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Dingwall Owners Club

#33,761
Was wandering through the Dingwall galleries and ran across this. I had no idea a switchblade was done on an AB2...

abii-3x-switchblade-macassar-ebony-top-maple-wenge-d.jpg
 
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#33,764
For those of you with the NG-2 (or similar models), I need some advice.

I've been trying to match the tone of the bass in this song for a cover I want to record:


I haven't been able to match it, no matter what pickup setting and EQ setting I tried. I could play with the EQ more in software after I record, but I'm wondering if changing to a different type of strings might do it. Currently it has the same strings that came with the bass (which I think are nickel roundwounds), and it's been about a year and a half. I think the issue right now is that the tone of the NG-2 is inherently bright/clear, and in that song, the bass has this punchiness with defined attack, but not bright at all. Maybe compression is part of it?

I have other basses that actually get a lot closer to that tone, and they're all PJ pickups ones from either Fender or Ibanez. Perhaps the original bass player on the tracked used some type of PJ bass? However, because there are a couple of parts in the song that are better suited to the low B string instead of going up an octave, I'd have to use the Dingwall because it's the only fretted 5-string I have.
 
#33,765
Lunatique said:
Currently it has the same strings that came with the bass (which I think are nickel roundwounds), and it's been about a year and a half. I think the issue right now is that the tone of the NG-2 is inherently bright/clear, and in that song, the bass has this punchiness with defined attack, but not bright at all. Maybe compression is part of it?
Click to expand...

You have your strings for 1,5 years ?!?!?!?! That thing must sound like an old double bass :crying:
I need to change strings every 3 months, otherwise they sound like :poop:
 
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#33,766
Lunatique said:
For those of you with the NG-2 (or similar models), I need some advice.

I've been trying to match the tone of the bass in this song for a cover I want to record:


I haven't been able to match it, no matter what pickup setting and EQ setting I tried. I could play with the EQ more in software after I record, but I'm wondering if changing to a different type of strings might do it. Currently it has the same strings that came with the bass (which I think are nickel roundwounds), and it's been about a year and a half. I think the issue right now is that the tone of the NG-2 is inherently bright/clear, and in that song, the bass has this punchiness with defined attack, but not bright at all. Maybe compression is part of it?

I have other basses that actually get a lot closer to that tone, and they're all PJ pickups ones from either Fender or Ibanez. Perhaps the original bass player on the tracked used some type of PJ bass? However, because there are a couple of parts in the song that are better suited to the low B string instead of going up an octave, I'd have to use the Dingwall because it's the only fretted 5-string I have.
Click to expand...


Any chance you can get your hands on a medium scale?
 
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#33,767
Chrishi87 said:
You have your strings for 1,5 years ?!?!?!?! That thing must sound like an old double bass :crying:
I need to change strings every 3 months, otherwise they sound like :poop:
Click to expand...

Actually, even after 1.5 years it still sounds too bright for my taste, which is why I'm considering putting flats or tapewounds on it.

AB Nate said:
Any chance you can get your hands on a medium scale?
Click to expand...

I used to have a Fender Mustang PJ that got closest to the bass tone in that song, but I sold it because it neck-dived too much. I miss its tone though--it's still my favorite tone among all the basses I've ever played despite it not being expensive at all. My Ibanez Mikro also can get close to that tone, but like I said, I would prefer to play that song on a 5-string due to the few low notes in the bassline. However, if there's no way for my Dingwall to match that tone, I'll have to consider using a different bass.
 
#33,768
Lunatique said:
For those of you with the NG-2 (or similar models), I need some advice.

I've been trying to match the tone of the bass in this song for a cover I want to record:


I haven't been able to match it, no matter what pickup setting and EQ setting I tried. I could play with the EQ more in software after I record, but I'm wondering if changing to a different type of strings might do it. Currently it has the same strings that came with the bass (which I think are nickel roundwounds), and it's been about a year and a half. I think the issue right now is that the tone of the NG-2 is inherently bright/clear, and in that song, the bass has this punchiness with defined attack, but not bright at all. Maybe compression is part of it?

I have other basses that actually get a lot closer to that tone, and they're all PJ pickups ones from either Fender or Ibanez. Perhaps the original bass player on the tracked used some type of PJ bass? However, because there are a couple of parts in the song that are better suited to the low B string instead of going up an octave, I'd have to use the Dingwall because it's the only fretted 5-string I have.
Click to expand...

Different strings could get you closer - specifically some of Payson's offerings. I remember you bringing this up before and me recommending that. The flats would be what I would try first: Payson Fanned Flats

If you want an exact match to that bass tone you should figure out what was used to record and just buy all that stuff. From listening on my phone the bass line does sound a little sinthy to me - there could be some effects on the track but I'm not sure.

I don't think a Dingwall will match that exactly, but I think flats, technique, and a pedal or two could get you a lot closer.
 
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#33,769
EMoneySC2 said:
Different strings could get you closer - specifically some of Payson's offerings. I remember you bringing this up before and me recommending that. The flats would be what I would try first: Payson Fanned Flats

If you want an exact match to that bass tone you should figure out what was used to record and just buy all that stuff. From listening on my phone the bass line does sound a little sinthy to me - there could be some effects on the track but I'm not sure.

I don't think a Dingwall will match that exactly, but I think flats, technique, and a pedal or two could get you a lot closer.
Click to expand...
Listening on a speaker, apart from the obvious moments with effects, I think that general bass signal has something like a synth or auto-wah going on - which is killing the attack for the most part. Could be wrong, but I don't think that's a clean bass track.
 
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#33,770
Lunatique said:
Actually, even after 1.5 years it still sounds too bright for my taste, which is why I'm considering putting flats or tapewounds on it.



I used to have a Fender Mustang PJ that got closest to the bass tone in that song, but I sold it because it neck-dived too much. I miss its tone though--it's still my favorite tone among all the basses I've ever played despite it not being expensive at all. My Ibanez Mikro also can get close to that tone, but like I said, I would prefer to play that song on a 5-string due to the few low notes in the bassline. However, if there's no way for my Dingwall to match that tone, I'll have to consider using a different bass.
Click to expand...
Have ya tried GHS Pressurewounds? Not a dull as flats or as crisp as SS or Nics....Ive had them on my Super PJ...ya may need to double check length forthe AB's tho.
 
#33,771
xnewyorka said:
A note on the Luminlay -- there are numerous Side Dot options available, so always make sure you get the one you want.
They have solid dots (green and blue) in various sizes, and they also have them with a "Pipe", which means that the glowing dot is surrounded by an outer circle that is either white or black.
If you are getting up there in years like I am, your eyes may not work as well as they used to, like mine don't.
So I want to be able to see the dots in normal room light and daylight as well as in the dark.
I've had a couple of basses that had plain dots or dots with a white pipe on a maple fingerboard and maple neck, and it was extremely hard for me to see the dots in the daylight.
I got a bass with all maple but with the black pipe, and it made it MUCH easier to see the dots in the daylight.
I also had one with dark wood and a black pipe, and all I could say was, "What was the builder thinking?" He was just lazy and used whatever dots he had on hand rather than getting the right type. The black pipe served no purpose.

My $0.02 suggestions:
-Get black pipe if they are going into a maple background.
-Get white pipe if they are going into a dark-colored wood. The white pipe makes the dots even easier to see in daylight than the plain solid Luminlay dots.
They also come in different diameters. Personally, I like the 2mm dots inside of the 3mm or 3.5mm pipe.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...


I had HUGE ones put in on my fretless:

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And Mo' I think said it took a bit to get used to the look...but I really like 'em. I also had the face dots increased in size as well. I have smaller ones on my NG, but they're the black surrounds as well.
 
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#33,772
On an NG2, you can take the pg off and move the middle pickup forward. You may find some tonal settings more to your liking. A Combustion pickguard will then allow for that setup. Not sure which NG2 yours is (older square pickups or newer round ones).
 
#33,773
Question for the hive mind: Is the string spacing the same (both at the bridge and the nut) on the *5-string* Super-J and Super-P? I believe the 4-string Super-P is wider than the Super-J but not sure about the 5-string. I can't seem to discern this from the specs and have never seen two in the wild to compare.

For that matter, for the regular Fender "not-as-super" 5-strings, are the P and J string spacing the same?
 
#33,774
KPopOnBass said:
Question for the hive mind: Is the string spacing the same (both at the bridge and the nut) on the *5-string* Super-J and Super-P? I believe the 4-string Super-P is wider than the Super-J but not sure about the 5-string. I can't seem to discern this from the specs and have never seen two in the wild to compare.

For that matter, for the regular Fender "not-as-super" 5-strings, are the P and J string spacing the same?
Click to expand...
I believe that the Super 5’s have the same neck. The 4’s are different, like a “regular” P and J difference.
 
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#33,775
KPopOnBass said:
Question for the hive mind: Is the string spacing the same (both at the bridge and the nut) on the *5-string* Super-J and Super-P? I believe the 4-string Super-P is wider than the Super-J but not sure about the 5-string. I can't seem to discern this from the specs and have never seen two in the wild to compare.
Click to expand...

Bridge spacing on the 4 and 5 Supers is all 19mm, so the same for J or a P at the bridge.
The nut size is different on the 4s, the J has a narrower 1.5" nut compared to the 1.65" P so the J has tighter spacing at the nut on a 4.
The 5s are definitely the same both 1.8" at the nut. I've had both a P5 & J5 at the same time and they are identical.
 
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#33,776
Lunatique said:
I haven't been able to match it, no matter what pickup setting and EQ setting I tried. I could play with the EQ more in software after I record, but I'm wondering if changing to a different type of strings might do it. Currently it has the same strings that came with the bass (which I think are nickel roundwounds), and it's been about a year and a half. I think the issue right now is that the tone of the NG-2 is inherently bright/clear, and in that song, the bass has this punchiness with defined attack, but not bright at all. Maybe compression is part of it?.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a 'jazz type' slap tone to me, I'd probably try bridge solo in series (yours may not be wired like that). As EMoneySC2 says it's got a synth type effect on it for sure, probably a bunch of other stuff too.
You should be able to get in the ball park with your NG but if you've had round nickels on for 18 months you might want new strings anyway :)
 
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