I have only played it acoustically and with headphones so far, but my impression so far is that it's amazing, just like everything else on this bass. I'll have more to say about it once I play it with my band.
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Dingwall Owners Club
- Thread starter FroggyOne2
- Start date
anyone here tried tuning a half step sharp, so the low B is a C? i have a possible project with keys where most of the tunes are in C, so i thought it might make for some easier fingering. wondering what issues this might create with the neck on my ABZ 5.
I had a Dingwall in C standard tuning, worked like a charm. You'll need to touch the truss rod a little bit, but such a difference cannot really damage your instrument.
That was my thought. I'm not to eager to try adjusting intonation or string height. I'm sure it isn't awful, but I don't like to tinker with things that already work well enough.
I tune down a half step, which makes it easy to play in C, (I get the open E flat, low B flat).
I started doing this five years ago to work with some blues guitarists, who like to tune down so they can use super heavy strings.
I ended up liking the looser feel and set up the Dingwalls for downtuning with Payson's fanned fret strings. Now standard tuned basses feel really tight and stiff for me.
It only took a slight adjustment on the the truss rod, and a slight tweak to the saddles and pickup height. All the hardware is excellent and easy to adjust. It's well worth messing with the set up to make things work with your personal style. I like a bit higher action, a little more room for the strings to move when I dig in, all of my Dingwalls arrived with super low setups. That's great if you have a light touch, but that's not me. Pick up height makes a big difference.
Maybe you could try it both ways and see what works better. The fEarfuls get right with the low B flat
I started doing this five years ago to work with some blues guitarists, who like to tune down so they can use super heavy strings.
I ended up liking the looser feel and set up the Dingwalls for downtuning with Payson's fanned fret strings. Now standard tuned basses feel really tight and stiff for me.
It only took a slight adjustment on the the truss rod, and a slight tweak to the saddles and pickup height. All the hardware is excellent and easy to adjust. It's well worth messing with the set up to make things work with your personal style. I like a bit higher action, a little more room for the strings to move when I dig in, all of my Dingwalls arrived with super low setups. That's great if you have a light touch, but that's not me. Pick up height makes a big difference.
Maybe you could try it both ways and see what works better. The fEarfuls get right with the low B flat
I tune down a half step, which makes it easy to play in C, (I get the open E flat, low B flat).
I started doing this five years ago to work with some blues guitarists, who like to tune down so they can use super heavy strings.
I ended up liking the looser feel and set up the Dingwalls for downtuning with Payson's fanned fret strings. Now standard tuned basses feel really tight and stiff for me.
It only took a slight adjustment on the the truss rod, and a slight tweak to the saddles and pickup height. All the hardware is excellent and easy to adjust. It's well worth messing with the set up to make things work with your personal style. I like a bit higher action, a little more room for the strings to move when I dig in, all of my Dingwalls arrived with super low setups. That's great if you have a light touch, but that's not me. Pick up height makes a big difference.
Maybe you could try it both ways and see what works better. The fEarfuls get right with the low B flat
I did a stint with a fiver tuned down a whole step, with the band in standard tuning. I had a Spector bass that I didn't like the open E on as much as a fretted 2nd fret E. That drove the guitarist nuts. It made for several fingers I found easier. Open D and G an octave lower was more fun in rock songs too.
If you tune up, you'll have just to loosen the truss rod maybe 1/4 to half a turn. No need to move your saddles.
So I picked up this from another member last week.
Looking forward to more time on the forums with others who understand/appreciate these basses as much as I do.
Cheers!
Looking forward to more time on the forums with others who understand/appreciate these basses as much as I do.
Cheers!
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Awesome Z3! Looks like its in perfect shape!!!
Yeah. Only about 8 months old and pretty much flawless from what I can see. I've wanted one for years, and had many a talk with sheldon back before the fire about building me a custom voodoo that incorporated many of the features he eventually started offering on the zebra basses later on.
That plan never really worked out as far as timing, but after seeing him in Calgary a couple weeks ago for a bass event (for the third year in a row) I decided to try again. I logged onto the Dingwall forum and found that bass about an hour after it was posted for sale. It's not 100% what I wanted/dreamed of, but pretty damn close and I'm more than happy to have it on its way after all the waiting.
I may look at a different preamp sometime but i'll wait and see how this works live before I make any changes.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,944
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Hi Guys,
I just picked up my first DW today! It's an ABZ 5, in midnight blue burst. No pics yet, but I'm loving it already.
Many thanks to Mark @ Bass Direct in the UK.
When I put it down for long enough, I'll post some photos.
Also, I've been playing bass for 25 years now, but this is my first post on these forums!
Phil.
I just picked up my first DW today! It's an ABZ 5, in midnight blue burst. No pics yet, but I'm loving it already.
Many thanks to Mark @ Bass Direct in the UK.
When I put it down for long enough, I'll post some photos.
Also, I've been playing bass for 25 years now, but this is my first post on these forums!
Phil.
So I picked up this from another member last week.
Looking forward to more time on the forums with others who understand/appreciate these basses as much as I do.
Cheers!
Love the look of a dark top on a lighter colored body
Congrats on your new ABZ!! I just got mine about a month ago and OMG its the best bass i've ever owned. I LOVE everything about it except the slightly fragile satin finish. My belt unfortunetly started to make some dents on the first day so i had to buy a scratch protector for the back. But other than that the tone is exactly what i'm looking for.
Here is my lovely ABZ with my full rig
Here is my lovely ABZ with my full rig
Cheers guys, I'm really loving everything about this bass - the tone, the lightness of the thing!!
I never played a DW before I tried this one on saturday, and I fear there's no going back now ;-)
Phil.
I never played a DW before I tried this one on saturday, and I fear there's no going back now ;-)
Phil.
Oh i know i'm totally in the same mindset. I dont think i will ever want to play another bass again. And if i do, it will be another Dingwall. My only thing is i wish they offered the Z series colors and finish on the ABZ. I would love to own a Z series but i cant afford the 5000$ price tag, and i'm very particular on my specs. I also wish they could do the Dual Density Swampash on a lower model....but thats why they are so pricey...haha. I love swamp ash tone though its so good!!
Other than that Dingwall Basses are my absolute favorite basses in the world. They give me the exact tone i want and they are light as a feather!
Other than that Dingwall Basses are my absolute favorite basses in the world. They give me the exact tone i want and they are light as a feather!
