Dingwall Owners Club

[reddavid]

Zoomie, I know what you need to do with that P5....go FRETLESS... After 11 months, it's here and I LOVE it! NND (new neck day) Fretless neck arrived today, 10 minutes to install (perfect fit).

New treatment on the side dots - wrapped in black, for better contrast in the dark.

This sounds soooo good. Low action. Great tone (Maple/Ebony). MWAH for days. Now to practice A LOT.

Do it, Zoomie!

 

[spiritbass]

Zoomie, I know what you need to do with that P5....go FRETLESS... After 11 months, it's here and I LOVE it! NND (new neck day) Fretless neck arrived today, 10 minutes to install (perfect fit).

New treatment on the side dots - wrapped in black, for better contrast in the dark.

This sounds soooo good. Low action. Great tone (Maple/Ebony). MWAH for days. Now to practice A LOT.

Do it, Zoomie!

You did a nice job of capturing the exceptionally nice burst on your Super P. I like the new side dot treatment!

 

[smeet]

I'm about to add a bridge pickup to my Super P5 (woohoo!).
But I'm a bit confused about options. Is there only one type of FD-3 pickup? Or is there a regular and a P-tone version? If they are different, how do I choose?

 

[Zoomie]

Zoomie, I know what you need to do with that P5....go FRETLESS... After 11 months, it's here and I LOVE it! NND (new neck day) Fretless neck arrived today, 10 minutes to install (perfect fit).

New treatment on the side dots - wrapped in black, for better contrast in the dark.

This sounds soooo good. Low action. Great tone (Maple/Ebony). MWAH for days. Now to practice A LOT.

Do it, Zoomie!

Actually that would be a stellar idea however, I need an NS so I don't have to drag the Kay around so I can't convert and go with the NS EUB.


If someone would just swap me their Sj5 I could be on my way!

 

[Bocete]

I'm about to add a bridge pickup to my Super P5 (woohoo!).
But I'm a bit confused about options. Is there only one type of FD-3 pickup? Or is there a regular and a P-tone version? If they are different, how do I choose?

There is a P-tone version and the standard FD-3, with the standard FD-3 being wired in series or in parallel (or is sometimes wired to be switchable between the two).

ABs always come with the bridge pickup in series, and by default, neck in parallel (by default, and aside the 3X pickup configuration). The P-tone is an option to replace the neck pickup. It is widely accepted that the standard FD-3 neck pickup, when switched to series instead of parallel, creates a very convincing P-like sound. I can confirm that first hand. I suspect that the P-tone is little more than a series wired FD-3 that is not as hot.

Long story short, you probably want a series wired FD-3 at the bridge. That's standard for the bridge location, and I assume all FD-3 equipped Super series basses have exactly that in the bridge. All ABs etc certainly do.

 

[BurningSkies]

I agree, but with the comment that there's an exception to every rule.

I believe the AB models of the mid 2000's (like my old one) had both coils running in parallel. It was before the days of the 4L pickups, and back then they came 'standard' wired in parallel.

 

[CL400Peavey]

I agree, but with the comment that there's an exception to every rule.

I believe the AB models of the mid 2000's (like my old one) had both coils running in parallel. It was before the days of the 4L pickups, and back then they came 'standard' wired in parallel.

I would be curious about series/parallel switches per pick up.

 

[Bocete]

I agree, but with the comment that there's an exception to every rule.

I believe the AB models of the mid 2000's (like my old one) had both coils running in parallel. It was before the days of the 4L pickups, and back then they came 'standard' wired in parallel.

Yes, I wrote and subsequently deleted a long paragraph on the history of FD-3s because it was just adding confusion and was hardly relevant to his question. 4Ls have been around long enough to not even mention the label, and I don't remember the last time people talked about Mach IIs as a specific model etc.

I would be curious about series/parallel switches per pick up.

My AB-II has a series/parallel switch for the neck pickup. I generally find the parallel mode more useful, except when solo'd. Switching the pickup to series boosts it's output, especially around lower mids, becoming significantly louder than the bridge pickup. Nice and chunky when solo'd, but too dominant in series/parallel with the bridge pickup. YMMV

 

[BurningSkies]

I would be curious about series/parallel switches per pick up.

It is do-able on your AB-1, but if you're not comfortable with precise detailed soldering work...There was a 'hack' before Sheldon started producing the 4L or MII4L pickups where you could open pickups and rewire the coils yourself. Of course, on that bass, I'd suggest any such work or any additional electronics body mods be done by a highly qualified professional.

 

[BurningSkies]

Yes, I wrote and subsequently deleted a long paragraph on the history of FD-3s because it was just adding confusion and was hardly relevant to his question. 4Ls have been around long enough to not even mention the label, and I don't remember the last time people talked about Mach IIs as a specific model etc.



My AB-II has a series/parallel switch for the neck pickup. I generally find the parallel mode more useful, except when solo'd. Switching the pickup to series boosts it's output, especially around lower mids, becoming significantly louder than the bridge pickup. Nice and chunky when solo'd, but too dominant in series/parallel with the bridge pickup. YMMV

I mention it because there are plenty of AB 1 & 2's and also Z models out in the world that have both parallel wired pickups. The shop did this for a number of years I believe.

 

[CL400Peavey]

It is do-able on your AB-1, but if you're not comfortable with precise detailed soldering work...There was a 'hack' before Sheldon started producing the 4L or MII4L pickups where you could open pickups and rewire the coils yourself. Of course, on that bass, I'd suggest any such work or any additional electronics body mods be done by a highly qualified professional.

In not going to mod it. It is pretty much perfect.

 

[Bocete]

I mention it because there are plenty of AB 1 & 2's and also Z models out in the world that have both parallel wired pickups. The shop did this for a number of years I believe.

Yes, I remember reading about Mach-IIs when they were a new development and FD-3s were already around at the time. That means that FD-3s were all parallel up to that moment, and I assume all FD-1s are in parallel.

 

[BurningSkies]

Yes, I remember reading about Mach-IIs when they were a new development and FD-3s were already around at the time. That means that FD-3s were all parallel up to that moment, and I assume all FD-1s are in parallel.

I would guess. The FD-1's are fairly similar to the 3's, which I believe are more of a 'refinement'. I also believe that the FD1 pickups were made in partnership with Fury, and the FD-3's were in house only. I could be wrong about that though, it was before the time of Sheldon's board, or an active group here. I was part of the original Yahoo group but it wasn't anywhere near as active or informative.

 

[Sheldon D.]

You're correct on the FD1's being wound by Fury and FD3's wound in house. There's quite a difference in tone. FD1's sound much more hifi with a peak at about 1.2K. The original bluEQube was developed to tame that peak if you were looking for a more scooped sound. There were briefly FD2.9's that had a huge bottom and much less prominent top end. IIRC the tone shape reminded me of a pear. Large bottom, smaller top.

 

[Feral Feline]

^ This is what makes Dingwalls so great. NOTHING is random, "oh let's throw this in thar and see what happens...", everything is done with well thought-out purpose.

How about another green Dingwall for the day? Like this awesome Afterburner 1 with quilt top and BluEQube!

I think Sheldon D. has a monopoly on the most beautiful figured woods in existence. I thought the red one the other day couldn't be topped; well maybe it hasn't, but this grain surely matches it. Incredibly magical maple tops... So stunning I forgot what I came to the thread to post about.

 

[Tim1]

I just ordered one of the new Combusion 5s in translucent white with an ash body and rotary selector switch . First Dingwall, and since I have to import it I had to buy without trying a fanned fretter first. Plenty of research has left me confident I will end up with a pretty special bass. I believe there have been a few changes made to the Combustion line this year. Was tempted to get one of the more upmarket models but thought I should try a Combustion first, plus people seem to think that the Combustion gets pretty close to the more expensive models for significantly fewer bucks.
Only downside is I will have to wait two or three months for delivery.

 

[MDBass]

I just ordered one of the new Combusion 5s in translucent white with an ash body and rotary selector switch . First Dingwall, and since I have to import it I had to buy without trying a fanned fretter first. Plenty of research has left me confident I will end up with a pretty special bass. I believe there have been a few changes made to the Combustion line this year. Was tempted to get one of the more upmarket models but thought I should try a Combustion first, plus people seem to think that the Combustion gets pretty close to the more expensive models for significantly fewer bucks.
Only downside is I will have to wait two or three months for delivery.

Don't worry Tim, most folks around here regularly deal with wait times in the 9 month range...and it's always worth it

 

[5StringPocket]

My AB-II has a series/parallel switch for the neck pickup. I generally find the parallel mode more useful, except when solo'd. Switching the pickup to series boosts it's output, especially around lower mids, becoming significantly louder than the bridge pickup. Nice and chunky when solo'd, but too dominant in series/parallel with the bridge pickup. YMMV

I mention it because there are plenty of AB 1 & 2's and also Z models out in the world that have both parallel wired pickups. The shop did this for a number of years I believe.

My ABZ-5 purchased earlier this year had both FD-3 pickups wired in parallel. After playing it to get a feel for the tones on tap and reading this TB thread and Dingwall forum, I contacted tech support to get wiring diagrams. There is a pretty good guitar tech close by so I had the bridge pickup rewired to series and installed a push/pull volume pot for series/parallel switching of the neck pickup. Highly recommended! This improved the tonal palette by adding some meat to the bridge tone and versatility to the neck tone. For me this seems to get the most out of the 4-position switch pickup alignments. All the tones are useable and the passive tone control is the most musical and interactive I've ever used. I usually like an onboard preamp to provide some signal boost to get a fatter sound, but these FD-3's have enough output and fullness that I don't miss the active preamp as long as I'm playing though an amp or pedal with a good eq section. Very pleased with this bass.

 

[reddavid]

I tried 2 different compressors, most recently the Diamond BCP-1 thinking I was missing something and it would improve the tone of my Dingwall P5 and/or PJ5.

I think I hear a little more sustain, maybe. A little more complex note (as it is blended). But you know what, I'm sending them back. It's just not that much different. I can adjust pickup selections, tone, and playing style and get pretty much the same sounds - or better, without a compressor.

It also helps that I'm playing thru a Puma 900 and Baer ML-112, which sound great with Dingwalls (at least for me.)

I still may hold out for a FEA DE-CL to see if it adds sustain or provides a nice 'limited' sound for those songs that need driving 1/8 or 1/16ths. But to be honest if I roll back the treble on the PJ or roll forward the Tone Fusion on the P, and I'm pretty much there.

Maybe I'm missing something. Maybe I'm not missing ANYTHING! Which is pretty awesome.

Other experiences out there related to Compressors and Dingwalls?

 

[wvbass]

I have the Diamond on my pedal board. IME, a compressor just helps other basses have the "even-ness" that my ABI already has. My ABI is plug-and-play.