Dingwall Owners Club

[steve_rolfeca]

Can you guys recommend a tuner upgrade for a NG-3? A direct replacement that doesn't need any extra holes drilled is preferred. I've had 2 4-string NG-3s for about 2 years now. Out of all of the basses that I own (about 15), these are the worst at tuning up and then staying in tune. Hopefully a better tuner will help with both of these issues.

TIA,

--jack

Once you get beyond entry-level instruments with cheap stamped tuners, tuning stability issues usually aren't caused by the tuners themselves.

Most tuning problems on instruments at this build level are due to bad setup- the player or their tech cuts a new nut for some exotic tuning and doesn't get it right, that sort of thing.

Do have loose parts or other obvious hardware issues with one or more of your pegs? If not, I wouldn't throw good money after bad when the problem may be elsewhere...

 

[Nuage420]

Can you guys recommend a tuner upgrade for a NG-3? A direct replacement that doesn't need any extra holes drilled is preferred. I've had 2 4-string NG-3s for about 2 years now. Out of all of the basses that I own (about 15), these are the worst at tuning up and then staying in tune. Hopefully a better tuner will help with both of these issues.

TIA,

--jack

3/8th hipshot ultralites or gotoh resolites.

 

[Jeff Roller]

3/8th hipshot ultralites or gotoh resolites.

This answer is correct! I replaced the hardware to all black on my 2015 NG2.

If you want to read about how crazy my mods got on my NG2, this is a fun read.

Dingwall NG2 to NG3 conversion

 

[beatdatthang]

Finished hardware painting and swaps on the D-bird. Looks so much better in black than the “cosmo black”. I just went ahead and spray painted the bridge saddles with black matte and it came out fine. Bought some cheap matte black knobs from Amazon and got USA ultralites and detuner put on it. It’s exactly how I want it now.

 

[JackTheRipper]

Once you get beyond entry-level instruments with cheap stamped tuners, tuning stability issues usually aren't caused by the tuners themselves.

Most tuning problems on instruments at this build level are due to bad setup- the player or their tech cuts a new nut for some exotic tuning and doesn't get it right, that sort of thing.

Do have loose parts or other obvious hardware issues with one or more of your pegs? If not, I wouldn't throw good money after bad when the problem may be elsewhere...

There aren't any loose parts or any other obvious hardware issues. I've checked both of my NG-3 basses. They have been setup for Drop A and Drop C though. I also have a Charvel 2B that I bought for around $300 that's setup for Drop C tuning and it tunes up and stays in tune with the stock tuners.

3/8th hipshot ultralites or gotoh resolites.

Thanks for this recommendation. The stock tuners are Hipshots. Are they not the Ultralites?

Thanks,

--jack

 

[Waltsdog]

Finished hardware painting and swaps on the D-bird. Looks so much better in black than the “cosmo black”. I just went ahead and spray painted the bridge saddles with black matte and it came out fine. Bought some cheap matte black knobs from Amazon and got USA ultralites and detuner put on it. It’s exactly how I want it now.

Looks great with the flat black, that's how they should have come IMO. Now all you need is a black nut

 

[Nuage420]

Thanks for this recommendation. The stock tuners are Hipshots. Are they not the Ultralites?

They're licensed to dingwall by hipshot for production. I posted a pic if one on my scale at 50grams. They're pretty light.

 

[Nuage420]

Finished hardware painting and swaps on the D-bird. Looks so much better in black than the “cosmo black”. I just went ahead and spray painted the bridge saddles with black matte and it came out fine. Bought some cheap matte black knobs from Amazon and got USA ultralites and detuner put on it. It’s exactly how I want it now.

View attachment 4629686

View attachment 4629687

Beautiful! It's such a minor detail but I love how they added the green trim to the headstock. I wish they did it in gold on the blacks

 

[spiritbass]

Can you guys recommend a tuner upgrade for a NG-3? A direct replacement that doesn't need any extra holes drilled is preferred. I've had 2 4-string NG-3s for about 2 years now. Out of all of the basses that I own (about 15), these are the worst at tuning up and then staying in tune. Hopefully a better tuner will help with both of these issues.

TIA,

--jack

Official Hipshot. I put black YBA-3's on mine. When I tuned my NG, I would tune up to the note, then press on the string being tuned behind the retainer just enough to release any drag, then check to see if it is on pitch. Usually, after releasing the drag, the string was a tad flat, so I would repeat the process until the string was on pitch. I still use this procedure on the strings that are retained on my Supers. I didn't have any problems with the NG staying in tune with the stock tuners, but I usually don't play long sets. The YBA's do feel more smooth, but I was mainly wanting to match hardware color. I hope all of this made sense.

 

[NaH]

Just checked mine and it's about 104mm wide

unfortunately this one is about 114mm

 

[NaH]

View attachment 4629993 View attachment 4629992

unfortunately this one is about 114mm

interestingly, it is the same dimension as some 5 string FDVs I am selling that were in an NG.

 

[goldendomer04]

View attachment 4629994

interestingly, it is the same dimension as some 5 string FDVs I am selling that were in an NG.

What did you replace the FDV’s with?

 

[NaH]

What did you replace the FDV’s with?

My original plan was to install a P-Tone, two FDVs, and a 3x switch in a very reasonable NG-2 I picked up. I installed 2 of them in 2x config, I liked them, then before I messed with the switch a 3x AB1 w/P-Tone and 2 FDVs came up for sale, so I bought it, and sold the NG with the original pickups (buyer didn't want to pay for the upgrade). I bought the four-string middle pickup first from a different seller and after I got the other two pickups I went to install them and realized I'd bought a 4. The other pickups that buyer was selling were 5s.

 

[Nuage420]

View attachment 4629993 View attachment 4629992

unfortunately this one is about 114mm

Dang, thanks for checking. I can get multiple configurations from bass direct but it'll cost about 450 bucks. I'm in the process of putting this audere classic in right now hopefully this helps. I did some A/B against my sting Ray HH and EHB with nordstrand big splits and realized how muddy and dull these pickups sound in comparison.

 

[Nuage420]

It makes noise!

 

[AB Nate]

muddy and dull these pickups sound in comparison.

your blowin my mind bro!

 

[Nuage420]

Ok I'm very happy with this bass now.

 

[spiritbass]

View attachment 4630109
It makes noise!

A good sign of life. Haven't seen an Audere in a D-Roc before. I know a lot of players prefer passive, but for my Super P, I have a heart for the active, 'more of everything' sound that my Glocks bring when set 'flat'.

 

[Nuage420]

A good sign of life. Haven't seen an Audere in a D-Roc before.

It was a perfect fit. Anything bigger in would have needed to route a battery box. I have had that pre on the shelf for a long time I originally got it for my P Bass. But the P nailed it for all things P and required no futher improvements.
If anyone is interested it's a single pickup 3 band 2 knob set up. Super easy install, I suck at wires and it took me all evening to figure this out. Had to switch the audere jack to the stereo barrel, used the output of the selector switch and the grounds. Now these pickups sound like what I was expecting, clear and punchy, the middle solo growls a little and really roars with a mid boost.

 

[spiritbass]

It was a perfect fit. Anything bigger in would have needed to route a battery box. I have had that pre on the shelf for a long time I originally got it for my P Bass. But the P nailed it for all things P and required no futher improvements.
If anyone is interested it's a single pickup 3 band 2 knob set up. Super easy install, I suck at wires and it took me all evening to figure this out. Had to switch the audere jack to the stereo barrel, used the output of the selector switch and the grounds. Now these pickups sound like what I was expecting, clear and punchy, the middle solo growls a little and really roars with a mid boost.

My four-string NG-2 made me realize how sweet a spot the 3x middle pickup is in. It always impresses me as a P bass on steroids. I can't describe how good the middle FDV on my new four-string Afterburner sounds. In your face across the spectrum.