Dingwall Owners Club

[SemiDriven]

How does their output level compare? Are they close? Or is the P-tone louder?

Output levels are close -- P-tone is a smidge louder.

I usually play with neck & bridge in series. When I do switch to neck only (P-tone) or bridge only (FD3), there is a slight volume drop (a little more so on the FD3).

I've toyed with the idea of switching the pickups around to see if there was any noticeable difference tone-wise, but haven't had the time yet (and I'm happy with what I'm hearing).

 

[huebass]

Long shot and maybe even a blasphemous question but anyone ever made/put on any kind of pick guard on your 5 string Z Dingwall ? If so, where can I get one?
Don’t want to screw on just stick it.

 

[CJC6]

Long shot and maybe even a blasphemous question but anyone ever made/put on any kind of pick guard on your 5 string Z Dingwall ? If so, where can I get one?
Don’t want to screw on just stick it.

You can’t buy one to my understanding but totally try and report back! I made a couple pick guards for my NG3 that I had, not my Z3. It was easy to do. Buy material from StewMac, tape down existing pick guard to material with painters tape, trace / score material with an exacto knife and cut with scissors.
It would be more difficult to pull off on a Z3, because you don’t have anything to trace from and the lower horn is rounded and not flat like Combustions and ABs. Getting the material to be flush around the lower horn curve on the Z3, I don’t see working well.

 

[huebass]

You can’t buy one to my understanding but totally try and report back! I made a couple pick guards for my NG3 that I had, not my Z3. It was easy to do. Buy material from StewMac, tape down existing pick guard to material with painters tape, trace / score material with an exacto knife and cut with scissors.
It would be more difficult to pull off on a Z3, because you don’t have anything to trace from and the lower horn is rounded and not flat like Combustions and ABs. Getting the material to be flush around the lower horn curve on the Z3, I don’t see working well.
View attachment 5063319View attachment 5063320

Dang, you’re right that area is not flat. Well I may get creative and try some materials with my own “design” lol
Thanks for your input

 

[gustobassman]

Kinda off Dingwall topic, for you guys who down tune- what pedal tuner are you using? Right now my ancient Pitchblacks can handle most everything but lately I'm having issues with my NG3 6'er that's ACGCFBb. It tracks the .130 low A just fine, but neither of the 2 tuners I have will register the .105 low C with much accuracy. Pretty far off actually. For gigs, my wireless Shure GLXD16 seems to read that low C much better but, for rehearsals and low volume stuff I guess I need another solution. What are you all using?

 

[DavidJamesNHBass]

GLXD is the most accurate 'stomp' or portable (non-rack) tuner I've found under $1k...and it's just a feature of that now-discontinued wireless system.

 

[gustobassman]

GLXD is the most accurate 'stomp' or portable (non-rack) tuner I've found under $1k...and it's just a feature of that now-discontinued wireless system.

I know the new + version has the input cable option too.. I've been trying to justify that expense anyhow, lol. In the long run that might be smarter option rather than dropping $150 into a strobe tuner AND a new wireless..

 

[beatdatthang]

Long shot and maybe even a blasphemous question but anyone ever made/put on any kind of pick guard on your 5 string Z Dingwall ? If so, where can I get one?
Don’t want to screw on just stick it.

If you’re doing it to protect the finish (from fingernails/etc) Why not just get some vinyl wrap and cut it to fit? Slap it on and when it starts looking beat up, peel it off and do it again.

If you’re doing it because you just like the look of a pickguard, there’s not much I can do for you. I’m just not a fan of them. I think they make basses look cheap.

 

[huebass]

If you’re doing it to protect the finish (from fingernails/etc) Why not just get some vinyl wrap and cut it to fit? Slap it on and when it starts looking beat up, peel it off and do it again.

If you’re doing it because you just like the look of a pickguard, there’s not much I can do for you. I’m just not a fan of them. I think they make basses look cheap.

Actually, the vinyl idea might be a good option to protect the finish. I am also “trying” to see if I can make the lavender a little less intense in certain live situations. BUT like you said, at least on these types of basses, a pick guard probably doesn’t do anything too good for it. I do love the color so I’ll embrace it as is.

 

[DeltaPhoenix]

The curve of the horns on the Z is just sexy!
The difference between an AB and a Z is like the difference between a Spector and a Warwick Corvette. I always dig the rounded horns on the Corvette more too.

 

[kirkdickinson]

Kinda off Dingwall topic, for you guys who down tune- what pedal tuner are you using? Right now my ancient Pitchblacks can handle most everything but lately I'm having issues with my NG3 6'er that's ACGCFBb. It tracks the .130 low A just fine, but neither of the 2 tuners I have will register the .105 low C with much accuracy. Pretty far off actually. For gigs, my wireless Shure GLXD16 seems to read that low C much better but, for rehearsals and low volume stuff I guess I need another solution. What are you all using?

Peterson Strobo Stomp HD. Locks in fast and accurate. I have used it down to Ab.

 

[kirkdickinson]

Long shot and maybe even a blasphemous question but anyone ever made/put on any kind of pick guard on your 5 string Z Dingwall ? If so, where can I get one?
Don’t want to screw on just stick it.

Find someone who can vacuum form you one. I have never seen that done on a bass, but I don’t see why not. Might be a first.

 

[AB Nate]

Actually, the vinyl idea might be a good option to protect the finish. I am also “trying” to see if I can make the lavender a little less intense in certain live situations. BUT like you said, at least on these types of basses, a pick guard probably doesn’t do anything too good for it. I do love the color so I’ll embrace it as is.

the Drocs use a vinyl stick on PG. I’m sure you could find something elegant enough to compliment your SklarZ if that’s the route you chose

 

[AB Nate]

I know the new + version has the input cable option too.. I've been trying to justify that expense anyhow, lol. In the long run that might be smarter option rather than dropping $150 into a strobe tuner AND a new wireless..

The Peterson was great for sure. The HX stomp has been rock solid.
I like the DG implementation of their tuner on the infinity and it’s become my go to

another thought possibly even more critical when tuning down low is tuning in a 1 pick up setting vs a combo.

 

[retroXvertigo]

Peterson Strobo Stomp HD. Locks in fast and accurate. I have used it down to Ab.

This. All day.

 

[kirkdickinson]

This. All day.

Peterson is about to release a Strobo Stomp HD Mini which looks like it works the same, but is smaller. I would like to have one of those for my small pedalboard.

 

[AmazingMumford]

Peterson is about to release a Strobo Stomp HD Mini which looks like it works the same, but is smaller. I would like to have one of those for my small pedalboard.

Ordered one--they're supposedly shipping soon. I like the big version I have, as well as all versions of the Turbo Tuner (no model of either brand tested below low B, however), and this should fit a board a lot better.

 

[Bassgeer]

That's definitely how that tuning is best used. In my band Indistinct we tune all the way down to D#0 on bass (D#1 on guitars) but those low notes are only used as an effect and that's more or less what they are on any instrument. A good example of this can be found on our song "Sulphur" where in the more melodic intro the guitar and bass both play in the same octave, but when the breakdown hits at 1:32 I go down to the low D#0 for the first time in the song. The low string can also be very powerful on accented hits but faster and more sustained stuff at those octaves can easily get muddy.

With great gauges comes great responsibility!

So sick! Love that track! The local band I play in, called House of Pines plays some songs tuned to drop D1, (drop D0 on bass). We are in the process of recording our first album, and I have found the same thing. Those low notes are great for accents and emphasis. What gauge are you running? I had been using a .210 on my NG3, but recently switched to a .184 and found I was getting better clarity. I find the string vibrates so much when tuned to those low notes that balanced tension seems less impactful on feel and playability than one would expect.

Your band's guitar tone is great, any tips on recording or mixing distorted guitars that are tuned that low? Getting the tone right across that broad frequency spectrum has been challenging.

 

[J Posega]

So sick! Love that track! The local band I play in, called House of Pines plays some songs tuned to drop D1, (drop D0 on bass). We are in the process of recording our first album, and I have found the same thing. Those low notes are great for accents and emphasis. What gauge are you running? I had been using a .210 on my NG3, but recently switched to a .184 and found I was getting better clarity. I find the string vibrates so much when tuned to those low notes that balanced tension seems less impactful on feel and playability than one would expect.

Your band's guitar tone is great, any tips on recording or mixing distorted guitars that are tuned that low? Getting the tone right across that broad frequency spectrum has been challenging.

It's really just about carving out the lows from the guitars to make room for the kick and bass. The reason it's "djent" and not "djchunk" is because you push the mids and highs but cut the lows while playing in a low tuning. If you don't cut enough bass from the guitars, it sounds too chunky, too blown out, and not really spanky.

Also, when recording, use less distortion than you'd use live, but multi-track the guitars. If it's a rhythm part, quad track it and pan one each hard left and right, and one each a little bit closer to center. If you don't have time to quad track, you can mimic it pretty well with a doubler plug in or pedal. That's the key to fatness without flub.

There are lots of producers and artists that post mix walkthroughs of prog metal and related sub-genres on YouTube.

 

[Admiral Chew]

Hi all. I’ve been lurking on this thread for a while but haven’t posted here before. I’ve got an NG-3 5 and am 9 months into a wait for a D-ROC Custom 5.

Apologies if this has been asked here a lot (I have searched but didn’t find much on point), but what are people’s thoughts on neck and fretboard combinations? My order sheet currently has wenge neck and wenge fingerboard down as options but I’m considering changing the latter for ebony (and getting rid of the pickguard).

I have a couple of Warwick basses with wenge fretboards but have always been tempted by ebony. Alternatively, I have a vague plan to wait to put ebony on a fretless and stick with wenge here but would be grateful for any thoughts based on your own experiences.