is pretty much limited to Dingwalls these days.

 

[xnewyorka]

I'm pretty much a "buy what I see and like guy, instant gratification guy." Oh, and what I like is pretty much limited to Dingwalls these days.

Same here! But this one has caught my eye too:
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[spiritbass]

Curious if you or anyone has compared the Reeves against the Mesa Strategy, which has the same preamp tubes and the same final amp tubes, except twice as many. (It is front panel selectable to run with 2, 4 or 8 tubes depending on how much juice you need.) Instinct says that they might sound very similar, which is to say really good.
Wonder if these tube amps are particularly well suited for our bright, high-fidelity signals with piano-like bass, or if they shine more with the more harmonically simple, lower fidelity non-Dingwall instruments.

I can't say that Dingwalls and tube amps are 'a match made in heaven', because I haven't been there yet, but they do sound fabulous. I have a Mesa 800+ for my home/backup amp, but I have not experienced the Strategy, so I can't compare it with the Reeves.

 

[spiritbass]

The better I sound, the better I play and the more my musical experience is enhanced and enriched. For me, that far outweighs the inconvenience of having to wait for boutique gear. Lastly, it's good karma to support the "little guys" out there that put their hearts and souls into making the best, without compromise.

Amen, brother!

 

[AB Nate]

Same here! But this one has caught my eye too:
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Caught your eye???? From what I understand it caught your wallet too!!!! Hahahhah

 

[DeltaPhoenix]

I can't say that Dingwalls and tube amps are 'a match made in heaven', because I haven't been there yet, but they do sound fabulous. I have a Mesa 800+ for my home/backup amp, but I have not experienced the Strategy, so I can't compare it with the Reeves. If I were still playing out and wanted an all-tube amp, I'd go with the Mesa over the Reeves because of the weight (60 lbs). Excellent warranty/support with Mesa also!

I used to play out with a 5 string AB1.5 and Orange AD200B...it sounded fabulous. I love tube breakup as long as there isn't too much lag/bloom/loss of attack. I think Dingwalls and the right tube amps are a match made in heaven!

 

[BuffaloBob4343]

Same here! But this one has caught my eye too:
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Gorgeous instrument, and no doubt great sounding and playing!!

 

[whirledpeas]

Same here! But this one has caught my eye too:
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Looks pretty cool!

 

[s_wood]

I have both, and they are fairly different beasts. To be honest, though, I have not done a direct A/B of the C225 and Strategy. You have a lot of tone-shaping tools at your disposal with the Strategy, so you can probably get it in the same ballpark as the Reeves. But the Reeves has the great quality of just sounding fantastic, almost no matter how you tweak the knobs. And the low end on the C225 manages to be gloriously huge and deep, but somehow, it seems to avoid the problems you often get with "gloriously huge/deep" lows. The Strategy is no slouch, either, of course.

I, too, have both a Reeves 225 and an M-B Strategy. I completely agree with Tom’s comparison. The Reeves and the Strategy are really 2 very different beasts, although they both sound amazing. The Reeves, to me, is cleaner, less compressed and has the deepest and cleanest low end that I’ve ever heard. The Strategy is perhaps more forward and mid focused, but its EQ is sophisticated enough that whatever inherent tonality is baked into the amp can easily be tweaked away. To me, though, the Strategy doesn’t quite clean up like the Reeves does - there is always a bit of “fur”in the tone.

These are both great amps - 2 of the very best tube amps ever made. But they are different enough that many will prefer one over the other. FWIW, I personally prefer the sound of the Reeves when paired with my more “hi-fi” basses, like my Alembics, MTDs or Spectors. I like the Strategy when paired with basses that have a more idiosyncratic character, like my Foderas, Nordys or Gibson Thunderbirds. YMMV, for sure!

 

[Bassheart365]

Same here! But this one has caught my eye too:
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35" to 33" inch scale difference between B and G. Interesting choice. Definitely not competing with a long scale Dingwall. More akin to the Super series, but the scale difference is 2 inches total vs. 3 on the Super.

 

[xnewyorka]

35" to 33" inch scale difference between B and G. Interesting choice. Definitely not competing with a long scale Dingwall. More akin to the Super series, but the scale difference is 2 inches total vs. 3 on the Super.

Yeh, 33%

35" to 33" inch scale difference between B and G. Interesting choice. Definitely not competing with a long scale Dingwall. More akin to the Super series, but the scale difference is 2 inches total vs. 3 on the Super.

Right - kinda like a Super, but with 33% less rake, which allows it to have 24 frets. Darkglass Tone Capsule and Aguilar soapbars. It sounds pretty cool. 20" fingerboard radius - good for slapping.