I seem to recall a similar 5-string at one of our music stores when it would have been really early on. I wish I had tried it.
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Dingwall Owners Club
- Thread starter FroggyOne2
- Start date
I seem to recall a similar 5-string at one of our music stores when it would have been really early on. I wish I had tried it.
I'm surprised the Super series doesn't have an import version. Granted, there is a lot of competition in the "FSO" market, but seeing the quality of the Dbird, Droc, and NG/Combustion lines, I think Dingwall could give the others a run for the money.
I don't know how many of you guys have been down the headless road, but I thought it would be cool. My Zon Vinnie 4 should have ticked every box, but it just didn't work out. I went right back to my Fender Hiway One jazz. Sold the Vinnie. I doubt I'll ever try another headless. My brushes with Steinbergers and the Kramer Duke didn't go any better. I think the headless thing might be a solution looking for a problem that doesn't exist.
When my first Dingwall Super PJ 4 arrived, I had the Fender jazz up for sale and packed to ship the same day, I reused the Super packing materials. It was over with the Fender. The Super was better in every way, every bit of fat and flab trimmed away, every line refined, better hardware, set up better and huge improvement in sound.
Same thing with the Dbird. I've tried a few Thunderbirds, and really wanted to like them. But man, are they a beast. Too long, unbalanced, funky round, fat neck, honky, nasal sound. Along comes Sheldon's take on the bird and I have the same experience. The cool vibe is there, and everything has been improved. The compact headstock works, no neck dive, slim neck, huge range of sounds. All the extra fat and flab of a Gibson is gone. (Plus, I think it would survive a fall to the floor without losing it's head.) All that in a color shifting metallic finish!
Not sure if a medium, or super series scale AB would do much for me. I love the AB body style. With the clean, sweeping lines, it's by far my favorite body. Why would I give up the long scale clarity? My AB-1 four string is already well under 8 lb.
The Super P is killer. I wouldn't change a thing. (well, maybe a bridge pup...)
Companies like Ibanez seem to be price point driven. Way too many models and finishes at different levels and I think that clutters up the brand.
I don't know how many of you guys have been down the headless road, but I thought it would be cool. My Zon Vinnie 4 should have ticked every box, but it just didn't work out. I went right back to my Fender Hiway One jazz. Sold the Vinnie. I doubt I'll ever try another headless. My brushes with Steinbergers and the Kramer Duke didn't go any better. I think the headless thing might be a solution looking for a problem that doesn't exist.
When my first Dingwall Super PJ 4 arrived, I had the Fender jazz up for sale and packed to ship the same day, I reused the Super packing materials. It was over with the Fender. The Super was better in every way, every bit of fat and flab trimmed away, every line refined, better hardware, set up better and huge improvement in sound.
Same thing with the Dbird. I've tried a few Thunderbirds, and really wanted to like them. But man, are they a beast. Too long, unbalanced, funky round, fat neck, honky, nasal sound. Along comes Sheldon's take on the bird and I have the same experience. The cool vibe is there, and everything has been improved. The compact headstock works, no neck dive, slim neck, huge range of sounds. All the extra fat and flab of a Gibson is gone. (Plus, I think it would survive a fall to the floor without losing it's head.) All that in a color shifting metallic finish!
Not sure if a medium, or super series scale AB would do much for me. I love the AB body style. With the clean, sweeping lines, it's by far my favorite body. Why would I give up the long scale clarity? My AB-1 four string is already well under 8 lb.
The Super P is killer. I wouldn't change a thing. (well, maybe a bridge pup...)
Companies like Ibanez seem to be price point driven. Way too many models and finishes at different levels and I think that clutters up the brand.
I just went down the headless road. EHB1505. While everything ticked all the boxes, including fanned fret I went to try it out hoping that I wouldn't like it and it would quell the GAS, but it only ignited it further. Surprisingly, I preferred the standard model to the multi-scale one. Mainly for playability, but I also liked the sound better. The B on the longer one was clearer, but the regular is also very good. 7.5 lbs and it fits in a guitar case.
SJ5 is still #1 though.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
I have a recent Steinberger Spirit 5. Any weirdness is not related to the headlessness but to the small body and strap anchor positions. I do have an old-school pivot plate for it that I think might solve the issues of how it 'hangs'.
IvanBassist
Commercial User
- Jun 8, 2008
- 3,744
- 11,128
- Disclosures
- Content Manager at Darkglass Electronics, Dingwall Guitars Artist
I got to test those EHB before they were released and i also preferred the regular version instead of the multi-scale one
We just got the straight fret version at work and I found it weird after playing the multi scale versions for so long haha
Interestingly enough, I didn't think any of the EHB models sounded that good in the online demos that I saw except for one (I don't think I saw yours). That is one of the reasons I was hoping to not like it when I tried it. It's a nice bass. Not perfect, but pretty good overall.
Then again, I don't think any bass is perfect.
the spirit was low end while the synapse had the hook to move the strap built in. It still never quite worked for me and I sold my last one this year.
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How about a Wing/Dingwall collaboration. 18" scale neck 5 string fanned fret. We could call it the WingDall. 
IvanBassist
Commercial User
- Jun 8, 2008
- 3,744
- 11,128
- Disclosures
- Content Manager at Darkglass Electronics, Dingwall Guitars Artist
I think Ibanez did a great job for the price point, but there is definitely a difference in build quality when comparing it against a Dingwall
How about a Wing/Dingwall collaboration. 18" scale neck 5 string fanned fret. We could call it the WingDall.
I’m having an 18” 5 string built by Maurizio. The fanned fret request had definitely crossed my mind. Obviously the branding wouldn’t work as well as your suggestion
On the topic of a “bantam” Z/Ab, I do see it, But, as headless.
My wish list:
-headless
-18mm spacing
-a body, could be Z/AB like for sure
And interchangeable ability between a long and medium scale neck.
So perhaps a person could get a Fretless medium scale neck and a fretted long scale as an example.
Or maybe long scale for recording but a medium for travel and touring.
or...
That’s said, the Ibanez EHB is a really great bass. I’m not in love with the electronics. It sounds very much like ..... an ibanez. It’s a great sound! It’s clean, punchy, articulate and for me.... not what I want 95% of the time. I’ve thought of switching the electronics but financially I don’t think it’s logical.
I’ve heard enough of this ultra clean sound that I seem to be gravitating to a bit more colour from the rig. It’s also why I’m not diggin on berg but I’m really loving Mesa. A dingwall has a dingwall sound. Same for so many other lines or brands or whichever.
Ibanez seems to me to be a sterilized base plate tone which is perfect for adding pedals and layers too. I don’t mean any of this as a slight at the bass or the brand. It’s just my observation and my experiences with a few of them. Especially equipped with the killer nordstrands
I really like the EHB(lots of pros) and it’s a solid bass for its price point. I do know that when Dingwall does it, it’s gonna be better and if it can sport a couple of six string P pups that would just tickle my fancy these days.
My wish list:
-headless
-18mm spacing
-a body, could be Z/AB like for sure
And interchangeable ability between a long and medium scale neck.
So perhaps a person could get a Fretless medium scale neck and a fretted long scale as an example.
Or maybe long scale for recording but a medium for travel and touring.
or...
That’s said, the Ibanez EHB is a really great bass. I’m not in love with the electronics. It sounds very much like ..... an ibanez. It’s a great sound! It’s clean, punchy, articulate and for me.... not what I want 95% of the time. I’ve thought of switching the electronics but financially I don’t think it’s logical.
I’ve heard enough of this ultra clean sound that I seem to be gravitating to a bit more colour from the rig. It’s also why I’m not diggin on berg but I’m really loving Mesa. A dingwall has a dingwall sound. Same for so many other lines or brands or whichever.
Ibanez seems to me to be a sterilized base plate tone which is perfect for adding pedals and layers too. I don’t mean any of this as a slight at the bass or the brand. It’s just my observation and my experiences with a few of them. Especially equipped with the killer nordstrands
I really like the EHB(lots of pros) and it’s a solid bass for its price point. I do know that when Dingwall does it, it’s gonna be better and if it can sport a couple of six string P pups that would just tickle my fancy these days.
Bit late to the party but Sheldon has said at least a couple of times over livestream Q&As that if you'd like a fanned fret 7+ string bass, he would rather you contact and support a local luthier who would be able to make one for you - which tells me there isn't enough demand for him to justify making the design changes work
Their 16" scale with the single cut I totally agree, the but 18" style seems more manageable.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
I actually have a repro of an old-school pivot plate for the strap pins. I just haven't gotten around to having it installed. There was a guy in Europe who was fabricating them from one of the original molds. It moves both the front and back pin locations.
The Maurizio ones are made in Malaysia and aren’t terribly priced. The builder (Mau) video chatted with me about options and showed me around his shop. He’s got some cool options like a built in headphone amp and a built in octave down circuit. You can stay pretty basic or go wild. He’s also got a travel model with 3 or 4 interchangeable neck length options. If you’re seriously looking at a Wing then I’d say to give these a look as well.
4 strings start at $730 plus shipping.
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My build is still in process so I can’t say much other than it’s been a good experience so far. Very responsive, helpful, and insightful.
Obviously not the body style you want, but as a “proof of concept” check these out. Not sure how a multi scale design would work with swapping necks. These designs can let you go from 18” to 30” and a few lengths in between.
https://www.mauriziouberbasses.com/x3m
Definitely designed for travelers.
Oh wow! That's not bad at all!! I travel a lot and stay in anything from a bunkbed to a cot... I need something I can fit into a pelican case.
