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Dingwall Owners Club

#60,021
Those 25% tariffs put the Z3 out of reach for my custom build so I'm looking at an ABZ or ABI with a wenge neck/board and Neve preamp.
For those that are familiar with both P-Tone and SFII pickups, how do the neck/bridge in parallel compare between neck P-Tone/bridge SFII and SFII in both neck and bridge? Which do you prefer?
Also, do you prefer the neck solo tone with P-tone or SFII? Thanks.

The P-Tone looks to have a slight scoop in the middle mids while the SFII looks to have less high mids and treble. IME the SFII is plenty bright and not lacking in treble (in contrast to what is shown in the picture) but definitely has more lows. I don't have the P-Tone for comparison.

1738530557021.png
 
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#60,022
5StringPocket said:
Thanks, I didn't know that those bridges were recessed one-piece.
Click to expand...

They are marvels, those bridges. Probably the best aspect of Dingwall basses. And that means something as there are a lot of very nice features in those instruments.


5StringPocket said:
Those 25% tariffs put the Z3 out of reach for my custom build so I'm looking at an ABZ or ABI with a wenge neck/board and Neve preamp.
For those that are familiar with both P-Tone and SFII pickups, how do the neck/bridge in parallel compare between neck P-Tone/bridge SFII and SFII in both neck and bridge? Which do you prefer?
Also, do you prefer the neck solo tone with P-tone or SFII? Thanks.

The P-Tone looks to have a slight scoop in the middle mids while the SFII looks to have less high mids and treble. IME the SFII is plenty bright and not lacking in treble (in contrast to what is shown in the picture) but definitely has more lows. I don't have the P-Tone for comparison.

View attachment 7141658
Click to expand...

IME those diagrams won't represent what your ears hear. IIRC this was the consensus in this thread, too.
 
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#60,024
5StringPocket said:
Those 25% tariffs put the Z3 out of reach...
Click to expand...
One thing to keep in mind is that the tariffs are a bargaining tool and the possibility of them not sticking still exists.
If they do then hurrying to make a decision might make sense, but if they don't then there may be some buyers who end up wishing they'd waited to see how it plays out.
 
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#60,025
I'm pretty much at the "any week now" portion of my production, I think. Finalized the build on Dec 2, and if 3-4 month estimate is still accurate, that means it's not much longer.
I don't have faith that the US's decisions here will end quickly, especially given the response so far. But it's still early so, hopefully it does? I am glad to see Canada not just backing down. The whole thing is stupid.

I'm trying to decide if I need to sell one of my older ABs to help offset this tax. I'd rather not, but, I'd also rather not have to find another way to come up with $2k.
 
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#60,026
MultiScaleMale said:
Remember that the cost of the item is only a portion of the final cost to the consumer. The cost of labor, lights and lease - that is their labor overhead, electricity and heating, and the cost of their facilities and any vehicles go into the price that the consumer sees. So while there is potentially, I say potentially because who knows what is going to happen, a 25% tariff on the goods brought into the country, there isn't a tariff on those other costs. So if retailers are going to put a blanket 25% cost adjustment, they're kinda ripping you off. Whether that price increase is 10%, 15% or 20% depends on how lean the retailer runs their business. The customer will end up paying for tariffs, but it is not a blanket percentage charged at the border is what is applied to the customer. In the case of Canadian Dingwalls I would guess a 15-20% increase and the Indonesian final assembly might be moving to the dealer. Just a guess.
Click to expand...
Yeah, you need to know the price the importer is paying to know the tariff cost. My guess is at least 17.5%, assuming the dealer cost is no more than 30% off list.
 
#60,028
Another thing to bear in mind regarding this imposing topic of distaste….

Dollar value…. This may help or hinder your purchases. It sounds like I may have to minimize my bourbon intake this summer but I ain’t ready to start “talking moistly” about that.

I’m of the hopeful mindset as mentioned by @Akami that negotiations will ensue shortly…. Despite our current state up here.
 
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#60,029
5StringPocket said:
Thanks, I didn't know that those bridges were recessed one-piece.
Click to expand...
Here is a photo
IMG_5713.jpeg


Individual saddles attached to a recessed sustain block. I think there are sonic differences as far sustain and depth but I don’t wanna crawl down that rabbit hole right now. I’ve got a project in hand!!!

That said, I would state that one of the biggest observations I would mention partially on topic is neck wood. Of the many Z models specifically I’ve played, a take away I have is that the wenge necks maintain a more rigid playing tension specifically on the B vs the maple necks. The low strings have always felt slinkier where as the B on a wenge neck feels tight and quick to recover in comparison.

Im hiding from the cold today and tackling a long overdue project. Scariest bass related project I’ve ever tackled!!
IMG_5709.jpeg
 
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#60,030
I asked John to confirm the duties.

He spoke to Sheldon personally at the NAMM show and said that US buyers will have to pay the tariffs.

I didn't ask about price adjustments to account for the tariffs, but it looks bleak.

If you're outside the US, he said they're also looking at shipping directly from Canada, bypassing the US.

At the moment, the dealers are exploring various options, so it's going to be a bit of a wait.
 
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#60,031
Nayatteu said:
I asked John to confirm the duties.

He spoke to Sheldon personally at the NAMM show and said that US buyers will have to pay the tariffs.

I didn't ask about price adjustments to account for the tariffs, but it looks bleak.

If you're outside the US, he said they're also looking at shipping directly from Canada, bypassing the US.

At the moment, the dealers are exploring various options, so it's going to be a bit of a wait.
Click to expand...
I didn’t ask JF because I figure he’s already slammed with inquiries about it and I have an idea of how it’s going to go.

I’ve been told directly and indirectly that most manufacturers of bespoke items in Canada that are of similar size and economic position of Dingwall will follow the same protocols. They have to pass the 25% on to US purchasers - if absorbed by Canadian businesses, it’s too much of a hit to the bottom line.

Avoiding political observations, and with the mention that nobody I’ve spoken with is a recognized authority, it’s felt that the reversal of the levied tariffs is an action that should be measured in months, at the most optimistic.
 
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#60,032
Fortunately I had a heads up before placing my order and could adjust the options so the final product with tariff was about what I wanted to spend. If I didn’t have a deposit in, not sure that I would have done so. Oh well, maybe painted necks and chrome will make a return…
 

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