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Dingwall Owners Club

#56,281
wavemaker said:
Did that for a while, definitely prefer both reversed. But I guess it all depends, at the very least on your individual frame and strap length.
Click to expand...

I've actually never tried the both reversed option. May have to give it a try (though dang, those things are a pain to take on/off, especially if your strap is on the thicker side).
 
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#56,282
Selta said:
From what I've heard and been directly told, if something isn't explicitly on the official price list, it can't/won't happen (at least for not-Artists). One dealer even mentioned that dealerships may get terminated if they try to put in an order that doesn't fit the template!

Edit to add: it didn't sound like the Dingwall crew was threatening dealers, just trying to be realistic and manage their 700+ backlog in an efficient manner. I told them that Sheldon should consider something between the Z and Prima in $ that allows a little more leeway in "off menu" ordering.
Click to expand...

I have 'off menu' options on 2 of my bases, although they were both 2021 builds (I think).
Maybe they're a bit more strict on that with an ever expanding backlog but it's certainly been the case in the past that you could ask for some other options.
I would imagine if they had sufficient Ovangkol kicking about in the factory they'd likely say yes, but it would be a hard no if it meant ordering new supplies.

I'll add that this would be a discussion before the dealer puts in the template order, not just a random request going in blind.
 
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#56,283
Selta said:
Speaking of off menu, anyone have experience with Richlite fingerboard material? I wonder if Dingwall has sampled any
https://www.richlite.com/

Tech data sheet:
https://www.richlite.com/_files/ugd/656baf_f0b8627cb1fc4ea68e30a1982e428142.pdf
Click to expand...

Richlite has been in use for guitar fingerboards for years. Strandberg uses it on their basses and guitars. I play off and on with Strandberg players and weekly with a guy whose main Martin acoustic has a Richlite fingerboard - sounds like normal, and he enjoys the durability and lack of cracking and splitting that ebony might have. Feels OK, but has a little bit of a “plastic” vibe to it - the stuff is resin and paper/cellulose so that makes sense. Similar to Micarta, which is fairly common for nuts. It always seems to be a little bit of a step above phenolic fingerboards, which are made of similar materials. Those were used on little Steinbergers of old, and I liked them fine. Strangely enough, phenolic fingerboards were used on a lot of El cheapo guitars too.

I’ve always had a romance with fingerboard woods, and mine have to be natural and real material. I honestly don’t think there’s too much wrong with Richlite, I just really like that wood feel.

As a collective, Dingwall enthusiasts are going to be dealing with a company with a staggering number of outstanding orders. It doesn’t seem like Dingwall will have the time or inclination to look into Richlite. That said, stranger things have happened and I’ve been wrong before.

Ultimately, Richlite might be a great alternative fingerboard choice on a Dingwall, but not really necessary. Those necks and fingerboards on the Canadian models are rock solid - inarguably among the best in the business. I’d choose wenge or mac ebony if I had everything my way on a Dingwall, but Richlite as I’ve experienced it would not be a dealbreaker. I probably wouldn’t order it in a new build, but it wouldn’t dissuade me from buying a used Dingwall instrument, especially if I could beat a Moollon-style multi-year wait.
 
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#56,284
kirkdickinson said:
Ovangkol is very nice looking but only a 1330 Janka hardness. I personally like a harder wood for fretless.



Ovangkol isn't even as hard as hard maple.

Ovangkol 1330
Hard Maple 1450
Panga Panga 1640
Brazilian Rosewood 2790
Gaboon Ebony 3080
African Blackwood 3670
Snakewood 3800
Quebracho 4570
Click to expand...

most of my Dingwalls are wenge necked and I’ve had/have walnut and maple. The walnut was fantastic and ovangkol would be a closer neighbour to it. my fretless is wenge and I wouldn’t mind if the notes had a more airy/woody sound to them which I think the walnut/ovangkol would assist in.
Selta said:
From what I've heard and been directly told, if something isn't explicitly on the official price list, it can't/won't happen (at least for not-Artists). One dealer even mentioned that dealerships may get terminated if they try to put in an order that doesn't fit the template!

Edit to add: it didn't sound like the Dingwall crew was threatening dealers, just trying to be realistic and manage their 700+ backlog in an efficient manner. I told them that Sheldon should consider something between the Z and Prima in $ that allows a little more leeway in "off menu" ordering.
Click to expand...

Waltsdog said:
I have 'off menu' options on 2 of my bases, although they were both 2021 builds (I think).
Maybe they're a bit more strict on that with an ever expanding backlog but it's certainly been the case in the past that you could ask for some other options.
I would imagine if they had sufficient Ovangkol kicking about in the factory they'd likely say yes, but it would be a hard no if it meant ordering new supplies.

I'll add that this would be a discussion before the dealer puts in the template order, not just a random request going in blind.
Click to expand...
Ovangkol has been an option(perhaps non listed) up until very recently. I’m not sure if it was a limited supply basis, not popular or what exactly.
 
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#56,285
cxcxcx said:
Richlite has been in use for guitar fingerboards for years.
*****
Feels OK, but has a little bit of a “plastic” vibe to it - the stuff is resin and paper/cellulose so that makes sense. *****
It always seems to be a little bit of a step above phenolic fingerboards, which are made of similar materials. Those were used on little Steinbergers of old, and I liked them fine. Strangely enough, phenolic fingerboards were used on a lot of El cheapo guitars too.
Click to expand...

Did somebody say "old" and "phenolic"? She's turning 34 this year, and her fretboard is in great shape.

Q4 Steinberger.jpeg


Sorry--obligatory slanty-fret, natural wood content:

Actual Bass 2 - Finished Full Shot (End).jpeg
 
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#56,288
Selta said:
From what I've heard and been directly told, if something isn't explicitly on the official price list, it can't/won't happen (at least for not-Artists). One dealer even mentioned that dealerships may get terminated if they try to put in an order that doesn't fit the template!

Edit to add: it didn't sound like the Dingwall crew was threatening dealers, just trying to be realistic and manage their 700+ backlog in an efficient manner. I told them that Sheldon should consider something between the Z and Prima in $ that allows a little more leeway in "off menu" ordering.
Click to expand...

Is the Neve preamp an 'off menu' item or is it actually an option now for other builds?
 
#56,290
I love my Z even more today than yesterday. how so you ask? I had been using the standard Payson PFNS .128-.035 set with a .110 for my 5th string - ACGCFBb tuning. Sounded fantastic, never a complaint from anyone - but I felt that *something* was missing. Maybe EQ? Something goofy with one of my pedals? I wasn't sure what it was until rehearsal last night. I recently got another order from Payson and he was low on the .110's. He suggested I try the .125T for the Low C rather than the .110 - I was very skeptical since it would require nut modification, but hey - it's just a nut. I also was skeptical as I had previously tried the .145 for the Low A and was disappointed, I kinda expected the same result with the .125T.

That said - its sounds amazing. Waaaaaaaay more beef to the fundamental and no lack of clarity. As I'm still using the .128 for the Low A, its a little awkward reaching over the .125T to get down there. But since the gauges are so close, there really is minor - if any - change to tone and timbre. I was kinda expecting the .125T to overpower the .128 - but it doesn't. Freaky as heck to me to have 2 strings basically the same gauge next to each other, but this was a game changer. It sounds like a new instrument.
 
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#56,291
gustobassman said:
I love my Z even more today than yesterday. how so you ask? I had been using the standard Payson PFNS .128-.035 set with a .110 for my 5th string - ACGCFBb tuning. Sounded fantastic, never a complaint from anyone - but I felt that *something* was missing. Maybe EQ? Something goofy with one of my pedals? I wasn't sure what it was until rehearsal last night. I recently got another order from Payson and he was low on the .110's. He suggested I try the .125T for the Low C rather than the .110 - I was very skeptical since it would require nut modification, but hey - it's just a nut. I also was skeptical as I had previously tried the .145 for the Low A and was disappointed, I kinda expected the same result with the .125T.

That said - its sounds amazing. Waaaaaaaay more beef to the fundamental and no lack of clarity. As I'm still using the .128 for the Low A, its a little awkward reaching over the .125T to get down there. But since the gauges are so close, there really is minor - if any - change to tone and timbre. I was kinda expecting the .125T to overpower the .128 - but it doesn't. Freaky as heck to me to have 2 strings basically the same gauge next to each other, but this was a game changer. It sounds like a new instrument.
Click to expand...

Curious why that tuning?
 
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#56,293
gustobassman said:
Most of our set is in Drop C, but we do have some Drop A and the guitarist needs to switch guitars. With this tuning, i dont have to swap basses, just do a little fretboard math.
Click to expand...

OK, I see. So basically a 5 string D standard tuning, but drop C, plus an added 6th string lower. That makes sense.

When I first looked at it I was looking at the intervals and couldn't fit it into an open tuning in my head. ... m3rd, 5th, 4th, 4th, 4th
 
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#56,294
kirkdickinson said:
OK, I see. So basically a 5 string D standard tuning, but drop C, plus an added 6th string lower. That makes sense.

When I first looked at it I was looking at the intervals and couldn't fit it into an open tuning in my head. ... m3rd, 5th, 4th, 4th, 4th
Click to expand...

yeah.. basically full step down tuning, the 5th string is 2 steps. Makes learning by ear a little more difficult at times, especially since it's only been a little over a year that i've worked with something other than standard or full/half step down tuning. Just not sure what i'm hearing sometimes, lol..
 
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#56,295
gustobassman said:
yeah.. basically full step down tuning, the 5th string is 2 steps. Makes learning by ear a little more difficult at times, especially since it's only been a little over a year that i've worked with something other than standard or full/half step down tuning. Just not sure what i'm hearing sometimes, lol..
Click to expand...

I have a 5 sting Combustion and replaced all the tuners with USA Hipshot and the B string with a double drop tuner. I have it set to Bb and Ab. I don't use it much. I play mostly in church and our music director likes his flat keys, so sometimes drop it down when it suits the song. We do quite a few songs in Eb and Bb. The Bb is pretty solid with the standard string set, but the Ab is a noodle. I rarely use that Ab except for at the end of a song, or where the keyboard is droning on the root for a while.

As far as fingering, the Bb is easy, just add a 1/2 step to get to the note that I want. Ab is a little more difficult i my brain. That is a minor 3rd down.
 
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