Dingwall Owners Club

[evilgus]

Was just wondering how much of the recent discussions about using open strings was about tone, not hand ergonomics...

Personally, I'm a fan of zero frets and really hear the difference. Honestly interested to know whether Sheldon has thought about it, or tried it.

EG

 

[CL400Peavey]

Was just wondering how much of the recent discussions about using open strings was about tone, not hand ergonomics...

Personally, I'm a fan of zero frets and really hear the difference. Honestly interested to know whether Sheldon has thought about it, or tried it.

EG

For me it is ergonomics/playability. My band usually plays four sets ever time we play out. These songs are usually in the last set, and even if I could power through the two of them in standard tuning between the ease of playing it in drop and my hand fatigue at that point it makes a lot of sense to just drop one string.

 

[evilgus]

Sorry, I wasn't talking about a 4 vs 5 string situation, as I only play 5, mainly for those exact reasons. I already know how great the Dingwall slap tone is, just wondering how much better the open-string, slap tone would be with a zero-fret...

EG

 

[Jeff Roller]

I read somewhere Sheldon used zero frets initially, but discontinued due to PIA issues vs perceived benefits. Might have read his take on it over on the DW forum some years back.

If you really want a zero fret, it wouldn't hurt to ask Barry.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

I've been messing around with some outboard gear acquisitions the last week or so.

It's been interesting to note how the ABZ responds, compared to my cheap backup.

The differences between the onboard DI on my little G-K head and a Radial JDI are very noticeable with the Dingwall. Ditto for a $250 Darkglass overdrive vs a $100 Zoom multi-fx, and the pre's in my USB interface vs a $600 single-channel mic preamp.

In general, the ABZ likes a short, high-quality signal chain, and devices that are supposed to augment the tone actually mask it.
With my Squier? Not so much. Plugging it into a Zoom MS-60B actually helps it along quite nicely.

I'm not done testing, but the first conclusion to come out of this, is that the decision to retire my JDI as an unnecessary complication was a mistake. It's been moved back to my main gig bag.

 

[singlemalt]

Careful, next comes cab testing.

My first fEarful was a whole new ball game, the full Dingwall glory revealed.

 

[BuffaloBob4343]

My Super P finally arrived and I haven't been able to put it down.

The wenge absolutely exceeds my expectations, which were already high because I love wenge necks. It is the most incredible satiny feeling neck I've ever laid hands on. And the grain is spectacular.

The transwhite finish is so much better in person. It is translucent yet highly glossy at the same time. It looks creamy in some light and silver white in other light. The grain shows through much better in person.

This is the first Super series bass I've laid hands on, and I LOVE the scale length. So easy to play.

The tone is killer. Clear, punchy, yet nice and growly. The high end is nice and sweet. I'm not sure what it weighs, but it can't be much over 8 pounds if at all. Just an all out marvelous instrument.

It's going to look equally killer with the Baltic amber pickguard I have for it. I look forward to hearing it in the reverse Pickup mode with pg.

To say I'm pleased would be an understatement!!

 

[bassofthe]

I was quoted June or July for my ABZ, and have now officially entered the horrible phase.

I should be used to this by now.

 

[spiritbass]

Bob be: !!!!!!!!!

 

[steve_rolfeca]

As a techie, I sometimes need a smack upside the head to remind me that time spent learning how to use what I have, is more productive than mooning over new basses or other gear.

I've been running my ABZ in series mode 90% of the time, to get that big, fat low end. The trouble is, then I find myself fighting the extra scoop and zing in the upper mids. The next thing you know, I'm daydreaming about tube preamps, or a P-tone pickup for the neck position.

While tweaking my recording signal chain yesterday, I discovered that the "uninteresting" and "thin" sound of the solo'd neck pickup is no such thing.

If I roll the tone control back a bunch more than I do in series mode, then boost the gain on my amp to restore the lost level, the low end is just as full, but now the D and G strings sound more balanced in the upper register, almost like a P-bass.

The ironic thing, is that I have spent far more time researching/buying/borrowing gear over the last few weeks, than it took me to woodshed my way into the tone I was looking for.

I've had my ABZ for 9 months. If I spent more time playing it and less time on Talkbass, I could have discovered this "tone secret" ages ago!

 

[CL400Peavey]

Played one set Saturday night. Went in light weight. Rolling a DuallyT with one hand, PF-500 in a backpack, and my AB1 in the other hand. No PA support. Huge sound for my second gig with the Dingwall. I continue to love the sound I get with this bass.

 

[groovaholic]

@ Steve_Rolfeca: Ditto on the gear "navel-gazing" -- the bass has a tendency to teach us best when it's in our hands, not on a computer screen or online shopping cart.

To whit: I've been playing through my GK head for the past month or so, and wasn't quite satisfied.

So I found a Peavey Max preamp to go back to my "old faithful".
When I got the Max, it sounded just like I remember, which (as it turns out) is a less defined and immediate sound than I was getting with the GK...

 

[CL400Peavey]

@ Steve_Rolfeca: Ditto on the gear "navel-gazing" -- the bass has a tendency to teach us best when it's in our hands, not on a computer screen or online shopping cart.

To whit: I've been playing through my GK head for the past month or so, and wasn't quite satisfied.

So I found a Peavey Max preamp to go back to my "old faithful".
When I got the Max, it sounded just like I remember, which (as it turns out) is a less defined and immediate sound than I was getting with the GK...

I am going to be picking up a MiniMega when they are available. 1000 watts (1500 burst). Might just be the micro for me. I like my PF-500 and the 800, but it just doesnt have everything I want.

 

[spiritbass]

As a techie, I sometimes need a smack upside the head to remind me that time spent learning how to use what I have, is more productive than mooning over new basses or other gear.

I've been running my ABZ in series mode 90% of the time, to get that big, fat low end. The trouble is, then I find myself fighting the extra scoop and zing in the upper mids. The next thing you know, I'm daydreaming about tube preamps, or a P-tone pickup for the neck position.

While tweaking my recording signal chain yesterday, I discovered that the "uninteresting" and "thin" sound of the solo'd neck pickup is no such thing.

If I roll the tone control back a bunch more than I do in series mode, then boost the gain on my amp to restore the lost level, the low end is just as full, but now the D and G strings sound more balanced in the upper register, almost like a P-bass.

The ironic thing, is that I have spent far more time researching/buying/borrowing gear over the last few weeks, than it took me to woodshed my way into the tone I was looking for.

I've had my ABZ for 9 months. If I spent more time playing it and less time on Talkbass, I could have discovered this "tone secret" ages ago!

Brother, I can't give an AMEN big enough to this post!

 

[Paul M]

As a techie, I sometimes need a smack upside the head to remind me that time spent learning how to use what I have, is more productive than mooning over new basses or other gear.

I've been running my ABZ in series mode 90% of the time, to get that big, fat low end. The trouble is, then I find myself fighting the extra scoop and zing in the upper mids. The next thing you know, I'm daydreaming about tube preamps, or a P-tone pickup for the neck position.

While tweaking my recording signal chain yesterday, I discovered that the "uninteresting" and "thin" sound of the solo'd neck pickup is no such thing.

If I roll the tone control back a bunch more than I do in series mode, then boost the gain on my amp to restore the lost level, the low end is just as full, but now the D and G strings sound more balanced in the upper register, almost like a P-bass.

The ironic thing, is that I have spent far more time researching/buying/borrowing gear over the last few weeks, than it took me to woodshed my way into the tone I was looking for.

I've had my ABZ for 9 months. If I spent more time playing it and less time on Talkbass, I could have discovered this "tone secret" ages ago!

I know what you mean and it happens to me over and over again. I keep stripping back my sound then, little by little, I add things to it – two pickups, different pickups, more EQ, etc, then I start thinking about a going back to using an onboard pre-amp. I'm often smacking myself upside the head and taking it back to the basics.

I find the richest sounds come from using one pickup at a time, usually the neck pickup. I have had a P-Tone in a AB2-5 but it's not necessary - the standard FD3 (with its coils wired in series) has a very P Bass-like tone already.

On my AB1 6, I only use both pickups in series only for songs that need a big generic "cinematic" bass tone - the kind of tone that the average listener would not even guess came from a bass guitar.

For songs where the bass needs to sounds like a bass guitar, I generally use one pickup only or two pickups in unequal proportions. (I have series/parallel switches on both pickups.)

 

[Zoomie]

Well these two sound pretty amazing together.

If Jamerson had only had the opportunity.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

That's got to be a pretty cool combo. I'm not a big B-15 enthusiast, but even I would like to give that a run.

 

[CL400Peavey]

Well these two sound pretty amazing together.

If Jamerson had only had the opportunity.

I know you disparage the new Portaflexes, but I really dig the PF/DuallyT/Dingwall combo.

 

[Zoomie]

Julian, I think the PF800 disparaged itself a little when it peed the bed after a whole three weeks.

Setting aside its early DI failure on the first one I had, and its total lack of headroom, I could usually get some good tone out of it. So I don't think you're stone cold crazy in terms of enjoying the tone.

To be fair, I'm spoiled stinkin' rotten with the Reiner and 3000 watts.

So, to be clear, my problem with the PF (excluding the failure as new) is the same problem that I have with a lot of the micros. Underpowered, zero headroom, and many of them have a little too much baked in tone for my taste(my beloved Streamie included.) If I want hair/wool, I prefer to add it myself via the XD 1 or JohnK's Gamma.

I spend most of my time in a huge building on a 45 foot stage with 13 foot ceilings. And these (500-900 watt) micros are working awfully hard just to give me stage mix volume.

Some day, someone will build a monster that resolves some of these issues, without resorting to big iron.

I do understand the appeal though. Just havent found one that can hang in terms of tone with the Reiner.

 

[Zoomie]

That's got to be a pretty cool combo. I'm not a big B-15 enthusiast, but even I would like to give that a run.

The early B-15's are magic from the perspective of how they changed the bass world. No different than Sunn or Ampeg.

From a functional standpoint in today's world, they are all but useless. Not enough watts to do anything. And the rice krispies can push sound engineers off the deep end when recording.

But for noodling around the house, good googly goo !