Dingwall Owners Club

[xnewyorka]

Each knob needs to be correct for the pot shaft it’s mounting onto, so a stacked pot will have 2 different shaft sizes.

Beyond that; there really aren’t any rules

Dingwalls have varying knob sizes. For example, I think on a Z3, the pickup selector is a 1/4" shaft and the other four knobs are a 6mm shaft. The web site may have the details. I could have it backwards. You can use a brass shim sleeve if needed to fit a bigger knob on a smaller shaft.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Dingwalls have varying knob sizes. For example, I think on a Z3, the pickup selector is a 1/4" shaft and the other four knobs are a 6mm shaft. The web site may have the details. I could have it backwards. You can use brass shim sleeve if needed to fit a bigger knob on a smaller shaft.

The brass sleeves Dingwall uses are for putting a solid-shaft knob on a split-shaft pot.

Brass Pot Sleeves | Allparts.com

 

[BurningSkies]

What's yerall feeling on the EMG preamp and the earlier v1 or v2 Combustions? I have a friend locally who's probably going to offer up his Combustion relatively soon. I wouldn't mind a second 'road bass' backup to my plum crazy NG3.

Worthy of doing this? Not super huge fan of the original mono-bridge pieces, so I'd probably retrofit a Payson bridge (I like the new bridge pieces, but don't think it's an easy retrofit).

...also, while I'm at it, probably looking at having a refin done, since I'm not huge into a 'natural' vibe. What resides under the early versions' pickguards? Can they go without if I want, or are they pretty carved up under there?

 

[BrBss]

What's yerall feeling on the EMG preamp and the earlier v1 or v2 Combustions? I have a friend locally who's probably going to offer up his Combustion relatively soon. I wouldn't mind a second 'road bass' backup to my plum crazy NG3.

Worthy of doing this? Not super huge fan of the original mono-bridge pieces, so I'd probably retrofit a Payson bridge (I like the new bridge pieces, but don't think it's an easy retrofit).

...also, while I'm at it, probably looking at having a refin done, since I'm not huge into a 'natural' vibe. What resides under the early versions' pickguards? Can they go without if I want, or are they pretty carved up under there?

I had no qualms with the 2 band EMG on my V1. The added mid band obviously provides more versatility, but I found cut and boost for bass and treble provided a pretty good coverage of tones. Mine didn't have a pickguard, so I don't think it should be too carved up under there (aside from pickguard screw holes, of course.)

 

[Waltsdog]

What's yerall feeling on the EMG preamp and the earlier v1 or v2 Combustions? I have a friend locally who's probably going to offer up his Combustion relatively soon. I wouldn't mind a second 'road bass' backup to my plum crazy NG3.

Worthy of doing this? Not super huge fan of the original mono-bridge pieces, so I'd probably retrofit a Payson bridge (I like the new bridge pieces, but don't think it's an easy retrofit).

...also, while I'm at it, probably looking at having a refin done, since I'm not huge into a 'natural' vibe. What resides under the early versions' pickguards? Can they go without if I want, or are they pretty carved up under there?

The v1 and I think V2 combustions have a pretty different neck shape to your NG3, best to try it out first if you can. I personally wouldn't have one as they're too chunky.

 

[BurningSkies]

I had no qualms with the 2 band EMG on my V1. The added mid band obviously provides more versatility, but I found cut and boost for bass and treble provided a pretty good coverage of tones. Mine didn't have a pickguard, so I don't think it should be too carved up under there (aside from pickguard screw holes, of course.)

Cool, that's good news...

The v1 and I think V2 combustions have a pretty different neck shape to your NG3, best to try it out first if you can. I personally wouldn't have one as they're too chunky.

...not great news, but probably not the worst. You should feel the neck on my daily practice Dingwall. It's a baseball bat.

 

[natbers78]

Well, since we're on the subject of electronics, are there any P/J users out there who have done away with the rotary selector in favor of a blend or additional volume pot? Would like to hear about it.

I've got plans that include adding an FDV at the bridge of my Super P5, as well as a Nordstrand 3B.
In past Dingwalls, I've never really used the parallel setting on the rotary knob, so I'm thinking of having the neck and bridge wired in series, nixing the rotary knob, and just using an additional volume pot or a blend pot.

When I searched this topic, I read that there might be some issues with my plan in terms of using a blend pot with the pickups in series. If anyone has experience with this and can speak to this, I'm all ears (or eyes rather, in this medium).

Thanks.

 

[Sheldon D.]

The brass sleeves Dingwall uses are for putting a solid-shaft knob on a split-shaft pot.

Brass Pot Sleeves | Allparts.com

No, we use them when we need to install 1/4" knobs on 6mm shafts. Otherwise the knobs turn eccentrically.

 

[Charlzm]

I have an Afterburner I and a Combustion. The ABI has a one-piece bridge and the Combustion has individual mono-rail bridges.

I can't tell if either makes a difference but was wondering if there's any kind of informed opinion about this? I have a Brice Defiant multiscale I just bought and I do not like the mono-rail bridges that came on it. Wondering if I should go the one-piece bridge route or with replacing the individual rails...

 

[packrat]

Hm. Did any of the Canadian models ever have thicker necks, and do the modern Combustions have roughtly the same as the modern NGs?

 

[Dave W]

Hm. Did any of the Canadian models ever have thicker necks, and do the modern Combustions have roughtly the same as the modern NGs?

My Voodoo has a super thin neck, thinner than all of my other Dingwalls.

 

[BurningSkies]

My voodoo prima has a neck that's well thicker than either my NG or the AB1 I had.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

What's yerall feeling on the EMG preamp and the earlier v1 or v2 Combustions? I have a friend locally who's probably going to offer up his Combustion relatively soon. I wouldn't mind a second 'road bass' backup to my plum crazy NG3.

Worthy of doing this? Not super huge fan of the original mono-bridge pieces, so I'd probably retrofit a Payson bridge (I like the new bridge pieces, but don't think it's an easy retrofit).

...also, while I'm at it, probably looking at having a refin done, since I'm not huge into a 'natural' vibe. What resides under the early versions' pickguards? Can they go without if I want, or are they pretty carved up under there?

The early EMG preamp was okay. It seemed very useable across its full range. The bigger thing is the pickups. The originals were low output and polite sounding. They weren't bad, but had a more traditional sound. I ended up upgrading mine.

Yes, the necks were chunky on the early ones, but that doesn't bother me much. The mono bridge pieces work fine and I don't have any problem with them.

 

[BurningSkies]

The early EMG preamp was okay. It seemed very useable across its full range. The bigger thing is the pickups. The originals were low output and polite sounding. They weren't bad, but had a more traditional sound. I ended up upgrading mine.

Yes, the necks were chunky on the early ones, but that doesn't bother me much. The mono bridge pieces work fine and I don't have any problem with them.

I've just found out it's a V4, so it would be closer to current. It would stop my plans of removing a pickguard, I think but otherwise it seems to be a solid bass. I've actually played it before, but it was set up high with flats. Interestingly, it's natural with RW fretboard. Would put the kibosh on some refinishing ideas, but would open a few others.

 

[Waltsdog]

Hm. Did any of the Canadian models ever have thicker necks, and do the modern Combustions have roughtly the same as the modern NGs?

I believe the current Combustion and NG necks are identical, I have one of each here and there is no difference between them.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

No, we use them when we need to install 1/4" knobs on 6mm shafts. Otherwise the knobs turn eccentrically.

Cool, I had no idea they worked for that as well.

 

[Charlzm]

First gig with my ng2 5 string last night. Love this bass.
View attachment 2985096
Fan shot video


I shot this with my zoom camera. Terrible view but pretty good audio imo. This song is in drop A and the dingwall felt great dropped down even with standard strings.

So... giving up on the Warwicks? That would mirror my own journey. I have a perfectly good NT Katana that was my main bass for years. And then I discovered Dingwalls and that poor ol' 'Wick doesn't see very much of anything but the inside of its case any more.

 

[Nephilymbass]

So... giving up on the Warwicks? That would mirror my own journey. I have a perfectly good NT Katana that was my main bass for years. And then I discovered Dingwalls and that poor ol' 'Wick doesn't see very much of anything but the inside of its case any more.

Yeah I’ve now sold all my Warwick’s. Lot of gigs playing the thumb nt5 and thumb nt6 in particular. Also had a thumb bo5, corvette standard, and a corvette FNA over the years. The thumb nt6 was the last one I owned and I sold it and paid off the credit card I bought the ng2 with. They were great basses in their own ways. Really digging my ng2 5 string though. It’s about 3 lbs lighter than the thumb nt6 (which is nice cause at 36 I ain’t getting any younger) the low b is killer and the string to string evenness is crazy good. It’s night and day better when I’m playing in drop A in particular. So much easier to play fast on the low string. Only real downside with the ng2 is I've struggled a little bit with some of the parts I play above the 12th fret where the fan goes the other direction. Getting better with it though the more I play it. Can’t really see anything replacing it In my modern active bass with rounds main player role. Since I got it I’ve mainly been looking for something to put flatwounds on for more of an old school sound. I’ll probably pick up a fender Mexican p and string it with BEAD flats for the short term and keep an eye out for a used super P. Can’t really justify buying one full price because the ng2 with rounds would get more playing time because of the music I’m playing. Maybe dingwall will eventually make a production super p, that would be pretty sweet

 

[Charlzm]

Yeah I’ve now sold all my Warwick’s. Lot of gigs playing the thumb nt5 and thumb nt6 in particular. Also had a thumb bo5, corvette standard, and a corvette FNA over the years. The thumb nt6 was the last one I owned and I sold it and paid off the credit card I bought the ng2 with. They were great basses in their own ways. Really digging my ng2 5 string though. It’s about 3 lbs lighter than the thumb nt6 (which is nice cause at 36 I ain’t getting any younger) the low b is killer and the string to string evenness is crazy good. It’s night and day better when I’m playing in drop A in particular. So much easier to play fast on the low string. Only real downside with the ng2 is I've struggled a little bit with some of the parts I play above the 12th fret where the fan goes the other direction. Getting better with it though the more I play it. Can’t really see anything replacing it In my modern active bass with rounds main player role. Since I got it I’ve mainly been looking for something to put flatwounds on for more of an old school sound. I’ll probably pick up a fender Mexican p and string it with BEAD flats for the short term and keep an eye out for a used super P. Can’t really justify buying one full price because the ng2 with rounds would get more playing time because of the music I’m playing. Maybe dingwall will eventually make a production super p, that would be pretty sweet

Welcome to my main player and backup. Not pictured: every other bass I own.

 

[Flabzilla]

So... giving up on the Warwicks? That would mirror my own journey. I have a perfectly good NT Katana that was my main bass for years. And then I discovered Dingwalls and that poor ol' 'Wick doesn't see very much of anything but the inside of its case any more.

Must be a natural progression, Warwick to Dingwall. Happened here too.