To me, it is gorgeous. It's 'Nashville' subtle but when you really start eyeballing it, wow!
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Dingwall Owners Club
- Thread starter FroggyOne2
- Start date
To me, it is gorgeous. It's 'Nashville' subtle but when you really start eyeballing it, wow!
And I'm spent !
First the disclaimer's.......
The owner of this bass is all hopped up on that new Dingwall smell. Because he is clearly under the influence, no one should should assume that his definition of dream tone will match yours.
OK. Not even sure where to start.
I know that everyone knows this but still it must be said. Fit and finish are stellar. Tolerences are so tight, it's ridiculous. I scanned the bass for 10 minutes looking for a paint / finish flaw and there are none. The paint looks as if your staring into a bucket of wet paint. It's like a mirror.
So, I ran down to the church, kind of like a giddy school girl. I knew they were having a staff meeting. That did not slow me.......until I found out we had guests. So I was unable to run any louder than church limitation of 95 db.
I plugged it in to the crappiest rig I own. Well, crappy is a strong word. My least favorite rig consists of an Ampeg PF800, 115 HE, and 210 HE. I made no amp changes because I do have it dialed in for the SJ5. I figured by leaving my normal amp set up, I would get a better feel of the differences.
I know I mentioned it earlier but I must state yet again that I am head over heels upside down over the tension of the nickel strings. The are tighter, for lack of a better term, but don't require any additional pressure or energy. You may be irritated if your one of those folks that runs a 95 E. Otherwise, the best way I can describe it is that string tension allows a quicker finger attack. I don't have a tensionometer or whatever they are called, but they have to be darn close to Fender P running 105 DR Low Riders. Maybe a hair less.
It took all of 10 notes to hear the tone magic that makes we P lovers, P lovers. No it does not sound like my AVRI P. It sounds way better. Obscenely better. And all those undertones and harmonics are there.......or at least the important recognizable ones to my ears. I have to think that Leo himself would approve.
Tonally, it is to die for. The Low B, E and A sound like they have three foot butts on them. They are amazingly fat but do not sound muddy at all. Crystal clear but not sterile.
The tones you can get out of this thing are impressive, incomprehensible considering its passive electronics. Center detent sounded fantastic. They I started rolling it forward. I found a funk tone that was so nasty it made me wanna smack my greasy, greasy grannie. I also found a Jamerson/motown thing that sounded more like Jamerson's tone than Jamerson himself.
Rolling the other way starts to scoop mids. While I am not a slap freak, whatever freq was chosen to cut for scoop makes it sound as if The House of Dingwall wanted to preserve bass voice in the mix. I'll run scooped for a song or two at rehearsal on Thursday just to see if I get buried. Highly unlikely.
The Nickels sound simply amazing. So much so that I am now confused trying to figure out how much P bass goodness is coming from the strings and how much is coming from the Super. Frankly, I wont be able to answer this question until my curiosity gets the best of me and I slap on the new stainless set.
Now the million dollar question........what does the reverse P sound like? Setting aside the fact that I have not heard a standard PU Super P, I absolutely love it. So much so, that should I decide to order a four banger, it too will be reverse.
I cant imagine possibly wanting anymore warmth. As far as I am concerned this IS the sweet spot. The upper register is so sweet, it's unbelievable. I can cut someone's head off for the Super J by running the bridge wide open. There is no need for that on the Super P. Don't get me wrong, pick tone has all the edge I can handle, so it's not like any thing was left on the table.
Going back to Grand Wazoo's comments, there is an eveness of tone when running reverse. By this I mean that you don't have to fight between bottom mud on low strings and gank on the upper end. They sound perfectly balanced EQ wise. Very tough to explain but if you hear it, you'll know exactly what I am talking about.
I couldn't help but introduce the Super P5 to my 1967 B-15N. Holy Smokes ! Every note sounded incredible.
I caught some guy peaking through the window.......twice ! Finally, I oped the blinds and yelled, "Pino ! If I catch you in my yard again , I'm going to have to call the police."
I'll comment again once I get a few rehearsals and gigs under my belt.
If you have ever had the slightest love for P basses, this thing is a must own. I have already packed up my 63 AVRI and put it in the closet.
Um Ken? You're gonna pee your pants when your baby shows up. Really looking forward to your comments. Feel free to tell me I am nuts or that you disagree.
so... Zoom, what in a few words (ffsake keep it short! LOL) you would like to say to me for suggesting to you to go the reverse P way?
so... Zoom, what in a few words (ffsake keep it short! LOL) you would like to say to me for suggesting to you to go the reverse P way?
Um.....it's good to know that you're not an idiot?
I know I keep using 'amazing' but I have run out of words to describe it. I have never heard any P type bass that has that......evenness. that's the only word that I can use to explain it.
In all seriousness GW, my sincerest, heartfelt thank you for putting me on the reverse P placement. It's so good that I could care less what normal placement sounds like. Cold frosty E beverages on me sir !
Sorry brother. Understand that when I originally joined the group, I wanted a Super P but couldn't find one. Got my hands on a brand Super J which immediately told me that I needed to order a Super P asap. While I do love Jazz basses and especially my SJ5, if for any reason I could only own one bass, it would most likely be the Super P.
That said, pick your favorite perceived Dingwall and get in line now. I suspect that it is only going to get longer.
I'm glad you've been enlightened.
It makes truly a noticable difference when you hear 2 Super P playing side by side, one with the reversed option and the other in the traditional way. We, (me and Dave Swift) ourselves couldn't believe our ears!
Great Xmas to you all whatever you believe in.
Peace
It makes truly a noticable difference when you hear 2 Super P playing side by side, one with the reversed option and the other in the traditional way. We, (me and Dave Swift) ourselves couldn't believe our ears!
Great Xmas to you all whatever you believe in.
Peace
Thanks again my friend ! Best P that I have ever heard and I have heard a number of 5K emulations.
It's pretty wild, Grand. And between you and Dave, there was never any doubt or I would have ordered it normal placement and then tried reverse.
I haven't even heard this through my big boy rig yet and Mark Robertson is wrenching on my new baby as we speak.
I apologize if this has been covered before. Would you describe the difference please?
Congrats, zoomie!
Now we wait for spiritbass's bass to show up any day now....
Who's after that? I'm still able to live vicariously through the builds/deliveries of the rest of you. Once we run out of anticipated deliveries I'm in trouble. That's the point I'll give in and order my Z3-6 now that Sheldon makes that option.
Someone please have a bass on order that shows up sometime this spring? It's going to cost me a lot if nobody steps up to the plate!
Now we wait for spiritbass's bass to show up any day now....
Who's after that? I'm still able to live vicariously through the builds/deliveries of the rest of you. Once we run out of anticipated deliveries I'm in trouble. That's the point I'll give in and order my Z3-6 now that Sheldon makes that option.
Someone please have a bass on order that shows up sometime this spring? It's going to cost me a lot if nobody steps up to the plate!
I was lucky enough to piggyback on a super P 4 that was ordered by the guys at Bass San Diego several months ago. As a result, mine should be shipping in March!
Ok, so I cheated!
Hi there, I have already given my thoughts on the difference between a normal P and a reversed one on this link on the Dingwall forum Invalid Link Removed
Congrats Zoomie. Please keep those reports a coming.
Hoping for a quick and safe delivery for Spiritbass's Bass (I forget....is that a SP5 Reverse pickup as well?).
I guess that that is the last of the deliveries for the class of 2013? BuffaloBob4343's got till March. I've probably got till June....maybe July for min.
With regards to the Mid Scooping features of the SP's tone control....my order will have a Wenge Neck and Fingerboard....which I think will look GREAT with the 3-tome burst body. Just wondering if the potential tonal options might be somewhat limited/muted due to (from what I been reading) Wenge allegedly already being predisposed to scooping the Mids. I do want the bass to be growley/punchy but in a way that is somewhat different from my Maple Fingerboard Super J. Maybe I'm over thinking it.
Hoping for a quick and safe delivery for Spiritbass's Bass (I forget....is that a SP5 Reverse pickup as well?).
I guess that that is the last of the deliveries for the class of 2013? BuffaloBob4343's got till March. I've probably got till June....maybe July for min.
With regards to the Mid Scooping features of the SP's tone control....my order will have a Wenge Neck and Fingerboard....which I think will look GREAT with the 3-tome burst body. Just wondering if the potential tonal options might be somewhat limited/muted due to (from what I been reading) Wenge allegedly already being predisposed to scooping the Mids. I do want the bass to be growley/punchy but in a way that is somewhat different from my Maple Fingerboard Super J. Maybe I'm over thinking it.
The Sonic (blue over swamp ash) P should arrive tomorrow. We had an impressive ice storm on the first day of winter, but the roads are clear again - especially for FedEx trucks!
It's a four-string, maple neck/board w/abalone dots, and "classic" orientation of that sweet FD-4P.
My 'five-string precision' tone monster has a J body:
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Um.....it's good to know that you're not an idiot?
I know I keep using 'amazing' but I have run out of words to describe it. I have never heard any P type bass that has that......evenness. that's the only word that I can use to explain it.
In all seriousness GW, my sincerest, heartfelt thank you for putting me on the reverse P placement. It's so good that I could care less what normal placement sounds like. Cold frosty E beverages on me sir !
Reverse P just makes so much sense...
Enjoy!
Congrats Zoomie. Awesome color combo! I almost ordered my very first Super J 7 years ago in that combo.
Anyone else notice that the coils on the reverse P don't seem to overlap as much as they do on the standard bass or like Spirit's trans blue J5? I wonder why that is?
Anyone else notice that the coils on the reverse P don't seem to overlap as much as they do on the standard bass or like Spirit's trans blue J5? I wonder why that is?
It's due to the additional distance needing the be covered to to the overlap. If you imagine the pickup having the same overlap on the non-reverse and just moving it straight across, it would be leaving the G with no coverage.
Well it also appears that way because of the 5 strings span. Had it been a 4 banger the two half coils would have been closer and looked slightly more even. But on a 5'er you've got to get the A string to be right in the middle of both coils and the D & G and E & B on either side with enough coverage wiithin the magnetic field.
I'm so sorry that you don't like your new bass Zoomie. 
Congrats! I am partial to white basses myself.
I am now really looking forward to seeing SpiritBass' SP4.
Congrats! I am partial to white basses myself.
I am now really looking forward to seeing SpiritBass' SP4.
