Dingwall Owners Club

[VolverseLoco]

If you want to move the neck pickup back, totally do-able (You can literally just move it back) and the shop should be able to provide a pick guard, if not, there's lots of third party vendors that have the template. Don't worry about the NG cut aways, they only come with the NG and aren't available aftermarket.

With the way the switch works on a two pickup model, you'd have the 'middle solo' sound available. So you'd have that anyway without 3 pickups.

Yes, you are absolutely correct, because I would then have the neck pickup now placed in the middle position, thus the soloing business can begin! There is still the 'lure' of having a fully loaded 3 pickup config, so I need to first see how it goes with what comes stock on it, and then decide about loading it for bear..umm,, just 'becas

If you want to move the neck pickup back, totally do-able (You can literally just move it back) and the shop should be able to provide a pick guard, if not, there's lots of third party vendors that have the template. Don't worry about the NG cut aways, they only come with the NG and aren't available aftermarket.

With the way the switch works on a two pickup model, you'd have the 'middle solo' sound available. So you'd have that anyway without 3 pickups.

Yes, you are absolutely correct, because I would then have the neck pickup now placed in the middle position, thus the soloing business can begin! There is still the 'lure' of having a fully loaded 3 pickup config, so I need to first see how it goes with what comes stock on it, and then decide about loading it for bear..umm,, just 'because' I can..

 

[VolverseLoco]

I have another question. Sometimes I play a few songs (maybe only 3 for now) where on my regular 4 string Jackson bass where I tune down to B-E-A-D. Of course the B string now is very 'floppy' and I know the neck has just relaxed and that less tension effect takes its toll on the other strings as well. I have 2 songs that I cant even play because they tune the E down to an A. How does the 4 string Dingwall perform in this type of situation? Will I notice a big difference and play-ability because of the scale length going on with the Dingwall? I know, I could have bought a 5 string, but I'm sticking with a 4 string for now and the next 4 years of my playing..at least.

 

[djaxup]

You would have to tell me that now... gosh.. ok, I will do it. Thanks for the kick in my ARSE in that direction!

I have experimented a LOT with the different pickup positions, I also have that conversion kit for three pickups for my NG-2 and have actually converted it back to it's original state after playing it a while with three pickups.

I even have both the 3x and the D-Bird switch for the 3-pickup setup. But really.. that NG-2 is just perfect. I play it most of the time with the middle PU only, but all the other settings get their share of use, too. The bridge PU solo with a tad of bass EQ dimed in sounds very fine in small acoustic settings. I pluck the strings close to the neck or even over the fretboard then, and the bridge PU tone is a bit thinner, thus I can be a bit louder without drowning the acoustic guitars out... making the bass better audible for everyone.

The important part of advice: I had to deal with some really annoying ground issues after soldering the bass to the three pickup setup and back. Ever since I first pulled out the NG switch the issues started. I would get serious hum if I touched the PU configuration knob, and sometimes also with the other knobs. I know how to solder, but still...
I absolutely get that urge to improve your bass. I have the same mental issue but I wish I would have never meddled with it since it was all perfect already. Get that NG-2 pickguard and move the neck pickup back. Have you already experimented with the position? You can do that just fine without a pickguard and without modding the bass at all. You can move the pickups with very little effort and test out what you like best. Imo, the Combustion is already mighty fine, but that NG-2 is my favorite by far. Middle PU yay!

 

[AB Nate]

Just out of curiosity...
How many players solo the bridge pickup?
Thanks!

especially on the Fretless but I’m not really loyal to any configuration these days.

I do on my Z2, and will no doubt on my Z3 when it arrives. Not always but I wouldn’t like to be without the option. It’s the neck solo I could do without.

that’s insane to me. Love my neck solo’d on my maple Z3 6.

I love (apart from everything else) that you went with the clover tuning keys. The Y key hipshots to me don’t look right on the Supers. Congrats x1000 on the dream bass man!

agree 100% clovers on supers. All the way.

 

[AB Nate]

I have another question. Sometimes I play a few songs (maybe only 3 for now) where on my regular 4 string Jackson bass where I tune down to B-E-A-D. Of course the B string now is very 'floppy' and I know the neck has just relaxed and that less tension effect takes its toll on the other strings as well. I have 2 songs that I cant even play because they tune the E down to an A. How does the 4 string Dingwall perform in this type of situation? Will I notice a big difference and play-ability because of the scale length going on with the Dingwall? I know, I could have bought a 5 string, but I'm sticking with a 4 string for now and the next 4 years of my playing..at least.

My recommendation would be to try it out as is. Then take the pick guard off and move the pick up back a notch. Try it without the pick guard.

see if you have a tonal and playable preference and then move forward appropriately from there.
At least then you’ve explored all available options.
Congrats by the way and I think with the right strings you’ll be able to set up that dingwall for any tuning.
Cheers
Nate

 

[Digity]

Looking for some suggestions. I plan on removing the pick guard from both of my combustion’s and filling the screw holes. I have a two pickup model but will then need to fill the middle gap between the pickups. I was thinking of getting an empty Dingwall pickup casing and just installing it to fill the void(if Dingwall would even sell me one) or coming up with something else to fill the gap.

Has anyone here done this? How did you go about it? Any other suggestions on how to fill the void?

 

[BurningSkies]

I have another question. Sometimes I play a few songs (maybe only 3 for now) where on my regular 4 string Jackson bass where I tune down to B-E-A-D. Of course the B string now is very 'floppy' and I know the neck has just relaxed and that less tension effect takes its toll on the other strings as well. I have 2 songs that I cant even play because they tune the E down to an A. How does the 4 string Dingwall perform in this type of situation? Will I notice a big difference and play-ability because of the scale length going on with the Dingwall? I know, I could have bought a 5 string, but I'm sticking with a 4 string for now and the next 4 years of my playing..at least.

The Dingwall low E (tuned down) will still be better than most any standard 34" bass. You have a fair amount of extra string and that means extra tension.

I think these quotes below are probably important to restate here: VVVVV

I have experimented a LOT with the different pickup positions, I also have that conversion kit for three pickups for my NG-2 and have actually converted it back to it's original state after playing it a while with three pickups.

I even have both the 3x and the D-Bird switch for the 3-pickup setup. But really.. that NG-2 is just perfect. I play it most of the time with the middle PU only, but all the other settings get their share of use, too. The bridge PU solo with a tad of bass EQ dimed in sounds very fine in small acoustic settings. I pluck the strings close to the neck or even over the fretboard then, and the bridge PU tone is a bit thinner, thus I can be a bit louder without drowning the acoustic guitars out... making the bass better audible for everyone.

The important part of advice: I had to deal with some really annoying ground issues after soldering the bass to the three pickup setup and back. Ever since I first pulled out the NG switch the issues started. I would get serious hum if I touched the PU configuration knob, and sometimes also with the other knobs. I know how to solder, but still...
I absolutely get that urge to improve your bass. I have the same mental issue but I wish I would have never meddled with it since it was all perfect already. Get that NG-2 pickguard and move the neck pickup back. Have you already experimented with the position? You can do that just fine without a pickguard and without modding the bass at all. You can move the pickups with very little effort and test out what you like best. Imo, the Combustion is already mighty fine, but that NG-2 is my favorite by far. Middle PU yay!

My recommendation would be to try it out as is. Then take the pick guard off and move the pick up back a notch. Try it without the pick guard.

see if you have a tonal and playable preference and then move forward appropriately from there.
At least then you’ve explored all available options.
Congrats by the way and I think with the right strings you’ll be able to set up that dingwall for any tuning.
Cheers
Nate

I have a few Dingwalls now and have some experience with a few others along the way. My suggestion is:

Get your bass and play the snot out of it as it is. Don't consider messing with the configuration until you get it and have time with it.

The Combustions (especially the newest crop with beautiful finishes and tops) are REALLY nice basses and there's absolutely nothing wrong with them as they come fresh from the shop. Really. Pay less attention to the hand-wringing tone-testimonials of a bunch of guys on the internet who spend their lives splitting hairs and having long discussions parsing this stuff.

So, I have two Dingwall basses with the pickups placed the way the Combustion does. I love them both to death and wouldn't consider changing them. I have one bass that has the bridge/middle setup (known as the Z-2 or NG2 setup)...I did that because I was looking for a very specific thing that that very specific bass was calling for.

I have another 3-pickup Dingwall that's a really great bass too, but if it only had a neck/bridge setup I would totally not lose sleep over it or change it.

Trust the bass and the bass' maker/designer. It turns out that he knows what he's doing and does a really great job...In the many years I've known Sheldon I've been consistently impressed at how deep his knowledge and how accurate his insight is. The Combustion is no different in that reguard.

 

[johnsonabq]

Still seriously considering an ABZ 2x w/ pups in the Sklar positions. I've been debating the pickups and I wanted a P-tone in the neck position. Now I'm thinking of making them both P-tone. Hmmm...

 

[BurningSkies]

Still seriously considering an ABZ 2x w/ pups in the Sklar positions. I've been debating the pickups and I wanted a P-tone in the neck position. Now I'm thinking of making them both P-tone. Hmmm...

I have a P-Tone in the bridge position of the new Super-P and I'm really happy with where it is tonally. Also, I know others have said that having a series/parallel switch on the P-Tone isn't worth it, and I don't find that to be true.

 

[VolverseLoco]

The Dingwall low E (tuned down) will still be better than most any standard 34" bass. You have a fair amount of extra string and that means extra tension.

I think these quotes below are probably important to restate here: VVVVV






I have a few Dingwalls now and have some experience with a few others along the way. My suggestion is:

Get your bass and play the snot out of it as it is. Don't consider messing with the configuration until you get it and have time with it.

The Combustions (especially the newest crop with beautiful finishes and tops) are REALLY nice basses and there's absolutely nothing wrong with them as they come fresh from the shop. Really. Pay less attention to the hand-wringing tone-testimonials of a bunch of guys on the internet who spend their lives splitting hairs and having long discussions parsing this stuff.

So, I have two Dingwall basses with the pickups placed the way the Combustion does. I love them both to death and wouldn't consider changing them. I have one bass that has the bridge/middle setup (known as the Z-2 or NG2 setup)...I did that because I was looking for a very specific thing that that very specific bass was calling for.

I have another 3-pickup Dingwall that's a really great bass too, but if it only had a neck/bridge setup I would totally not lose sleep over it or change it.

Trust the bass and the bass' maker/designer. It turns out that he knows what he's doing and does a really great job...In the many years I've known Sheldon I've been consistently impressed at how deep his knowledge and how accurate his insight is. The Combustion is no different in that reguard.

What you said, that gets so overlooked, how the bass maker/designer made it for a reason (current stock pickup placement). They (the top craftsmen) wouldn't put out junk and have all the guys say you need to do pickup mods right away. BUT, there is always that strong magnetic attraction of screwing around with what you have, not necessarily to try to make it better, but just to 'do it', and of course the other attraction of looking around for what you can do to it additionally. I do believe that the one mod, moving the neck pickup to the rear which would make it a center pickup, for me, that actually has some value to me, not tone wise (I'm not going for tone, but if tone is good that way, then its an added bonus), I was never a tone chaser with actual bass electronics/configs. The problem I see it solving is my psycho problem of when I pick/pluck with the pick, I need open space where I land, if there is the top of a pickup, it automatically has a target on it and I will be bound to aim and hit it with my pick. Yeah, I know, if your hitting the pickup with your pick, you need to change your picking technique. Well that's about as difficult as teaching a 5 year old the Vietnamese language so I need to make up for it some other way. In due time,, like you said, play the hell out of it and then assess what you have.

 

[pravus]

Slightly different question although related somewhat...

Anyone know about the Whale Pool Blue finish? This seems to be a very Dingwall-specific thing so I wasn't sure if it was unique to them. I've always liked it and since they offer it on the Combustion now I was thinking about getting one eventually. But then I'm also lusting after the quilted Amethyst burst with that Pau Ferro...

 

[VolverseLoco]

Slightly different question although related somewhat...

Anyone know about the Whale Pool Blue finish? This seems to be a very Dingwall-specific thing so I wasn't sure if it was unique to them. I've always liked it and since they offer it on the Combustion now I was thinking about getting one eventually. But then I'm also lusting after the quilted Amethyst burst with that Pau Ferro...

I bought the Whalepool one, I think its just gorgeous, I like 'color' in my life, an all black bass just doesn't do it for me. When I bought it he asked me, do you want the Pau Ferro? I said, who the hell is Paul Ferro.. I did, I didn't even know it was a wood, but that is because I was dead set on the ultra light colored maple fret-board anyway.

 

[BurningSkies]

Looking for some suggestions. I plan on removing the pick guard from both of my combustion’s and filling the screw holes. I have a two pickup model but will then need to fill the middle gap between the pickups. I was thinking of getting an empty Dingwall pickup casing and just installing it to fill the void(if Dingwall would even sell me one) or coming up with something else to fill the gap.

Has anyone here done this? How did you go about it? Any other suggestions on how to fill the void?

If you can't shake one out at the Shop, try Carey Nordstrand. He also makes pickups to Dingwall spec.

 

[BurningSkies]

Slightly different question although related somewhat...

Anyone know about the Whale Pool Blue finish? This seems to be a very Dingwall-specific thing so I wasn't sure if it was unique to them. I've always liked it and since they offer it on the Combustion now I was thinking about getting one eventually. But then I'm also lusting after the quilted Amethyst burst with that Pau Ferro...

I love the Whalepool. Other people may do similar light-to-dark blue bursts, but they have their own names.

I do know that the color exists in the Dingwall lexicon back to the early 2000's. At one point the color was exclusive to Afterburners being sold through Bass Central in Florida. That's where I got mine:

 

[singlemalt]

Really cool finish. Lots of variation in the light.

But there are so many awesome finishes to choose from!

 

[Jeff Roller]

 

[howardf]

Supposed to get my 5-string Combustion in November, and felt great about the Amethyst burst I picked out, but second guessing how beautiful that Whalepool is. Thought about getting the NG version of a 6-string some day, but these are so much prettier.

 

[ThisYouCanTrust]

View attachment 3999893

My AB1/6 also has that pickup placement, I found it surprisingly different sounding than the parallel 3X option.

 

[Sheldon D.]

If you want to move the neck pickup back, totally do-able (You can literally just move it back) and the shop should be able to provide a pick guard, if not, there's lots of third party vendors that have the template. Don't worry about the NG cut aways, they only come with the NG and aren't available aftermarket.

With the way the switch works on a two pickup model, you'd have the 'middle solo' sound available. So you'd have that anyway without 3 pickups.

Because the bridge/middle pickup placement is so associated with the NG which is an artist bass, we don't offer an NG or NG style (bridge/middle pickup) pickguard for Combustion conversions. 3x is not a problem.

 

[BurningSkies]

Because the bridge/middle pickup placement is so associated with the NG which is an artist bass, we don't offer an NG or NG style (bridge/middle pickup) pickguard for Combustion conversions. 3x is not a problem.

Thanks for the clarification. I know there's some restrictions, I can never remember if it's just the fiber/cutouts or the whole deal. Sorry!