I'd love to do a Zoom one and meet some new people!!
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Dingwall Owners Club
- Thread starter FroggyOne2
- Start date
So, at the much larger Get Togethers I used to put on, I tried two different zoom / camera options to make them good for distant people, and, feedback was pretty universal that it wasn't a great experience for them. I can certainly try to do that again, and maybe the more intimate setting will make it better, but, not certain how well it'll work out.
IvanBassist
Commercial User
- Jun 8, 2008
- 3,748
- 11,137
- Disclosures
- Content Manager at Darkglass Electronics, Dingwall Guitars Artist
I recently got word that my new custom won’t be ready this year either 
Oh well. The wait time is not so bad when you have 3 other DWs
Oh well. The wait time is not so bad when you have 3 other DWs
New SP1 day for me!
I’ve been wanting a 5-string one after I got my 4 string white SP1
I can only keep one though so the 4 string will go.
Brilliant bass as always with Dingwall. Impeccable finish. Sounds awesome too!
Shout out to BassFreaks in Belgium for their outstanding service too (big up Sarg!). If you want a Dingwall, they’re the shop to choose.
I’ve been wanting a 5-string one after I got my 4 string white SP1
I can only keep one though so the 4 string will go.
Brilliant bass as always with Dingwall. Impeccable finish. Sounds awesome too!
Shout out to BassFreaks in Belgium for their outstanding service too (big up Sarg!). If you want a Dingwall, they’re the shop to choose.
Please report back once you get it installed.
I recently got word that my new custom won’t be ready this year either
Oh well. The wait time is not so bad when you have 3 other DWs
A Dingwall in hand is worth two in the bush.
On my Sklar, I have the Mo Mina designed (and installed by him as well) 6 way rotary with middle solo… one of two standard configurations available although Mo will also customize the switch settings if desired.
Of course, having a number of different tones available is great but are 12 better than a carefully chosen 6?
Of course, having a number of different tones available is great but are 12 better than a carefully chosen 6?
Jason told me that it had a USBC port on the other side, and this pic is on Facebook. I also was told that you could program any combination in any order, and only the ones you want (12 max). The missing ones may well be hidden cheat codes and not one of the default 12 that come preloaded.
Yes it's a pain in the butt to plug in a USB cable to your bass, but I plan on using all 12, figuring out which ones I like, then reducing it down to just those, might be 3, might be 5. But I only have to do that once. With all those choices, the world is my oyster.
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Seems rather extravagant, but I’d like to see this all controlled via foot switch controllers. Much like how so many people use various amp modelers and whatnot.
Or even better, have it programmable on an app to save the settings you like In what ever order you want whether it be 2 or 5 or 12 different pickup combinations, and then pull up on the knob to access those saved combinations and have the knob light up on the side the that says what position (based off the numbering system 1-12) is activated.
Seems like it would be incredibly complicated to do but for tone-tinkerers like myself, it sure would be a lot of fun. Like @gustobassman said before, I’m also a pretty much 2 settings user on my NG3, but I LOVE experimenting. I kinda more recently learned how AWESOME Middle/Bridge in parallel is after swapping pickups around. Not for everything, but man it sounds killer for when it works. Not able to keep that AND my overall preferred Neck/Bridge in parallel with the current stock wiring and I’m nowhere near savvy enough to wire it myself or if it’s even possible.
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I have no doubts you could find a way to control it with an Arduino or Raspberry Pi, the smallest ones could do it no problem, but then your running up against space and battery life limitations. Luckily the cavity is fairly spacious, so it can be done.
I'm going to answer some of these. Please note a couple of things as you read my responses:
- I'm writing the firmware and app for McGrath Guitars. Beyond that, I am not affiliated with McGrath in any way. I had no hand in hardware.
- McGrath is compensating me for the firmware and app
- All of the below should be considered not fully validated. I don't yet have hardware in hand, so, I'm working off schematics. While it should hold true in reality, there are possibilities of this not all happening exactly as I describe here.
- Keep in mind, working on things like this are physical-space limited, power-limited, and hardware-limited. We can do a lot with what McGrath already cooked up, but, some would require a lot of new hardware and a lot more power draw.
Additionally, say you have 12 configured. But you decide you don't actually use numbers 8, 10, and 11. In the app, you simply will go in and set those to "skipped". This does kind of mentally change the ordering, so instead of 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12, it'll go 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9-12 as you rotate the knob. You still rotate through 9 "clicks" on the knob, but logically you're "skipping" positions in software.
If you are sitting at a computer with the Editor open and connected to the switch in the instrument, as you physically move the knob on the bass, the Editor will also update in nearly real-time as well (something like 55ms delay). So you can do auditioning while you're programming it. The gap that remains and would require more hardware would be translating that to live so you know "Where am I?". That's where Favorite and Failsafe come in to play.
Favorite is the Position that you choose so when you press the knob, it'll switch to that setting. If you press the knob a 2nd time, it'll return to the previous setting. So if Favorite is Position 2, and you're on Position 8, you can tap to go to Position 2, then tap again to go back to Position 8.
Failsafe is Triple Press. If you do that, it'll always go to Position 1.
you can have anywhere from 2 to 12, and you get to now choose which positions have what configured.
There's also a few other features I'm cooking up for it. I'm hoping to have the first beta-ish level app sent to McGrath in the next ~week or so. Plus I'll be getting my own switch, and can do more rapid development once I have it in hand for direct testing rather than inferring from schematics. From there we'll iterate and refine it.
Stay tuned for more!
- I'm writing the firmware and app for McGrath Guitars. Beyond that, I am not affiliated with McGrath in any way. I had no hand in hardware.
- McGrath is compensating me for the firmware and app
- All of the below should be considered not fully validated. I don't yet have hardware in hand, so, I'm working off schematics. While it should hold true in reality, there are possibilities of this not all happening exactly as I describe here.
- Keep in mind, working on things like this are physical-space limited, power-limited, and hardware-limited. We can do a lot with what McGrath already cooked up, but, some would require a lot of new hardware and a lot more power draw.
This is one of the main benefits of the app. You will have a minimum of 2, and a maximum of 12, "Positions" to configure. Each position will be fully configurable with nearly any combination of pickups that you want.
Additionally, say you have 12 configured. But you decide you don't actually use numbers 8, 10, and 11. In the app, you simply will go in and set those to "skipped". This does kind of mentally change the ordering, so instead of 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12, it'll go 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9-12 as you rotate the knob. You still rotate through 9 "clicks" on the knob, but logically you're "skipping" positions in software.
This is certainly a little hard to solve through software, but, I am implementing something.
If you are sitting at a computer with the Editor open and connected to the switch in the instrument, as you physically move the knob on the bass, the Editor will also update in nearly real-time as well (something like 55ms delay). So you can do auditioning while you're programming it. The gap that remains and would require more hardware would be translating that to live so you know "Where am I?". That's where Favorite and Failsafe come in to play.
Favorite is the Position that you choose so when you press the knob, it'll switch to that setting. If you press the knob a 2nd time, it'll return to the previous setting. So if Favorite is Position 2, and you're on Position 8, you can tap to go to Position 2, then tap again to go back to Position 8.
Failsafe is Triple Press. If you do that, it'll always go to Position 1.
You're thinking of VooDoo Selector, and I swear, someday I'll own one of the... three? that have it. Somehow. I don't know how but I need that switching setup.
See above a bit
you can have anywhere from 2 to 12, and you get to now choose which positions have what configured.This would technically be possible actually, but, not something I think we're going to implement. It'd be a 2nd cable (USB-C) that would have to be wired up to a momentary switch. Unfortunately no MIDI singaling available in hardware.
Most of this is coming (see above), except the light part. That'd require a hardware revision (and more power draw, frankly).
See my note about using it in an Audition kind of way, above. It's not perfect, but, I do think it's interesting.
There's also a few other features I'm cooking up for it. I'm hoping to have the first beta-ish level app sent to McGrath in the next ~week or so. Plus I'll be getting my own switch, and can do more rapid development once I have it in hand for direct testing rather than inferring from schematics. From there we'll iterate and refine it.
Stay tuned for more!
Super exciting stuff @Selta and @CormacBass
Since this switch requires power, how does it interact with the push-pull active/passive switches on many Dingwalls? Would installing this effectively make the bass active-only, or is there a consideration for a method to preserve passive operation? If passive operation can be retained, how does that work with the pickup selection? Is there a default setting that occurs when power is disconnected from the unit? I believe I read earlier that all three in parallel becomes the default if power is ever lost but I'm not seeing that comment anymore (probably just overlooking it).
Since this switch requires power, how does it interact with the push-pull active/passive switches on many Dingwalls? Would installing this effectively make the bass active-only, or is there a consideration for a method to preserve passive operation? If passive operation can be retained, how does that work with the pickup selection? Is there a default setting that occurs when power is disconnected from the unit? I believe I read earlier that all three in parallel becomes the default if power is ever lost but I'm not seeing that comment anymore (probably just overlooking it).
The switch will always require power to operate, there's no getting around that. So you'll be able to use push/pull to disengage the preamp, but, you want a jack-switched source for power to the switch. So in a sense you're not far off the mark of "this makes all your basses active" in a "there's an active powered circuit" in there, but, the distinction being that it's not altering signal, just relay open/close (more similar to S/P switches than anything else).
When power is disconnected, you'll have a configurable option available in the app. The first option is to Retain Setting, which means if you unplug with it in Position 8, it'll stay in Position 8 when you plug in again. The second option is a default mode, where, it'll default to Position 1 on power loss/restoration.
Position 1 from factory is "All Three Parallel", but, as it's configurable, the documentation will likely need adjusted to be more specific here.
I should clarify as I got a DM.
Failsafe and Triple Tap are distinct operations.
Failsafe is "I've lost power so I am going to my default settings for the relays". Think of it as the relay's resting position for being open or closed when no power is present. From factory, the relays in this state end up in All 3 Parallel (regardless if you've configured this as a position setting or not).
Triple Tap is your path to "Get me back to Position 1 right now". If you happen to have Pos 1 as All 3 Parallel, failsafe and triple tap will feel similar if either are invoked.
Both of those are different from the "When power comes back" option I outlined in the message immediately above this.
Sorry for the confusion.
Failsafe and Triple Tap are distinct operations.
Failsafe is "I've lost power so I am going to my default settings for the relays". Think of it as the relay's resting position for being open or closed when no power is present. From factory, the relays in this state end up in All 3 Parallel (regardless if you've configured this as a position setting or not).
Triple Tap is your path to "Get me back to Position 1 right now". If you happen to have Pos 1 as All 3 Parallel, failsafe and triple tap will feel similar if either are invoked.
Both of those are different from the "When power comes back" option I outlined in the message immediately above this.
Sorry for the confusion.
Switch is cool and possibilities are something else. The app could just contain library of all practical and even strange wiring presets (phase stuff, weird combos), and end user selects up to 12 to configure. So easy to try new sounds.
I know it would probably require significantly more hardware, but incorporating internal S/P control over the pickup coils in addition to the pickup selection would be really cool.I'm going to answer some of these. Please note a couple of things as you read my responses:
- I'm writing the firmware and app for McGrath Guitars. Beyond that, I am not affiliated with McGrath in any way. I had no hand in hardware.
- McGrath is compensating me for the firmware and app
- All of the below should be considered not fully validated. I don't yet have hardware in hand, so, I'm working off schematics. While it should hold true in reality, there are possibilities of this not all happening exactly as I describe here.
- Keep in mind, working on things like this are physical-space limited, power-limited, and hardware-limited. We can do a lot with what McGrath already cooked up, but, some would require a lot of new hardware and a lot more power draw.
This is one of the main benefits of the app. You will have a minimum of 2, and a maximum of 12, "Positions" to configure. Each position will be fully configurable with nearly any combination of pickups that you want.
Additionally, say you have 12 configured. But you decide you don't actually use numbers 8, 10, and 11. In the app, you simply will go in and set those to "skipped". This does kind of mentally change the ordering, so instead of 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12, it'll go 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9-12 as you rotate the knob. You still rotate through 9 "clicks" on the knob, but logically you're "skipping" positions in software.
This is certainly a little hard to solve through software, but, I am implementing something.
If you are sitting at a computer with the Editor open and connected to the switch in the instrument, as you physically move the knob on the bass, the Editor will also update in nearly real-time as well (something like 55ms delay). So you can do auditioning while you're programming it. The gap that remains and would require more hardware would be translating that to live so you know "Where am I?". That's where Favorite and Failsafe come in to play.
Favorite is the Position that you choose so when you press the knob, it'll switch to that setting. If you press the knob a 2nd time, it'll return to the previous setting. So if Favorite is Position 2, and you're on Position 8, you can tap to go to Position 2, then tap again to go back to Position 8.
Failsafe is Triple Press. If you do that, it'll always go to Position 1.
You're thinking of VooDoo Selector, and I swear, someday I'll own one of the... three? that have it. Somehow. I don't know how but I need that switching setup.
See above a bit
This would technically be possible actually, but, not something I think we're going to implement. It'd be a 2nd cable (USB-C) that would have to be wired up to a momentary switch. Unfortunately no MIDI singaling available in hardware.
Most of this is coming (see above), except the light part. That'd require a hardware revision (and more power draw, frankly).
See my note about using it in an Audition kind of way, above. It's not perfect, but, I do think it's interesting.
There's also a few other features I'm cooking up for it. I'm hoping to have the first beta-ish level app sent to McGrath in the next ~week or so. Plus I'll be getting my own switch, and can do more rapid development once I have it in hand for direct testing rather than inferring from schematics. From there we'll iterate and refine it.
Stay tuned for more!
My two favorite sounds are
- middle solo with the coils in series (like on D-Roc)
- bridge and middle in series, with bridge coils in series and middle coils in parallel (like on 3X)
and it would be nice to get between them without multiple switches.
Being able to put pickup coils in parallel could also help mitigate some of the output discrepancies involved with putting pickups in series with each other, if someone were interested in that. I realize that would change the tone as well.
I also realize that this new switch adds a level of flexibility not previously attainable in a pickup selector, whereas my issue already has a solution in S/P switches, and I should probably just suck it up and install a push/pull control for my middle pickup wiring.
I could see a possible future for a switch assembly doing this. It'd be pretty complex, and likely power-heavy, but would be neat as a potential retro-fit to have S/P switches programmatically available.I know it would probably require significantly more hardware, but incorporating internal S/P control over the pickup coils in addition to the pickup selection would be really cool.
My two favorite sounds are
- middle solo with the coils in series (like on D-Roc)
- bridge and middle in series, with bridge coils in series and middle coils in parallel (like on 3X)
and it would be nice to get between them without multiple switches.
Being able to put pickup coils in parallel could also help mitigate some of the output discrepancies involved with putting pickups in series with each other, if someone were interested in that. I realize that would change the tone as well.
I also realize that this new switch adds a level of flexibility not previously attainable in a pickup selector, whereas my issue already has a solution in S/P switches, and I should probably just suck it up and install a push/pull control for my middle pickup wiring.
Also, since I'm on the topic of power, it'd equally be a neat future where we ditch the traditional 9v batteries, and use the available cavity space with form-fitted rechargable batteries. There's obvious cons to that, but, the capacity you could get would be truly massive. You could even make that form-fitted battery removable and have it's connection still be the typical 9v harness, so "At a gig and the fancy battery is dead" could still be resolved with off the shelf 9v batteries. I've played around with this with one of my old AB1s and it was really nice - plug in a USB cable to charge, and it had 3 tiny LEDs to show (very rough) charge state. I never thought there'd be enough interest to commercialize it though, especially since you have to cut the USB hole in the cover. It's been like 4 years though and I haven't had to charge that battery...
Unexpected NBD.
Was just browsing randomly and seen this Canada exclusive finish. Had to have it.
Subtle purple-navy color shift, also it’s matte.
Awesome people at The Vibrato Bar had one, now It’s mine
Didn’t have to pay T-word.
Much lighter than my NG3-6, sounds similar, just like it should. Easier to play. Also compared to 6 stringer neck this one looks and feels chunky (in a good way). Even F ultra jazz V has slimmer one, which surprised me tbh. But small frets make neck feel slim.
Now I just need to change knuckle-grater carbon pickguard and play play play it.
