For years, I preferred the AB body style. The Z/Sklar looked a little too refined or something for my taste. After a year on the Z, I prefer the look of the Z now…exactly as I hoped.
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Dingwall Owners Club
- Thread starter FroggyOne2
- Start date
For years, I preferred the AB body style. The Z/Sklar looked a little too refined or something for my taste. After a year on the Z, I prefer the look of the Z now…exactly as I hoped.
I can't stand the saddles for the B string on the lee model basically "slipping" off the curve of the body.
Yeah it looks a bit too sleek for me. Idk maybe if I was given a Z I wouldn't mind it much either and eventually prefer it lol. But it doesn't have the sheer elegance and refinement of my Marleaux Consat, truth be told. Different tools for different vibes, and all that.
Alright guys.. I've decided to sell my AB2 and wanted to give you all first crack at it. It's been a great bass, I've played dozens of gigs with it - I've just come to realize I'm a solidbody, Alder/Maple guy through and through.
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Was originally passive and went through a few hands. When I received it, it was active only; the electronics were very incorrectly wired, and appeared it had been so for some time. I'm honestly surprised it worked as it did. I gutted the bass and went through a few different sets of pickups and preamps to find what I liked. After much modding, I felt it was the bass itself that didnt work for me. I significantly upgraded the electronics. It's as close to a full featured AB2 can be, but only 9V as the cavity is very small (originally passive). It has a *new* series/parallel switch module, a *new* 3X switch, Bourns 500K push/pull for Active Passive, *new* output jack. Currently has a *new* DGTC I removed from a new NG3 and the FD3N's from that bass as well. TO ME, its the best the bass has sounded. The SF2's were too boomy, the FD3's were too angry, lol. Hard to explain. DM me if interested before I post for general sale.
Jason at FN took some great pics for me.
details-
Was originally passive and went through a few hands. When I received it, it was active only; the electronics were very incorrectly wired, and appeared it had been so for some time. I'm honestly surprised it worked as it did. I gutted the bass and went through a few different sets of pickups and preamps to find what I liked. After much modding, I felt it was the bass itself that didnt work for me. I significantly upgraded the electronics. It's as close to a full featured AB2 can be, but only 9V as the cavity is very small (originally passive). It has a *new* series/parallel switch module, a *new* 3X switch, Bourns 500K push/pull for Active Passive, *new* output jack. Currently has a *new* DGTC I removed from a new NG3 and the FD3N's from that bass as well. TO ME, its the best the bass has sounded. The SF2's were too boomy, the FD3's were too angry, lol. Hard to explain. DM me if interested before I post for general sale.
Jason at FN took some great pics for me.
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So I've decided I want to get an NG3 5-string. There's a couple on the classifieds, but none with the color I'd really like (Aquamarine sparkle). I don’t usually care about don’t usually care about the looks that much, but the big aquamarine metal flake is pretty cool. So I have the choice of a color I’m not excited about, or spending $600 more for a new one. But even then, I don’t see much inventory out there except for a couple of colors.
Am I missing something (about inventory)? And how important do y’all feel the color is to your enjoyment of an instrument?
Oh - and have there been any recent updates that would make getting a new NG3 a good idea?
Am I missing something (about inventory)? And how important do y’all feel the color is to your enjoyment of an instrument?
Oh - and have there been any recent updates that would make getting a new NG3 a good idea?
I believe that the AquaFlake is a color that is no longer in production for the NG series, so everything on the market is used or, if you’re lucky, new old stock.
Non-limited finishes are Gloss Metallic Black, Matte Ducati Pearl White, Gloss Black Forest Green, Matte Gold Metallic, Celestial Blue
The most recent limited finish is the Ferrari Green, and there were still many of those on the market, last I checked. I know that the FG is numbers limited, I’m not sure with if the others are numbers limited, and which were for a limited time of production, but open-ended on numbers. I’d love to see Aquaflake, Mopar Purple, and Lamborghini Orange come back.
The last color I thought I would buy is Matte Ducati Pearl White. But that's what was available, and I'm glad I got it now, it looks great under stage lighting.
Andertons has an NG3 in the current celestial blue, the pound is dropping right now so you could probably get it to your door for under $2k US as the price you pay will be 20% less than what they advertise (VAT is included in their prices which you wont pay on export). You might get charged fees but you might not so maybe worth a roll of the dice?
I was thinking about that one. Colors look nice at home, but on stage, white probably has the best chance of looking good.
That color seems pretty nice too.
I've never bought from Andertons or the UK. Is it pretty painless? Legally are we in the US supposed to pay fees? And would those fees end up matching the 20% VAT?
Buying from Andertons is relatively easy in the US. Use tax (i.e., sales tax on items bought elsewhere) is applicable in some jurisdictions, and some of those scrutinize import records over a certain value and send the buyer a nice letter if no tax was collected.
It's painless and the shipping is super cheap (I thnk it's 55 quid or so), use paypal to pay so you avoid getting charged credit card exchange fees. You 'should' have to pay duties and taxes but it seems to be a toss up in the US as to whether you ever get a bill for them, like I said a roll of the dice. Worst case it should still come in slightly cheaper than the standard US price but you can do the maths and work that out
I can’t emphasize this enough - don’t compromise. Especially for a major purchase. The heart wants what the heart wants. Wait it out for the finish you really want or pay the extra for it. At least for me, an alternative finish will always be a compromise and it’ll always be in the back of my mind.
There’s a new Afterburner at an online dealer right now with all the specs I like but the color is absolutely atrocious. Sometimes I think it’d be a good idea just to smash the “buy it now” button and beat an 18-24 month wait for my own custom order. That said, I know that I’d be disappointed as soon as I unbox the one for sale now I when it got to my house.
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I will say the aquamarine sparkle is nuts in person. If it’s your thing it’s worth the wait. I have never seen a picture do it justice.
That said, I’ve played many combustion models and have experienced some variety in playability and a bit in tone. Some are absolutely crazy good and a few(very few) have been meh. Most have been just flat out deadly.
I had this one in hand. Love this finish.
You could talk to John fox also. He often has a few hidden gems that haven’t made it to the website yet.
They are nice looking basses, but I think the ergonomics and the preamp on the NG3 will suit me better. And I will definitely have the 4-way rotary replaced by a 6-way so I can get the Droc sounds too.
The aquamarine is the coolest. But (surprisingly?) my second favorite is the Ducati white. And it’s much easier to find.
