Dingwall Owners Club

[cfraz]

Serious post -- sound off if you can/would want to make a Seattle-area Dingwall Get Together. @Dr. Cheese you'd of course be invited, and I bet we could make it work out to have you up here if the timing works out.

My summer is fairly busy, so Sept onward is when we'd have to target. I can check with all the contacts I have for venues to host from when I did the PacNW bass gtg stuff several years ago, just need a head count before I start the wheels in motion.

Great idea! I'd love to attend. Fairly low probability (~25%) I could actually make it due to prior commitments, but I'm close enough (Portland area) to make it at least possible.

 

[Cory rich40]

Welcome to the club Doc

Your demo’s have always sounded great but WOW!!!!

 

[Cory rich40]

This is crazy because when tried one of these out at a shop, it felt awkward. I play it at home and it feels great! I don’t think getting used to this bass will be hard at all. The fit and finish is top notch. It is a definite step up from my Sadowsky MX Modern 5. This bass is really well put together. My Brazilian Tagima or a USA Lakland are at this level.

Your demo’s have always sounded great but WOW!!!

 

[alembicbones]

Serious post -- sound off if you can/would want to make a Seattle-area Dingwall Get Together. @Dr. Cheese you'd of course be invited, and I bet we could make it work out to have you up here if the timing works out.

My summer is fairly busy, so Sept onward is when we'd have to target. I can check with all the contacts I have for venues to host from when I did the PacNW bass gtg stuff several years ago, just need a head count before I start the wheels in motion.

I'm definitely in!

Bones

 

[warptheory]

I'm definitely in!

Bones

I'm in to, coming from Salem, OR. Need to start a carpool with some folks in Portland!

 

[Bartrinsic]

Even though the scale length is the same, I think the AB neck is actually maybe a few inches longer in the heel just to attach to the body with that huge cutaway. That's curious about the pickups being slightly closer to bridge in Z. Wonder if that's an intentional sound design, or necessary due to body design.

Right on the front, wrong on the back, or a story of 3 heels (mine included), or a Monty Python skit: 'now for something completely different'. Z owners know this: others zoom in fully on the top of the z heel and you can see that the last cm or so from the 24th fret towards the body is a ramp that does not contact the body, perhaps for some percussive snap and/or more coverage of the neck on top. The longer extension of the bass-side cutaway and deeper bolt pattern on the back may compensate. On the AB-I, we have a Full Frontal Heel shot: no slouch on slap though: I suspect the design of the back on the AB-I may be part of the 'compact' concept. However, switching between them, the first-fret reach doesn't feel hugely different--they are both compact, in slightly different ways. If the AB-I hangs with first fret slightly closer (i.e., if so its << 1/2") then it also tends to shift my plucking hand toward the neck vs more of a bridge plucking position on the z (again, slight if true). When the squinting is done, these basses hang very similarly compared to other brands/models at 35" 'B' multi-scale or longer.

 

[nleney]

Right on the front, wrong on the back, or a story of 3 heels (mine included), or a Monty Python skit: 'now for something completely different'. Z owners know this: others zoom in fully on the top of the z heel and you can see that the last cm or so from the 24th fret towards the body is a ramp that does not contact the body, perhaps for some percussive snap and/or more coverage of the neck on top. The longer extension of the bass-side cutaway and deeper bolt pattern on the back may compensate. On the AB-I, we have a Full Frontal Heel shot: no slouch on slap though: I suspect the design of the back on the AB-I may be part of the 'compact' concept. However, switching between them, the first-fret reach doesn't feel hugely different--they are both compact, in slightly different ways. If the AB-I hangs with first fret slightly closer (i.e., if so its << 1/2") then it also tends to shift my plucking hand toward the neck vs more of a bridge plucking position on the z (again, slight if true). When the squinting is done, these basses hang very similarly compared to other brands/models at 35" 'B' multi-scale or longer.

The z neck looks so much narrower (side to side) than that of the ab in that photo. Thanks for the interesting comparison!

 

[Bartrinsic]

The z neck looks so much narrower (side to side) than that of the ab in that photo. Thanks for the interesting comparison!

Yes, about 70mm vs 75mm across at the 24th fret on the treble side. The z neck is crazy slim all around; set up is trickier and I need slightly more relief to get the action I like. Of course, the results are worth it; I've gotten better over time, balancing tighter truss rod settings against E-string saddle height (i.e., if the E-string saddles get too high, then more relief is required)--these things can be unit-dependent, especially with a very slim, very long neck. The AB-I neck is more like a combustion and its easier to set up.

 

[nleney]

Yes, about 70mm vs 75mm across at the 24th fret on the treble side. The z neck is crazy slim all around; set up is trickier and I need slightly more relief to get the action I like. Of course, the results are worth it; I've gotten better over time, balancing tighter truss rod settings against E-string saddle height (i.e., if the E-string saddles get too high, then more relief is required)--these things can be unit-dependent, especially with a very slim, very long neck. The AB-I neck is more like a combustion and its easier to set up.

That's a bigger difference than I would have expected. Ergonomics have become a very high priority for me, so that might just warrant some adjustment to my current abz order. I hadn't considered the setup difference with the z neck, though. How would you compare the ab and combustion neck shape/thickness?

 

[Element Zero]

previous/current owners of a Combustion/NG 5 strings and ABZ 5 strings… would you say the neck thicknesses are the same or similar? What about the shoulder edges? Same or similar roundness?

 

[Bartrinsic]

previous/current owners of a Combustion/NG 5 strings and ABZ 5 strings… would you say the neck thicknesses are the same or similar? What about the shoulder edges? Same or similar roundness?

Specs look the same for ABI and Combustion. It's been the a long time since I sold my NG3. But the AB-I neck doesn't feel at all chunky to me compared to the Z. It has more prominent shoulders and it's moderately wider (~45.5 mm at the treble side nut vs ~43.5 for the Z). Thickness seems similar, about 23mm at the 12th fret. I've had no problem switching between the AB-I and Z. I wouldn't feel like I'd sprung for the wrong one.

Spec	Afterburner I (AB1)	Combustion
Nut width (5-str)	45.5 mm – 1.8"	45.5 mm – 1.8"
Heel width (5-str)	75 mm – 2.95"	75 mm – 2.95"
Neck thickness @ 1st fret	21 mm – .827"	21 mm – .827"
Neck thickness @ 12th fret	24 mm – .945"	24 mm – .945"
Neck construction	5-piece maple, bolt-on	5-piece maple, bolt-on
Neck carve	Medium thin C shape	Medium thin C shape

 

[Element Zero]

Specs look the same for ABI and Combustion. It's been the a long time since I sold my NG3. But the AB-I neck doesn't feel at all chunky to me compared to the Z. It has more prominent shoulders and it's moderately wider (~45.5 mm at the treble side nut vs ~43.5 for the Z). Thickness seems similar, about 23mm at the 12th fret. I've had no problem switching between the AB-I and Z. I wouldn't feel like I'd sprung for the wrong one.

Spec	Afterburner I (AB1)	Combustion
Nut width (5-str)	45.5 mm – 1.8"	45.5 mm – 1.8"
Heel width (5-str)	75 mm – 2.95"	75 mm – 2.95"
Neck thickness @ 1st fret	21 mm – .827"	21 mm – .827"
Neck thickness @ 12th fret	24 mm – .945"	24 mm – .945"
Neck construction	5-piece maple, bolt-on	5-piece maple, bolt-on
Neck carve	Medium thin C shape	Medium thin C shape

Thanks!

 

[NaH]

previous/current owners of a Combustion/NG 5 strings and ABZ 5 strings… would you say the neck thicknesses are the same or similar? What about the shoulder edges? Same or similar roundness?

I compared Combustion 5 to AB2 and at the time I felt like the Combustion felt a little more chonky. Even though they should have a similar profile. I preferred the AB profile and sold the Combustion.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I thought Dingwall only used the Neve preamp on the John Taylor Signature bass. Well here two year old video featuring ABZ’s with Neve preamps.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I thought Dingwall only used the Neve preamp on the John Taylor Signature bass. Well here two year old video featuring ABZ’s with Neve preamps.

The Nashville model also uses the Neve.
The ABZ can be ordered with your choice of preamp. Neve is an option.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

The Nashville model also uses the Neve.
The ABZ can be ordered with your choice of preamp. Neve is an option.

Cool, as I said before, playing my JT has been an eye opener for me. I had forgotten what it is like to have a bass built to this standard. I had really gotten used to “good for the money” basses. I love my Dingwall, but I don’t want to get too caught up in Dingwall fever. I am a bit curious the higher Dingwalls, but I am not about to start a collection of them. I really want my JT to be my final bass, but a short scale for traveling would be fun to have.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Cool, as I said before, playing my JT has been an eye opener for me. I had forgotten what it is like to have a bass built to this standard. I had really gotten used to “good for the money” basses. I love my Dingwall, but I don’t want to get too caught up in Dingwall fever. I am a bit curious the higher Dingwalls, but I am not about to start a collection of them. I really want my JT to be my final bass, but a short scale for traveling would be fun to have.

This is a different take on a classic:

 

[warptheory]

Y’all see this?!?!?

McGrath Guitars 12-Way Rotary Selector Switch

McGrath Guitars 12-Way Rotary Selector Switch The new McGrath 12-Way Rotary Selector allows for massive tonal versatility allowing you to quickly recall your favorite setting and go back to the last one you were on! Installation is easy with screw down terminals for all leads. Some soldering...

fretnation.com

I ordered one for my NG3, said it should ship in a couple of weeks. You can also program it with USBC to any combination in any order, and only have your 5 that you like and not have to scroll through them all.

Stoked about this.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Cool, as I said before, playing my JT has been an eye opener for me. I had forgotten what it is like to have a bass built to this standard. I had really gotten used to “good for the money” basses. I love my Dingwall, but I don’t want to get too caught up in Dingwall fever. I am a bit curious the higher Dingwalls, but I am not about to start a collection of them. I really want my JT to be my final bass, but a short scale for traveling would be fun to have.

Some basses are so nicely built , play so
well, sound so nice up and down the neck , and sound so amazing that they will make you sell off most everything else .

Seems to me that with makers like MTD Kingston and Dingwall , the day of the Chinese boutique has arrived. The thing that makes these 2 lines stand out is the work that goes into them in New York and Canada. The build quality and components are top notch.

 

[Element Zero]

I love my Dingwall, but I don’t want to get too caught up in Dingwall fever. I am a bit curious the higher Dingwalls, but I am not about to start a collection of them.

Dude, same.

Definitely don’t have any extra funds lying around, but toying with the idea of letting go of a few more pieces including my NG3 and using the funds towards a custom.

I’m also completely daydreaming of having a fretted and fretless version of nearly identical basses but with inverse colors with ceruse finish.

Anyone have an ovangkol neck on your custom?