Dingwall Owners Club

[AB Nate]

Bored waiting for something to charge so here’s an updated set of family shots to go with the super P one I shared a few weeks ago. Awkward angles, too.

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And yes, the blue combustion is wearing an F# stringset.

B>

a whole lotta walnut in that beauty SJ. if it’s ever gonna be looking for a new home let me know eh!!

 

[AB Nate]

I don’t know if i mentioned it here, but Ibanez Germany invited me to do short demos of the 2020 basses late last year and I had the chance to test those EHBs.

Definitely cool basses for the price, but the neck/reach feels LONG even though it is just a 35” on the B. I think it is because of how the bridge is set inside the body of the bass. It is pretty far inside of it compared to the strandberg for example.

Interesting point. I’ll find out soon enough. Keeping in mind I’m comfortable with the 37 B of the Z.

 

[AB Nate]

I don’t know if i mentioned it here, but Ibanez Germany invited me to do short demos of the 2020 basses late last year and I had the chance to test those EHBs.

Definitely cool basses for the price, but the neck/reach feels LONG even though it is just a 35” on the B. I think it is because of how the bridge is set inside the body of the bass. It is pretty far inside of it compared to the strandberg for example.

I did see your vid back when you first posted it. The great audio of it actually helped me decide how I feel about the barts. Great vid as always! I’ve actually got a vid request for you but I’ll hit you up on IG about it as well as another topic I was gonna talk to you about.

 

[IvanBassist]

Interesting point. I’ll find out soon enough. Keeping in mind I’m comfortable with the 37 B of the Z.

Let us know your thoughts. The 1500 series might be better

 

[NaH]

And yes, the blue combustion is wearing an F# stringset.

Such a killer famdamnly!
Congrats on the new prima!

btw!!! Do you power a small village with that F# cable??

I use mine for bridges...

 

[ThisYouCanTrust]

As a Spector player as well, I've briefly dabbled with the TWs, but never found them that inspiring. In spector land, I've just used DCs and P5s and not messed with tapping. It's my intention to get one of my spare rebops done up with the new Bart/DG that spector are using, including all the coil tapping.

I would kill to try a maple Afterburner with 40DCs and a Tonepump.

@Sheldon D. if your listening. In your design if you can make it wall “hangerable” that would be super rad.

Sheldon if you're listening please just let those atrocious 80s fads rest in peace .. like mullets, super high waist pants, or headless basses

 

[imdkoz]

sometimes I think it looks pretty decent, sometimes I think it’s just awkward.

I’ll do a review after I get a chance to explore it. Before committing I watched a lot of vids and at first what I heard was unimpressive so between that and the looks I wasn’t very interested.

Now I’ve seen some much better reviews and some better audio which gave me the thought at the price point it’s either gonna win me over
Or be a stepping stone as I wait for a headless dingwall. Either way is fair and most likely to have the same result.

it checks off a lot of boxes.

-I was thinking how much I miss my SJ
and almost pulled the trigger on A PJ but with our exchange rate right now it would have been quite costly.
This bass checks off the same scale length
- the spacing is slightly shy from my preference but still very doable and adjustable if I choose.
- Nordstands for the win. I’ve had them previously and loved the sound.
- the Ibanez necks are superb. The wood spec on this model is top notch.
- headless.... I just have to feel one out.
- the hardware does look quite satisfactory. I’ll know soon enough.
- 6 string fanned fret

one big hope I have is that as that.... “headstock”? Flares out that it will hang safely in a Hercules hanger. One big fall back to many headless basses, for my liking, is I like to hang basses on a wall.
@Sheldon D. if your listening. In your design if you can make it wall “hangerable” that would be super rad.

that amongst my many other headless suggestions I’ll fire off after getting more familiar with this one.



they do have a solid team of engineers is my understanding. I’m not in love with the finish either but it’s doable as it’s skirts the boundaries of my usually preferences.
I feel ESP LTD killed spalted maple for me.(or at least hurt it)

and Ibanez is doing a number on poplar over the last few years.

KOA!!! Now that is a top I’d love to see on some Dingwalls. Right up close and personal..... like in my hands.... at my house....



I almost bought an NS headless 5 string fretless. It was very sleek and beautiful in a trans black over quilt maple or something. I have been curious about them for a while but I think it’ll fall short of entering my world.... at least until I win the lotto(cause that’s gonna happen...)


The looks tempt me on the Strandberg but price point combined with a lack of tonal appreciation from everything I’ve heard keeps me away. That and the square bodies. I like some contours. A little roundness goes along way.

I’m guessing but from what I’ve heard of them, they’ve take too much meat off of them and lost richness of tone doing so. I’m hoping this Ibby is not the same. Light weight sounds awesome but not at the sacrifice of sound. I’m happy between 8-10 lbs. I truly believe it makes a difference.



Franck Hermanny does a very superb job of showing its capabilities. I was tempted to get the model with the roasted maple neck but I couldn’t get past the barts. Just not the toan I was looking for.



before settling on this I was tempted by some kiesels and a bongo(again) but figured Resale will be easy for the first while if I don’t dig it. An itch needed scratching. Lol.



and in the end.... its all to tide me over until Sheldon releases his version upon us.

AB Nate you are correct about the Strandberg being too light. It does, IMHO take away from the tone. The ergonomics on the bass are great. The EndurNeck neck profile is easy to play and helps you play in a better position. The other thing I found lacking was dropping the E to D. I think it's because the scale is only 34.5. I also had the Ibanez SRFF804 and it was a bit better in that respect, but nothing like the NG2. Best drop D in the business.

 

[The_Owl]

Sheldon did a Facebook live video yesterday. He addressed a question I have had about headless Dingwalls. he said he really likes the Kubicki hardware and can't really see production starting on anything like that unless he could find a supply somewhere.

I've been looking at the headless multiscale Kiesels, Brices and Ibanezes, but nothing beats a Dingwall, so I will wait until a Dingwall is announced before testing those waters.

Yup. That was my question in a set of three. Basically the answer was they are working on the hardware solutions for it. They wanna design their own custom hardware, is what I gathered from it.

 

[eloann]

About splitting Dingwall pickups I did experiment with it in an unusual way : I wired the bass and treble strings separately to a stereo jack to apply effects selectively on half of the strings. It was fun but I'm not a solo bass player so I quickly reverted to normal wiring. But it's a possibility some of you may want to try.

 

[Alistair R]

Bored waiting for something to charge so here’s an updated set of family shots to go with the super P one I shared a few weeks ago. Awkward angles, too.

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And yes, the blue combustion is wearing an F# stringset.

B>

Jeez I got some catching up to do for Aus' best Dingwall collection!!

 

[johnsonabq]

I bought a Steinberger XM2 in 1989. I loved that bass. Light weight, had a great fitted gig bag. Spent a few years on the road with that bass. Only sold it for a five string.

Ha! It doesn't get any more 80's than this, @ThisYouCanTrust .

I'm afraid I can't put headless basses in the same category as mullets. I just love the minimalist design. Not just the weight, but also not having that headstock hitting cymbals and other stuff all the time.

 

[ThisYouCanTrust]

That is pretty 80s for sure

Are you not wearing anything under that leather waistcoat ?

 

[AB Nate]

AB Nate you are correct about the Strandberg being too light. It does, IMHO take away from the tone. The ergonomics on the bass are great. The EndurNeck neck profile is easy to play and helps you play in a better position. The other thing I found lacking was dropping the E to D. I think it's because the scale is only 34.5. I also had the Ibanez SRFF804 and it was a bit better in that respect, but nothing like the NG2. Best drop D in the business.

no question. When I got my first Dingwall(an AB2) I was in a band playing in A standard. I picked it up at the store drop tuned the bass as per my buddy that worked there. He said “I had to!” and he was right. I had never heard a dropped bass sound so good and PLAY soooooo good.
I never could find a like for the Ibanez SRFF but I’ve appreciated there parallel fret basses. I’m hoping this new one is leaps and bounds better then the SRFF

 

[AB Nate]

I bought a Steinberger XM2 in 1989. I loved that bass. Light weight, had a great fitted gig bag. Spent a few years on the road with that bass. Only sold it for a five string.

Ha! It doesn't get any more 80's than this, @ThisYouCanTrust .

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I'm afraid I can't put headless basses in the same category as mullets. I just love the minimalist design. Not just the weight, but also not having that headstock hitting cymbals and other stuff all the time.

I never have nor will be that badass Jeff!!!!

 

[BassBH]

I use mine for bridges...

Like, for a full scale replica of the golden gate?

 

[AB Nate]

Sheldon if you're listening please just let those atrocious 80s fads rest in peace .. like mullets, super high waist pants, or headless basses

your kidding right!?!? One of the best decades in history.

A person could still live in blissful naivety.
So much flare and fun. The tail end of an ignorant innocence.

Or maybe I just feel that way cause I was a blissfully ignorant child. (Nothing changed)

I’d take the 80s over any of the 2000s any day! As long as I could take my Dingwalls back with me.

but seriously, a headless bass can have a lot of pros to it

 

[Tankdave]

Less ceiling bashing, fits in a guitar case, mega fast string change "if DBE equipt" and most important to me, perfect balance or no neck dive.

 

[pbass6811]

Bored waiting for something to charge so here’s an updated set of family shots to go with the super P one I shared a few weeks ago. Awkward angles, too.

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View attachment 3792948

View attachment 3792957

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And yes, the blue combustion is wearing an F# stringset.

B>

That is BEAUTIFUL! Well played, sir!

I bought a Steinberger XM2 in 1989. I loved that bass. Light weight, had a great fitted gig bag. Spent a few years on the road with that bass. Only sold it for a five string.

Ha! It doesn't get any more 80's than this, @ThisYouCanTrust .

View attachment 3793138

I'm afraid I can't put headless basses in the same category as mullets. I just love the minimalist design. Not just the weight, but also not having that headstock hitting cymbals and other stuff all the time.

THAT, is totally rad! Dig it!

I'm 100% with you on the headless bass opinion. I've had a few(Steinberger, NS Design, Kiesel), and although it sometimes took me a while to get used to the ergo's, they were always very lightweight, fit in much smaller gig bags, and sounded good. I think a Dingwall headless would be amazing! I couldn't not order one, if it happens.

 

[lowphatbass]

Not mad at headless basses or the 80’s whatsoever but I all my basses balance well with zero neck dive. Out of all of those my Dingwall balances most perfectly.
I should say that I’m not exactly the player out there with a digital scale searching for those 7lb 10oz featherweights. I understand there are those out there with physical limitations and requirements in this area.
Lastly, I’m guessing that changing up an existing platform to headless just isn’t possible and would require a complete re-work/re-think. It doesn’t seem like removing mass from the neck and adding mass to the body wouldn’t have major consequences, especially with a bolt-on instrument.
I could totally be wrong here as well!

 

[johnsonabq]

That is pretty 80s for sure

Are you not wearing anything under that leather waistcoat ?

Ummm... Nope.

I never have nor will be that badass Jeff!!!!

Thanks Nate.

THAT, is totally rad! Dig it!

I'm 100% with you on the headless bass opinion. I've had a few(Steinberger, NS Design, Kiesel), and although it sometimes took me a while to get used to the ergo's, they were always very lightweight, fit in much smaller gig bags, and sounded good. I think a Dingwall headless would be amazing! I couldn't not order one, if it happens.

+1 on the headless Dingwall.