Dingwall Owners Club

[darren1970]

For any D-ROC/D-Bird owners (or just any opinions in general), do you have any input on getting a 4-string versus 5-string assuming you would tune the 4-string BEAD? I feel like a 4-string is the way to go on the D-ROC because it was originally designed that way and the hot-rod vibe makes me want to tune it low. I used to do this when I did a lot of Pantera covers and this is the perfect platform for that style in my mind.

I've got a D-roc Standard 5 string on order ( hopefully should be here in a month or so ). I initially couldn't decide between a 4 tuned BEAD or a 5. I decided on a 5 for the additional versatility across the board, plus the legendary Dingwall B string tone.

 

[hbabels]

Are the d´Addarios especialy for fanned fret Basses?
I´ve read that "normal" Super Long Strings don´t have the special tension needed for Multiscale.

I have D’Addario Super Long Scale on my NG-2 and the tension is fine. Regular D’Addario long scales aren’t long enough for the E & A strings.

 

[singlemalt]

DR Pure Blues are just long enough for my AB and Dbird four strings. The E just makes it. I use the Victor Wooten .040 set in standard tuning.

 

[EMoneySC2]

Gig photo from last weekend!

 

[AB Nate]

Gig photo from last weekend!

View attachment 4001930

And???? Is the 6er comfortable for you?

 

[BurningSkies]

Gig photo from last weekend!

View attachment 4001930

That bass is totally CANDY.

 

[ThisYouCanTrust]

Do you mean the Mesa TT800?
Unfortunately not a lot lately. Pretty busy still sorting out the mess with my work truck and finally getting out for hunting season not much time to sit down and play. Soon hopefully

Ah yes, tt800. Ok no problem, please update me when you have

 

[RoketRdr]

Are the d´Addarios especialy for fanned fret Basses?
I´ve read that "normal" Super Long Strings don´t have the special tension needed for Multiscale.

They're not designed for fanned basses but they work. The tension isn't optimal but like @hbabels pointed out, they work well for him. Try some out and see what you think. On my ESP and Warrior I use the D'Addario ProSteels and really like them.

 

[EMoneySC2]

And???? Is the 6er comfortable for you?

I'd say so! I like it quite a bit. It works really well for my cover playing where the extra des range up and down is helpful. The stretch and reach is pretty tough if I'm playing metal tunes that revolve around the first frets on the B string, but that's not what I use this bass for.

 

[VolverseLoco]

I am going to just get to the point here as I am having no luck. Can anyone point me in the correct direction so as I can buy a pick-guard for my 4 String combustion with the rounded side pickups, so I can accomplish the 2 rear pickup config? I understand this is not available from Dingwall as this config is technically the NG2 config, artist model. I have found one person online that can make me one for $200, and he justifies it as 'art'. I have a hard time seeing it as 'art', I see it as a matte black plastic pick guard. There is another person who does in fact have both the square and rounded NG2 style pick guard, and his price I would pay, he does make it by hand and I know he has to make a living doing this, but, he only has the templates for the 5 string Combustions 2 rear pick up NG2 style conversions.

 

[singlemalt]

DIY? Buy some pickguard material, make a template, and have at it. Tons of cool materials available.

Or, make a dummy pup from acrylic plastic, and fill the void.

I’d probably just put the pickup where I wanted it, and deal with the guard or dummy pup later, if I’m sold on the placement. If it didn’t do what I wanted, it’s easy enough to go back to the original, no harm, no foul. You already have a pickguard that gets you most of the way there as a template....

There’s also some simple wiring mods, like putting the pickups to series, especially the bridge.

Another easy try it and see if it takes you where you want to go, easily reversible, and if you want more options, add the switches for both choices.

 

[hbabels]

I am going to just get to the point here as I am having no luck. Can anyone point me in the correct direction so as I can buy a pick-guard for my 4 String combustion with the rounded side pickups, so I can accomplish the 2 rear pickup config? I understand this is not available from Dingwall as this config is technically the NG2 config, artist model. I have found one person online that can make me one for $200, and he justifies it as 'art'. I have a hard time seeing it as 'art', I see it as a matte black plastic pick guard. There is another person who does in fact have both the square and rounded NG2 style pick guard, and his price I would pay, he does make it by hand and I know he has to make a living doing this, but, he only has the templates for the 5 string Combustions 2 rear pick up NG2 style conversions.

That sounds way too high a price. I’ve heard and seen good work form this company : Invalid Link Removed

see if they can help you out.

 

[singlemalt]

Darn it, now I want a Ford GT in colorshift blue to match my Dbird.

 

[VolverseLoco]

DIY? Buy some pickguard material, make a template, and have at it. Tons of cool materials available.

Or, make a dummy pup from acrylic plastic, and fill the void.

I’d probably just put the pickup where I wanted it, and deal with the guard or dummy pup later, if I’m sold on the placement. If it didn’t do what I wanted, it’s easy enough to go back to the original, no harm, no foul. You already have a pickguard that gets you most of the way there as a template....

There’s also some simple wiring mods, like putting the pickups to series, especially the bridge.

Another easy try it and see if it takes you where you want to go, easily reversible, and if you want more options, add the switches for both choices.

They say here that the pickup hole is already cut out in the middle, so I just need to move the neck pickup back into it and have the new pickguard cover the forward hole, no wiring mods needed. The guy who has the templates for the 5 string NG2 style, he sent me a full scale printout of them, so sure, I could make my own templates based on his, and probably send it back to him and he could make me the 4 string design, then he would also have the 4 string template to make others the same thing. I thought Id ask around first, of course Id be into making at least the template and have that guy make it for me.

 

[VolverseLoco]

That sounds way too high a price. I’ve heard and seen good work form this company : Invalid Link Removed

see if they can help you out.

I did reach out to this shop, he needs my sketch as well to make it, and of course that's Ok with me, just thought maybe someone here knew where it already exists.

 

[singlemalt]

Gotcha. The wiring mod suggestions are just FYI. Just so you know there are a few other tricks to try when you start trying to dial the bass in to your needs.

Series wiring gives the bridge pup solo a volume boost and bite. On the neck, it’ll move you more towards a P sound. This also changes the character of the combined positions. Switches add to the possibilities.

Then there’s the whole active/passive thing and tone controls.
And strings.

Lots to unpack.

 

[VolverseLoco]

Gotcha. The wiring mod suggestions are just FYI. Just so you know there are a few other tricks to try when you start trying to dial the bass in to your needs.

Series wiring gives the bridge pup solo a volume boost and bite. On the neck, it’ll move you more towards a P sound. This also changes the character of the combined positions. Switches add to the possibilities.

Then there’s the whole active/passive thing and tone controls.
And strings.

Lots to unpack.

I only play with a pick. If I told you I am not a 'tone chaser' as far as the electronics on the bass itself, would you believe me? I like effects boxes and that kind of stuff, oh, yes I do, but this entire pickup move is only for one thing, and that is my psycho problem of seeing that original neck pickup right there smack dab in the middle where my pick lands on the strings, and for some strange reason ,I automatically see a target on it and my pick becomes laser guided to hit the top of that pickup, so I need to move it back to get a little 'open desert' between the bridge pickup and the heel of the neck. I don't want to learn how to re-pick, or even worse, pluck with my right hand fingers, oh no, I'm in it for the long haul, thick pick jammed in the strings, bad habit and all..

 

[VolverseLoco]

I would say yes you could get a way with it “better” on a Dingwall than many other basses but that is still a BIG ASK of any bass. If you use higher tension strings and go heavy gauge maybe 50-110 or even -55-115 and a lighter touch when tuned down you can make it work but it’s less than ideal.
That’s really a job for a 5 string or something like the Digitech Drop pedal or my preference the Line 6 HX Stomp which has a great pitch shifter than sounds pretty darn convincing digitally dropping tuning down 5 semi tones to B
Like scary good. To my ear the HX stomp sounds better than the Digitech Drop for this purpose but some people really like the Drop so there’s that option to look into.

I just bought that Line-6 HX Stomp thing. Gosh, its crazy how something can be up for sale on E-Bay and only in the last 3 minutes it starts to get its first bid. Why the hell bother putting it up for 6 days, that's 5.5 days of waiting for nothing, for the seller. Anyway, it certainly is a pricey little box but I have been watching a lot of YouTube bass videos on it, and the one that did it for me was some guy "Gear Gods"? He showed you how to map out a split signal with the PC editor of how to get exactly what I was looking for If I had to chase a tone, and that was the low end pretty much split out but the high end processed to get that solid but 'clangy' sound that I never could replicate. Yeah, its a guitar pedal, and I'm not interested in wah or phase shift or envelope or heavily distorted bass sounds, but at least I know there in there. I looked around, I dont think there is another 'equivalent' of this box at any less that this thing cost me. At least I know I can always sell it for damn near what I paid but I know I'll keep it. I want to for sure try out the mulit semi-tone drops as well. Now i can get rid of my MXR M87 white compressor pedal too. Thanks for the tip!

 

[hbabels]

I just bought that Line-6 HX Stomp thing. Gosh, its crazy how something can be up for sale on E-Bay and only in the last 3 minutes it starts to get its first bid. Why the hell bother putting it up for 6 days, that's 5.5 days of waiting for nothing, for the seller. Anyway, it certainly is a pricey little box but I have been watching a lot of YouTube bass videos on it, and the one that did it for me was some guy "Gear Gods"? He showed you how to map out a split signal with the PC editor of how to get exactly what I was looking for If I had to chase a tone, and that was the low end pretty much split out but the high end processed to get that solid but 'clangy' sound that I never could replicate. Yeah, its a guitar pedal, and I'm not interested in wah or phase shift or envelope or heavily distorted bass sounds, but at least I know there in there. I looked around, I dont think there is another 'equivalent' of this box at any less that this thing cost me. At least I know I can always sell it for damn near what I paid but I know I'll keep it. I want to for sure try out the mulit semi-tone drops as well. Now i can get rid of my MXR M87 white compressor pedal too. Thanks for the tip!

Nice! Yeah that is an interesting point about eBay auctions sometimes.
I think you'll find a lot of use out of the HX Stomp, it has some great sounding options for bass.

 

[djaxup]

Take your time with it though, and use the PC interface software. It makes a whole lot more sense this way.
But yeah.. the amp/cab sims are really great.