Dingwall Owners Club

[LuxuriousMistak]

Used Dingwalls are pretty much no risk. They come and go for about what I paid, give or take shipping. Grab a good deal and you might even come out ahead.

You will be in good company prowling the used market. Don’t dilly dally on a deal, they don’t hang around long. I’ve seen fair priced Dingwall sell in a few hours. Darn it! Missed another!

Happy hunting. Buy it and it’ll be there in a week.

Thanks for the encouragement! I am hooked on dingwall. I got a 5 string NG3 used from GC and then snagged a 6 string NG3 from a fellow TBer. Been searching everyday for a used super P/J 5 string. Will pop up eventually! I thought about getting a DRoc but for now I'll keep playing what I have until a Super P comes around again.

 

[gearhound22]

View attachment 5103161

awesome stuff!! Looks way better than the rails!!! Maybe a little raised at the edge but hard to tell from the picture.

 

[J Posega]

Thanks! Ugh I definitely want one but don't want to put in a custom order and wait years.

Contact some Dingwall dealers. They often have open build slots available that are not 2+ years of waiting. Otherwise, buy one used. You won't lose anything on it if you don't like it and decide to resell it.

 

[AB Nate]

Thanks for the encouragement! I am hooked on dingwall. I got a 5 string NG3 used from GC and then snagged a 6 string NG3 from a fellow TBer. Been searching everyday for a used super P/J 5 string. Will pop up eventually! I thought about getting a DRoc but for now I'll keep playing what I have until a Super P comes around again.

How soon are you looking to make a move? Does a super JP work for your needs?

 

[LuxuriousMistak]

How soon are you looking to make a move? Does a super JP work for your needs?

I'm not in a hurry since I've got an NG3. I've always enjoyed the P tone but now that I am used to dingwall, I don't want a parallel fret P bass.

 

[AB Nate]

I'm not in a hurry since I've got an NG3. I've always enjoyed the P tone but now that I am used to dingwall, I don't want a parallel fret P bass.

I get it.

here is a post I did a few years back while beginning my adventures in technology. It’s got a few different P basses record. Strong level of suck involved but … whatever.

Dingwall Owners Club

 

[Scott McArron]

Contact some Dingwall dealers. They often have open build slots available that are not 2+ years of waiting. Otherwise, buy one used. You won't lose anything on it if you don't like it and decide to resell it.

I ordered mine 9+ months into a build slot, so 9 months to get into my hands (given the estimated 18 month quoted build time at that time). It’s been 2 years now since. No word on will it will start being being built. That means at least 3 years wait in total if I were told tomorrow it was going into production. Just to keep expectations in perspective in 2023.

honestly, I’m starting to feel a little sour about the whole thing. If it were maybe 24 - 28 months, okay, I’m cool wit that that. The virus was a PITA. I understand. But 3 years and no word and no ETA? This is a bit much.

 

[retroXvertigo]

My build was originally supposed to be completed in Oct 22. Wood started getting cut in May of 23.

 

[singlemalt]

I’ll just add, if a Dingwall didn’t have a P tone or split P pickup, and a P tone was available, I installed a Ptone. Or, I would do a quick and easy, and totally reversible wiring change on the pickups to series.

This pushes the neck pups towards that stanky P sound and ups the volume and aggressiveness of bridge pickups. Just saying, your P tone sound might be just a couple twisted wires away. Install series/parallel switches for extra style points.

I think the newer models come with solderless connections on the switch, so it’s easy even if you have soldering iron phobias.

 

[J Posega]

I ordered mine 9+ months into a build slot, so 9 months to get into my hands (given the estimated 18 month quoted build time at that time). It’s been 2 years now since. No word on will it will start being being built. That means at least 3 years wait in total if I were told tomorrow it was going into production. Just to keep expectations in perspective in 2023.

honestly, I’m starting to feel a little sour about the whole thing. If it were maybe 24 - 28 months, okay, I’m cool wit that that. The virus was a PITA. I understand. But 3 years and no word and no ETA? This is a bit much.

Have you been in contact with the dealer and the shop?

 

[LuxuriousMistak]

I’ll just add, if a Dingwall didn’t have a P tone or split P pickup, and a P tone was available, I installed a Ptone. Or, I would do a quick and easy, and totally reversible wiring change on the pickups to series.

This pushes the neck pups towards that stanky P sound and ups the volume and aggressiveness of bridge pickups. Just saying, your P tone sound might be just a couple twisted wires away. Install series/parallel switches for extra style points.

I think the newer models come with solderless connections on the switch, so it’s easy even if you have soldering iron phobias.

Thank you for the ideas! How do I go about learning to do this? Do you know any trusted resources on YouTube? I saw LowendLobster's video on his NG3 mods - super cool but not very informative!

 

[singlemalt]

Pictures and diagrams are in this very long thread, jump in the Time Machine and you’ll find it.

Here’s what I have. Actual picture of a neck Super fatty wired to series. It was in my Super J 5 until Dingwall came out with a P pickup for the Super 5’s. I replaced the Super Fattie with the P and installed a new pickguard, the body was already routed.

A few diagrams and switch photos. Basically, the pups are four wires from two coils. Joining the black wire from one coil to the green of the other puts the coils in series. That’s all there is to it, unless you want to get fancy with switches. Your ears will tell you there’s no going back. I skipped the switches.

My favorite setting is usually the two series pickups in parallel ( second position after bridge solo. But the bridge solo is a winner with a bit of volume boost, and neck solo is as close as you’ll get to P without buying a new pickup. Last time I bought a Ptone in a single shell from Dingwall (drop in fit) it was about $150.

There are other pickup manufacturers who can build you replacements, Nordstrand tops the list.

 

[LuxuriousMistak]

Your ears will tell you there’s no going back.

There are other pickup manufacturers who can build you replacements, Nordstrand tops the list.

Do you mind elaborating on the point about no going back?
Are you saying it sounds that good you wouldn't want to go back to parallel? I'm a little lost here.

 

[singlemalt]

Exactly. I made the changes, and really liked where I ended up. To my mind, putting switches in would have been more trouble than it was worth. Of course, many folks would like to preserve the parallel options, and would have installed switches. I like simple. The two knob volume and hybrid tone on the single pickup Super P is my speed.

You’ll see the series/parallel switch options on the Dingwall options list if you order a custom build. Six way switches are available for the three pickup models….it can get to be way too many choices. At least for me, YMMV.

FWIW, the P pickup in a Super is a series pickup. With P tone pickups the longscale Dingwalls do an outstanding P vibe. My AB with TI flats or Payson flats gets retro P for days.

What I noticed most about switching from an AB-1 or longscale five or six string to a Super was the change in string spacing. 18mm on the AB vs 19 on all the Supers, both four and five string. I prefer the 19mm string spacing, and that is consistent across all FOUR string models, AB, Super or Dbird.

Now that I only have four strings, I really notice how short and compact the Super feels compared to the longscales. You get a punchier D&G on the Super with the 32” ish scale.

With any of the Dingwall basses and pickups, pickup height is critical to dial in what works for your attack and strings. It’s an important part of doing set up. A little bit makes a big difference.

 

[cxcxcx]

My build was originally supposed to be completed in Oct 22. Wood started getting cut in May of 23.

I have a build slot with a Feb. 23 due date. No word yet as to if it’s in the active build queue yet. I haven’t asked about it, though. Already have an AB1 so the anticipation isn’t quite as strong as a first time owner.

If yours went 8 months from listed due date to start of build, logic suggests mine would arrive at start of build status around September. Maybe?

Overwhelming demand and a short staff can cause understandable delays, but I’m hoping that this doesn’t become a Moollon 3-4 year wait thing. Unlikely, as Dingwall has a staff of builders and CNC assistance, and Moollon is a one-man band using old-world building processes.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

What I noticed most about switching from an AB-1 or longscale five or six string to a Super was the change in string spacing. 18mm on the AB vs 19 on all the Supers, both four and five string. I prefer the 19mm string spacing, and that is consistent across all FOUR string models, AB, Super or Dbird.

I am the opposite: I prefer the 18mm spacing and a narrower neck width. So much so, that the bass I have been playing the most lately is not a Dingwall.

 

[shade_1313]

Thanks! Ugh I definitely want one but don't want to put in a custom order and wait years.

Your wait doesn’t get shorter by putting off talking to a dealer about a build slot. That only makes the wait longer.

Unless you find one already built, for sale, and specced out in an acceptable manner, of course.

 

[shade_1313]

So was the middle area of the Standard D-Birds radiused or not? I’m still not sure about this.

Yes, it is.

 

[LuxuriousMistak]

Exactly. I made the changes, and really liked where I ended up. To my mind, putting switches in would have been more trouble than it was worth. Of course, many folks would like to preserve the parallel options, and would have installed switches. I like simple. The two knob volume and hybrid tone on the single pickup Super P is my speed.

You’ll see the series/parallel switch options on the Dingwall options list if you order a custom build. Six way switches are available for the three pickup models….it can get to be way too many choices. At least for me, YMMV.

FWIW, the P pickup in a Super is a series pickup. With P tone pickups the longscale Dingwalls do an outstanding P vibe. My AB with TI flats or Payson flats gets retro P for days.

What I noticed most about switching from an AB-1 or longscale five or six string to a Super was the change in string spacing. 18mm on the AB vs 19 on all the Supers, both four and five string. I prefer the 19mm string spacing, and that is consistent across all FOUR string models, AB, Super or Dbird.

Now that I only have four strings, I really notice how short and compact the Super feels compared to the longscales. You get a punchier D&G on the Super with the 32” ish scale.

With any of the Dingwall basses and pickups, pickup height is critical to dial in what works for your attack and strings. It’s an important part of doing set up. A little bit makes a big difference.

Thanks for all your helpful replies! Still learning about this stuff so I am very grateful.

Your wait doesn’t get shorter by putting off talking to a dealer about a build slot. That only makes the wait longer.

Unless you find one already built, for sale, and specced out in an acceptable manner, of course.

Good point. I'm still a baby bassist so have a lot more exploring to do before I build fully custom.
Do you know if putting down a deposit locks you into model version?

 

[cxcxcx]

Do you know if putting down a deposit locks you into model version?

As far as Dingwall goes, I was told it doesn’t - a deposit locks you into a build slot. A build slot is a place and time in the build schedule, and nothing more defined than that. You can think of this as an “appointment” with Dingwall to tell them what you want them to build for you.

Once that place and time comes, you are notified of it and then can ask for any Canadian model built. Could be a Z, a tricked out AB, or a Super P. Doesn’t matter. Once your build decision is made as far as model goes, you are essentially committed to it.