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Dingwall Owners Club
- Thread starter FroggyOne2
- Start date
So happy to off that Mr. Toad's wild ride.......at least until January.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but the Super P5 has emotionally freed me from the Fender 63 AVRI P. It now represents nothing more than a nice chunk of change to help fund a super PJ 4. Woe.....woe I say.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but the Super P5 has emotionally freed me from the Fender 63 AVRI P. It now represents nothing more than a nice chunk of change to help fund a super PJ 4. Woe.....woe I say.
I say 'JOY'. I will celebrate the creation of your new PJ4 along with all of the Dingwalls 'birthed'' in the new year!
Woe?
I'd love to have your problems!
When I ordered my ABZ last spring, I was mainly looking for a lightweight, modern-sounding bass to replace my painfully heavy main instrument. At the time, I didn't bond as well with the SJ5 and SP4 that I sampled.
In the last couple of months, I've found myself jonesing for a vintage-sounding 5-string passive P-bass. At my New Years gig, my ABZ actually sat out the night in favour of the cheap Squier P5 that I picked up after Christmas.
My finances are such that I'll be lucky if I can find the $$ for a P-tone to drop into my ABZ, never mind ordering an SP5...
Speaking of which, any SP5 owners out there, that also own/have owned an ABZ or AB1 with a P-tone at the neck?
I'd like to know how closely the P-tone in a long-scale Dingwall captures the sound of an SP.
As an added bonus, I'd like to know how closely the SP captures the tone of a '62 AVRI, which is my favourite Fender model.
I'd like to know how closely the P-tone in a long-scale Dingwall captures the sound of an SP.
As an added bonus, I'd like to know how closely the SP captures the tone of a '62 AVRI, which is my favourite Fender model.
I played the Super P5 New Years and I played it with authority because our WL told me to turn up and rock it like I meant it. The Super P is well behaved but holy smokes, it is fierce when you really lean on it.
With the exception of finding out that 115 HE's pee the bed with the Super P, I find myself wanting for nothing in terms of tone. That's a useless cab issue, not a bass issue.
I'm going to simmer for a bit and see how I feel. I am just enjoying what I have way too much to detract from the fun to try and spec something else right now.
With the exception of finding out that 115 HE's pee the bed with the Super P, I find myself wanting for nothing in terms of tone. That's a useless cab issue, not a bass issue.
I'm going to simmer for a bit and see how I feel. I am just enjoying what I have way too much to detract from the fun to try and spec something else right now.
I missed this one while typing.
I gave up my 62 AVRI for my 63 AVRI. The 63 is the best P that I have ever heard, although I will admit, maybe 5% better than the 62.
That said, thus far (and I reserve the right to change my mind) comparing pure Fender tone, the SP gives you 85-90% of the AVRI. But wait, there's more.........
Fender P's have always been light switches to me. Play them like a sissy, get sissy tone. Beat on them like they owe you money, and they come alive.
The SP did a couple of things. First, tremendously improved clarity over a Fender P. Not sterile, and not exclusively a modern toned instrument. But it really opens things up.
Attack/Dynamic variance response, for lack of a better term, just crushes the Fender P. We played an acoustic set last week and I really laid back on the SP. And she sang. Smooth and subtle while remaining omnipresent in the mix. Still very expressive. There's no way the Fender P could have pulled this off. The Fender just doesn't do subtle without losing fine control over playing.
New Years was young pup CC music. Lots of cookin' 8ths and house/rave like bass lines. I dug in and the bass responded in kind with punchy low mids/mids again, noticeably more 'in your face' than a Fender. When I was packing up, our WL came over and said that the SP sounded even better than the SJ and he didn't think that possible. And this was all through some speakers which just could not keep up with what the SP was dishing.
Is it a perfect match? Nope. When you close your eyes do hear Leo Fender whispering in your ear? Yes. But that Dingwall responsiveness is there and takes my limited skill set much further.
The big question you really want to ask is, am I really willing to give up my beloved 63 AVRI, in spite of my mantra to never trust a bass player without at least one Fender P in his home? Yes. It stays for now because it's a 4 string, not because I get something out of it that the Super P can't do.
Your mileage may vary. Tax, tag and title not included.
I installed a P-tone pickup in the neck position of my alder bodied, maple/wenge necked AB-1. Good tone, but not the same as my SJ/P5. For one, I have never met a precision bass with a wenge neck. This makes a difference to my ears. Neither have I played a precision with strings that long. This also makes a difference to me. The tone is precision-like similar to Zoomie's comparison of his SP5 to a Fender. Comparing a P-tone equipped long-scale Dingwall to a medium-scaled Dingwall with the split precision pickup would be closer but for lack of a better descriptor, the long-scale has a 'bigger' sound to me. There is also going to be a bit more mass in the neck of a Super P compared to the long-scale Dingwall necks. This also makes a difference (to me) in response/feel. I hope this helped and didn't 'muddy the water' for you guys...
Yup! Clear as mud! Haha! As with everything else, I'll just have to get my hands on a P-Dinger.
Sincerely though, thanks for the attempt!
Sincerely though, thanks for the attempt!
Don't adjust your screen!! I have just been doing some test with photoshop layers and virtually tripped into a few psychedelic out takes on a these shots, it was fun...
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Don't adjust your screen!! I have just been doing some test with photoshop layers and virtually tripped into a few psychedelic out takes on a these shots, it was fun...
Woah! My dilated pupils just returned to their normal size and then I pull this up... It was not a good day for driving after visiting the optometrist. I was nearly blinded by glare while driving through brilliantly sunlit snow covered land.
Interesting special effects, GW!Bean369 - I will echo Zoomie's sentiment. Whether you love or hate P basses, you need to try one of Sheldon's Super P's.
Don't adjust your screen!! I have just been doing some test with photoshop layers and virtually tripped into a few psychedelic out takes on a these shots, it was fun...
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Those pics are fit for a guest shot in the Yellow Submarine!
Well, guess I'll have to introduce you to mine when she's born in March!
Final Spec:
Super P4 with:
Transparent white over Ash;
Wenge neck and board, with pearloid dots and headstock logo;
Black hardware with D tuner;
Blue luminlay side dots;
Tort guard for Standard P route;
Baltic Amber for Reverse P route.
Once I decide which route I like the best, I'm going to send that Pickguard out as a pattern for an anodized gold one just for fun! All three guards should look awesome between the dark chocolate wenge and the transwhite finish.
Due some time in March.
Well, guess I'll have to introduce you to mine when she's born in March!
Final Spec:
Super P4 with:
Transparent white over Ash;
Wenge neck and board, with pearloid dots and headstock logo;
Black hardware with D tuner;
Blue luminlay side dots;
Tort guard for Standard P route;
Baltic Amber for Reverse P route.
Once I decide which route I like the best, I'm going to send that Pickguard out as a pattern for an anodized gold one just for fun! All three guards should look awesome between the dark chocolate wenge and the transwhite finish.
Due some time in March.
It's going to be gorgeous and sound even better than it looks! I'd like to be able to gaze at (drool over) it in Sheldon's Super P gallery.
I dig transparent white big time. It's beautiful and goes well with whatever pick guard color/design you happen to be in the mood for. 
It's going to be gorgeous and sound even better than it looks! I'd like to be able to gaze at (drool over) it in Sheldon's Super P gallery.
It's like being a kid again and having a GI Joe with all the different uniforms to dress him in. OK, maybe not.
And BTW, it's only fair given that I've been drooling over yours and Zoomie's for a week plus now!
OK, getting a little weird here...It's like being a kid again and having a GI Joe with all the different uniforms to dress him in. OK, maybe not.
OK, getting a little weird here...
Yes very weird!!
Even as a kid I never played with GJ Joe and changed his uniforms.
I had a Barbie instead!
LOL no that is a joke I never had a barbie, my twin sister did.
My first good toy that I recall was a Bontempi organ that blew air into the keyboard and I learned every Beatles song note by note by ear.
Hey! He's not a doll, he's an action figure!
I was thinking more about audience reaction to pickguard swaps, than about the doll reference:
"Just a sec folks, I gotta have Tort for this next funk number!"
