Dingwall Owners Club

[NaH]

Speaking of the Dbird, why only four strings?

Was the original Thunderbird 4-string? Or did it have a 5-string flavor as well?

 

[BuffaloBob4343]

So you're saying you like the idea, but don't need the help on the reach?

Yes! Exactly. I find the longscale Dingwalls to be the perfect ergonomic fit for me. I am not super tall or long-armed at 6ft even, but my left hand and arm feel perfect where they are. But I have tried the second strap position a few times and I can see why others really like it. It works perfectly in bringing the reach for first position to more like a 34" scale.

I have found that I far prefer the longscales to the Super series basses. I guess I just feel comfortable in the reach such as it is. But I find the execution of the second strap, like pretty much everything else Sheldon does, as perfectly executed for its purpose.

 

[IvanBassist]

Been off of Talkbass for the last couple of weeks because I moved to a new city and have been dealing with all the stuff that comes with that BUT...
I went to an audition yesterday and took my SJP4 strung with a fresh set of DR Hi Beams. OMG! What an amazing tone I had And I just went straight DI into the board, nothing else.

Everyone in the band + the sound engineer complimented me on the sound and playing.
If everything goes right, I'll be doing 60+ shows/year with that band

 

[NOLA Bass]

Speaking of the Dbird, why only four strings?

Jaco only needed 4!!

In all seriousness, not sure why no 5 is offered. Maybe just haven’t gotten to it considering current demands?

 

[NOLA Bass]

As above there is supposedly one in the works, what I remember from some time back is that the design would have balance issues with 5 strings so it needs tweaking.

That makes sense. My Dbird is so perfectly designed/balanced, you wouldn’t want the 5 to not meet that level.

 

[IvanBassist]

Jaco only needed 4!!

In all seriousness, not sure why no 5 is offered. Maybe just haven’t gotten to it considering current demands?

I'm sure Sheldon is working on it.
I believe it took a lot of designing effort to make the D-Bird4 a balanced bass, considering all the neck dive on those type of basses.

 

[bebass]

Yes! Exactly. I find the longscale Dingwalls to be the perfect ergonomic fit for me. I am not super tall or long-armed at 6ft even, but my left hand and arm feel perfect where they are. But I have tried the second strap position a few times and I can see why others really like it. It works perfectly in bringing the reach for first position to more like a 34" scale.

I have found that I far prefer the longscales to the Super series basses. I guess I just feel comfortable in the reach such as it is. But I find the execution of the second strap, like pretty much everything else Sheldon does, as perfectly executed for its purpose.

I too find the long scales perfect for me. Absolutely perfect fit. I did try out the Super J and absolutely was stunned by it, fit/finish/playability was all there. And I am sure it is THE solution for many. But directly comparing, for me, longscale all the way. I have no problems with reach. Although I haven’t measured it, it feels similar to my USA Cirrus 35” scale in terms of reach. That said, I think I could get used to the Super just fine and am considering ordering one in 4 string.

 

[bebass]

Jaco only needed 4!!

In all seriousness, not sure why no 5 is offered. Maybe just haven’t gotten to it considering current demands?

I am would bet Sheldon has multiple different basses running around in his head and a 5 string d-bird is poably one of them.

But we must look at the overall situation. The D-Bird Standard has not yet made it into production. The 6-string NG3 has not either. New products do take time. I would say it is possible we will see a 5-string at NAMM - maybe/maybe not. As there could be some entirely different surprise bass in store. But even if there is a 5 d-bird introduced, I think it would most likely take until 2020 before we would see a production model. All this is pure conjecture.

 

[spiritbass]

I watched a video earlier this year (it's surely in this thread) where Sheldon clearly states that the five-string D-bird will happen. Lots of variables to juggle, and I don't think he knows how long it will take...

 

[groovaholic]

I think the simple reason we don’t have a D-Bird 5 is because the design isn’t perfect yet, and Sheldon won’t let it see daylight until it is.

Of course, it occurs to me that the only “Classic” bass not represented in the Dingwall canon is the Rickenbacker...

Z2/NG2 = Stingray
SJ = Jazz
SP = Precision
D-Bird = Thunderbird

I’d sell one of my kidneys for the Dingwall take on a Rick, just like I sold a lovely 4001v63 to buy my first Dingwall!

 

[spiritbass]

I think the simple reason we don’t have a D-Bird 5 is because the design isn’t perfect yet, and Sheldon won’t let it see daylight until it is.

Of course, it occurs to me that the only “Classic” bass not represented in the Dingwall canon is the Rickenbacker...

Z2/NG2 = Stingray
SJ = Jazz
SP = Precision
D-Bird = Thunderbird

I’d sell one of my kidneys for the Dingwall take on a Rick, just like I sold a lovely 4001v63 to buy my first Dingwall!

Now that would be cool. (Sheldon doing the Ric justice, not the kidney-selling! )

 

[kittywithabanjo]

He told me there were going to be alot of design challenges with a D bird 5.

 

[J Posega]

He told me there were going to be alot of design challenges with a D bird 5.

Just the look of a wider neck on the sleek 'bird body throws the whole thing off balance. Then there is, of course, the physical balance of the instrument. Headstock would need radical reshaping.

See, when Gibson did 5 string versions of anything, they just stuffed 5 Gotoh style tuners on a 4 string neck with a super narrow bridge on the body. Sheldon wants to do it right and design the best damned 5 string 'bird in all the lands.

 

[Thumper]

So now I have to figure out when to sell my SPJ5 in order to fund a DBird5.

 

[J Posega]

I just registered to attend NAMM 2019 in CA this January as a non-member associate. I'm hoping that, not only will I get to finally experience the absurdity of NAMM, play whatever amazing Dingwalls they debut, and meet Sheldon himself but that it will be a good time for me to network with some musicians that I'd like to interview for my dissertation project. Needless to say, I'm extremely excited.

 

[bebass]

I just registered to attend NAMM 2019 in CA this January as a non-member associate. I'm hoping that, not only will I get to finally experience the absurdity of NAMM, play whatever amazing Dingwalls they debut, and meet Sheldon himself but that it will be a good time for me to network with some musicians that I'd like to interview for my dissertation project. Needless to say, I'm extremely excited.

It is total insanity.
Advice is to get to Sheldon's booth first thing if you actually want to play a bass. It gets intensely crowded. Meeting Sheldon may be more difficult than just getting to play a bass as there are helpers there that help with the bass demos. Map out exactly what you want to see and where the booth's are and try to optimize because there is no way you will be able to see everything there and it is long walks to traverse. Be prepared for insane food and lodging prices; if you don't already have lodging chances are there will be slim pickings.

 

[husky123]

I just registered to attend NAMM 2019 in CA this January as a non-member associate. I'm hoping that, not only will I get to finally experience the absurdity of NAMM, play whatever amazing Dingwalls they debut, and meet Sheldon himself but that it will be a good time for me to network with some musicians that I'd like to interview for my dissertation project. Needless to say, I'm extremely excited.

I’ll be there. I’m working the Bergantino booth but it’s very close to the Dingwall booth.

 

[The_Owl]

What a difference a day makes. This morning, I was contemplating buying another bass. An expensive one. Rehearsal night tonight. I realise I don't need anything other than what I have. I had a silly smile on my face the entire time. Everything was just perfect. I could hear myself with a clarity and force I'd never experienced before.

Thanks for making the best basses in the world @Sheldon D.



Signal chain is ABHS-Polytune-Super Symmetry-Alpha Omega Ultra-Tone Hammer 350-Epifani UL410.

 

[been_effected]

What a difference a day makes. This morning, I was contemplating buying another bass. An expensive one. Rehearsal night tonight. I realise I don't need anything other than what I have. I had a silly smile on my face the entire time. Everything was just perfect. I could hear myself with a clarity and force I'd never experienced before.

Thanks for making the best basses in the world @Sheldon D.



Signal chain is ABHS-Polytune-Super Symmetry-Alpha Omega Ultra-Tone Hammer 350-Epifani UL410.

That's one hell of a signal chain

Also, am I the only one who doesn't like the D-Bird shape and isn't keen on getting one? I kinda think they're fugly...

 

[Bassheart365]

That's one hell of a signal chain

Also, am I the only one who doesn't like the D-Bird shape and isn't keen on getting one? I kinda think they're fugly...

I don't agree that its ugly. Sheldon doesn't do ugly. But I never had a thing for the Gibson Thunderbird back in the day, so I'm not jonesing for a D-Bird. My current obsession is the NG3 6 string.