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Dingwall Owners Club

#38,702
jakka1 said:
Just got notice that Dingwall needs me to finalize the specs on my upcoming build. This comes about a month or two before I was expecting to hear from them. I should have been better prepared... so many options swimming through my head right now.:banghead::rollno:

I know the body is going to be some variety of dark Blue. My main dilemma is figuring out what wood combo to go with Alder/maple/wenge board or Ash/Maple? Not sure if all wenge is still in short supply or not, so not sure if that is going to be an option or not.

Any insights on what the magic tone wood combo is for Dingwall Ps? I'm not worried about fancy tops or wood grain on this one... #1 priority is tone. I know it will play awesome and look awesome regardless.... that's a given. Weight is also a factor. I would like it to be around 8 lbs. or less.

I think I am leaning towards Alder/maple/wenge board with matching headstock. PJ. Black Hardware. But who knows... I may change my mind several times again.
Click to expand...

I personally like the Alder for P's rather than ash, but that's a judgement call. I always think that wenge for fretboard is a little more forward and attacky in the mids, but really all that stuff is so nominal in the amount of difference.
 
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#38,703
jakka1 said:
Just got notice that Dingwall needs me to finalize the specs on my upcoming build. This comes about a month or two before I was expecting to hear from them. I should have been better prepared... so many options swimming through my head right now.:banghead::rollno:

I know the body is going to be some variety of dark Blue. My main dilemma is figuring out what wood combo to go with Alder/maple/wenge board or Ash/Maple? Not sure if all wenge is still in short supply or not, so not sure if that is going to be an option or not.

Any insights on what the magic tone wood combo is for Dingwall Ps? I'm not worried about fancy tops or wood grain on this one... #1 priority is tone. I know it will play awesome and look awesome regardless.... that's a given. Weight is also a factor. I would like it to be around 8 lbs. or less.

I think I am leaning towards Alder/maple/wenge board with matching headstock. PJ. Black Hardware. But who knows... I may change my mind several times again.
Click to expand...

If you just wanted a wenge board there was never any supply issue, they were only short on the wood for the full wenge neck but had plenty of wenge boards. The wenge supply seems to be going again now anyway, my Super P is in production after being in limbo for a few months.

As for the rest, alder is the classic on a P, that said I've had both alder and ash bodies on a super and I prefer the ash one to the alder. Can't really describe the difference in sound I just like the ash ones more for some reason.

Keep in mind that alder is most definitely not a 'pretty' wood so if you're looking at a transparent finish then that may play into your wood choice as well.
 
#38,704
jakka1 said:
Weight is also a factor. I would like it to be around 8 lbs. or less.
Click to expand...
When I was spec'ing my Super J I told Dingwall that I was also shooting for 8 lbs or less. Low 8s is the high end of what I find acceptable for playing these days. Anything more than that and I'm uninterested. Dingwall (I can't remember which rep from their shop I was speaking to) told me to specify a lightweight ash body to get it down that low. The Super P should be slightly lighter than a Super J, so I suspect your goal will be achievable. We'll see how mine turns out and what my weight scale reports.
 
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#38,705
silky smoove said:
I got my notice back on August 26th, so I suspect you’ve got a little time before anything gets too critical. Good luck on making your custom choices!
Click to expand...
So at this stage are they more concerned with getting you in the queue with a specific model/wood type and cosmetic specifics come later? My last ETA was June, but I'm not sure if that has changed or not.
 
#38,706
Waltsdog said:
If you just wanted a wenge board there was never any supply issue, they were only short on the wood for the full wenge neck but had plenty of wenge boards. The wenge supply seems to be going again now anyway, my Super P is in production after being in limbo for a few months. Good to know! I was aware that it only affected the full wenge necks, that was potentially a factor if it was going to increase my wait.

As for the rest, alder is the classic on a P, that said I've had both alder and ash bodies on a super and I prefer the ash one to the alder. Can't really describe the difference in sound I just like the ash ones more for some reason. What is the neck and board woods on your Ash Ps?

Keep in mind that alder is most definitely not a 'pretty' wood so if you're looking at a transparent finish then that may play into your wood choice as well.
Click to expand...
Definitely... If going with alder, I will go with a solid color. If going ash, I would go for a stain.
 
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#38,707
BurningSkies said:
I personally like the Alder for P's rather than ash, but that's a judgement call. I always think that wenge for fretboard is a little more forward and attacky in the mids, but really all that stuff is so nominal in the amount of difference.
Click to expand...
Interesting... Unfortunately, I am kinda flying blind here. I only have experience with Alder bodied Super Js & solid maple and solid wenge necks. The differences probably are nominal (especially to my ears). I just want to make sure I get it right. Hopefully I hit on this build like you did on your new green machine :thumbsup:
 
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#38,708
silky smoove said:
When I was spec'ing my Super J I told Dingwall that I was also shooting for 8 lbs or less. Low 8s is the high end of what I find acceptable for playing these days. Anything more than that and I'm uninterested. Dingwall (I can't remember which rep from their shop I was speaking to) told me to specify a lightweight ash body to get it down that low. The Super P should be slightly lighter than a Super J, so I suspect your goal will be achievable. We'll see how mine turns out and what my weight scale reports.
Click to expand...
Right there with you. 8 seems to be my sweet spot. Less than 8 is even better. Good luck on your build!!
 
#38,711
jakka1 said:
So at this stage are they more concerned with getting you in the queue with a specific model/wood type and cosmetic specifics come later? My last ETA was June, but I'm not sure if that has changed or not.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure. I ordered mine back in November of 2019, and then nine months later in August of 2020 they had the retailer (The Bass Shop in Seattle) confirm all of the build details and sent over a build sheet. I corrected one item that they had different from my original order and it’s been radio silence ever since. My build is a 4-string with a solid finish, so presumably it’ll be shorter than more complex builds.
 
#38,712
silky smoove said:
I’m not sure. I ordered mine back in November of 2019, and then nine months later in August of 2020 they had the retailer (The Bass Shop in Seattle) confirm all of the build details and sent over a build sheet. I corrected one item that they had different from my original order and it’s been radio silence ever since. My build is a 4-string with a solid finish, so presumably it’ll be shorter than more complex builds.
Click to expand...

I don't know if it tailors differently from retailer to retailer, but my order had this:


"Please assure everything is correct before making confirmation, as incorrect confirmations will add additional time to the build to account for the rework.

If everything looks good I will mark it as confirmed, and no other changes will be able to be made. "

I'd personally make sure you were pretty well locked in on the specs when you get to this point. Look over the spec sheet with a fine eye and look it over again, then a third time. I don't think they expect you to do it instantaneously, but I'd also not dawdle more than a few days if you can help it. Now would be a great time to ask the retailer or shop if you're dealing direct any last fine-detail questions.
 
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#38,714
Smallmouth_Bass said:
My alder bodied, maple neck, rosewood board P5 was right around 8 lbs when I got it. I converted to a PJ and changed out the controls and it is now 8.3 lbs. The pickups are surprisingly heavy, but it is still a joy to play, weight wise.
Click to expand...

My Super P is 8.9 and change alder/maple/ebony with two pickups. It's entirely reasonable. Also note, that I didn't request any weight consideration when I ordered.
 
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#38,717
My Super P (alder body, solid gloss black finish, maple and Birdseye maple, no bridge pup) weighs in at 7.5 lb. Strung with GHS boomers in .030.

The Supers fit in pretty much any standard size bass cases. I’ve had Freedom and Gators.

I really liked the ash body Super PJ 5 I had, but decided to go back to four strings. I’ve heard ash can be light weight, but I’ve yet to experience it. Light weight was my priority with the four strings.

Never thought I’d own a black bass, but it’s pretty! Darkglass sticker covers all the pinky nail scratches and swirls from slap.

7829B79F-6282-4287-BDBC-D6BB14BAE566.jpeg
 
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#38,718
singlemalt said:
I’ve heard ash can be light weight, but I’ve yet to experience it. Light weight was my priority with the four strings.
Click to expand...

It's my understanding that alder is fairly consistent in density and generally on the lighter side in weight for wood. Ash can range from denser and heavier than alder (on average) to less dense and even lighter than alder (if taken from lower down on trees in wetter environments--hence the term "swamp ash"--where the cells are much larger due to the amount of water absorbed during growth). My swamp ash SJ5 (older version with chambers, maple neck and board, two fatties, preamp, S/P switches, and Hipshot) is 8.3 lbs.

Take it from someone whose wife has pronounced him an expert on density.
 
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#38,719
jakka1 said:
Definitely... If going with alder, I will go with a solid color. If going ash, I would go for a stain.
Click to expand...

My super PJ is ash, but chambered, with a maple neck and Pau farro board. The Alder P was maple neck with wenge board.
Seems I definitely have a preference for ash now I’m thinking about it, I always thought my combustion sounded and felt better than any NG I played (combustion is ash, NG is alder).
 
#38,720
Waltsdog said:
My super PJ is ash, but chambered, with a maple neck and Pau farro board. The Alder P was maple neck with wenge board.
Seems I definitely have a preference for ash now I’m thinking about it, I always thought my combustion sounded and felt better than any NG I played (combustion is ash, NG is alder).
Click to expand...

I think I am the opposite. I generally prefer alder over ash, even though ash is prettier. Ash tends to have a natural mid scoop and I prefer a bit of mids in there.
 
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