Dingwall Owners Club

[Bocete]

Perhaps "made" is not the best word. I think "assembled" would be closer to the truth, but then I don't really know. Maybe you are right.

It is truly awesome. You can easily spend all day playing with the tones. The 4-position mix switch combined with active or passive gives you tons of options before you even touch the tone or EQ.

When I took it to my guitar tech to get TIs put on, he was impressed by the excellent intonation string to string, and he's not an easy guy to impress.

Like fanned frets imply certain intonation properties, so do they behave differently with parallel fret strings. Many Dingwall players eventually find that strings optimized for fanned frets just work better than pretty much anything out there. Especially with long-scale Dingwalls. Fanned frets make it so that the string design does not have to compromise as much between tension, pitch, core thicknesses etc. And there's a nice selection too, besides the Dingwall string brand there are Payson's fanned fret strings etc.

Just saying, give some of them a shot sometime. Maybe you can make that Combustion play even better

 

[brownie_bass]

Many Dingwall players eventually find that strings optimized for fanned frets just work better than pretty much anything out there.

+1

I bought a Super J on eBay that came with conventional strings of some variety. I wasn't sure I liked it, even after adjusting it as best I could. On Sheldon's advice I put on some Dingwall strings. It made all the difference in the world. I basically haven't played anything else since...

 

[BurningSkies]

+1

I bought a Super J on eBay that came with conventional strings of some variety. I wasn't sure I liked it, even after adjusting it as best I could. On Sheldon's advice I put on some Dingwall strings. It made all the difference in the world. I basically haven't played anything else since...

I love Sheldon's strings. I was a firm believer in his stainless steel strings until I tried his nickel wrapped. I've been wearing those for about a year now. Time for me to think about ordering some more.

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[groovaholic]

That cab is awesome. "Oh look, it's a schooner!"

It's not a schooner, it's a SAIL BOAT!

 

[CL400Peavey]

I love Sheldon's strings. I was a firm believer in his stainless steel strings until I tried his nickel wrapped. I've been wearing those for about a year now. Time for me to think about ordering some more.

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The AB1 has steels now? I have the one extra set you sent me, but I have been kicking around the ideas of nickels when I have to order more. Think it is worth looking in to? How many sets do you buy at once?

 

[BurningSkies]

The AB1 has steels now? I have the one extra set you sent me, but I have been kicking around the ideas of nickels when I have to order more. Think it is worth looking in to? How many sets do you buy at once?

Yes. those are both steels.

I usually buy 3 sets, but they can last me for years. After I use a set, I soak them in denatured alcohol. I take them off, coil them up and put them in a tupperware container of the alcohol, submerged. In the meantime, I string up with a different set. That's either new or has been soaking already. I switch them every couple months and the ones that are soaked retain about 90% of their highs, but retain that played in slightly relaxed feel. I bought some strings when I got my Rastaburst in 2008 and used those strings in this way until this past fall, when I finally ordered more. I keep one set new/unused and on hand, just in case.

I really like the nickels. I wasn't sure I would but I do. They have slightly more tension, but not so much that its a very different feel. That would be a deal breaker for me with most strings. I really like the feel of those SS strings, and wanted to stay as close as possible.

 

[singlemalt]

I'm really enjoying Payson's Reduced Core nickel round wounds. The Payson medium lights worked well for me too. Good choices for the AB-1. Find them at Bassstringsonline.com. I have yet to get the new Dingwall nickel rounds on my sixer, but at some point I will. Try to find a US retailer for the Dingwall strings, the postage from Canada is expensive. Anybody know a US retailer that stocks the Dingwall strings?

 

[Bocete]

I love Payson's reduced core nickels too. Got them on both my Dingwalls

 

[CL400Peavey]

See I have been playing super heavy strings for a while. The steels on my AB1 are thinner and lighter on tension. That isn't a bad thing, just wondering what my options are.

 

[BurningSkies]

I used to try to buy from Jong @ Jivesound, but his inventory seems to be patchy and last few times I tried, he didn't really have much in stock. I priced out 3 sets from Bass Central and 3 sets from Sheldon and with shipping, it was still cheaper to get them from Sheldon.

 

[singlemalt]

For heavier, stiffer strings, I'd talk to Payson or Jason at BSO. The first Payson nickel rounds were pretty stiff. Jason has a handle on fanned fret extended scale strings.

I've moved to a much lighter touch since getting on to Dingwalls. There is just so much more range and response with these basses, that my dynamic range was found wanting.

 

[spiritbass]

My whole equipment chain is very revealing. It excels at bringing out the good, bad, and downright ugly I put into it while playing. In the past, before going exclusively Dingwall, and on less 'revealing' rigs, I've been able to use the nickel tone (Hellborgs were my favorite), but they just don't work for me any more like stainless steels do. I've tried the Dingwall nickels on three different basses and LoRiders on my SJ/P and there seems to be a compression or suppression of a frequency band that my ears like compared to steels.

 

[Feral Feline]

I've just got my first Dingwall, a Version 4 Combustion that Barry says was made in the Proto shop. Could be the first V4 I suppose. Has a 3 band EMG pre and can be played either active or passive, (in passive the treble control acts as a tone control).

Best of all, it's Candy Tangerine!

It's tight and smooth throughout. Didn't need to take it to my guitar guy for a setup, it was already set up nicely.
Paint is smooth with no artifacts. Neck is satin backed and consistent. It's solid.

Weighs only 8 lbs.

I'm a little late to the lovefest...

*DROOL*

Love the Canady [sic] Tangerine and white MOT guard always goes well with oarawnje, but the icing 8 lbs... I've always liked light instruments.

Congrats. More than a little jealous here...

 

[CL400Peavey]

I struggle with ordering strings as well. I have had issues with Circle K strings being wonky on delivery. I couldn't get them to respond communication either by email or on forums to return them. Leaves me hesitant to order more consumables that may not meet expectation, and be unreturnable.

 

[Gabbs]

I struggle with ordering strings as well. I have had issues with Circle K strings being wonky on delivery. I couldn't get them to respond communication either by email or on forums to return them. Leaves me hesitant to order more consumables that may not meet expectation, and be unreturnable.

I've had good luck with bassstringsonline.com. Jason was very helpful and worked up a custom set of TI Jazz Flats for me. They fit perfectly.
He gives a discount if you mention you are a member of talkbass.

 

[SemiDriven]

I've had good luck with bassstringsonline.com. Jason was very helpful and worked up a custom set of TI Jazz Flats for me. They fit perfectly.
He gives a discount if you mention you are a member of talkbass.

TI Jazz Flats for your Dingwall?

 

[Gabbs]

Oh yeah. They sound fantastic together. Really punchy with a nice growl.
I don't need to say how wonderful they feel. Smooth and supple.

 

[singlemalt]

I gave the circle K balanced set a try and liked strings, however, I was not impressed by the three week turn around time.

Ordering with Just Strings was a fail. Postage both ways for strings that didn't fit cost me two weeks and $15. And I still didn't have new strings.

I can't say enough good things about dealings with BSO. They have a whole section dedicated to multi-scale, fanned fret and extra long strings. Strings arrive in three or four days, the site remembers your previous orders for easy reorder, and they are happy to help with questions. You also earn bonus points as well as your TB discount. They threw in a free C string on my last order. If they aren't sure about a string they will pull it out and measure it. The little micro headstock tuners they sell in a two pack are sweet. All this and free shipping. BSO is my first choice.

Grand Wazzoo has great things to say about Sansone strings. I've asked BSO to check into getting some, but haven't seen them in the US yet.

I can't play stainless strings, (too sticky) and I know some folks have similar issues with nickel. (black, smelly fingertips) It's nice to have some choices.
The beauty of the Payson and Dingwall strings is perfect fit and tapers so you don't have to do much if any setup. Restringing with non-tapered strings can mean putting in some set up time on string height and intonation. I have an AB-1 strung with TI jazz flats and getting them dialed took some work. .136 B string! (It was well worth the work! They sound and play great on the AB-1.) You might need shorter saddle screws for fat, or non tapered strings. The brilliant design of the bridge means you can find the screws at any well stocked hardware store.

The Infeld Superalloy roundwound super longs worked on the AB-1 as well.

 

[Gabbs]

The .136 B did take a little nut filing to fit, not much but some. The rest of the action was fine with the TIs, did not need to adjust the saddles.

 

[J Posega]

I'm perfectly content with Dingwalls nickel strings. I don't like steels, didn't care for Paysons original nickels (too stiff, died quickly), used Circle K .132 sets for about a year and a half, and then DW came out with their own nickels.

I wouldn't mind trying a lighter string set (.124 Circle K, perhaps), but I'm happy now.