That blue flame maple AB-1four string is back in the classifieds.
Jeez, the longing.
Jeez, the longing.
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Dingwall Owners Club
- Thread starter FroggyOne2
- Start date
Yes, many should try adjusting the pick up height.
My sweet spot was just a bit lower than stock on all three. Then Bridge a touch lower than Middle and Neck a touch lower than the Middle.
With all three on it is Fantastic, though I mostly just use Middle Bridge.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,950
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Had my Z3 out for a spin at the Link Removed this past weekend. It rocked the stage, as well as Sheldon's booth. 
Heads up, I may have a 6 string Combustion up for sale very soon...Natural finish with maple neck, 3x Combustion pickup switch. Bittersweet, but during the waiting period I ended up finding a bass I really bond with and love playing. I also live in tight quarters with space and money at a premium, and would prefer not to have money tied up in instruments if possible. Figured I'd give everyone here a heads up before (if) I list it.
Order placed. I’ll see you guys in 18 months...
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
My D-Bird came in this morning, I haven't had a chance to plug it in yet but here are some pictures and initial thoughts.
The bass itself is very light, the finish looks amazing (ymmv as it's green and sparkly) and the lines on the head stock are straight enough for me. Feels good straight out of the box, a little different to every other Dingwall I've played as the neck feels larger than other Dingwall 4s (although I've not played a Combustion 4). I used to own a AB1 4 and the neck on this feels quite a bit chunkier than the AB1. It's not a baseball bat though.
I'm not sure why but I was expecting a regular shaped gig bag to come with this one. Instead it has a nice custom shaped bag that seems sturdy and well fitted. It has rubber on the bottom and the side which is pretty good for load in/out when it's damp out. Seems on par with the previous Levy's bags.
It also came with a neat little tool case, which is a big improvement over the ziplock bags we used to get.
The bass itself is very light, the finish looks amazing (ymmv as it's green and sparkly) and the lines on the head stock are straight enough for me. Feels good straight out of the box, a little different to every other Dingwall I've played as the neck feels larger than other Dingwall 4s (although I've not played a Combustion 4). I used to own a AB1 4 and the neck on this feels quite a bit chunkier than the AB1. It's not a baseball bat though.
I'm not sure why but I was expecting a regular shaped gig bag to come with this one. Instead it has a nice custom shaped bag that seems sturdy and well fitted. It has rubber on the bottom and the side which is pretty good for load in/out when it's damp out. Seems on par with the previous Levy's bags.
It also came with a neat little tool case, which is a big improvement over the ziplock bags we used to get.
Attachments
I should add that my only minor gripe is that the bridge pieces are still a bit sharp/pointy. If you rest your palm on the bridge when playing like me (playing with a pick) you'll definitely feel the bridge. Not an issue if you're playing finger style.
There are also small engineering differences and cost savings.
For instance, the ABZ has custom-spec US Ultralites, with shorter tuning posts. In order for this to work, the ferrule/fastener has to be recessed into a little pit in the headstock. This shaves some unnecessary weight, reduces headstock dive, and keeps a good breakover angle across the nut. The weight loss is mostly metal from the tuning pegs and the missing string tree, but also from those little rings of wood that are cut out of the headstock face.
It also adds to CNC time, difficulty in sanding and finishing, and the cost of hardware. This is why the Combustion gets off-the-shelf tuners and a string keeper.
I think the wood for the Canadian models must be allowed to acclimatize for a longer time, or be selected with more care. I have seen and heard of Combustions with mild fret sprout- not so with the Canadian models.
The ABZ also has a thin, semi-matte finish that's durable, sexy as heck, and shaves a few more grams off the overall weight.
Taken individually, the weight savings are minuscule, but when Sheldon goes over a whole instrument with that kind of attention to detail, he ends up with 7.5 and 8 pound 5-string ABZ's, vs 9 and 10 pound Combustions.
As is usually the case with extremes, the price difference between an ABZ and a Combustion is out of proportion to the improvement in feel and quality. Having played a few of each, I would say the objective difference is maybe .5 on a scale from one to ten?
In my case, once I felt it, I found a way to swing the price difference.
Of course, it helped that I bought in 2013. At the time, dealer street price on a base ABZ was comfortably under 2K.
Lowendtech
Happily trending in my own peculiar direction.
Nice.
I wonder if that means that mine is close to dropping as well.
That looks awesome bud, but you have to save those valuable fingers. You should not play it for risk of injury. Do not plug it in or you might choose to keep it and will end up with bloody fingers. I, on the other hand, am a fingerstyle player. I should be good to buy it/pick it up in a couple of weeks.
Congrats! Can't wait to hear/see/try it! I'm drooling!
- Sep 3, 2006
- 4,358
- 6,117
- Disclosures
- Authorized dealer for Dingwall, Genzler, Phil Jones Bass, Cort, Traynor, Yorkville Sound
Congrats on the bass! I think these D-Bird Standard are amazing - so light and feel really good; plays so smooth and easy. I do miss the upper notes as on the Combustions but I am SO glad I ordered one of these for myself. This one, tuned BEAD, came in late Friday and shipped today, thunder on a stick:
to order, do you work through dingwall? or do you contact the closest dealer to you and work with them? thanks!
Tried a ng and a combustion today.both through a vanderkly rig.im now seriouslt considering either od theseas my next bass.does anyone use a fender100t or similar with these basses and ifso what are your thoughts in the combination.cheers
I have a Combustion going through a Fender Bassman Pro 300, absolutely stunning, my rig is now the best I've ever had. I've never tried a 100t, but have heard they are great, so would imagine that it would be a fantastic
tonal combination. I prefer the Combustion because of the Ash body, which I believe produces a more musical, organic tone, that's just me. Go for it, you have nothing to lose.
Peter Lufrano
Blues. and nothing but the Blues.
I may have the wiring diagram with mine but if not I can take a picture of the wiring in mine.
I had the Sunn 300T version. My understanding is that it was designed by the main Ampeg guy who said it was the best amp he ever built. I sold it and probably shouldn't have. I'd get a Fender 300 but the thought of lugging that 70 pound behemoth is too much.
But while we are on it, I loved the built in compression. Any recommendable modern amps have this?
