Dingwall Owners Club

[BrBss]

When two reggae bands cooperate on a song, is it a joint session?

Anyway, back to talking about Dingwalls. I've been thinking a lot about custom builds, lately. I've also come to realise that most of my favourite bass tones come from neck through basses through tube amps, and that I (don't hate me) think that EMG pickups sound amazing, especially the passive 40HZ model. I've also also come to terms with the fact that I will always prefer 19 mm spacing on a bass, whether or not it's a 4- or 5-string.

So, do you see my conundrum? The things I'd want on a custom build are not options I could have on an AB. As much as I love the playability, tone and general feeling of the 34-37 fanned scale, and I really do, the last time I ordered a custom build I made some compromises with the specs on behalf of the luthier. In the end, it made the instrument feel less like "my own" bass, and ultimately led to me getting rid of it.

While there's no denying my ABHS is an absolutely fantastic instrument on its own merits, I would like to have one that's customised exactly to my specs. Those specs would involve EMG 40HZ pickups, maple body with three piece maple neck through construction with a rosewood FB and 19 mm spacing, finished in Candy Pink Metallic with a 2-band active EQ.

You could get an older Combustion with the EMG 40 shape pickups, and potentially move the individual bridges out to accommodate your desired string spacing.

 

[BurningSkies]

When two reggae bands cooperate on a song, is it a joint session?

Anyway, back to talking about Dingwalls. I've been thinking a lot about custom builds, lately. I've also come to realise that most of my favourite bass tones come from neck through basses through tube amps, and that I (don't hate me) think that EMG pickups sound amazing, especially the passive 40HZ model. I've also also come to terms with the fact that I will always prefer 19 mm spacing on a bass, whether or not it's a 4- or 5-string.

So, do you see my conundrum? The things I'd want on a custom build are not options I could have on an AB. As much as I love the playability, tone and general feeling of the 34-37 fanned scale, and I really do, the last time I ordered a custom build I made some compromises with the specs on behalf of the luthier. In the end, it made the instrument feel less like "my own" bass, and ultimately led to me getting rid of it.

While there's no denying my ABHS is an absolutely fantastic instrument on its own merits, I would like to have one that's customised exactly to my specs. Those specs would involve EMG 40HZ pickups, maple body with three piece maple neck through construction with a rosewood FB and 19 mm spacing, finished in Candy Pink Metallic with a 2-band active EQ.

You're dead to us now.

 

[BurningSkies]

...Thinking of a sparkle finish Combustion or AB. Because I can. Think about it anyway. Something like chartreuse or a pale blue or pink.

 

[spiritbass]

You could get an older Combustion with the EMG 40 shape pickups, and potentially move the individual bridges out to accommodate your desired string spacing.

The master (Sheldon) warns against altering string spacing. Problems will ensue...

 

[BurningSkies]

The master (Sheldon) warns against altering string spacing. Problems will ensue...

I would assume on a FF instrument you'd end up with tuning irregularities and also oddness from the pickups' magnetic fields?

 

[AB Nate]

Nah, keep going.

At a recent gig:

View attachment 3415982

Hopefully the deputy is OK

 

[spiritbass]

I would assume on a FF instrument you'd end up with tuning irregularities and also oddness from the pickups' magnetic fields?

Mainly tuning/intonation. I don't recall him mentioning potential pickup misbehavior, but I could see where they could.

 

[BurningSkies]

Hopefully the deputy is OK

Its been widely reported through a first hand source that the deputy was unharmed by any gunplay.

 

[AB Nate]

Its been widely reported through a first hand source that the deputy was unharmed by any gunplay.

Woah!!! Gun play I thought it was just a photo shoot!

And the deputy felt left out

 

[The_Owl]

...Thinking of a sparkle finish Combustion or AB. Because I can. Think about it anyway. Something like chartreuse or a pale blue or pink.

My kind of thinking! When people ask me "Why would you want a pink bass?" I ask them "Why would I NOT?".

 

[Larchi]

My 1st Dingwall
Very happy with it. The middle Pickup sound is the only one I need . Boost the bass a little, cut the mid a little - and I have a great sound for Primus style strum and slap, or an awesome pick sound.
All the strings sound better in multi scale, but what really floored me was how good the C string is. So bright and clear, full and loud, it's usable across the whole length!
And the way the scale changes as you go across it seems to encourage you to play fast
Not as fancy as some of the Dingwalls on TB for sure, but the Ng2/3 look pretty mean in black.
Got it strung with the stainless steel Dingwall set. Got the action set super low
very impressed with the quality of everything overall, especially the fretwork and neck.
I really hope the NG2/3 goes down as a classic. I would love to know how many are out there....
Anyway...

Dingwall

 

[BurningSkies]

View attachment 3416046 My 1st Dingwall
Very happy with it. The middle Pickup sound is the only one I need . Boost the bass a little, cut the mid a little - and I have a great sound for Primus style strum and slap, or an awesome pick sound.
All the strings sound better in multi scale, but what really floored me was how good the C string is. So bright and clear, full and loud, it's usable across the whole length!
And the way the scale changes as you go across it seems to encourage you to play fast
Not as fancy as some of the Dingwalls on TB for sure, but the Ng2/3 look pretty mean in black.
Got it strung with the stainless steel Dingwall set. Got the action set super low
very impressed with the quality of everything overall, especially the fretwork and neck.
I really hope the NG2/3 goes down as a classic. I would love to know how many are out there....
Anyway...

Dingwall

Don't sell it short...it's plenty fancy.

Often when people get 'their first' Dingwalls there are reports of 'this is the only sound I need'...the cool thing is that you'll find a whole lot of others in there at times when you need them too.

Congrats on your new bass...now go and play the carp out of it.

 

[Larchi]

Congrats on your new bass...now go and play the carp out of it.

Thanks man! I'm late telling you guys though, I had to settle in with it - would you believe it took a while to get used staring at a maple fingerboard again? lol... I've played it a few hours a day for 2 months - we are quite well bonded

 

[singlemalt]

The Dingwall six strings are in a class by themselves.

What does your NG weigh? (If ya don’t mind me asking!)

 

[BurningSkies]

Thanks man! I'm late telling you guys though, I had to settle in with it - would you believe it took a while to get used staring at a maple fingerboard again? lol... I've played it a few hours a day for 2 months - we are quite well bonded

I like maple boards. Though I've worn the finish off of my NG by playing it a bunch.

My first Dingwall was a 2005 AB-1. It arrived on Thursday and I played it saturday for a gig. I figured, no point in waiting.

 

[TinyE]

i've never played a 6 string bass.
why is the 6th string a C, and not a B?

View attachment 3416046 My 1st Dingwall
Very happy with it. The middle Pickup sound is the only one I need . Boost the bass a little, cut the mid a little - and I have a great sound for Primus style strum and slap, or an awesome pick sound.
All the strings sound better in multi scale, but what really floored me was how good the C string is. So bright and clear, full and loud, it's usable across the whole length!
And the way the scale changes as you go across it seems to encourage you to play fast
Not as fancy as some of the Dingwalls on TB for sure, but the Ng2/3 look pretty mean in black.
Got it strung with the stainless steel Dingwall set. Got the action set super low
very impressed with the quality of everything overall, especially the fretwork and neck.
I really hope the NG2/3 goes down as a classic. I would love to know how many are out there....
Anyway...

Dingwall

 

[Larchi]

What does your NG weigh?

It weighs a little less than 4 kilo. no problem, body is a little bigger than standard NG3

The Dingwall six strings are in a class by themselves.

Dingwall should be bragging about how good their C strings are!!!

 

[Larchi]

i've never played a 6 string bass.
why is the 6th string a C, and not a B?

An electric bass is tuned in Perfect 4ths, all the way accross: BEADGC

 

[kirkdickinson]

i've never played a 6 string bass.
why is the 6th string a C, and not a B?

Because a 6 string bass is traditionally tuned in 4ths.
Low Tuning B-E-A-D-G-C
High Tuning E-A-D-G-C-F

If you tuned a 6 string bass to standard guitar tuning, you would have a Baritone guitar tuning an octave down
B-E-A-D-F#-B

 

[Larchi]

An electric bass is tuned in Perfect 4ths, all the way accross: BEADGC

Sorry i should have mentioned: on guitars the slight tuning change is used to help facilitate bar chords, and on a 4,5 or 6 etc bass it's just not needed. Plus it makes things a pain in arse, theory wise. Why spoil that symetry?