Dingwall Owners Club

[NaH]

I wonder if the quilted imports will take a bite out of AB sales (especially ABZ, but also AB1). The line certainly gets blurred quite a bit more with that being an option.

To tell you the truth - this bugs me somewhat. Maybe it is because I lost my job in 2014 and it was because of outsourcing. Dingwall is turning into a Chinese guitar maker. Look at the market. How many Canadian models do you even see anymore? I know they double check it in house, I get they are cheaper, still have a high degree of quality, blah, blah. You can say all you want, but at the end of the day, I think the Canadian models are better. Maybe the issues are costs, etc. There will always be $8000-10,000 basses and I will likely never own one because I can't justify it (shoot - I can't justify a $5000 bass). I still wonder how much the same basses built in Canada or the US for that matter would have cost.

I do own a Combustion, but even bought that used and only because I wouldn't be as scared messing with it. It is a cheap way to test out the new pickups I can't have in my current set of basses. We'll see how long I keep it.

I dunno - just don't like it.

 

[NaH]

Very funny Google Ads. I was thinking how would I come up with some money, and Google attaches an option. (Stop it. I’m not good with credit cards.)
View attachment 3288913

Up to $7,000. They want you to get a good one... (though $300 on the low end. Huff. )

 

[NaH]

Maybe it's by design to try to lighten the load on the Canadian guys.

The thing is - it isn't. They had to add space just to deal with it.

 

[Funk]

To tell you the truth - this bugs me somewhat. Maybe it is because I lost my job in 2014 and it was because of outsourcing. Dingwall is turning into a Chinese guitar maker. Look at the market. How many Canadian models do you even see anymore? I know they double check it in house, I get they are cheaper, still have a high degree of quality, blah, blah. You can say all you want, but at the end of the day, I think the Canadian models are better. Maybe the issues are costs, etc. There will always be $8000-10,000 basses and I will likely never own one because I can't justify it (shoot - I can't justify a $5000 bass). I still wonder how much the same basses built in Canada or the US for that matter would have cost.

I do own a Combustion, but even bought that used and only because I wouldn't be as scared messing with it. It is a cheap way to test out the new pickups I can't have in my current set of basses. We'll see how long I keep it.

I dunno - just don't like it.

I feel the same way, NaH. I'm still sitting here waiting for Sheldon to announce the Z/ABZ basses that will be at NAMM this year.

The Canadian basses just have an indescribable magic to them that I have yet to feel from the Chinese models.

 

[NaH]

I feel the same way, NaH. I'm still sitting here waiting for Sheldon to announce the Z/ABZ basses that will be at NAMM this year.

The Canadian basses just have an indescribable magic to them that I have yet to feel from the Chinese models.

I also need more Canadian basses on the market, so that they eventually get sold to guys like me. I have expensive taste when it comes to pricing out a new one.

 

[TolerancEJ]

Up to $7,000. They want you to get a good one... (though $300 on the low end. Huff. )

$300 is probably to stock up on strings.

 

[Selta]

To tell you the truth - this bugs me somewhat. Maybe it is because I lost my job in 2014 and it was because of outsourcing. Dingwall is turning into a Chinese guitar maker. Look at the market. How many Canadian models do you even see anymore? I know they double check it in house, I get they are cheaper, still have a high degree of quality, blah, blah. You can say all you want, but at the end of the day, I think the Canadian models are better. Maybe the issues are costs, etc. There will always be $8000-10,000 basses and I will likely never own one because I can't justify it (shoot - I can't justify a $5000 bass). I still wonder how much the same basses built in Canada or the US for that matter would have cost.

I do own a Combustion, but even bought that used and only because I wouldn't be as scared messing with it. It is a cheap way to test out the new pickups I can't have in my current set of basses. We'll see how long I keep it.

I dunno - just don't like it.

I don't really disagree, but, we buyers are ones always asking for lower priced options. Also, as a business person, seeking means to increase revenue (and hopefully profit) is necessary to survive - putting 1,000 Chinese made Combustion/NGs in the hands of players while making a few bucks each, versus 100 Canadian ones at higher margin (presumably).
I don't really have any issues with globalization, though. It's here, and it's only going to continue to grow. It does hurt when folks end up on the losing side of that, but I'd put the blame solely at the government(s), not the businesses trying to stay afloat.

 

[Waltsdog]

I don't really disagree, but, we buyers are ones always asking for lower priced options. Also, as a business person, seeking means to increase revenue (and hopefully profit) is necessary to survive - putting 1,000 Chinese made Combustion/NGs in the hands of players while making a few bucks each, versus 100 Canadian ones at higher margin (presumably).
I don't really have any issues with globalization, though. It's here, and it's only going to continue to grow. It does hurt when folks end up on the losing side of that, but I'd put the blame solely at the government(s), not the businesses trying to stay afloat.

I think you've hit the nail on the head here, my personal take is that the NG2 was a somewhat unexpected runaway success and they're making the most of following through on that demand.
We're still seeing new stuff in the Candian line especially with the D-birds, the rest of the Canadian stuff seems to be doing as well if not better than it always had judging by wait times. It's just that the focus right now is more on the area of growth and riding that wave while the riding is good.

 

[Waltsdog]

Thinking back to when I bought my first ABZ the V1 combustion had just come out and they were really close in price, closer than they are now. The Combustion was 1100-1200 GBP and the ABZ was 1500 GBP.

 

[Salciniclas]

I guess same thing will happen as it did with Warwick. China/Korea/Asian builds for the Mass and the "real ones" for people who like to heavily invest. As long as quality is right everything is fine. Nowdays the korean Warwicks are really great and also they introduced the Teambuilt, Masterbuilt thing. They just try to produce a fitting glove for everyone. What makes Dingwall special is that they still do the QC in Canada on every Bass, which to me is very impressive.

 

[NaH]

I think you've hit the nail on the head here, my personal take is that the NG2 was a somewhat unexpected runaway success and they're making the most of following through on that demand.
We're still seeing new stuff in the Candian line especially with the D-birds, the rest of the Canadian stuff seems to be doing as well if not better than it always had judging by wait times. It's just that the focus right now is more on the area of growth and riding that wave while the riding is good.

Is it separate that wait times are still a judge of it, or does some of the Canadian build time get eaten up QCing/setting up the China basses? I thought Sheldon said something about that at one point.

 

[spiritbass]

I think you've hit the nail on the head here, my personal take is that the NG2 was a somewhat unexpected runaway success and they're making the most of following through on that demand.
We're still seeing new stuff in the Candian line especially with the D-birds, the rest of the Canadian stuff seems to be doing as well if not better than it always had judging by wait times. It's just that the focus right now is more on the area of growth and riding that wave while the riding is good.

The import models have satisfied a whole lot of pent-up demand for Dingwalls. Those waiting for the five-string D-Bird standard are going to have to wait a bit longer for their satisfaction. They had to lessen the demand for Canadian built instruments a bit, but both markets are obviously quite healthy. Making import models has brought Dingwall's brand awareness higher, and has probably had an effect on the used market for Canadian basses, but has done nothing to quell the lust (that's what it is!) for Sheldon's master-built playable art, IMO.

 

[NaH]

I don't really disagree, but, we buyers are ones always asking for lower priced options. Also, as a business person, seeking means to increase revenue (and hopefully profit) is necessary to survive - putting 1,000 Chinese made Combustion/NGs in the hands of players while making a few bucks each, versus 100 Canadian ones at higher margin (presumably).
I don't really have any issues with globalization, though. It's here, and it's only going to continue to grow. It does hurt when folks end up on the losing side of that, but I'd put the blame solely at the government(s), not the businesses trying to stay afloat.

I don't have an issue with the concept. There are certain industries that certain countries do better at, but I think globalization will ultimately lead everyone to earn next to nothing. It certainly isn't going to go the other way around. I also agree that there are a lot of factors to getting the capabilities needed to stay in country.

 

[TolerancEJ]

I believe import models are designed to whet your appetite for an official model. I have 2 such examples: 1) a Conklin GTBD-7 that plays very well and intrigues me about the performance of an official Conklin. 2) I also own a KSD Burner Deluxe 6 which plays and sounds very good and of course, it makes me want a real Ken Smith.

 

[Waltsdog]

Is it separate that wait times are still a judge of it, or does some of the Canadian build time get eaten up QCing/setting up the China basses? I thought Sheldon said something about that at one point.

I think they are at least somewhat seperate, but I'm going by the fact that the shop was expanded and the Instagram pictures where you don;t often see the two lines in the same shot:
"

 

[spiritbass]

I believe import models are designed to whet your appetite for an official model. I have 2 such examples: 1) a Conklin GTBD-7 that plays very well and intrigues me about the performance of an official Conklin. 2) I also own a KSD Burner Deluxe 6 which plays and sounds very good and of course, it makes me want a real Ken Smith.

Oh yes. I've seen/read several instances of them functioning as "Gateway Dingwalls". He's tricksy, that Sheldon...

 

[TolerancEJ]

Oh yes. I've seen/read several instances of them functioning as "Gateway Dingwalls". He's tricksy, that Sheldon...

I'd still like to own one.

 

[NaH]

@Waltsdog Thanks for the reminder about Instagram (I think). Found some nice stuff there, including a color I considered:

 

[Flabzilla]

Mmm... economics.

 

[NaH]

Mmm... economics.

LOL. yeah - I was never any good at that class.