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Dingwall Owners Club
- Thread starter FroggyOne2
- Start date
You'll get there. Keep the immortal words of @tombowlus in mind - "Life is too short to play crappy gear.". Truth.
It’s definitely quite the convo.
I love seeing such major success of small, especially Canadian.... what can I say... I’m biased, companies.
Some may consider me a fool for the amount I’m willing to spend on an instrument. My justification is Is that that I’ve played the best and now it’s hard to settle and I know what makes me feel comfortable. The money could be spent on more important things considering I’m just a hack but really, what is more important then enjoyment in life.
Why is a fancy truck justifiable or fancy furnature, a big screen tv, eating out all the time, fancy new duds, a large house.... and on and on. It a priority to me and just cause it doesn’t line up with other people’s priorities doesn’t necessarily mean it’s foolish...... especially when if you decide to sell you may even profit!
Try doing that with a car...
Besides the point but it is false when people say the Chinese made are every bit as good as a Canadian made. I know I’ll get disagreement but they simply are not. They are freakin awesome BUT they aren’t a Canadian build. The thing is the tones that come from say an NG3 CAN be as good or better then an older (maybe a newer) Canadian made but the feel is something different all together. If you put the same electronics in an old AB vs a new NG I’ll take the old girl any day.
I’m happy to see Dingwall succeed and I think the success of the Chinese basses on one hand can drive the prices of the home built ones up or on another it can drive them down..... depending on the bass. If you have a very unique gem it holds value without question. If there are 200 other Canadian builds almost the same it’s just not as valuable.
Growth is a hard thing to manage in a company that is having major success and as far as I can see from here Sheldon is handling it very well...... sure I’d prefer his own hand signature on my new build over a watermark.... of course. I hope to never see the quality go down on a Canadian made in sacrifice of international success but I don’t think that will be the case.
The fact that he is expanding in many different ways and seemly satisfying all says a lot.
New electronics
Left handed models
New designs (4 string d bird)
New RE designs( 5 string d bird)
X top production basses
All the while expanding business, reaching more customers, more dealer relations and shows around the world, stolen instruments, international fame.... and still able to smile!
Bask in it Sheldon and team! Bask!
Lol.
I love seeing such major success of small, especially Canadian.... what can I say... I’m biased, companies.
Some may consider me a fool for the amount I’m willing to spend on an instrument. My justification is Is that that I’ve played the best and now it’s hard to settle and I know what makes me feel comfortable. The money could be spent on more important things considering I’m just a hack but really, what is more important then enjoyment in life.
Why is a fancy truck justifiable or fancy furnature, a big screen tv, eating out all the time, fancy new duds, a large house.... and on and on. It a priority to me and just cause it doesn’t line up with other people’s priorities doesn’t necessarily mean it’s foolish...... especially when if you decide to sell you may even profit!
Try doing that with a car...
Besides the point but it is false when people say the Chinese made are every bit as good as a Canadian made. I know I’ll get disagreement but they simply are not. They are freakin awesome BUT they aren’t a Canadian build. The thing is the tones that come from say an NG3 CAN be as good or better then an older (maybe a newer) Canadian made but the feel is something different all together. If you put the same electronics in an old AB vs a new NG I’ll take the old girl any day.
I’m happy to see Dingwall succeed and I think the success of the Chinese basses on one hand can drive the prices of the home built ones up or on another it can drive them down..... depending on the bass. If you have a very unique gem it holds value without question. If there are 200 other Canadian builds almost the same it’s just not as valuable.
Growth is a hard thing to manage in a company that is having major success and as far as I can see from here Sheldon is handling it very well...... sure I’d prefer his own hand signature on my new build over a watermark.... of course. I hope to never see the quality go down on a Canadian made in sacrifice of international success but I don’t think that will be the case.
The fact that he is expanding in many different ways and seemly satisfying all says a lot.
New electronics
Left handed models
New designs (4 string d bird)
New RE designs( 5 string d bird)
X top production basses
All the while expanding business, reaching more customers, more dealer relations and shows around the world, stolen instruments, international fame.... and still able to smile!
Bask in it Sheldon and team! Bask!
Lol.
You have to admit, it is a lot to juggle and still maintain such a high standard of quality. Kudos to Sheldon and his merry little band.
Yeah it's becoming a tough balancing act with the Chinese-Canadian models. The new quilted top/pau ferro finger board Combustion is definitely getting close to AB land. I definitely want to play one of those at NAMM. But I agree with you Nate. The difference between a made in China and made in Canada model is tangible, and for those looking for perfection, a Canadian model is worth the extra $$. Preamps can always be changed, but wood and built quality are indelible.
Totally agree that everyone picks their passions. Some people take cruises all the time, etc. etc., I play a really nice bass, etc. I'm no bass wizard, but I'll say this - owning a Dingwall has made me play better and made me want to play more.
While I would take a Canadian model over an import any day (all else being equal, which it never is), the other thing to consider is competition. If you don't do it (make a less expensive model), then someone else will. Dingwall has proven the market and now other manufacturers like ESP (LTD B-1005SE, with the exact same fan specs, no less!) and Ibanez (SRMS805) are getting into it with more mass produced versions. Why go with the imitators when you can have the real thing? I am glad that Dingwall has managed to capitalize and keep the competitors at bay. After all, they paved the way!
I understand the distaste. I felt the same way when Hamer, Charvel, Schecter and others started doing import guitars. It seemed like they were selling out and the brands lost their authenticity and cool. The other side of the coin in our case has several nuances that aren't obvious.
1. We're still building as many or more Canadian basses as we always have. You're seeing more Chinese basses because there are more customers in that price range. The cool thing is that many of these new customers will eventually move up the food chain to the domestic basses.
2. Without the Combustion, the company would have likely gone under in 2009 with the recession and being forced out of our old shop. The Combustion saved our company.
3. The imports have allowed us to double our workforce and pay better wages and benefits to the team that builds the domestic basses. I realize this is not the case in most companies when they offshore, but for us, we created jobs and made the existing ones better.
4. The imports have allowed us the cashflow to upgrade our machinery and tooling to build better domestic basses.
5. The ABI is relatively similar to a Combustion in terms of materials and complexity and if spec'd as similarly as possible would cost more than double. Of course for the extra money you would be getting increased quality, fit and finish which is why the ABZ and ABI are still our best selling domestic basses. Why do the domestic basses cost so much more? Well, basses are labor intensive which makes the cost of basses tied to wages. Wages are tied to cost of living. When starter houses were $60K, we were able to build Afterburners with a street price of $1200 USD. These days starter houses are in the $300K range in our area.
We run the two lines in parallel with a separate team and area for the Combustion/NGs and a separate team and area for the domestics.
Do you think it is ever gonna be in your plans to have a small department for modding existing instruments and servicing etc.
Great explanation, and we appreciate you taking the time! I LOVE my Dingwall bass. Thank you, sir!
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Not surprised. I remember 2009. I also remember that there was a definite problem with production times and demand. I'm happy for anything that keeps the shop running, keeps people employed and also pays a good wage while creating great instruments.
I worked the reverse. I started with an AB1, then the Rastaburst and an old Voodoo...before realizing that on the road it didn't make sense for me to carry a 'rarified' instrument. I really love that the Combustions are of the quality and price range that makes it possible to play one every night and not worry too terribly much in a strange town or room filled with strangers.
I'm currently sitting in my living room with two Combustion level Dingwalls and they both perform and sound awesomely. In fact, in the studio this past year...we defaulted to the NG3, no matter what the choices. Would I like to continue to buy Canadian Dingwalls? Sure. But I'm not sure I want to take them on the road. The NG's have given me more freedom to not worry about my instrument in our professional setting.
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.
I don't think the Chinese basses are really cannibalizing any sales from the Canadian ones. I feel like I'm a pretty good example of this. I could've saved myself a few thousand bucks and just ordered NGs or Combustions and, in fact, my original order did have a D-Bird Standard. When I looked at my past experience in owning both a Chinese and a Canadian bass, I really felt like I wouldn't be completely satisfied if I had just ordered NGs & Combustions. I did have that option though. I agree that with the increasing demand for Dingwall basses, the NGs & Combustions are really hitting the mark. Even though the Chinese stuff isn't readily available to try before buy, it gives those players who want to try the "Dingwall Magic", without getting too deep in their pockets and waiting for 18 months. Another thing that might be keeping players from the Canadian basses is most of the Dingwall artists are playing NGs. Their highest profile players are almost exclusively playing NGs. That's what the kids see, that's what the kids buy...
All of us here know that even though the Chinese basses are fantastic, there's some extry mojo in the Canadian basses! I'm still hoping to get my hands on an NG-3 5er prior to the arrival of my toys, just to get some time with the DGTC, but we'll see how that goes.
A few more pics from you guys would be nice!!!
I love my Canadian made, but I also completely understand the need for the Chinese basses.
It’s simply business, but since I was blessed to be able to afford a Canadian model I’d never bother with the entry models.
Both gone?! That hurts! So sexy!!!!!
I need to find someone to trade my StingRay Specials...
Yes, we still need to meet up. You’re with a jazz type group now? I’d love to come hear you sometime!
