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Dingwall Owners Club

#7,961
I have had a couple of compressors before (Trace Elliot) and an Aphex, and while I like the idea, I am not sure it does anything for me. I don't like the sound if it sounds too squished and if there is not much compression, you do not hear a whole lot, which makes you wonder why your bothering in the first place. Maybe I just haven't tried the right one or maybe I just don't like compression. I am always a little intrigued and wonder if I should give it another try.
 
#7,962
I'm shopping around for a compressor right now. I just find that I need a little bit of compression to even out transitions from fingerstyle to slapping or tapping. My parallel fret basses need it more than my ABZ, but it's still necessary with the Dingwall.
 
#7,963
I feel like my Voodoo/Zebra is a bit more compressed naturally than some other basses I've owned. I do record a lot, and we run multitracks during our rehearsals often, and it actually is the most even-to-tape bass I've had, and in comparison to other 'band' instrument by far the most level.
 
#7,964
I used to use a compressor on the '64 Precision I played in college, just for ballads. It had a pretty strong dead spot on the G string, and the comp helped the sustain.

My ABZ doesn't need any help that way, but I use a Diamond BCP-1 when I want a mellower feel. I run the compression almost off, and back the BCP's tone control off a bit.
 
#7,965
steve_rolfeca said:
My ABZ doesn't need any help that way, but I use a Diamond BCP-1 when I want a mellower feel. I run the compression almost off, and back the BCP's tone control off a bit.
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Thanks, Steve. I tried the Diamond based on some of your posts. I had to have the compression all the way up, and volume way down to hear anything different. Even then, not so much, when I turned it off, sounded pretty much the same. For ballads, I tend to solo the neck P pickup and all is good. I tried it on one song this morning, and it was ok. Turned it off for the next 2, and couldn't tell any noticeable difference. Happy to save the $$$ and return it. Hopefully now I can concentrate on playing/growing/learning.
 
#7,966
It was the SJ/P4's turn in the rotation today. As usual, I ran the pickups in series. It's possible to make it sound 'polite' if you're playing gently up by the neck, but pluck harder and closer to the bridge and it'll bite like a sonic bulldog! Killer tones on tap... :cool:

BronzeAgeSuperJ_P4_zps98b39ff2.jpg
 
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#7,967
reddavid said:
Thanks, Steve. I tried the Diamond based on some of your posts. I had to have the compression all the way up, and volume way down to hear anything different. Even then, not so much, when I turned it off, sounded pretty much the same. For ballads, I tend to solo the neck P pickup and all is good. I tried it on one song this morning, and it was ok. Turned it off for the next 2, and couldn't tell any noticeable difference. Happy to save the $$$ and return it. Hopefully now I can concentrate on playing/growing/learning.
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If one of my posts encourages someone to quit fooling around with gear and get back to playing, then I've succeeded! ;-)

Still, I'm wondering if your Diamond was defective. My friends tell me that I have an unusually light touch, yet the Diamond gets very squishy if I get the threshold much over halfway.
 
#7,968
I feel the same way about the Diamond. I have the "comp" knob at or below 9 o'clock, and I notice a big difference in the sound. It gets a little squishy and loses a little impact, but overall the tone is improved in some noticeable but indefinable way. And fast passages low on the B and E string are more articulate.

Those are my experiences with my Nordstrand basses. I haven't used a compressor with my Dingwall, but I use the Diamond because of what it does to the tone, not to even out my levels. I still have almost the same amount of dynamic control, but with a bit of that Diamond pixie dust.
 
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#7,969
I have an Empress on my board. I had to run it early when I was moving back and forth between the AVRI P and the Super J. Lots of energy to play the Fender P and the Empress kept me from going full bass-tard on the Super J5. With me playing the Dings exclusively for the last 9 months give or take, I haven't found the need to use it.

The Empress is great as it can be set very lightly to just handle any massive peaks and valleys. It also can go full country quack.

I've had no issues in terms of tone or sustain once the Streamie and I came to terms. You can close your eyes and twist knobs on the Reiner and it always sounds incredible.
 
#7,971
So what do you think...some nice green basses last week. How about some blue ones this week. This one is owned by a TB member...bought at Jive Sound (Jong is a Mod here at TB too). An AB 1.5 with a fairly unusual color. This is 'light blue burst'...Dingwall Indigo shot lighter and thinner and no pre-dye.

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A really nice looking AB...
 
#7,972
Smallequestrian said:
Hey Guys, as the PJ is continuing to kill everything for me, my goal of being a one bass guy looks very reasonable. Therefore the SPZ5 is on the block. If anybody wants an incredibly light killer Pbass, hit me up http://www.talkbass.com/threads/dingwall-spz5.1094447/
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Arg... I really wish I could swing this... and it would give me a reason to drive to chicago to boot.

BurningSkies said:
So what do you think...some nice green basses last week. How about some blue ones this week. This one is owned by a TB member...bought at Jive Sound (Jong is a Mod here at TB too). An AB 1.5 with a fairly unusual color. This is 'light blue burst'...Dingwall Indigo shot lighter and thinner and no pre-dye.

14848871603_d4946670c9_o.jpg


14806022556_1152795a9c_o.jpg


A really nice looking AB...
Click to expand...

I would rock that in a heartbeat.
 
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#7,973
Smallequestrian said:
Hey Guys, as the PJ is continuing to kill everything for me, my goal of being a one bass guy looks very reasonable. Therefore the SPZ5 is on the block. If anybody wants an incredibly light killer Pbass, hit me up http://www.talkbass.com/threads/dingwall-spz5.1094447/
Click to expand...

I have been all but a one bass guy, but not on purpose.

Glad to hear you're loving the new PJ. If I new anyone that could successfully pull of the route without marring the finish, I could do that with the Super P.
 
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#7,976
Most of them are actually fairly light. (Afterburner I's/Z's, Super P's, SuperJ's).

It usually does not take very long to adapt and it looks scarier than it actually is. For the 34" - 37" scale length models (5-strings, not including the SuperJ or SuperP), there is a bit of an extra stretch in the lower register, but if you're not doing anything technical, it's really not all that bad. Remember, half of the "fan" is at the bridge. Some mention that it is more difficult to do chords above the 12th fret, but I do not have that problem as I don't play chords.
 
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#7,977
svtb15 said:
How easy is it to adapt to a Dingwall.. AND they look heavy.. are they? I would love to have a 5 string between 8 and 9 pounds... Possible????
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It was harder for me to go to 5 strings from 4 than move to the fanned frets. Although I don't do a whole ton in the 12+ range where the fanning is the most extreme. My Afterburner 1 (alder body, maple top, 5pc maple neck, wenge board), was LIGHT. Easily around 8 pounds maybe a bit less. I had a 'featherweight' 73 Precision and the Dingwall beat that. My current one is probably right around 9 pounds. Sheldon does his best to balance weight with his dual-density bodies. The bodies aren't as big as they may look and his bodies are also thinner front to back than most basses, especially the Z and Prima series.

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And note that the "super" series basses have thin bodies but also some interesting contouring that not only removes some weight but also makes for better upper range access.

4-Back.jpg
 
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#7,979
The fanned frets are easy. The hard part is explaining why all those other basses you had to have are now for sale.

My AB-1 six string is well under 9. Heaviest is a Swamp Ash Super P/J 5, that weighs around 9. Very comfortable to wear and well balanced.

That cool scallop on the backside of the lower horn on the Super J, clears the way for full access to the 21 fret. The battery cover is a slick, no tool, magnetic deal.

The bridges are a delight of great design. Set ups are a breeze.
 
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#7,980
Dang Burny, that Rastaburst is SO HOTTTT! That heel shot makes me want to lick it...

All the (very few) Dingwalls I've played are very light, and I've never even noticed the fanning while I'm playing my SuperP. I do use the upper frets, and I play double-stops on the top two or sometimes three strings, and that is no problem.
 

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