Dingwall Owners Club

[PaulS]

@Katoosie I am in the same boat kinda. Since I got my D-roc last year, I estimate I play it 90% of the time. I have 11 other basses, and I always rotated them, but the D-roc is so effortless to play, and sounds so nice, I’ve been ignoring the rest of my basses. My poor Warwicks are sad. Considering I basically bought it on a whim after playing one at John Fox Bass, I’m kinda shocked haha.

 

[Pablo504]

So, it has been a couple of weeks now since I've gotten the Dingwall D-roc and I have been struggling to see my other bass in a positive light ever since.

The buildup of "eh" towards the Spector has been gradual, but I cannot pretend that the huge disparity between the sound of the two doesn't bother me.

More and more I reach for the dingwall simply because of the sound. I mean, that droc is a monster. Is that a thing you all have experienced with a dingwall? It can't be just me, right?

I like my other bass but nowadays I think that I like it more because it's "fancy", but then I play it and I want to go back to the dingwall. I actually have to force myself to pick up my more expensive bass, which is really odd to me.

The feel of the strings while playing, that grunt, the tone and the weight - it outclasses my more expensive Spector bass. I actually really dig that maple neck with pau ferro and I believe I would love a maple/maple or maple/wenge even more than the pau ferro the droc has and maple/ebony that spector has - for a fretted bass.

Am I going nuts? Having the dingwall makes me sad in a way that is hard to explain - it just works better than the spector in every way, so my brain has a thing in it now that is saying - now what?

Help

Similar experience for me... I had been playing only a Precision for many years, and then fell in love with an AB2 5 string about 12 years ago.
That opened up a whole new dimension to my playing technically. All of the limitations of the Precision became very clear, as well as the "unlimitations" of the Dingwall. I thought I was a good player before, but I am far better on a Dingwall.
Now I only use the Precision for very specific applications. (I have Sadowski flats on it so it sounds pure Fender, and even that I can emulate pretty well on the Dingwall with a few tricks.)
Everything about the Dingwall is just pure pleasure to me. Especially intonation no matter where I am on the board, and the huge range of tone and emotion that I can get out this bass from sugar to mean and nasty.
So I love the Fender but I play the Dingwall...

 

[Jason Bonilla]

My AB2 came in the mail today, unfortunately I have class today and wont be able to go straight home and play check it out.

and @Katoosie I know what you mean, i have the biggest love hate relationship with Spector, I feel like they are probably my favorite brand, but so many times there are basses that do many little things so much better. I honestly think the tone pump is one of the worst things they could have done to the Euro range. the lack of the ability of a full treble/bass cut is such a limiting aspect for no good reason, I find myself enjoying my Yamaha BBNE2 all around alot more (we'll see if that changes with the AB2). Though when a Spector does something right, it does it RIGHT.

When I got my D-roc 5, the sheer power of the lower register and the amazing balance for an instrument of that body style blew me away. it had a few things going against it for me personally, first the fact that it was 21 fret, secondly the fact that it was passive, meaning id have to go to the amp to tame those zingy mids anytime I wanted, and third the fact that the look was alittle weird for a bass id probably be playing at church alot, not that i think anyone would care, but I was apprehensive lol.

all that and the fact that it was going against the NS5XL I had at the time, in terms of quality it felt like a toy, not a knock against import Dingwalls at all, USA Spectors have a way of making many basses feel like toys, including Euros. I don't have that NS5XL anymore though, so im giving Dingwall another try with this AB2. I'm glad your D-roc, if im honest, it may very well end up replacing your Euro, but shoot if you can keep both you might as well!

 

[AB Nate]

You never do help, do you?
Yeah these strings I got definitely wore out (they're down to bare steel in places I pluck a lot, from gold...) but I'm not willing to swap out strings every few months. I actually like wearing strings down, saves the hassle, money and you can always cook them like spaghetti. And I still got more of those, but fresh, if I really need to swap them.

And actually, the euro is a neck thru. Its the euro model. It's a sandwich.

Hey! I help… sometimes…

heck! I tried steering you to Dingwall before you bought that LT.

My mistake on the model. For some reason I was thinking the Eurobolt , being a bolt on.
It doesn’t sound like you’ll do anything rash or rushed but I’m gonna drop this here anywho… unless of course your about to show us a picture of a nice bubinga bodied AB in route to you and need funds.

Change them Damn strings! boiling strings yields mediocre results at best. Tried it countless times and have had the same results every time. It cleans them. Nothing more. Denatured alcohol is different but still, if you’ve played those strings enough to have flat spots on the frets and monkeyed with multiple tunings and keep them under tension long enough… they just … die. Some people don’t need the crunch I think you like and can live with older strings but you seem into pretty modern metal stuff and fresh strings is a pretty important ingredient.

It’s like trying to bring a timing belt back to life on a car. Just no. edit: Maybe a shifter or brake cable on a bike is a better example.

Dead strings can make the best bass seem “Blegh”. Bust into your fat stacks and throw a set of nickel Superbrites or Ernie ball Slinkys on that thing at least to give it a fair shake and a honourable departure if that’s its future.

Having said that, Of course, Dingwall is superior. Not trying to talk you away from that. Not at all. I just recall some of your journey and your excitement and enjoyment from the LT.

this comes from a place of feeling “I have the best bass in the world” and still being exited to pick up the free MIM P bass I got when the situation arises… and appreciate it. The MIM P will doubtfully ever see Band work or specific track recording but when I want to pick up a bass that literally has rust on the strings and pick ups and make some vintagey type of sounds for 1/2 hr here and there it’s still fun and pleasurable.

Enjoy your new crush and potential forever bass. …. And change your Damn strings!!!!! Hahahaha

 

[DeltaPhoenix]

In the roughly 9 years or so that I have been messing with Dingwall basses I have sold all of my parallel fret basses twice and sold all of the Dingwalls once. I have had and sold an Alembic series one and a Europa, Wal mk2, Fender Custom shop P, Warwick, several EBMMs and more.

My current Z 3x 5er is a keeper - it made me forget all about that Wal’s tone and just crushes the Wal in regards to playability.

I like my SJ4 but I don’t know if I will hold on to it once I get that SPJ4. I definitely want a Dingwall 6 but I think this Z may have ruined a Combustion/NG as an option because those are some hefty necks.

Like I mentioned a few weeks back, I do have a Fretless Stradi that I love but at the same time, I would love to try a Dingwall Fretless.

Dingwall basses didn’t ruin parallel fret basses for me but that Dingwall Z may have….freaking love it.

 

[Jason Bonilla]

In the roughly 9 years or so that I have been messing with Dingwall basses I have sold all of my parallel fret basses twice and sold all of the Dingwalls once. I have had and sold an Alembic series one and a Europa, Wal mk2, Fender Custom shop P, Warwick, several EBMMs and more.

My current Z 3x 5er is a keeper - it made me forget all about that Wal’s tone and just crushes the Wal in regards to playability.

I like my SJ4 but I don’t know if I will hold on to it once I get that SPJ4. I definitely want a Dingwall 6 but I think this Z may have ruined a Combustion/NG as an option because those are some hefty necks.

Like I mentioned a few weeks back, I do have a Fretless Stradi that I love but at the same time, I would love to try a Dingwall Fretless.

Dingwall basses didn’t ruin parallel fret basses for me but that Dingwall Z may have….freaking love it.

I’m curious, what’s IS the hierarchy when it comes to Canadian Dingwalls? Is it D-Roc custom at the bottom, ABZ, AB, AB2 and then the Z series as the flagship? I recall seeing that they still make the Voodoo as well which I had only seen older models of until last NAMM I believe? Anyways it’s cool to know that Z3 is really doing it for you

 

[AB Nate]

I’m curious, what’s IS the hierarchy when it comes to Canadian Dingwalls? Is it D-Roc custom at the bottom, ABZ, AB, AB2 and then the Z series as the flagship? I recall seeing that they still make the Voodoo as well which I had only seen older models of until last NAMM I believe? Anyways it’s cool to know that Z3 is really doing it for you

Have you checked the website? I recommend doing so.

hierarchy has a few parallel-ish(not frets) options depending on your scale preference. for example a super could be parallel to an AB build, just totally different model. If you order them by dollars generally speaking it goes like this for the customs from top to bottom:

-Prima
-Z
-AB, Supers, Droc

Of course spec to spec changes that ALOT.

 

[singlemalt]

It’s a journey, and the basses will come and go. Even the Dingwalls, but usually for another Dingwall that suits you even better.

Once my first Dingwall arrived, summer 2009, a Super PJ 4, it was over for the 34” scale “straight” basses.

Since then I’ve had four excellent Dingwalls come and go. And three more Dingwalls have come to stay. Over the years, my taste settled on four strings, with 19mm string spacing, and a weight limit under 8.5 lb. And I’d prefer under 8.

As much as I enjoyed the 5 and 6 string AB-1’s, the AB-1 four string, at 7 lb 7oz, is my sweet spot. A Super P 4 at 7.5 lb is a blast with TI flats. And the Dbird, just kills.

And then a Peavey Cirrus 4 snuck in….and I had a “straight” bass again….it ticked all my boxes and I’d been digging John Taylor’s playing.
Next thing I know, I see JT catching the Dingwall bug…very cool.

So…strings and fanned frets. I’ve been doing lots of experimenting with strings.

Like putting the same set of DR nickel low riders on the AB and the Cirrus. That was a great example of how the 35” straight bass played differently than the fanned fret multi scale. The D & G strings on the Cirrus are less punchy than the D & G on the Dingwall. Going back and forth between the two, you can really feel and hear the compromises a single scale length forces. (The Cirrus is sweet bass, with a very cool voice)

Throw a multi scale string set on and you get a selection of strings optimized for each string length and closely balanced for tension. Easy, peasy, and off to the races we go.

That’s why my first suggestion to anyone who asks, “What strings go on my Dingwall?”, is Dingwall or Paysons for a drop in fit.

But there are lots more possibilities.

I’ve been chasing super light and low tension. Not everybody’s cup of tea. But I’d encourage folks to splash out some cash and check out lots of strings. Seem to me, the strings are everything. The thing your touch creates vibration with. It’s worth the search. It’s also a bit of a rabbit hole. And since you adjust to strings as you learn how they speak, it’s also kind of a moving target. My technique and setups are miles from where I started. A .045 G string feels like a bridge cable. I don’t strike anywhere near as hard as I once did. That .045 is now a D string….

Lots of exciting developments in this thread over the last few days, it’s great to be in the Dingwall fold!

 

[Pablo504]

Hey! I help… sometimes…

heck! I tried steering you to Dingwall before you bought that LT.

My mistake on the model. For some reason I was thinking the Eurobolt , being a bolt on.
It doesn’t sound like you’ll do anything rash or rushed but I’m gonna drop this here anywho… unless of course your about to show us a picture of a nice bubinga bodied AB in route to you and need funds.

Change them Damn strings! boiling strings yields mediocre results at best. Tried it countless times and have had the same results every time. It cleans them. Nothing more. Denatured alcohol is different but still, if you’ve played those strings enough to have flat spots on the frets and monkeyed with multiple tunings and keep them under tension long enough… they just … die. Some people don’t need the crunch I think you like and can live with older strings but you seem into pretty modern metal stuff and fresh strings is a pretty important ingredient.

It’s like trying to bring a timing belt back to life on a car. Just no. edit: Maybe a shifter or brake cable on a bike is a better example.

Dead strings can make the best bass seem “Blegh”. Bust into your fat stacks and throw a set of nickel Superbrites or Ernie ball Slinkys on that thing at least to give it a fair shake and a honourable departure if that’s its future.

Having said that, Of course, Dingwall is superior. Not trying to talk you away from that. Not at all. I just recall some of your journey and your excitement and enjoyment from the LT.

this comes from a place of feeling “I have the best bass in the world” and still being exited to pick up the free MIM P bass I got when the situation arises… and appreciate it. The MIM P will doubtfully ever see Band work or specific track recording but when I want to pick up a bass that literally has rust on the strings and pick ups and make some vintagey type of sounds for 1/2 hr here and there it’s still fun and pleasurable.

Enjoy your new crush and potential forever bass. …. And change your Damn strings!!!!! Hahahaha

You got me huge laughing on that one...
Great post...

 

[IvanBassist]

@IvanBassist great job on the interview. You almost got @Sheldon D. to spill the beans on the S series import features.

Thanks, Payson! I’m really looking forward to the release of those basses!

 

[Jason Bonilla]

So I got to mess around with the AB2 yesterday, and first impressions, are I'm impressed but not blown away... though I cant make any real judgements yet because the bass really needs new strings and could use a set up. the body feels abit large, but that's because I've gotten used to the sleekness of the NS body style and my Yamaha. Nevertheless it's nice n' light and well balanced but the neck seems to shoot out more than I was expecting.

I feel like I have the same gripe I had with the D-roc, where out of 4 tone switch options theres really only one I actually like, in the case of the D-roc it was the one with all three pickups in series, with the AB2 its the both pickups in series mode. The Glockenklang pre-amp is interesting, when it comes to clean tone I feel it sounds real nice with a treble cut, I could not dial in a nice bright clean tone I was happy with, pretty sure the half dead strings have alot to do with that. Like I said, not going to make any real judgments until I get some new strings on it and mess with the action.

I really don't like the, what I'm assuming are nickels, on it. But I'm not sure I want to go full on SS. my favorite strings are DR Sunbeams, are there any multiscale strings sets similar to those if any of you have experience? I only see a nickel set and SS set on the Dingwall site. thanks for any pointers

 

[AB Nate]

So I got to mess around with the AB2 yesterday, and first impressions, are I'm impressed but not blown away... though I cant make any real judgements yet because the bass really needs new strings and could use a set up. the body feels abit large, but that's because I've gotten used to the sleekness of the NS body style and my Yamaha. Nevertheless it's nice n' light and well balanced but the neck seems to shoot out more than I was expecting.

I feel like I have the same gripe I had with the D-roc, where out of 4 tone switch options theres really only one I actually like, in the case of the D-roc it was the one with all three pickups in series, with the AB2 its the both pickups in series mode. The Glockenklang pre-amp is interesting, when it comes to clean tone I feel it sounds real nice with a treble cut, I could not dial in a nice bright clean tone I was happy with, pretty sure the half dead strings have alot to do with that. Like I said, not going to make any real judgments until I get some new strings on it and mess with the action.

I really don't like the, what I'm assuming are nickels, on it. But I'm not sure I want to go full on SS. my favorite strings are DR Sunbeams, are there any multiscale strings sets similar to those if any of you have experience? I only see a nickel set and SS set on the Dingwall site. thanks for any pointers

Aren’t the strings brand new? Isn’t the bass brand new?

 

[Jason Bonilla]

Aren’t the strings brand new? Isn’t the bass brand new?

Nope, never said it was. I said it was mint, and had mentioned the Pics I posted were from the guy selling it, its easy for those little details to slip through the cracks though. No issue, the bass really is in amazing condition was was just a little dusty. I dusted it off yesterday. trying to find a place that will get me strings quick, I wanna give the bass a spin at church to see how it fits in the group mix.

 

[AB Nate]

Nevertheless it's nice n' light and well balanced but the neck seems to shoot out more than I was expecting.

it’s interesting you say this. I actually measured how my NS5XL hangs and the reach to first fret in comparison to long scale Dingwalls and it was 1” further from the side on my body then the Dingwalls based on the way I wear my basses.

 

[AB Nate]

Nope, never said it was. I said it was mint, and had mentioned the Pics I posted were from the guy selling it, its easy for those little details to slip through the cracks though. No issue, the bass really is in amazing condition was was just a little dusty. I dusted it off yesterday. trying to find a place that will get me strings quick, I wanna give the bass a spin at church to see how it fits in the group mix.

My bad. I was thinking this was a different one that just came out of the factory. We do need pictures you know!!!

 

[Jason Bonilla]

it’s interesting you say this. I actually measured how my NS5XL hangs and the reach to first fret in comparison to long scale Dingwalls and it was 1” further from the side on my body then the Dingwalls based on the way I wear my basses.

Oh for sure haha, 35" Spectors are way worse in this regard . i'm just saying it shoots out abit more than I expected/remember, I think its because I wore the D-roc a bit lower. So i just remmebred the neck bring in a certain position. I tend to wear my basses a bit higher now though, even though I have like zero theory in my noggin and am not a soloist by any stretch.

Oh and yes haha, it was a bit late last night, I had just come back from class and wanted to squeeze some play time in. Didn't have the energy for a Photo shoot haha. I'll try to take come pics tonight though.

 

[AB Nate]

Oh for sure haha, 35" Spectors are way worse in this regard . i'm just saying it shoots out abit more than I expected/remember, I think its because I wore the D-roc a bit lower. So i just remmebred the neck bring in a certain position. I tend to wear my basses a bit higher now though, even though I have like zero theory in my noggin and am not a soloist by any stretch.

Oh and yes haha, it was a bit late last night, I had just come back from class and wanted to squeeze some play time in. Didn't have the energy for a Photo shoot haha. I'll try to take come pics tonight though.

Sweet! Looking forward to seeing it!!!
FWIW I had a similar experience with my NS. I didn’t like the set up when I first got it, I didn’t really know what to think of the 18v has and it DEFINITELY needs new strings!!!

My initial reaction was… meh! After working with it for a few days I found out why so many others love Spectors!! It’s truly an Epic bass.

Good luck setting up your AB the way you like it. It’ll change its desirability ten fold

 

[mmbongo]

Nope, never said it was. I said it was mint, and had mentioned the Pics I posted were from the guy selling it, its easy for those little details to slip through the cracks though. No issue, the bass really is in amazing condition was was just a little dusty. I dusted it off yesterday. trying to find a place that will get me strings quick, I wanna give the bass a spin at church to see how it fits in the group mix.

Chevk with Jason at Fret Nation to see what he has in stock. Hopefully he has the SIT sets in, they are my favorites on all 3 of my Dingwalls.

 

[J Posega]

Oh for sure haha, 35" Spectors are way worse in this regard . i'm just saying it shoots out abit more than I expected/remember, I think its because I wore the D-roc a bit lower. So i just remmebred the neck bring in a certain position. I tend to wear my basses a bit higher now though, even though I have like zero theory in my noggin and am not a soloist by any stretch.

Oh and yes haha, it was a bit late last night, I had just come back from class and wanted to squeeze some play time in. Didn't have the energy for a Photo shoot haha. I'll try to take come pics tonight though.

Does the bass have the second straplock on the back of the body? If so, try using that; it's meant to shift the whole body to the right, bringing the headstock closer to your shoulder and reducing the reach.

 

[Jason Bonilla]

Does the bass have the second straplock on the back of the body? If so, try using that; it's meant to shift the whole body to the right, bringing the headstock closer to your shoulder and reducing the reach.

Yes it does actually, I'll re-install my dunlop locks onto my strap and try it our that way. thanks for the tip! I had actually assumed it would make the bass sit lower or make the reach worse, but I guess not haha.