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I dunno. I go the other way. If I'm already spending $7000, what's another few hundred bucks to get it precisely how I want.
My 2023 price list does show the X-top at $850, which isn't an unreasonable increment if you're already at $7000. My threshold has always been less than half that much. The Z3 is a stretch for me but I do believe it will be worth it.Thousands? Isn't X-Top only $850 USD?
Not just the X-top, also the special colour, plus convert it all to AUD and it was 2k over a Sklar with the special neck. I had set a limit over which I couldn't justify Yet Another Dingwall™ and the Sklar came in under it.Thousands? Isn't X-Top only $850 USD?
Dark candy green at this stage. I enquired about Ecliptic Colour Shift but again that ended up being a sizable up-charge since it's a new colour. I'll try again when the specs are finalised to see if anything changes (in about 2 years time).
Sooo, I sold a bass that I was not playing and also got some unexpected money back from my landlord and I have some extra.
Currently I do not own any 5 strings and I had already set aside some money for the upcoming SP1s (5-string). But now I’m thinking about maybe saving up a bit more to order an ABZ 5 or even go a bit further and stretch out for a Z
Who here owns both an AB and Z and can share some opinions?
I will say the Z5 string neck has felt less chunky then some 4 strings I’ve played
The FD3s and FD3ns are definitely different in my experience with similar findings to yours. Fd3s more articulate and refined. FD3ns, higher output, less definitionWell, after thinking I was settled on replacing stock Combustion pups with FDVs, then thinking I preferred SFIIs, I came to terms with the fact that I haven't ever really liked most clips of the SFIIs and the FDVs sounded shrill or anemic sometimes.
I wanted less low lows and more mids for the SFIIs, but more low mids and high lows in the FDVs. So I bought a set of FD3s
I recorded finger and pick clips of the FD3Ns in a number of configurations since I have two rotaries and three S/P toggles, and I just installed the neck FD3 and recorded a comparison clip.
A Dingwall rep told me to not get the FD3s because they were virtually identical to the FD3Ns. My ears disagree. Going off the neck pickup alone - it's more articulate (i.e. more treble content that's not shrill), refined, less boomy and muddy. In comparison, FD3Ns are causing ear fatigue quickly.
Something I haven't seen anyone talk about - the Canadian pups are much lighter so I'm happy for the weight benefit too.
Edit: Import 6 string pickup is 155 grams, or 5.47 oz. Canadian is 120g or 4.23oz. Over three pickups that shaves off 3.7oz, almost a quarter of a pound. Not a whole lot by any means, but it's a nice bonus
I’d think you should look at the FD3s.
Thanks for the feedback!Well, turns out this thread was bugged…..
No notifications and a bit of catching up. I had to fly through a few pages here.
Definitely some fruitful information….
Anyways,
Quoting and responding late to the party
I’m pretty certain you’ve read my opinion more then a few times. I think you’ll be more than happy with an AB despite leaning to the Zs myself. I seem to be set on owning 10lb basses no matter what. They are the ones I seem to keep the longest and most of.
The one thing I’ll mention having been going back and forth between my Spector 6 and a Z 6 lately is that if you have fast, moving runs down low(first 4 frets on the B/E) they can be more challenging. It is a reach and spread. Not undoable but understanding your stature, gravitation and comfort to the supers I just thought it would be a reminder from your old AB days.
The other thing I don’t do is use the RRSB. That may be a very useful tool for you.
Other than that, I’ve not had a diving long scale, no matter the neck and body woods. I would love to have a build with an Ovangkol neck and one with a roasted ash neck but I can say without any reservation that My Z wenge necks with maple board are thankfully the most desirable necks and are sheer perfection. The tension, balance, response is absolutely exotic In the way a Bugatti is. High end mastery.
I would not change a thing on them and could only expect another delicious concoction but not a better one.
I will say the Z5 string neck has felt less chunky then some 4 strings I’ve played
So there is that.
The FD3s and FD3ns are definitely different in my experience with similar findings to yours. Fd3s more articulate and refined. FD3ns, higher output, less definition
I’d think you should look at the FD3s.
It could be a shot in the foot from TB to TB.
I’m going to guess that stands for Reach Reducing Strap Button, or in other words, the strap lock socket that’s on the back of the body on Canadian models, I’m not exactly sure which models have it, but I’m pretty sure all of the ABs and I know the Z does. Plugging into that rather than using the bottom strap button/strap lock shifts the bass, and therefore its neck, a little bit, and reduces the reach your fretting hand has to make, to get to the farthest frets.The .. what ?
I was wondering if this question would arise. I tried to shorten Reach reducing strap buttonThe .. what ?
