Keep the bubinga beauty. Love the woods and it would be more difficult to replace. As cool as the new string retainers are (on the Combustion), I prefer not to have them...
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Dingwall Owners Club
- Thread starter FroggyOne2
- Start date
On paper, keep the Canadian one. On top of the AB having nicer woods and build quality, the NG will most likely be easiest to flip right now IMO. You may even make a few $ on it.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
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- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
That one's too brown for me. If you can get over the Chinese/Canada thing, the NG on paper has a better feature set...Preamp, 3 pickups, etc.
No question!!! I will happily keep your AB.
You might should keep the NG since that is the case.
Please send it ASAP.
I also say keep the AB. Unless, that is, the NG offers something else sonically that you absolutely need. There will certainly be more NGs available in the future. Heck, Sheldon never rests on his laurels and the newer ones may even be better. I hear 2019 combustions will have carbon fiber neck reinforcements and a truss rod upgrade.
No question in my mind - I'd keep the AB. Beautiful woods. Wenge neck. You've got rounded pickups even so you have options there, too. I don't play 6s and even I'd try that.
- Sep 3, 2006
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- Authorized dealer for Dingwall, Genzler, Phil Jones Bass, Cort, Traynor, Yorkville Sound
I knew you would be impressed once you played it. I loved the neck and playability and I was impressed enough to order one immediately for myself (and it takes a lot of impressive for me to immediately do that) - your bass has a simply amazing feel.
Thanks for all of your advice and input Dingwall brothers. I just got through putting both basses through the paces at home. @Waltsdog , @IronSpatula and @spiritbass are all spot on. "On paper" it makes sense to keep the AB. @BurningSkies is also absolutely correct that the "made in China" conventional wisdom goes out the door with the NG/Combustions. They are really hybrid Canadian/Asia instruments, since they go through quality control and complete disassembly/re-assembly and setup in Saskatoon. I was thoroughly impressed with the NG3. The quality, action and "playability" of both were equal. And superb. @bebass certainly can attest to that with respect to the NG 6. But as much as I would like to, I can't justify keeping both. So my decision: I'll be keeping the AB HS. Yeah, I'll admit I'm partial to exotic woods. Plus you can't even buy a new bass with bubinga anymore because of CITES. PM me if you are interested in the NG3. If I don't hear from anyone here in 24 hours, she will be in the classifieds. She's a bad-ass bass and a looker for sure. If I was playing metal I would probably be keeping the NG and selling the AB. Well done Sheldon and Co on both counts.
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i guess this is the right decision! There will be more NGs out there in the future, so you always can go for another one...but there won't be such beauties with bubinga
totally different question:
does anyone can recomend a shop which makes pickguards for the ng3? Best would be one in the EU, i looked up one in UK and i think about ordering one from there but maybe there are alternatives since i don't want to spend close to 100 euros for a pickguard.....
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
i guess this is the right decision! There will be more NGs out there in the future, so you always can go for another one...but there won't be such beauties with bubinga
totally different question:
does anyone can recomend a shop which makes pickguards for the ng3? Best would be one in the EU, i looked up one in UK and i think about ordering one from there but maybe there are alternatives since i don't want to spend close to 100 euros for a pickguard.....
Dingwall redirects to Chandler, which is fine if you can provide an original guard and are not changing the perimeter of the shape. They wouldn't do the job of my C2 pickguard fabrication since I moved the pickups from the original guard, so I'm having Terrapin Pickguards do it for me. They've been professional and friendly and as a result got my $300 order for multiple guards.
- Sep 3, 2006
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- Authorized dealer for Dingwall, Genzler, Phil Jones Bass, Cort, Traynor, Yorkville Sound
I guess this resolves the age-old question, “What is the best bass for metal?” Hahahaha
I love the look of your Bubinga and have a bass with Bubinga/walnut that I will never get rid of. Congrats on scoring such an amazing bass. If you need a second opinion to a buyer of your NG3 bass I would be glad to give it. These are still scarce so it should go immediately. And if someone inquires of an immediate white NG3 6 I will send them your way.
I recently played a couple of 2018 Combustions and I think the fit and finish/QC on them is even a step up from the previous ones. Just amazing. I would agree that they are the benchmark for Asian imports. Very close to the Canadian made ones, if you ask me.
Also, the D-Bird 5 is possibly the most aesthetically pleasing bass I've ever laid eyes on.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
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- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
My original Canadian AB-1 cost 1600$ I have two Combustions that retailed at that or slightly above and has fit/finish as good or better. I'll say that the body wood matching on my v4 combustion was far better than the AB-1.
Here's the back of the AB-1
Here's the Combustion:
How old is that AB-1? Because I haven't seen a Canadian Dingwall anywhere near that cheap in, uh, ever.
I have to say that the Combustions really are top notch. I was gassing hard for the sunburst/maple one at my local shop until I saw this:
Now, I think I gotta save my pennies to get one.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
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- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
How old is that AB-1? Because I haven't seen a Canadian Dingwall anywhere near that cheap in, uh, ever.
I have to say that the Combustions really are top notch. I was gassing hard for the sunburst/maple one at my local shop until I saw this:
View attachment 3302444
Now, I think I gotta save my pennies to get one.
I bought it new in 2005 so a few years ago. At the time it was a situation of either I keep it and deal with the mismatched 3pc back or I send it back to the dealer for a different one...which would have been a long wait for the next production batch. It played fine and sounded good, so I just ignored the rear aesthetics.
Just pulled the trigger on my third Dingwall, although it will be my first new one.
C3 5 Q IB P SH
Combustion 5, Swamp Ash, Quilt top, Indigoburst, 3 Pickups, Pau Ferro fretboard, Standard headstock
8 months quoted build time. We'll see...
C3 5 Q IB P SH
Combustion 5, Swamp Ash, Quilt top, Indigoburst, 3 Pickups, Pau Ferro fretboard, Standard headstock
8 months quoted build time. We'll see...
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Lots of great basses at NAMM this year, but this, the purple burst and the gold D-Bird are my favorites. I think these new Combustions are really stunning. Maybe Sheldon will stop drilling for pickguards soon.
I vaguely remember the original Combustions not having holes and the pickguard either being friction fit or maybe just optional. Was that a thing or have I imagined it?Maybe Sheldon will stop drilling for pickguards soon.
