I am assuming you are talking about a different AB than the fretless I just posted (which has a bubinga neck).
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Dingwall Owners Club
- Thread starter FroggyOne2
- Start date
I am assuming you are talking about a different AB than the fretless I just posted (which has a bubinga neck).
My SJ5 (P/J) is #1 over my SP5 and others. Between the two, the SJ5 is more responsive and even across the strings and the G-string "dead spot" around C is much more pronounced on the SP5. Plus, the two pickup configuration is more versatile.
I also have my SP5 setup with flatwound strings and while it sounds great, it wouldn't work all the time in the bands I play with. On the plus side, my SP5 weighs just 8 lbs whereas my SJ5 weighs 9.2 lbs. It's not bad, but the lighter the better.
Did they even make one with a full bubinga body? I know they did tops and necks with bubinga (like mine), but on a mahogany or walnut body.
Yes, they did. I have a fretless and I've seen fretted versions as well.
Exactly my experience down to the dead spot (although mine is on my SPJ5). It only makes sense the more pickups, the more weight, but I'm good with the 9.2 lbs of my SJ5XXX.
My SJ5 was one of the first runs in 2008 when they were routing the bodies to reduce the weight, but were not the thin bodies like the current models (and like my SP5). I wonder if that has anything to do with the more even string response of the bass or may be just due to the variation from one piece of wood to another.
The thing that I love about my SJ5 (among other things) is the balance and that it sits almost the same standing as it does seated.
I wrote a mail to Dingwall asking for a bubinga body AB and wenghe neck. They told me that they gave up using bubinga due to cites restrictions and asked if I have other choices for body wood. In my opinion, that wood combination imparted the tone an exquisite flavour. Honestly, I built this opinion on youtube clips only, but having owned a few warwicks in the past, I think I know when I hear THAT tone. Anyway, dingwall builds fantastic basses, I am sure other choices sound awesome
.....and now that I think about it, the dead spot is more of a weak spot, if I really fret and pluck harder, it's almost normal. I've even thought a string change might help, but really it's so minor and the bass sounds and plays so beautifully...I get a thrill everytime I see and play it
Ive never experienced any of the issues others have mentioned with regards to playing on an SPJ5. String to string balance is excellent, the FDV bridge pickup soloed is great for barky, Jacoesque tones, and it has no dead or weak spots. I had to get used to moving my hand parallel to the bridge, but that developed when I bought my first Dingwall.
Even with extremely minor issues (to me, others may not notice them), I would rather play my SPJ5 than any other bass in my lengthy owning and playing experience.
The question was to compare the SP5 and SJ5, my SJ5XXX is the definition of perfection, the SPJ5 just a notch behind IME and IMO.
The question was to compare the SP5 and SJ5, my SJ5XXX is the definition of perfection, the SPJ5 just a notch behind IME and IMO.
It was a shiny, happy, Super Fatty day playing my Super J. 
It's the first time I've tried the Dingwall nickels on my five-string and I'm digging them. 
My SJ5 is a 2013 and is also chambered. Excellent response on every note is one of the big reasons I only play Dingwalls these days. The reverse-P's under those big wide pickup covers do the trick so nicely!
It's the first time I've tried the Dingwall nickels on my five-string and I'm digging them. My SJ5 is a 2013 and is also chambered. Excellent response on every note is one of the big reasons I only play Dingwalls these days. The reverse-P's under those big wide pickup covers do the trick so nicely!
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Not sure I posted here. New owner of a Dingwall Combustion!! Number please!
We haven't done numbers in years, but welcome to the family! Nice tobacco burst!
The NG has become more high-contrast. I took a cue from @BurningSkies and swapped the stock knobs for standard Dingwalls. The Payson bridge just showed up in my mail box today - very nice!
