Dingwall Owners Club

[AB Nate]

I'm disappointed that my Combustion (when it arrives next month) will not have a "3 pickups on" setting. I never solo pickups, so I am thinking rewiring will be in order.

Instead of:

1. Bridge
2. Bridge/middle series
3. Bridge/neck parallel
4. Neck

How about:

1. All on (parallel)
2. unchanged
3. unchanged
4. All on (bridge middle parallel, neck) - kind of like a MM with an extra p/u?

Just a thought. I'm sure someone more knowledgable will come along any second and explain why this won't work.

Dingwall switch options wont allow this. you'll need a custom switch

 

[johnsonabq]

I really have no idea why people are so anti-DRoc switch in everything but D-Rocs?! I don't get it. Even Lee Sklar prefers the "all pickups on" setting on his basses. The only reason I can see is some folks want the "j-bass" setting. Why not just get a two-pickup bass and there you go?!

All of my Dingwall's have 3 pickups, the D-Roc switch, and my ABZ's all have the S/P switches. My go to live setting is "all pickups on, all in series" because it sounds MASSIVE! With a tiny bit of knob twiddling, I can get almost any sound I want out of that.

@AB Nate is right, 3 pickups, the D-Roc switch, the S/P switches, and the DGTC make for a pretty versatile setup...

I'm not saying everyone needs to switch to the D-Roc switch, but I feel like some people are immediately dismissing the D-Roc switch without really trying to make it work.

Variety is the spice of life.

We all have a "sound" in our heads that we never stop trying to achieve. Then, to make it harder, that "sound" will change over the years. You need to maximize your tonal palette.

My first Dingwall bass was an NG3 w/dRoc switch. I found (on first try) that the "all on" setting was simply too much for me (imho). The middle pickup setting was more to my tonal liking when I play with a pick (3/4's of the time), and the bridge/middle setting was better for my fingerstyle playing. Then I got a Z3 and I found that the neck pickup soloed sounded even better than the middle setting. It had a fuller, more P type tone. I also preferred the bridge/middle in series (3X) rather than in parallel (dRoc). The Z also had a Glock and that's how I know I prefer the DGTC. The Z too had s/p switches which taught me that (after much experimentation) I always kept them set to series.

Those are all my personal preferences, I know. I too prefer the 3 p/u basses, both tonally and visually, they bring the most to the table. Add in the swap between 3x & dRoc switches and you've got quite the tonal palette to choose from, either to find your "sound"; or to find your best starting point.

My AB1 is the result of all I have learned so far and am quite happy with it. I do still have a Combustion and dBird, so I think I'll mess with the "all on" setting some more. It's good to try new things (this BTW is the source of GAS ).

"A mind is like a parachute... It doesn't work unless it's open." - Frank Zappa

 

[pbass6811]

I'm disappointed that my Combustion (when it arrives next month) will not have a "3 pickups on" setting. I never solo pickups, so I am thinking rewiring will be in order.

Instead of:

1. Bridge
2. Bridge/middle series
3. Bridge/neck parallel
4. Neck

How about:

1. All on (parallel)
2. unchanged
3. unchanged
4. All on (bridge middle parallel, neck) - kind of like a MM with an extra p/u?

Just a thought. I'm sure someone more knowledgable will come along any second and explain why this won't work.

I actually really like that! If it were feasible, I probably would've ordered all my basses wired with all the pickups on, and one S/P switch for the neck pickup, and not actually needed a pickup selector. OTOH, I also might've paid a couple of extra bucks if Dingwall offered a 6-way switch, just to have it all...

Variety is the spice of life.

We all have a "sound" in our heads that we never stop trying to achieve. Then, to make it harder, that "sound" will change over the years. You need to maximize your tonal palette.

My first Dingwall bass was an NG3 w/dRoc switch. I found (on first try) that the "all on" setting was simply too much for me (imho). The middle pickup setting was more to my tonal liking when I play with a pick (3/4's of the time), and the bridge/middle setting was better for my fingerstyle playing. Then I got a Z3 and I found that the neck pickup soloed sounded even better than the middle setting. It had a fuller, more P type tone. I also preferred the bridge/middle in series (3X) rather than in parallel (dRoc). The Z also had a Glock and that's how I know I prefer the DGTC. The Z too had s/p switches which taught me that (after much experimentation) I always kept them set to series.

Those are all my personal preferences, I know. I too prefer the 3 p/u basses, both tonally and visually, they bring the most to the table. Add in the swap between 3x & dRoc switches and you've got quite the tonal palette to choose from, either to find your "sound"; or to find your best starting point.

My AB1 is the result of all I have learned so far and am quite happy with it. I do still have a Combustion and dBird, so I think I'll mess with the "all on" setting some more. It's good to try new things (this BTW is the source of GAS ).

"A mind is like a parachute... It doesn't work unless it's open." - Frank Zappa

I do get that, Jeff. I did say I wasn't trying to get everyone to jump D-Roc switch, I was just surprised to see so many peeps wanting to immediately dump the D-Roc switch withOUT even trying it. I'm also not gonna kid you, my friend, I don't really understand the "All Pickups On is too much". I've seen several people say that, and I don't get it. Too much what? I'm genuinely trying to understand what that refers to? I get that different kinds of music requires different tones, but I always try to work within the framework of my normal sound and settings. If I'm at home in my studio, I do switch pickups to try to cop different tones, but live, if I kept switching pickups, I would drive my sound guy crazy. Any insight would be much appreciated!

 

[xnewyorka]

I'm disappointed that my Combustion (when it arrives next month) will not have a "3 pickups on" setting. I never solo pickups, so I am thinking rewiring will be in order.

Instead of:

1. Bridge
2. Bridge/middle series
3. Bridge/neck parallel
4. Neck

How about:

1. All on (parallel)
2. unchanged
3. unchanged
4. All on (bridge middle parallel, neck) - kind of like a MM with an extra p/u?

Just a thought. I'm sure someone more knowledgable will come along any second and explain why this won't work.

I think Sheldon has explained a few times somewhere within this massive thread and in other places why "All on (parallel)" won't work. Trust me - if it were a useful/good option, I'm sure it would be there!
A 6-way switch would provide the ultimate flexibility, but really, what you should do is first spend some quality time playing with your 4-way switch and then ask yourself if you really feel there is something missing that you feel you have to have. Between the 4-way and the tone controls, you already have a plethora of tones available. Even more so if you also have series/parallel switches.

 

[Waltsdog]

I don't really understand the "All Pickups On is too much". I've seen several people say that, and I don't get it. Too much what?

With the D-Bird all 3 pickups on made it too dark and boomy through my rig, as it's passive you can't roll the bass off so it wasn't a usable setting for me, I'm not going back over to the amp to fiddle around mid set. Even if it were an active bass I don't really see the point in having a setting that's so over the top you need to roll the bass off to tame it.
In short, different strokes...

 

[BrBss]

I think Sheldon has explained a few times somewhere within this massive thread and in other places why "All on (parallel)" won't work. Trust me - if it were a useful/good option, I'm sure it would be there!
A 6-way switch would provide the ultimate flexibility, but really, what you should do is first spend some quality time playing with your 4-way switch and then ask yourself if you really feel there is something missing that you feel you have to have. Between the 4-way and the tone controls, you already have a plethora of tones available. Even more so if you also have series/parallel switches.

All 3 in parallel sounded pretty cool to me when I was playing around with wiring options, with each of the pickups internally wired in parallel as well. Adding anything in series got things pretty dark very quickly.

 

[AB Nate]

I actually really like that! If it were feasible, I probably would've ordered all my basses wired with all the pickups on, and one S/P switch for the neck pickup, and not actually needed a pickup selector. OTOH, I also might've paid a couple of extra bucks if Dingwall offered a 6-way switch, just to have it all...



I do get that, Jeff. I did say I wasn't trying to get everyone to jump D-Roc switch, I was just surprised to see so many peeps wanting to immediately dump the D-Roc switch withOUT even trying it. I'm also not gonna kid you, my friend, I don't really understand the "All Pickups On is too much". I've seen several people say that, and I don't get it. Too much what? I'm genuinely trying to understand what that refers to? I get that different kinds of music requires different tones, but I always try to work within the framework of my normal sound and settings. If I'm at home in my studio, I do switch pickups to try to cop different tones, but live, if I kept switching pickups, I would drive my sound guy crazy. Any insight would be much appreciated!

I could possibly see it being overwhelmingly beefy on say a D roc where you only have a passive tone control but on an NG where you have the darkglass to reign things in I agree that’s it’s an undervalued setting. Like @BHBass mentions dialing BACK from this setting offer something completely different.

I find that I run the DG pretty flat in this setting BUT use the toggles to series the neck, parallel the mid and series the bridge and it’s like a mega jazz/slap setting. It’s actually become my main setting on the one bass when I take it to rehearsal for the J/L fusion tunes.

I don’t find it too much. It seems to have everything all in the right place just like that for those toonz. If anything it’s like the mids are secretly placed where they need to be by the mid pup without sounding too middy...

I likeA my dingwallzA

 

[AB Nate]

Also, just to add when used in conjunction with the HPF on my Mesa WD800...... sooo nice and juicy.... the phreshly squeezed kind

 

[pbass6811]

I could possibly see it being overwhelmingly beefy on say a D roc where you only have a passive tone control but on an NG where you have the darkglass to reign things in I agree that’s it’s an undervalued setting. Like @BHBass mentions dialing BACK from this setting offer something completely different.

I find that I run the DG pretty flat in this setting BUT use the toggles to series the neck, parallel the mid and series the bridge and it’s like a mega jazz/slap setting. It’s actually become my main setting on the one bass when I take it to rehearsal for the J/L fusion tunes.

I don’t find it too much. It seems to have everything all in the right place just like that for those toonz. If anything it’s like the kids are secretly placed where they need to be by the mid pup without sounding too middy...

I likeA my dingwallzA

Also, just to add when used in conjunction with the HPF on my Mesa WD800...... sooo nice and juicy.... the phreshly squeezed kind

I wish I could like these posts multiple times! Agree 100% with the HPF usage. My amp(Bergantino Forte HP) has a built-in HPF and it does add another level of versatility. I run pretty flat most of the time as well, and even when I need to make adjustments, it's never more than a couple of notches either direction...

On a side note, I can see the light at the end of the Dingwall wait tunnel...

 

[AB Nate]

I wish I could like these posts multiple times! Agree 100% with the HPF usage. My amp(Bergantino Forte HP) has a built-in HPF and it does add another level of versatility. I run pretty flat most of the time as well, and even when I need to make adjustments, it's never more than a couple of notches either direction...

On a side note, I can see the light at the end of the Dingwall wait tunnel...

moved on from the GK did ya?

 

[S-Bigbottom]

I don't really understand the "All Pickups On is too much".

I used that term because my sound is more the piano like thump, not very deep boom and get that with the Bridge/Middle and a bit of mid boost. With the All On there was added sub bass which is too much for my thump.

Though now I will revisit the All On and make some adjustments and see what flavors come. Got some Payson reduced core strings shipping today so new flavors of knob twisting will be in order.
This is on a Standard(?) Combustion 3 with D-B Switch.

 

[pbass6811]

moved on from the GK did ya?

I did, sir! I love the GK sound, and RAG just alluded to some VERY tasty offerings that GK will have later this year, but I've been lusting after the Bergantino stuff since the intro of the B|AMP. I liked all the bells & bauble's on the B|AMP, but when they intro'd the Forte HP, which has a similar feature set withOUT the sub-menus, and mo' power', THAT sealed my fate! This amp is incredible! I've had a bunch of amps that have had built-in stuff, compressors, drive circuits, different filters, and whatnot. Usually, one thing works pretty well and the other stuff is meh. This is the first amp I've owned where every feature just works famously! The onboard compressor eliminated the Cali76 from my board, the onboard drive rendered the dirt on my board unnecessary, and the onboard HPF & LPF allowed me to start using my EQ-200 as an alternative tone shaper instead of using it as an HPF/LPF. My board is strictly for flava' now, I don't need anything on there for tone shaping, except I'm using the EQ-200 as a slap filter, but I could do that from my basses or my amp.

Bergantino Forte HP and Dingwall basses are my new happy place!

 

[lotusland9663]

AGREED!! My Berg B Amp and a Dingwall bass sounds amazing!!

 

[johnsonabq]

Bergantino Forte HP and Dingwall basses are my new happy place!

We have the same taste in amps.



I wish my AB1 was in this pic. Have to work on that.

 

[CameronJohnson]

Personally I’d love to have:

1. Bridge + Middle in series
2. Bridge + Neck in parallel
3. Middle Solo
4. Neck Solo

Maybe I’m weird?

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Personally I’d love to have:

1. Bridge + Middle in series
2. Bridge + Neck in parallel
3. Middle Solo
4. Neck Solo

Maybe I’m weird?

I thought we were all a bit weird...

Fanned frets, no F on the headstock, locking output jacks, crazy scale lengths, etc...

 

[Ryno1330]

Personally I’d love to have:

1. Bridge + Middle in series
2. Bridge + Neck in parallel
3. Middle Solo
4. Neck Solo

Maybe I’m weird?

Then I am too. That's exactly what I want. Thinking about seeing if someone can do a custom wiring harness to do that.

 

[1983L2000]

Personally I’d love to have:

1. Bridge + Middle in series
2. Bridge + Neck in parallel
3. Middle Solo
4. Neck Solo

Maybe I’m weird?

Nope, good selection I think.

I have:
1. Neck solo
2. Neck Bridge parallel
3. Neck Bridge series
4. Middle solo
5. Bridge Middle parallel
6. Bridge Middle series

On a Combustion 5 (FD3ns) and ABZ5 (FDVs).

All pickups are wired series. 1, 2, 4 and 5 are my most used settings. I also tested wiring bridge to parallel, and thought it gave a nicer option to the BM and BN in series. I think I will have to install parallel/series switches...

 

[seedokebass]

The Combustion showed up today!

The green is quite a bit different in person than the pictures on Reverb, but like it quite a bit. Everything seems to be in order so far aside from the high action:

It's not bad in first position but it gets springy up the fretboard. I'm going to start with lowering the saddles and figuring out what size wrench I need for for truss rod.

This bass does have an EMG 3 band with sweep and volume/balance controls. They're a little scratchy and I think the knobs are tightened down a little too much as they don't feel the smoothest.

It seems pretty different tonally from my NG2 in the first few minutes plugged in. It seems weird having a blend control vs rotary, even after just having the NG2 for a short time.

 

[Ryno1330]

Nope, good selection I think.

I have:
1. Neck solo
2. Neck Bridge parallel
3. Neck Bridge series
4. Middle solo
5. Bridge Middle parallel
6. Bridge Middle series

On a Combustion 5 (FD3ns) and ABZ5 (FDVs).

All pickups are wired series. 1, 2, 4 and 5 are my most used settings. I also tested wiring bridge to parallel, and thought it gave a nicer option to the BM and BN in series. I think I will have to install parallel/series switches...

How did you get 6 selections on a combustion? Is that a custom wiring job?