Dingwall Owners Club

[AB Nate]

Question for all you fellow dingwallers, obviously there are some insanely beautiful builds out there but do any of you use these at home or studio only? No live use? I’m thinking my d roc custom might just be for home use.

I did use my AB2 exclusively. Drunken bar gigs and all and somehow managed to keep it immaculate.. and safe. It was never left unattended though.

 

[TheLowDown33]

I use my ABZ 3X 6 string for everything that needs a bass with roundwounds. Relative to others here it’s fairly pedestrian, but it absolutely kills in so many genres.

 

[packrat]

What strings are folks using on fretless dingwalls? Are the black daggers getting any mileage for that?

Thanks
B>

 

[spiritbass]

Question for all you fellows, obviously there are some insanely beautiful builds out there but do any of you use these at home or studio only? No live use? I’m thinking my d roc custom might just be for home use.

I'm playing one of mine live through my dream rig nearly every Sunday in church.
I don't think there's a steadier 'gig' out there.

 

[reddavid]

What strings are folks using on fretless dingwalls? Are the black daggers getting any mileage for that?

Thanks
B>

I use Dingwall Nickel strings on my fretless.

 

[Soulvaccination]

Question for all you fellow dingwallers, obviously there are some insanely beautiful builds out there but do any of you use these at home or studio only? No live use? I’m thinking my d roc custom might just be for home use.

i bought mine to enjoy it and play the hell out of it. The difference between these two pics is about 12-13 years, appx 350 shows in bars and similar venues of ill repute, and thousands of hours of practices. There are some dings in the wood, lots of hairline cracks in the finish, a little wear on the back of the neck, and every mark tells a story of a life worth lived that I don’t regret for a second. I would, however, regretted a decade of playing a fender.

I don’t baby it, nor abuse it. I try not to leave it laying around in bars unattended for long periods of time, and my band keeps an eye out when I’m in the bathroom, etc but I didn’t just want a piece of art for the wall.

 

[TTA]

I absolutely play any of mine out at shows. At present I get a ton more enjoyment and less pressure/stress from doing my own thing, but, anytime I was playing out before, I had my Dingwalls out. For a long stretch my Prima Artist was my main bass for gigging out. A couple prog/metal bands I was in needed my 6er, which I only have my AB1 6er, which is still a pretty nice build

Nice! i have a similar mantra. I buy bases i like… and i like to play them. If i had a prima artist i would play the living hell out of it live.


Like sports cars… they belong on the race track.

 

[TTA]

Of course the playing is what we should all strive for. What also catches my attention is the tone of the all-wenge neck. The gritty-growl is similar to the all-wenge neck tone
View attachment 4555978 on the bass our own the EmptyCell assembled which I still happily own. It kinda takes the sting out of never getting an all-wenge neck Dingwall.

I wont lie… the wenge neck on my ab1 makes me want to bet a warmouth neck for my mexican jazz. I remember seeing it on their site and thinking… hmmm….

 

[pbass6811]

i bought mine to enjoy it and play the hell out of it. The difference between these two pics is about 12-13 years, appx 350 shows in bars and similar venues of ill repute, and thousands of hours of practices. There are some dings in the wood, lots of hairline cracks in the finish, a little wear on the back of the neck, and every mark tells a story of a life worth lived that I don’t regret for a second. I would, however, regretted a decade of playing a fender.

I don’t baby it, nor abuse it. I try not to leave it laying around in bars unattended for long periods of time, and my band keeps an eye out when I’m in the bathroom, etc but I didn’t just want a piece of art for the wall.

View attachment 4556785View attachment 4556784

Well played, sir!

I have an ABZ 4/3 and an ABZ 5/3, which I've gigged extensively since I got them. Totally agree with @Soulvaccination, I didn't order these and wait almost 2 years for them just to look at them sitting the stand. I've definitely taken these basses to some VERY questionable establishments(armed bouncers, anyone?), but I wouldn't have it any other way.

The way I look at it, these basses have paid for themselves, several times over. Why not gig them? Besides, would it make sense to, say, buy a Ferrari, lock it up in the garage and not drive it, just so when you sell it to the next guy, you can say "Pristine shape. Low miles. Never driven". He gets to put all the miles on it and have all the fun with it. My ad's gonna say "Used Ferrari. Needs new tires. You may hafta get it out of impound...

 

[TTA]

And then there were two. i got this ab1 from a member here after losing out on it in late october 2021. Alder body, darkglass preamp, luminlay side dots.

It was late so i only played it clean through my headphones… but first impressions:

the wenge neck looks gorgeous and with the deeper cut on the upper horn… the neck feels like it goes for days.

The black hardware looks great, and i like the smooth curve the 5 knobs take… vs the more V of the ng.

Both have alder bodies… but the wenge neck really adds more low mids for a warmer, darker… fuller sound. The maple ng neck adds a lot of clarity and brightness. They are a nice complement.

Lumenlay dots on the
Side of the neck are cool… but not mega bright. In a dark room you will find your neck however. I will stick with them for my custom build. Wonder if they can do the d in lumenlay also? That would be cool.

i love the classic shape and elegant simplicity of the bass. It has a big visual impact.

 

[CoarseBass]

Anyone else bummed with the Dunlop Super Brights on their Dingwall, DRoc specifically?

The inharmonicity of the low string above the 9-10th fret, and even the second string is really striking...brand new strings, properly installed, not twisted or unraveling...sound like ass. I'm a huge super bright fan on my ATKs, so I'm very surprised. Only thing I can think of is the tapered core, which along with the length is unique to the Dingwall compatible set. Brand new of Fretnation.

I'm running a 130 set, skipping the E and tuned AGCF or CGCF to play a lot of Mastodon and Elder.

 

[AB Nate]

What strings are folks using on fretless dingwalls? Are the black daggers getting any mileage for that?

Thanks
B>

That’s where I’ve settled into. Loved the Payson flats too but currently on the BDs. I need nothing more between the 2

 

[mmbongo]

View attachment 4556849

And then there were two. i got this ab1 from a member here after losing out on it in late october 2021. Alder body, darkglass preamp, luminlay side dots.

It was late so i only played it clean through my headphones… but first impressions:

the wenge neck looks gorgeous and with the deeper cut on the upper horn… the neck feels like it goes for days.

The black hardware looks great, and i like the smooth curve the 5 knobs take… vs the more V of the ng.

Both have alder bodies… but the wenge neck really adds more low mids for a warmer, darker… fuller sound. The maple ng neck adds a lot of clarity and brightness. They are a nice complement.

Lumenlay dots on the
Side of the neck are cool… but not mega bright. In a dark room you will find your neck however. I will stick with them for my custom build. Wonder if they can do the d in lumenlay also? That would be cool.

i love the classic shape and elegant simplicity of the bass. It has a big visual impact.

I'll take that Yellow one, thanks!

But yes, they will do the D in Luminlay. It's an option in Fret Nation's builder. You can get Luminlay Speedo Bars too!
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

And if you have Luminlays, these are great charging lights.
https://www.amazon.com/MOLAER-Flash...93STR2D/ref=dp_fod_1?pd_rd_i=B0893STR2D&psc=1

 

[AB Nate]

i bought mine to enjoy it and play the hell out of it. The difference between these two pics is about 12-13 years, appx 350 shows in bars and similar venues of ill repute, and thousands of hours of practices. There are some dings in the wood, lots of hairline cracks in the finish, a little wear on the back of the neck, and every mark tells a story of a life worth lived that I don’t regret for a second. I would, however, regretted a decade of playing a fender.

I don’t baby it, nor abuse it. I try not to leave it laying around in bars unattended for long periods of time, and my band keeps an eye out when I’m in the bathroom, etc but I didn’t just want a piece of art for the wall.

View attachment 4556785View attachment 4556784

And I can’t believe we still have not crossed paths.

 

[mmbongo]

Anyone else bummed with the Dunlop Super Brights on their Dingwall, DRoc specifically?

The inharmonicity of the low string above the 9-10th fret, and even the second string is really striking...brand new strings, properly installed, not twisted or unraveling...sound like ass. I'm a huge super bright fan on my ATKs, so I'm very surprised. Only thing I can think of is the tapered core, which along with the length is unique to the Dingwall compatible set. Brand new of Fretnation.

I'm running a 130 set, skipping the E and tuned AGCF or CGCF to play a lot of Mastodon and Elder.

Like you, I'm a huge Super Bright fan. I use them exclusively on my old school (parallel fret) basses, as they are perfect.

When I got my Dingwalls, I was thrilled to see they make Super Brights in DW length so I snagged some and...meh. They sound nothing like they do on my other basses. After trying most other Dingwall strings, the SIT's are far and away my favorite. They sound and feel like Super Brights do on my other basses.

 

[AB Nate]

Well played, sir!

I have an ABZ 4/3 and an ABZ 5/3, which I've gigged extensively since I got them. Totally agree with @Soulvaccination, I didn't order these and wait almost 2 years for them just to look at them sitting the stand. I've definitely taken these basses to some VERY questionable establishments(armed bouncers, anyone?), but I wouldn't have it any other way.

The way I look at it, these basses have paid for themselves, several times over. Why not gig them? Besides, would it make sense to, say, buy a Ferrari, lock it up in the garage and not drive it, just so when you sell it to the next guy, you can say "Pristine shape. Low miles. Never driven". He gets to put all the miles on it and have all the fun with it. My ad's gonna say "Used Ferrari. Needs new tires. You may hafta get it out of impound...

I agree with you both and I don’t at the same time. I guess that’s why you buy 2 Ferrari’s. 1 to sit and appreciate for a collector or to pass to a child and one to drive hard!!! I like museums too.

 

[AB Nate]

Like you, I'm a huge Super Bright fan. I use them exclusively on my old school (parallel fret) basses, as they are perfect.

When I got my Dingwalls, I was thrilled to see they make Super Brights in DW length so I snagged some and...meh. They sound nothing like they do on my other basses. After trying most other Dingwall strings, the SIT's are far and away my favorite. They sound and feel like Super Brights do on my other basses.

I run the super brites on my Spectors but paysons on the dingwalls

 

[mmbongo]

I run the super brites on my Spectors but paysons on the dingwalls

I think Payson are the only ones I didn't try.

 

[CoarseBass]

Like you, I'm a huge Super Bright fan. I use them exclusively on my old school (parallel fret) basses, as they are perfect.

When I got my Dingwalls, I was thrilled to see they make Super Brights in DW length so I snagged some and...meh. They sound nothing like they do on my other basses. After trying most other Dingwall strings, the SIT's are far and away my favorite. They sound and feel like Super Brights do on my other basses.

Bummer...but glad it's not just me. I'll have to try SITs, I had a set I liked on my 7 a long time ago...

 

[anton72]

@anton72
Q to you.

What made you go from spector to d-wall?

Good question! Nothing wrong with Spector basses in general and I still love their shape and tone…but after I switched from their 4 string to 5 string models I started to notice some discomfort playing their 1-5 fret positions due to 35” scale married to shorter upper horn. This makes the neck stick out too far to the left so your fretting hand has to struggle the longer reach to first frets. This also caused poor balance on strap for their lighter weight versions. It may not be a problem for taller guys with longer arms but for me it was a stopper.