Dingwall Owners Club

[Sheldon D.]

Thanks, yes indeed, I perfectly set up the bass the day I got it, from neck relief, to saddle heights, to intonation.
I liked the pickup height so I left it as it was from the factory.

I don't suspect anything on the bass, it is fantastic, and it sounded fantastic with the previous SS strings on it.

Again, not comparing the fact that SS strings sound brighter than Nickel strings, which I'm aware of, that's not the issue here, the issue is that the A, D and G sound bright enough, the E is completely dead like an old string, and the B sounds like it's a month older than the A, D and G or so.

I don't usually rule out user error issues quickly, but I looked everywhere til now, I really can't see.. A bit lost and confused tbh

It's odd that both the B and E would be bad - possible, but unlikely. Have you done the "bedding in" procedure at the saddle? Please see this video for reference.

 

[libanass]

I tried it now the way you did it, doesn't change anything,

The B string is rather "fine", it doesn't sound as dead as the E string, probably about a month old or so. I probably wouldn't have noticed it even, it's the really the E that caught my attention the most and right away, before even tuning the string it was flopping like an old string

I asked Thomann to check on another E string from the same batch, just to make sure I'm not crazy

 

[dirkhh]

Have you done the "bedding in" procedure at the saddle?

Awesome - I hadn't seen that one before. And I noticed that my brand new B string on my Z1 definitely has that 'arc' over the bridge. So I'll have to play with this today to see if that makes a difference.

These are Stringjoy strings - a company that isn't usually mentioned here when it comes to strings - we've worked with them for my wife's guitars and they have been amazing in support and sound... I now have a set of their extra-longs on my Dingwall

 

[AB Nate]

New neck wood!!!

 

[EMoneySC2]

New neck wood!!!

...wenge body?!

 

[AB Nate]

...wenge body?!

Must be a mistake. That would be HEAVY!!!!

walnut is the traditional AB body wood

that said, from what I gather the new AB2 body wood looks to be black limba on the price list

 

[Jamie_Funk]

It's odd that both the B and E would be bad - possible, but unlikely. Have you done the "bedding in" procedure at the saddle? Please see this video for reference.

I recently (shortly after Dingwall announced strings were back in stock) received 4 sets - Nickels ALL with DEAD Es. All other strings were perfect. ALL strings installed properly (been setting up basses since the 80s) - no string twists, proper witness points were set, etc.

Customer service sent me new strings - only tried one of the replacement sets but E is perfect. They suspected a bad batch.

Jamie

 

[libanass]

I recently (shortly after Dingwall announced strings were back in stock) received 4 sets - Nickels ALL with DEAD Es. All other strings were perfect. ALL strings installed properly (been setting up basses since the 80s) - no string twists, proper witness points were set, etc.

Customer service sent me new strings - only tried one of the replacement sets but E is perfect. They suspected a bad batch.

Jamie

Ok thanks!

I'm definitely not crazy then

 

[Jamie_Funk]

Ok thanks!

I'm definitely not crazy then

Not because of strings

 

[Andyman001]

Ok thanks!

I'm definitely not crazy then

Or ARE you?????????

 

[libanass]

Oh I might be crazy, just not hallucinating for instance, so that's reassuring!

 

[dirkhh]

So the argument in front of this group is that it is not an indication of being crazy when someone spends hours and hours listening to the sound of individual strings, trying different strings, posting about it on the internet and sharing anecdotes with others exhibiting the same behavior...
Right... right...
I wonder how this group will rule on that question...

 

[japhy4529]

With an older bass, chances are the wrenches are either missing or getting worn. I'd hold off until the bass arrives to confirm this. The truss-rod wrench is somewhat specialized. It's a ball ended 9/64" allen. Major tool stores will have one with a screw driver handle. Look for Bondhus brand. Otherwise we have the kits available.

Thank you, sir. I really appreciate the great customer service, even for someone who purchased a used instrument.

I will take your advice and see what arrives with the bass (which I've been told by the experts on here is a very old AB2). I do have a set of ball-end allen keys here. I needed to buy one for an Alembic bass I had once owned.

 

[japhy4529]

New or used? They normally come with a complete toolkit in a nice Dingwall pouch.

Used. I picked up an old AB2. I'll see what it comes with (if anything). I'm looking forward to Friday even more so this week...

 

[BurningSkies]

So the argument in front of this group is that it is not an indication of being crazy when someone spends hours and hours listening to the sound of individual strings, trying different strings, posting about it on the internet and sharing anecdotes with others exhibiting the same behavior...
Right... right...
I wonder how this group will rule on that question...

The string thing is a deep deep well to dive into.

I'm totally set and cool with Dingwall nickel wrapped steels on all my fretted basses but I've been much more up in the air with the fretlesses in my life.

The 5-string Combustion fretless has the usual Dingwall strings on it right now, but I tried Payson flats...I loved the smoothness of them but don't love the higher tension/stiffer tensile feel of the strings. I also have always not liked the perceived 'plunky' vibe of flats and the vibrational deadening.

I have a custom set of gold-white nylon tape wound La Bellas coming eventually to try. I also have those two sets of custom Newtone strings in the post from UK.

Then I got a *whispers* non-multiscale fretless 6 string this past week. 35" scale and a set of black tape La Bellas on it. I'm in a mood of unlike with these strings too. The black tape gauges are pretty beefy but a .043 C string at 35" is horribly unbalanced for feel, volume tone and particularly timbre. So I have 3 sets of nickel rounds to try on that too. I just apparently cain't quit rounds on fretless.

...so strings. Not only is their tone important, but their feel, tension, stiffness, etc.

 

[dirkhh]

The string thing is a deep deep well to dive into.

[...]
...so strings. Not only is their tone important, but their feel, tension, stiffness, etc.

I did notice that you didn't submit your vote, though... is this behavior a sign of being crazy?

 

[BurningSkies]

I did notice that you didn't submit your vote, though... is this behavior a sign of being crazy?

It's in big print in my profile block.

 

[AB Nate]

So the argument in front of this group is that it is not an indication of being crazy when someone spends hours and hours listening to the sound of individual strings, trying different strings, posting about it on the internet and sharing anecdotes with others exhibiting the same behavior...
Right... right...
I wonder how this group will rule on that question...

Hmmmm. Crazy.... how does one truly define crazy?

is crazy, getting in line to punch a time card or paying a bank an obscene amount of money to buy a small rectangle of land to squat on or buying groceries from Walmart... is that crazy??

Is crazy spending thousands of dollars on something to make noise?

What exactly is crazy?
heheh.

I’d say discussing crappy strings seems pretty normal when I compare it to some on the other things that map out my existence.

I rolled through a drive thru today and got my breakfast and lunch and a coffee without removing my crazy ass from the drivers seat! To boot, I tapped a piece of plastic against another piece of plastic and now, BOOM, I’m fed!! That’s pretty freaking crazy!!!

lol. Discussing strings seems pretty tame actually.

at least that’s my vote.

 

[NaH]

New neck wood!!!

Just when I was happy with walnut/bubinga. Wonder how it compares. Some day I shall know.

 

[NaH]

Used. I picked up an old AB2. I'll see what it comes with (if anything). I'm looking forward to Friday even more so this week...

View attachment 4205853

The more I see that one, the more I like it. (and I liked it to begin with)