Dingwall Owners Club

[Paul M]

The BlueEQube was a passive device mounted inside the control cavity. It was a passive mid scoop.

Dingwalls originally had Bartolini pickups. Ever since Dingwall started making their own pickups they have been humbuckers, and I think they have always been a split coil design.

In order of appearance:
FD1
FD2? – (I don’t know if there ever was an FD2, maybe it was on Primas only?)
FD3 – (coils wired internally in parallel)
FD3 Mach II – (coils wired internally in series)
FD3-4L – (4 leads allowed user to choose series or parallel)
FD3 P tone
FD4-J – These were the slim J style used on the early Super Js. They also went through the evolution of parallel, series and then 4 leads.
FD4-P – was the P style in two separate shells. It was first an option on Super Js and was the original pickup on the early Super Ps
Super Fatty – These were actually fairly slim in appearance at first. They were on Super Js and Zs. I never owned one so I don’t know how they were wired internally.

From here on, my knowledge is sketchy because I didn’t own any new Dingwalls between 2008 & 2018.

At some point the Super Fatty got a fatter physical shape.

The FD3 got sharper edges and corners for the early ABZs, like an EMG.
Then they got very rounded corners like the current design

FDV – Up to this point I think all Dingwall pickups had ceramic magnets until the FDV was developed with Alnico V magnets.

That’s all I’m aware of, I might have missed some variations or got some details wrong.

 

[Peter Lufrano]

Not mine. But oh how I wish.....

 

[TolerancEJ]

Not mine. But oh how I wish.....View attachment 3434493View attachment 3434494

Judging from the brick wall behind the bass, I'm going to guess the picture was from The LowEnd Bass Shop.

 

[Peter Lufrano]

Judging the brick wall behind the bass, I'm going to guess the picture was from The LowEnd Bass Shop.

Yep, a few years ago

 

[BurningSkies]

The BlueEQube was a passive device mounted inside the control cavity. It was a passive mid scoop.

Dingwalls originally had Bartolini pickups. Ever since Dingwall started making their own pickups they have been humbuckers, and I think they have always been a split coil design.

In order of appearance:
FD1
FD2? – (I don’t know if there ever was an FD2, maybe it was on Primas only?)
FD3 – (coils wired internally in parallel)
FD3 Mach II – (coils wired internally in series)
FD3-4L – (4 leads allowed user to choose series or parallel)
FD3 P tone
FD4-J – These were the slim J style used on the early Super Js. They also went through the evolution of parallel, series and then 4 leads.
FD4-P – was the P style in two separate shells. It was first an option on Super Js and was the original pickup on the early Super Ps
Super Fatty – These were actually fairly slim in appearance at first. They were on Super Js and Zs. I never owned one so I don’t know how they were wired internally.

From here on, my knowledge is sketchy because I didn’t own any new Dingwalls between 2008 & 2018.

At some point the Super Fatty got a fatter physical shape.

The FD3 got sharper edges and corners for the early ABZs, like an EMG.
Then they got very rounded corners like the current design

FDV – Up to this point I think all Dingwall pickups had ceramic magnets until the FDV was developed with Alnico V magnets.

That’s all I’m aware of, I might have missed some variations or got some details wrong.

This is pretty thorough. I don't know that FD-2's ever hit production, IIRC. The BluEQube was indeed a passive mid-scoop switch that lasted until it became more standard to have optional series/parallel switching. The earliest of the BluEQube was a push/pull, but later that became a single toggle, I think due to concerns for dependability.

The super-fatties were definitely an option when I ordered my Z in late 2005 because I remember having some back-and-forth with Sheldon about whether I should opt for FD-3's or SFs and I decided to stay with the FD3's. The new pickup shell shape was also somewhere in there too. My Z has curved shell sides but my AB-1 (2005) had the standard rectangular shells. I remember not being too psyched about the change in pickup shape because it sort of locks you out of after-market options...though for me that was more academic since I like Sheldon's pickups and wouldn't really plan on removing them.

I hadn't realized that the P & J pickups were denoted as FD-4, but entirely possible that I didn't get that memo. I've really been more focused on the 34/37's and not the short scale basses.

 

[FerK]

In case it goes unnoticed in its own thread, I wonder if any Afterburner 1 owner has a bass with a pickup and could help me out. The bass I'm taking about would be something like this:

View attachment 3303324

My custom is arriving in a few weeks, without the pickguard I wanted (I think they couldn't make a normal one, on account of the neck touching the neck pickup, and all the pickups being too close to each other). I'd need two half pickups.

Any owner that could perhaps trace the pickguard for me, so that I can have a custom ordered for me? That'd be GREATLY appreciated.

So after a long wait (as it's probably always the case), my Afterburner arrived. I still need to outline a pickguard, as it's Dingwall's policy not to share drawings of any kind...plus the only drawing they may have ever made was for a 4-string, which probably won't fit my 5-string. The thing is...it's not easy !

Any ideas or suggestions on how to properly draw the outline without taking the bass apart completely?

 

[AB Nate]

So after a long wait (as it's probably always the case), my Afterburner arrived. I still need to outline a pickguard, as it's Dingwall's policy not to share drawings of any kind...plus the only drawing they may have ever made was for a 4-string, which probably won't fit my 5-string. The thing is...it's not easy !

Any ideas or suggestions on how to properly draw the outline without taking the bass apart completely?

Do you still have the 4 string?

 

[Waltsdog]

So after a long wait (as it's probably always the case), my Afterburner arrived. I still need to outline a pickguard, as it's Dingwall's policy not to share drawings of any kind...plus the only drawing they may have ever made was for a 4-string, which probably won't fit my 5-string. The thing is...it's not easy !

Any ideas or suggestions on how to properly draw the outline without taking the bass apart completely?

That red one pictured is my old AB1, not sure where it is now. The pickguard always annoyed me, made it look like a cheaper model.

Best suggestion without going custom is to get yourself a Combustion pickguard and mod it for a quick fix.

If your new bass is a 3X you’ll need 2 halves and if the pickups are located in different spots to a combustion you’ll be designing your own from scratch anyway.
Construction paper and patience are probably the only tools you’ll need to do that.

 

[FerK]

Do you still have the 4 string?

Sorry, didn't mean to imply that it was mine...which wasn't. I saw the pic online, but I couldn't use it, even if it was available to order, as it's probably a different neck.

Best suggestion without going custom is to get yourself a Combustion pickguard and mod it for a quick fix.

If your new bass is a 3X you’ll need 2 halves and if the pickups are located in different spots to a combustion you’ll be designing your own from scratch anyway.
Construction paper and patience are probably the only tools you’ll need to do that.

I don't think the Combustion guard will help much as a template. The body outline is quite different, and at a glance (comparing with my NG2) the pickups may have a different location. It all seems to point out to paper and scissors.

 

[AB Nate]

Sorry, didn't mean to imply that it was mine...which wasn't. I saw the pic online, but I couldn't use it, even if it was available to order, as it's probably a different neck.



I don't think the Combustion guard will help much as a template. The body outline is quite different, and at a glance (comparing with my NG2) the pickups may have a different location. It all seems to point out to paper and scissors.

I believe your looking for something like This



Perhaps he has a template available?

 

[FerK]

I believe your looking for something like This

Perhaps he has a template available?

Nope, that wouldn't work either. Ayumu has a special signature bass, a sort of Franken-burner-bustion, with an Afterburner/ish body and a Combustion neck (and Combustion controls). You can see Ayumu's neck heel is hidden behind the pickguard, while the traditional Afterburner heel is a gradual slope, and the pickguard wouldn't fit over it.

Just did a quick "collage" in Powerpoint, with Ayumu's bass and mine at the same scale, and marked some control points, and it looks like the pickups are at the same position. Maybe I could get my hands on one of these pickguards (if they ever go on sale) and mod it.

 

[Waltsdog]

I don't think the Combustion guard will help much as a template. The body outline is quite different, and at a glance (comparing with my NG2) the pickups may have a different location. It all seems to point out to paper and scissors.

I’m 99% certain it will, here is a combustion guard laid up on my ABZ. If I had round shells on my ABZ I could mod the guard to fit in a few minutes.

 

[FerK]

I’m 99% certain it will, here is a combustion guard laid up on my ABZ. If I had round shells on my ABZ I could mod the guard to fit in a few minutes.

As soon as I get home I'll then remove my NG2's (which also has square shells), trace it, and cut it out on paper. Might make a perfect template if it does work.

 

[rockinbilly]

I have a set of Elixir super light nickels coming in today for the SJ/P. Right now it is strung with DR Dragon Skins 45-105, but I murdered those strings in under a week even though they're coated

I always used Elixir strings on my basses until I got my NG2, I loved the life of them, and wondered if they would fit my Dingwall without taking a file to the nut.
I don't know if they make a set long enough !!!!

 

[AB Nate]

Nope, that wouldn't work either. Ayumu has a special signature bass, a sort of Franken-burner-bustion, with an Afterburner/ish body and a Combustion neck (and Combustion controls). You can see Ayumu's neck heel is hidden behind the pickguard, while the traditional Afterburner heel is a gradual slope, and the pickguard wouldn't fit over it.

Just did a quick "collage" in Powerpoint, with Ayumu's bass and mine at the same scale, and marked some control points, and it looks like the pickups are at the same position. Maybe I could get my hands on one of these pickguards (if they ever go on sale) and mod it.
View attachment 3435163

Sure looks like it would work to me. Just cut out for the neck heel. 2 straight lines to make it a 2 piece. Done

 

[FerK]

Sure looks like it would work to me. Just cut out for the neck heel. 2 straight lines to make it a 2 piece. Done

Yeap, will give it a try. I did find today a chap who makes gorgeous pickguards, at Invalid Link Removed. It's a style you either love or hate, but it's very artistic, and kind of my thing. As it turns out, he has an ABI, and he made a pickguard for it (I'm sure he won't mind if I share a picture of his bass, which he e-mailed me earlier today):

 

[AB Nate]

Yeap, will give it a try. I did find today a chap who makes gorgeous pickguards, at Invalid Link Removed. It's a style you either love or hate, but it's very artistic, and kind of my thing. As it turns out, he has an ABI, and he made a pickguard for it (I'm sure he won't mind if I share a picture of his bass, which he e-mailed me earlier today):

View attachment 3435393

Excellent! Looking forward to seeing yours!

 

[pbass6811]

Yeap, will give it a try. I did find today a chap who makes gorgeous pickguards, at Invalid Link Removed. It's a style you either love or hate, but it's very artistic, and kind of my thing. As it turns out, he has an ABI, and he made a pickguard for it (I'm sure he won't mind if I share a picture of his bass, which he e-mailed me earlier today):

View attachment 3435393

Not gonna lie, that's really hard to look at. Maybe if the bass or the guard had a different finish, it wouldn't look so "this-is-all-I-could-find-that-fit".

I'm glad you found someone that can do what you need done, congrats!

In the meantime, I'll be over here trying to take the pickguard off of my NG-3/5 without making it look like I took a pickguard off of my NG-3/5...

 

[FerK]

I'm glad you found someone that can do what you need done, congrats!

In the meantime, I'll be over here trying to take the pickguard off of my NG-3/5 without making it look like I took a pickguard off of my NG-3/5...

To each his own, right? But to be honest, the guy does beautiful work: https://www.alperious.com/photogallery

 

[AB Nate]

Yup. I’m glad that we all have different tastes. It would be boring if all liked the same stuff. My incoming is gonna be love or hate I think for most people.

Gawd! I’m hoping for me it’s the former. Lol. It’s not gonna be like anything I’ve done before.