Dingwall Owners Club

[BuffaloBob4343]

WOW!! These Dingwall basses are gorgeous! Any players in the Atlanta, Georgia area?? I like to play one before taking the leap, since I'm new to fanned frets basses.

Like Nismaniac says, we are virtually all jump ins without trying one first. If you start with a NG or combustion, you will be fine. They will hold their value, especially if you buy slightly used. The famed friends are not at all hard to get used to. In fact, most people find that a couple of minutes is all it takes.

 

[Nightman]

Like Nismaniac says, we are virtually all jump ins without trying one first. If you start with a NG or combustion, you will be fine. They will hold their value, especially if you buy slightly used. The famed friends are not at all hard to get used to. In fact, most people find that a couple of minutes is all it takes.

I was considering the 5’er Combustion.

 

[NaH]

My favourite strings are the Ernie Ball Cobalt Flatwounds, but unfortunately they do not make them long enough to fit the Dingwall, and I'm really curious if there is anything out that anybody can recommend that might be similar - flatwound feel with a roundwound tone, or if there is something else that I should look into.

La Bella TI Flats

or

Payson Flats (which are tapered). Payson also makes groundwounds.
Payson fanned Bass Strings

 

[Waltsdog]

Hey fellow Dingwallians. I could really use some advice about strings. I've had my NG-2 for a couple months now, but I'm really having a hard time getting a tone out of it that I really enjoy.

I found the Dingwall strings that came on it kind of thin sounding in the A, D, G, and markedly lower volume compared to B-E

Tone wise, I'm finding it all very kind of nasal in the mids in my A-D-G, and the B-E are kind of boomy and lack punch. Not sure if there is something about the Darkglass pre-amp that I'm not quite understanding, but it's getting me down a little bit.

My favourite strings are the Ernie Ball Cobalt Flatwounds, but unfortunately they do not make them long enough to fit the Dingwall, and I'm really curious if there is anything out that anybody can recommend that might be similar - flatwound feel with a roundwound tone, or if there is something else that I should look into.

For flats, you can get Paysons I believe, I've yet to try them but they are well regarded.

The rest of your description sounds like a setup issue, check your pickup heights and make sure your strings arent binding when you install them.
I would guess you have the bass side of the pickup too high going by your description so start with a full setup. None of the strings on any of mine sound thin unless I screw with the pickup heights.

 

[AB Nate]

Hey fellow Dingwallians. I could really use some advice about strings. I've had my NG-2 for a couple months now, but I'm really having a hard time getting a tone out of it that I really enjoy.

I found the Dingwall strings that came on it kind of thin sounding in the A, D, G, and markedly lower volume compared to B-E, so I swapped them out for a custom set of La Bella White Nylon Tapes. I still am not really hearing what I am hoping to hear, and the I'm finding I am frequently getting a nasty noise on my B string which I think is due to the string hitting a pickup. I know the La Bella tape wounds are a little floppy, but I got the larger gauge strings to try to address this, as well as lowering my pickups on that side quite a bit.

Tone wise, I'm finding it all very kind of nasal in the mids in my A-D-G, and the B-E are kind of boomy and lack punch. Not sure if there is something about the Darkglass pre-amp that I'm not quite understanding, but it's getting me down a little bit.

My favourite strings are the Ernie Ball Cobalt Flatwounds, but unfortunately they do not make them long enough to fit the Dingwall, and I'm really curious if there is anything out that anybody can recommend that might be similar - flatwound feel with a roundwound tone, or if there is something else that I should look into.

This is a weird problem to have on a Dingwall short of hitting the pick up.
I agree with @Waltsdog

Sounds like you need a set up.

A couple of other things I am curious about is
a)
what rig your running through.
B)
What pick ups are in that guy?fdv or FD3?

But back to original sentiment. Your pick up height may be something to address along with any other set up issues.

I have found a great use for the Dingwall nickels on my SJ.

I also really enjoy the Dingwall SS as well as the payson SS

Perhaps payson is a direction for you to explore. I have a set of flats I’m very excited to try out soon sitting on my desk.

The medium lights or the reduced core payson offers might be a thing for you to try.
I get the feel Stainless Steel may not be your thing depending on the sound your trying to achieve.

Also curious? Have you come close to a preferred setting with the pick up selector and the DGTC?


Hopefully you find a way to get it sorted. It’s a pretty unusual problem to have on a Dingwall. Thin is not something anybody has ever said to me about my sound.

 

[nismaniac]

I read where you are playing non-fanned fretted basses. How is the adjustment from fanned to non-fanned and back to fanned?

I haven't had any issues, no different for me than going between a 4 or 5 or 6 string or long scale to short scale. You just get used to the bass you're playing at the moment. It's surprising how much a non issue it is.

Hey fellow Dingwallians. I could really use some advice about strings. I've had my NG-2 for a couple months now, but I'm really having a hard time getting a tone out of it that I really enjoy.

I found the Dingwall strings that came on it kind of thin sounding in the A, D, G, and markedly lower volume compared to B-E, so I swapped them out for a custom set of La Bella White Nylon Tapes. I still am not really hearing what I am hoping to hear, and the I'm finding I am frequently getting a nasty noise on my B string which I think is due to the string hitting a pickup. I know the La Bella tape wounds are a little floppy, but I got the larger gauge strings to try to address this, as well as lowering my pickups on that side quite a bit.

Tone wise, I'm finding it all very kind of nasal in the mids in my A-D-G, and the B-E are kind of boomy and lack punch. Not sure if there is something about the Darkglass pre-amp that I'm not quite understanding, but it's getting me down a little bit.

My favourite strings are the Ernie Ball Cobalt Flatwounds, but unfortunately they do not make them long enough to fit the Dingwall, and I'm really curious if there is anything out that anybody can recommend that might be similar - flatwound feel with a roundwound tone, or if there is something else that I should look into.

I would just echo some of what others have already said, I'm thinking it could be a set up issue. I have a Combustion with the EMG preamp but I have found there is a pretty big sensitivity to pickup height, I've really dialed in the sound and response I like by adjusting the the pickup heights by ear instead of just measurement and it's amazing the changes in tone and response even with slight adjustments. I seem to have the Dingwall pickups a lot closer to the strings than I do on most of my other basses. I'm currently using Dingwall nickels.

 

[nismaniac]

@Discount Saint

I just measured and this is my pickup height NOT fretting the strings...

G string neck pickup 3 1/2 32nd, bridge pickup 3/32nd
B string neck pickup 5/32nd, bridge pickup 4/32nd

For reference, my string height at the 12th fret NOT fretting the strings...

G string right at or slightly under 3/32nd
B string slightly over 3/32nd

See where your measurements are compared to these just for a quick comparison

 

[AB Nate]

I read where you are playing non-fanned fretted basses. How is the adjustment from fanned to non-fanned and back to fanned?

The only time I’ve truly ever noticed it being an issue is when I go from playing FF to a “fretless unlined parallel” fret bass. Then it can through you as there is no visual or frets to feel. I’m very much a Dingwall player for a while now and can play a regular fretted bass easy enough but if you move to a “blank” board the fan feel/positioning is still ingrained.

 

[FredeRICK]

Those blue and white Z3's are really nice.

Funny, I can't remember the last time I saw a Z1. Does anyone order them in that configuration anymore?

I'm about to switch my AB1 on order to a Z1. I find that I constantly thwap the pickup cover with my fingers on my NG2, so a Z2 is out (the gap between them is my sweet spot for plucking), and I really don't need that many pickup variations, so no Z3. It'll be a 4-string too, which has to be the only one!

 

[Discount Saint]

For flats, you can get Paysons I believe, I've yet to try them but they are well regarded.

The rest of your description sounds like a setup issue, check your pickup heights and make sure your strings arent binding when you install them.
I would guess you have the bass side of the pickup too high going by your description so start with a full setup. None of the strings on any of mine sound thin unless I screw with the pickup heights.

Yeah, I have a great tech, and I’ve had it fully setup twice (once when I first got it, and once when I changed the strings). It definitely needed setting up out of the box, and it’s possibke the neck is going wonky due to temperature changes in my bass room.

I’ve got the pickups pretty low on the bass side at this point which seems to have helped with the volume between the strings, but I’m still getting the clangy noise on the B string.

Wondering if it might not be the string hitting the pickup, after all, and maybe something clanging on the neck. When I play it acoustically it definitely clangs on the neck and not the pickup. Hard to diagnose in the moment.

I’ve had the clanging issue with other basses and lowering the bass side of the pickup seemed to be the solution, but it’s pretty low right now.

I’m seeing my tech again on the weekend, so hopefully he can figure it out.

As for the strings, I’m definition a bit stumped. It’s really frustrating that the string selection is so limited on these basses. Thought about just putting the Cobalts on the A-D-G and finding something else for B and E.

 

[packrat]

If you're having a setup problem with a noisy B, check out the string tree. My NG2-5 came with the string tree a whisker too high (needed to be screwed in a touch) to be tight against the B and the B string vibrated oddly against it. Was a simple fix.

B>

 

[packrat]

my 3X pickup upgrade kit for my NG is hitting the express mail today, should get it in the next couple of days. (woo!)

One thing they noted is that Dingwall don't have carbon pickguards for the 3X upgrade kits, only matt black ones. Does anyone know if they'll be available later?

Thanks

 

[Discount Saint]

This is a weird problem to have on a Dingwall short of hitting the pick up.
I agree with @Waltsdog

Sounds like you need a set up.

A couple of other things I am curious about is
a)
what rig your running through.
B)
What pick ups are in that guy?fdv or FD3?

But back to original sentiment. Your pick up height may be something to address along with any other set up issues.

I have found a great use for the Dingwall nickels on my SJ.

I also really enjoy the Dingwall SS as well as the payson SS

Perhaps payson is a direction for you to explore. I have a set of flats I’m very excited to try out soon sitting on my desk.

The medium lights or the reduced core payson offers might be a thing for you to try.
I get the feel Stainless Steel may not be your thing depending on the sound your trying to achieve.

Also curious? Have you come close to a preferred setting with the pick up selector and the DGTC?


Hopefully you find a way to get it sorted. It’s a pretty unusual problem to have on a Dingwall. Thin is not something anybody has ever said to me about my sound.

Answers:

My rig is a Genzler Magellan 800 through a pair of Genzler BA12-3 cabs. I also have a fairly extensive pedalboard with a variety of Fuzz, synth, distortion type of pedals.

Not sure which pickups are which. I’ve got the new rounded style pickups. It’s a brand new NG2 as of a month and a half ago or so.

Setting wise I have mostly been using the series setting with a slight bump on the mids, but I’m honestly just so, so hopeless when it comes to EQing.

I like the cobalt flats because they sound like roundwounds with a smoother aftertaste. I don’t know if I’d like a regular flat. Curious about the Payson ground wounds.

I have the pickups pretty low on the bass side at this point, but it’s possible the clanging is a neck issue.

 

[Discount Saint]

If you're having a setup problem with a noisy B, check out the string tree. My NG2-5 came with the string tree a whisker too high (needed to be screwed in a touch) to be tight against the B and the B string vibrated oddly against it. Was a simple fix.

B>

Hmm, I’ll give that a look, thanks!

 

[Discount Saint]

@Discount Saint

I just measured and this is my pickup height NOT fretting the strings...

G string neck pickup 3 1/2 32nd, bridge pickup 3/32nd
B string neck pickup 5/32nd, bridge pickup 4/32nd

For reference, my string height at the 12th fret NOT fretting the strings...

G string right at or slightly under 3/32nd
B string slightly over 3/32nd

See where your measurements are compared to these just for a quick comparison

Thanks - what do you use to get an accurate measurement?

 

[monsterthompson]

Hey fellow Dingwallians. I could really use some advice about strings. I've had my NG-2 for a couple months now, but I'm really having a hard time getting a tone out of it that I really enjoy.

I found the Dingwall strings that came on it kind of thin sounding in the A, D, G, and markedly lower volume compared to B-E, so I swapped them out for a custom set of La Bella White Nylon Tapes. I still am not really hearing what I am hoping to hear, and the I'm finding I am frequently getting a nasty noise on my B string which I think is due to the string hitting a pickup. I know the La Bella tape wounds are a little floppy, but I got the larger gauge strings to try to address this, as well as lowering my pickups on that side quite a bit.

Tone wise, I'm finding it all very kind of nasal in the mids in my A-D-G, and the B-E are kind of boomy and lack punch. Not sure if there is something about the Darkglass pre-amp that I'm not quite understanding, but it's getting me down a little bit.

My favourite strings are the Ernie Ball Cobalt Flatwounds, but unfortunately they do not make them long enough to fit the Dingwall, and I'm really curious if there is anything out that anybody can recommend that might be similar - flatwound feel with a roundwound tone, or if there is something else that I should look into.

I had a hard time bonding with my ABZ5, and ultimately sold it. Obviously, many people love those, but it wasn’t a good fit for me. I found some of my issues with the tone similar to the issues you’re having with yours. I never found a good fix. I did have the white tape wound strings on another bass, and I was not a big fan. I would not looked at those as a solution. I ultimately ended up with a D bird, but that’s not a very practical solution for you. Hopefully, some other people here will be able to chime in with workable solutions.I just wanted to post this to let you know you’re not the only person who has had these issues. Good luck.

 

[Discount Saint]

I had a hard time bonding with my ABZ5, and ultimately sold it. Obviously, many people love those, but it wasn’t a good fit for me. I found some of my issues with the tone similar to the issues you’re having with yours. I never found a good fix. I did have the white tape wound strings on another bass, and I was not a big fan. I would not looked at those as a solution. I ultimately ended up with a D bird, but that’s not a very practical solution for you. Hopefully, some other people here will be able to chime in with workable solutions.I just wanted to post this to let you know you’re not the only person who has had these issues. Good luck.

It’s interesting you should say that about the white tapes. I’ve got the black tapes on other basses, and I like the way they sound, but not the floppiness.

Maybe they were the wrong move.

 

[nismaniac]

Thanks - what do you use to get an accurate measurement?

I'm just using one of those metal ruler gauges from stew mac

 

[Discount Saint]

I'm just using one of those metal ruler gauges from stew mac

Are you measuring from the pickup to the string?

 

[Bassheart365]

Thought I should post another picture because this thread can't have too many! Here is one from a recent boudoir session...drool


View attachment 3131129

Wow...that pick guard. Classy. But I'm a sucker for anything gold. Or Bronze for that matter.