Dingwall Owners Club

[AB Nate]

Well, one Dingwall is “enough” — I think the real question is “How many Dingwalls is too many?”

This brings up a deep rooted struggle with in... to focus on one!!! Maybe at least one style. Ie the Z.

Love the SJ but bouncing back and forth seems counter productive.

So maybe 1 is enough....
Oh but one fret less and one fretted.... so maybe 2 is enough....

 

[husky123]

For the D'bird owners:
Can you get anywhere near the typical both pickups J-sound with it? That is my go-to sound, but damn how I love the look of that bird!

Forgot to mention in my last post that if you switched out the 4 way rotary from the D Bird to the standard 3X rotary, you’d get into that territory because the bridge and neck would be in parallel. With the D Bird rotary, that position doesn’t happen.

It would be a very simple swap if that’s what you’re looking to do.

 

[Thumper]

But has anybody been able to determine exactly how many is enough yet? I'm still struggling with that one.

If you settle on a style like I have, enough is 1 at home, 1 at practice, and both at gigs. 10 years ago, I would have found the "need" for a fretless as well, and then maybe a long scale, and maybe a Dbird, and maybe a.......

 

[Waltsdog]

One is probably enough, 1 long scale 5 and 1 'short' scale 5 is enough for me really.
A fretless would be nice though (doubt we'll ever see a fretless combustion) and I need a 4 string, just because, so the D-Bird fits that bill. The answer always seems to be one more (n+1).

 

[xnewyorka]

Well, one Dingwall is “enough” — I think the real question is “How many Dingwalls is too many?”

I had fully convinced myself that 8 was enough. Then I started feeling pretty comfortable that 10 was really enough. But the UPS man will be here in 3 hours with #11. And I hate odd numbers. So this is a real problem...

 

[AB Nate]

I had fully convinced myself that 8 was enough. Then I started feeling pretty comfortable that 10 was really enough. But the UPS man will be here in 3 hours with #11. And I hate odd numbers. So this is a real problem...

Huh?!?! Pm please!!

 

[reddavid]

I think I've settled on 1 Prima, 1 'everyday' AB, 1 AB Fretless. At least for this year.

 

[Selta]

I'm still on the lookout for a used Z, 5 string . Not in any kind of a rush... my 3 ABs and 1 Prima are keeping me company very well

 

[groovaholic]

I used to have 2 Dingwalls, but financial realities put the kibosh on that...
I can't have a bass that costs the equivalent of 2 months' mortgage collecting dust in my basement.

But I'll confess I really haven't missed having that second DW; the 3X configuration and drop-tuner on my "one and only" really make it fit a huge variety of genres -- and it is SUCH a comfortable bass to play.

 

[BuffaloBob4343]

I'm still on the lookout for a used Z, 5 string . Not in any kind of a rush... my 3 ABs and 1 Prima are keeping me company very well

First world problems!

But I get it. I have two gorgeous AB1s and they do sound different enough that it's nice to have them. So certainly having a couple others would never hurt!

 

[xnewyorka]

I can't have a bass that costs the equivalent of 2 months' mortgage collecting dust in my basement.

I agree! You need to get a good quality air filter to get rid of the dust in your basement!!

I use an IQ Air Health Pro Plus in my (finished basement) music room to keep everything in the room free of dust. It's nice never needing to dust off the basses, amps, cabs, stereo, etc.
Also use a Fral FDK70 in summer to keep the humidity at 47%.
Also use a pair of Venta Airwasher LW45's to keep the humidity at 47% in the winter.

Aside from everything being dust-free, it's also nice to be able to pick up any bass and find it perfectly in tune at all times due to the constant climatic conditions.

 

[BuffaloBob4343]

I used to have 2 Dingwalls, but financial realities put the kibosh on that...
I can't have a bass that costs the equivalent of 2 months' mortgage collecting dust in my basement.

But I'll confess I really haven't missed having that second DW; the 3X configuration and drop-tuner on my "one and only" really make it fit a huge variety of genres -- and it is SUCH a comfortable bass to play.

I know what you mean. I could sell one of my AB1's and I certainly would not be bumming for long, as they are both so awesome that I would be thrilled to still be playing even one of them. That said, neither of them are collectin dust. So it would hurt, no doubt.

Also, I know that "one and only" well, so I know how nicely it plays. I can only imagine how great it sounds with the added pickup.

 

[TheLowDown33]

So I recently got my hands on a beautiful ABZ, and everything about it is awesome...but I'm having trouble with the low B. It sounds a bit dead and is definitely a lower volume than the rest of the strings. I switched the strings and the problem persists. Has anyone had this issue?

Also side question, has anyone switched the pickups in their dingwall to a non-dingwall brand and liked the results? Thanks all!

 

[Andyman001]

looks familiar

 

[xnewyorka]

So I recently got my hands on a beautiful ABZ, and everything about it is awesome...but I'm having trouble with the low B. It sounds a bit dead and is definitely a lower volume than the rest of the strings. I switched the strings and the problem persists. Has anyone had this issue?

Also side question, has anyone switched the pickups in their dingwall to a non-dingwall brand and liked the results? Thanks all!

View attachment 3057670

What's the distance from the pickup to the B string as compared to the distance at the G string?
If you play notes above the 5th fret on the B string, are they also softer than the same exact notes played on the E string?
What type of strings are on there? How old are they? (You said you switched strings. Do you mean you put on a brand new set? Which type?)

 

[xnewyorka]

looks familiar

View attachment 3057681

Not at all --- totally different wood grain! ;-)

 

[TheLowDown33]

What's the distance from the pickup to the B string as compared to the distance at the G string?
If you play notes above the 5th fret on the B string, are they also softer than the same exact notes played on the E string?
What type of strings are on there? How old are they? (You said you switched strings. Do you mean you put on a brand new set? Which type?)

Replaced dingwall nickels with Payson nickels, medium light, brand new. The distance is comparable, no exact measurements but it's not too close or a mile off the neck either. I'd say an even medium-low action. Yes to the notes being louder on the E than B.

looks familiar

View attachment 3057681

Is this your old flame?

 

[Akami]

...I'm having trouble with the low B. It sounds a bit dead and is definitely a lower volume than the rest of the strings...has anyone switched the pickups in their dingwall to a non-dingwall brand and liked the results?

Seems I have heard of Nordstrands having helped with string to string balance problems and there's been a few players who have swapped them into their Dingwalls.

 

[AB Nate]

So I recently got my hands on a beautiful ABZ, and everything about it is awesome...but I'm having trouble with the low B. It sounds a bit dead and is definitely a lower volume than the rest of the strings. I switched the strings and the problem persists. Has anyone had this issue?

Also side question, has anyone switched the pickups in their dingwall to a non-dingwall brand and liked the results? Thanks all!

View attachment 3057670

Maybe you do have a pick up failing out on you?

 

[TheLowDown33]

Seems I have heard of Nordstrands having helped with string to string balance problems and there's been a few players who have swapped them into their Dingwalls.

Any particular model? Thanks for the insight!