• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Dingwall Owners Club

I've sent my ABHS off to Mo's Shop for Nordstrand Jazz pickups and medium jumbo frets. It's a passive bass. My first passive bass other than my Clement fretless. I'm thinking about having him put in a Nordstrand 3b preamp to make it active. Do some of you prefer passive basses? If so, why?

Realized I never answered your question. All of my basses are active, but I play them passive 99% of the time only because I haven't had the need to switch it on. If I do, just a little bass boost and treble roll off. Once in a while I forget I have that active boost at my fingertips. I'd be open to a passive only bass.
 
I was just thinking "Medium Jumbo Frets". What kind of description is that? Are they medium or are they jumbo? Are there small jumbo and large jumbo? Are there jumbo jumbo frets? Only in reggae, huh? :roflmao:

I dunno. I really like the banjo frets over any sort of jumbo to the point I’ve considered refretting the one Dingwall I have with jumbos.
 
I’ve had five Dingwalls over the past ten years. Three passive and two with preamps. One Super PJ had the Aguilar, the other had the a Glockenlang. I’d use the preamps less than 5%, if that much. There’s something about the passive sound I prefer, but it’s hard to quantify. Maybe a little more dynamic, and organic response.

The passive tone circuits, blueqube, or the hybrid in my Super P are fine for my tastes.

I do go with a Ptone or P pickup whenever the option is available.

I prefer the small frets as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Peter Lufrano
Some of you prefer Medium Jumbo frets. Why? I love my Banjo frets and I wish I could get an AB w/Mandolin frets. I have a Super that has them and I love them.
I know I'm going against the grain with larger frets. Most are very happy with standard banjo frets. I was until I had my NG2 retrofitted with frettrax a couple of years ago and they wouldn't do it with the banjo frets (not enough contact area for the wires or something like that), so I had to put in larger frets. Turned out I preferred them. I do a fair amount of slapping and popping, and 2-3 solos every gig which incorporate that style. I go for the jazz bass sound, like Marcus Miller (Jazz) or Larry Graham (Jazz) or Louis Johnson (Music Man). To emulate that sound it helps to have larger frets, more metal under your thumb and when a string is "popped" onto a fret. Sure the banjo frets will work fine. But I get a "meatier" and more percussive sound with the larger frets. I also like to dig in when playing finger style. I prefer the larger frets for that as well. The whole banjo fret thing was Lee Sklar's idea. But I don't play like Lee Slar. Anyway, long explanation, but there it is @NaH
 
Last edited:
I can see that. Maybe Sheldon will offer up a “slap fret” option one day. I’m thinking just the last highest two or three frets would be jumbos. It’s not like I’m using those frets for anything else.

There were some models with the fretboard cut away at the very highest notes to allow better slap access. I forget who owned those basses.
 
I can see that. Maybe Sheldon will offer up a “slap fret” option one day. I’m thinking just the last highest two or three frets would be jumbos. It’s not like I’m using those frets for anything else.

There were some models with the fretboard cut away at the very highest notes to allow better slap access. I forget who owned those basses.
Derek Blakey.


You couldn’t put just a couple of jumbos at the heel of the neck..... I’m sure that would drive a person crazy with the buzz/rattle
 
I can see that. Maybe Sheldon will offer up a “slap fret” option one day. I’m thinking just the last highest two or three frets would be jumbos. It’s not like I’m using those frets for anything else.

There were some models with the fretboard cut away at the very highest notes to allow better slap access. I forget who owned those basses.
You mean like this?...

2.jpg
1.jpg
 
hi all,

If one were to convert a Super J, to a “Super PJ” using the existing route that exists under the pick guard, is the P pickup in the same location as it would be on a standard Super P?
And for those of you who may use such a PJ, do you feel this is “compromised” somehow compared to a Super P if using the neck P pickup solo’d?
Thank you in advance!
 
hi all,

If one were to convert a Super J, to a “Super PJ” using the existing route that exists under the pick guard, is the P pickup in the same location as it would be on a standard Super P?
And for those of you who may use such a PJ, do you feel this is “compromised” somehow compared to a Super P if using the neck P pickup solo’d?
Thank you in advance!

You're welcome in retrospect. ;) On the SJ, the P position is 1/4" closer to the neck. Slightly less mids, but it's no compromise IMO. I solo the P most of the time when I'm playing my SJ/P4. Gorgeous precision tones. :cool:
 
hi all,

If one were to convert a Super J, to a “Super PJ” using the existing route that exists under the pick guard, is the P pickup in the same location as it would be on a standard Super P?
And for those of you who may use such a PJ, do you feel this is “compromised” somehow compared to a Super P if using the neck P pickup solo’d?
Thank you in advance!

I agree with @spiritbass, having both I don't feel like there is a compromise. In fact, I think I prefer the P-tone on my SJ5 (P/J) than I do on my SP5 (converted to P/J - started life as a P). That may just be due to those particular instruments.