Dingwall Owners Club

[Jason Bonilla]

How the heck do you find the willpower to study, with that thing laying around???

its definitely hard haha, I find my self constantly looking at the clock like "I should get started on my assignments" kinda sucks some of the joy out of playing. Just gotta tough it out for a few years haha.

 

[IronSpatula]

I have found nails can make a big difference, either because you’re hitting them or compensating so you don’t.

Nails do make a big difference. As someone who also plays classical guitar, where having longer nails makes a desirable difference, managing my nails as I constantly go back and forth between guitar and bass is the bane of my existence.

 

[Thumper]

I used to play a mental game of 2 hours of homework = 30 minutes of playtime

 

[steve_rolfeca]

I used to playa mental game of 2 hours of homework = 30 minutes of playtime

Well, heck.

Now I know why my educational history is so spotty- I had those two flipped around.

 

[AB Nate]

its definitely hard haha, I find my self constantly looking at the clock like "I should get started on my assignments" kinda sucks some of the joy out of playing. Just gotta tough it out for a few years haha.

It’s also hard to tell exactly from the photos but those pick ups look quite high.

 

[J Posega]

It’s also hard to tell exactly from the photos but those pick ups look quite high.

I agree there. I'd start lowering them by a half turn per screw. Play it a bit each time to see how you like the sound and make notes of how many turns you make so you can easily revert back.

@Jason Bonilla - the shop doesn't take on modification work; they're too busy building instruments. Also, the way the pickups on your bass are angled means that a third pickup can't be added without more modification than just the middle pickup route. That said, there are plenty of talented techs/luthiers that some of us have relied on to modify our Dingwalls. Installing a preamp and series/parallel switches should be pretty straightforward for most well-reviewed techs/luthiers.

 

[NaH]

I agree there. I'd start lowering them by a half turn per screw. Play it a bit each time to see how you like the sound and make notes of how many turns you make so you can easily revert back.

@Jason Bonilla - the shop doesn't take on modification work; they're too busy building instruments. Also, the way the pickups on your bass are angled means that a third pickup can't be added without more modification than just the middle pickup route. That said, there are plenty of talented techs/luthiers that some of us have relied on to modify our Dingwalls. Installing a preamp and series/parallel switches should be pretty straightforward for most well-reviewed techs/luthiers.

From what I understand, it would be difficult enough that Sheldon didn't even recommend it. I think it is due to where you'd need all three pickups and you'll end up doing some fill in work too which isn't gonna look good.

 

[shade_1313]

Sorry to rain on your parade and someone with an import D-Roc correct me please, but I think these won’t be an option for the original custom D-Birds - which I‘m assuming you’re excited for based on your profile picture:

On the D-Birds (and custom D-Rocs), the middle part of the body is radiused, which would make the installation of a replacement needing a route pretty complicated. On import D-Rocs, which Sheldon was talking about, the middle part of the body is flat, if I remember correctly.

The middle section of my D-Roc standard is radiused, and it appears to be the same contour as my D-Bird standard.

It’s not easy to compare, with such radically different paint jobs, and the visual complication of the very different bottom contour interfacing with that radius, but rocking a straight edge across both has me thinking that both bass’ top center radius is very close, if not identical.


My remaining questions are based around whether there will be bridges for D-Rocs/Birds and/or Combustion series basses. The context of Sheldon’s mention of the bridges implies that D-Rocs are included, but the flat body of the Combustion/NG3 is less certain. I know I definitely would buy an upgrade bridge for my NG3 6.

 

[Katoosie]

Of those of you who have - how much did you fork out for an afterburner ABZ? The lightweight one. 3 pickups.

 

[Bozendoka]

Of those of you who have - how much did you fork out for an afterburner ABZ? The lightweight one. 3 pickups.

Have you seen this? [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] Fun/depressing to play around with.

 

[AB Nate]

Of those of you who have - how much did you fork out for an afterburner ABZ? The lightweight one. 3 pickups.

Truly depends. With 3 pick ups expect to be above $3k CAD probably $3500-4000 as a rough guide IMO

 

[Katoosie]

Have you seen this? [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] Fun/depressing to play around with.

Oh no I have not. Lets see what I can make and figure out how I can make it happen.

Truly depends. With 3 pick ups expect to be above $3k CAD probably $3500-4000 as a rough guide IMO

Sounds about around what I was expecting. I would go thru some European dealer though. The droc has really opened my eyes up and now I cannot stop kicking myself over that horrible timing when I got the euro. I should have ran back to the store, got my money back and grabbed that used AB II back when.

 

[AB Nate]

Oh no I have not. Lets see what I can make and figure out how I can make it happen.


Sounds about around what I was expecting. I would go thru some European dealer though. The droc has really opened my eyes up and now I cannot stop kicking myself over that horrible timing when I got the euro. I should have ran back to the store, got my money back and grabbed that used AB II back when.

Then I won’t say I told you so!!

I should have clarified, I was actually referring to used market prices and passive. New with a preamp will be a significant price jump

 

[gustobassman]

I may be one of the new kids in class, but I think I put the Dingwall fire into another local guy (this makes three now, lol)... Longtime high-end FSO player came over for a bass hang. We played my NG3 with Canadian FD3's, his words - "the clarity of each note", "how deep that low end is", "it's so easy to play", among many of the other phrases we are all so used to

Seeing his "first time with a Dingwall" reactions to the different pickup positions (he played, i moved the 6-way), was so killer to see. Then we went to active mode and he was just blown away. Dude is a mean J-bass player, the sounds he got out of the N+B setting was funk city. Close your eyes and you'd be hard pressed to say that it wasn't a beat up, sunburst J-bass in a hip and funky '70s nightclub.

He's here on TB but not super active, so I wonder if he will see my post, lol.. Don't worry Steve, I wont tell your other basses how much you enjoyed playing it


As a side note - If anyone has a 3X set of FD3's for 5 string they want to move, hit me up. Figured I'd try here before buying new..

 

[J Posega]

If anyone has converted a 2x bass to a 3x and has a 2x rotary switch they don't need any more, please let me know. I love them and like to put them in all of my (forgive my sins) parallel-fret project basses.

 

[cxcxcx]

Anybody have a real-world idea of what delivery times for made in Canada models are? I see the published 15-18 month waits but I’m wondering if those are accurate. Mostly interested in ordering a Sklar if I maintain enough composure and don’t just buy one from Ikebe now.

 

[IvanBassist]

Anybody have a real-world idea of what delivery times for made in Canada models are? I see the published 15-18 month waits but I’m wondering if those are accurate. Mostly interested in ordering a Sklar if I maintain enough composure and don’t just buy one from Ikebe now.

Sheldon said 2 years when I talked to him last week at the Guitar Summit

 

[Waltsdog]

Anybody have a real-world idea of what delivery times for made in Canada models are? I see the published 15-18 month waits but I’m wondering if those are accurate. Mostly interested in ordering a Sklar if I maintain enough composure and don’t just buy one from Ikebe now.

Call round some dealers, they all have builds in line. You can cut the wait down to 7-8 months if a dealer has an open slot coming up

 

[cxcxcx]

Call round some dealers, they all have builds in line. You can cut the wait down to 7-8 months if a dealer has an open slot coming up

Thx, I may well do this!

Sheldon said 2 years when I talked to him last week at the Guitar Summit

Thx for the “straight from the horse’s mouth” reply!

 

[PaulS]

Anybody have a real-world idea of what delivery times for made in Canada models are? I see the published 15-18 month waits but I’m wondering if those are accurate. Mostly interested in ordering a Sklar if I maintain enough composure and don’t just buy one from Ikebe now.

Might want to contact JohnFox Bass. He buys build slots, and may have some open to cut down on the time.