• 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

Hey Dingsters!
Anyone used "exposed core" strings with their Super P or J basses?
I really dig the tone and "feel" of the exposed core strings on my f-bass BN5 and would love to use them on my SJ'sbut I am thinking the bridge saddle design would make this not feasible?
as in the exposed core of the strings would be too narrow to sit atop the string adjustment screws and slip through?
I look forward to your thoughts!
 
  • Like
Reactions: TolerancEJ
Hey Dingsters!
Anyone used "exposed core" strings with their Super P or J basses?
I really dig the tone and "feel" of the exposed core strings on my f-bass BN5 and would love to use them on my SJ'sbut I am thinking the bridge saddle design would make this not feasible?
as in the exposed core of the strings would be too narrow to sit atop the string adjustment screws and slip through?
I look forward to your thoughts!

A true exposed core string would slip between the Allen Head Saddles.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Peter Lufrano
Dare I ask what you feel is missing in your tone Mr. Owl ?
It's not 100% that anything is missing, but I've failed to find a tone I like when recording direct. However, I've yet to try nickel strings and recording with my Sunn 300T miced up. That amp is magical, and might be the thing that changes. I find the FD3 pickups a bit too neutral in the mids for my taste. Together with the stainless strings currently on, they deliver great top end and low end, but I lack some grit to the mids.

Again, this might change with the strings, but I'm exploring options. Sheldon himself gave me the advice to try the FDV pickups for a more coloured tone. I love the tone of EMG HZ passive pickups, they have a defined midrange bump and a warm tone i find pleasing. I would like to have those but in the Dingwall format.

Edit: just got word that won't be possible. I may end up going for the FDVs. First in line is to try nickel strings, however.

The Nordstrand Big Rigs speak to me, tonewise. They appear as the most appealing alternative at the moment.
 
Last edited:
Thanks everyone for the string suggestions for my NG-2! Fretnation got me all sorted out ! For the record to use D’Addario XL’s you will need super long scales for sets or if your building single string sets you can use standard long scale for the D -G strings and super long scales for the B-E-A Strings.
 
Thanks everyone for the string suggestions for my NG-2! Fretnation got me all sorted out ! For the record to use D’Addario XL’s you will need super long scales for sets or if your building single string sets you can use standard long scale for the D -G strings and super long scales for the B-E-A Strings.
Cool! I've never tried D'Addario strings before, but I know the NYXLs are supposed to be really nice. I'll have to give them a shot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hbabels
The person here who posted his Dingwall with Nordstrand pickups (Big Singles, were they?) gave me some ideas. I might end up going full custom for a potential pickup swap...:nailbiting:
in
Nordstrand can make you a pair of any of their pickups to fit your Dingwall. I have a set of their Jazz pickups in my two Afterburners. I also replaced the stock Aguilar preamps in one of the ABs with a Nordstrand 3 band pre. Love they way they sound now. I've always loved the Fender Jazz sound.
 
Help request: Love my Combustion 5 I got a few months ago, but I noticed when I turn the pickup selector knob, the knob will turn a little bit before catching so to speak. I didn't think much of it at the time and I don't think it has gotten worse, but wondering if over time the post or the knob will be stripped. Should I not worry about? Worry about it and do DIY fix and if so how? Or contact Dingwall and arrange a repair or replacement? Thanks.
 
Help request: Love my Combustion 5 I got a few months ago, but I noticed when I turn the pickup selector knob, the knob will turn a little bit before catching so to speak. I didn't think much of it at the time and I don't think it has gotten worse, but wondering if over time the post or the knob will be stripped. Should I not worry about? Worry about it and do DIY fix and if so how? Or contact Dingwall and arrange a repair or replacement? Thanks.

Have you tried tightening the Allen screw?
Is it just “rolling” over to the next setting?

If it does feel weird I would just pop it off and look at the pot shaft and possibly the plastic mould around the shaft sleeve to see if the plastic has been stressed( assuming the knob is built that way. I haven’t pulled one off in a while)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Peter Lufrano
Have you tried tightening the Allen screw?
Is it just “rolling” over to the next setting?

If it does feel weird I would just pop it off and look at the pot shaft and possibly the plastic mould around the shaft sleeve to see if the plastic has been stressed( assuming the knob is built that way. I haven’t pulled one off in a while)


As far as I can tell, there is no allen screw to tighten.

It doesn't roll to the next setting. Switching is quite crisp and definitive. It's just that the knob has a bit of free travel, then it catches and clicks to the next settings. There's no free travel if I keep going in the same direction (just straight click, click, click), but if go back the direction I came from, I get the initial free travel again before it catches. Hope this description makes sense.
 
It's not 100% that anything is missing, but I've failed to find a tone I like when recording direct.

Well let's get straight into it then : do you have any examples of the kind of tone you are trying to achieve ?

In any case you mention several things, I don't even know where to begin :
- recording direct. Very easy to get a good tone, very hard to get a great tone. But this is also often not needed once all the instruments are in the mix, so yeah .. in my experience you'll never get "your" tone recording direct, the amp is part of the sound of the instrument, even though granted not as much as with a guitar.
- tube amps. Of course. I don't get this digital amp trend, they sound bad period. I don't know your Sunn model but I had an SVT and have a Mesa now, and you just need something like that.
- FDx pups. I have FDVs on my (unfortunately post-CITES) ABHS, all 4 positions are totally usable and I'm very impressed with that. But even then, it stays a very hi-fi bass. Not that it lacks character or anything but it takes a lot of time and effort to find "your" tone, whereas on my old spector (which had EMG pickups) you'd just plug it in and that was "it", the perfect rock sound was there right away (think AIC - would?). But then it also was pretty much the only one sound you'd get with it, so that's a compromise you neede to be willing to make.
- EMGs not possible - this I don't get, what's the problem exatly ? They make j-style pickups which would fit under a dingwall-shaped cover. It's 2019, I'm sure there is a fablab nearby which can 3d-print that for you, you polish and paint them and there you go.

Many other things to say but no time right now, plus I don't want to bother anyone.
But anyway if you have audio examples it might be worth it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GregC
As far as I can tell, there is no allen screw to tighten.

It doesn't roll to the next setting. Switching is quite crisp and definitive. It's just that the knob has a bit of free travel, then it catches and clicks to the next settings. There's no free travel if I keep going in the same direction (just straight click, click, click), but if go back the direction I came from, I get the initial free travel again before it catches. Hope this description makes sense.
Gotcha. By roll, I meant like it “rolls” over a speed bump but I hear what you are saying. I don’t think a small amount of slack when reversing direction would be too much to be concerned about as long as you don’t have any major popping or any static or wiggle I think you should be fine.

But to talk to Dingwall directly and perhaps send them a short vid clip is best. They may suggest replacing the pot?

Either way Dingwall will give you the most accurate info vs some shmuck(me) on the internet