Dingwall Owners Club

[Smallmouth_Bass]

So anyone here have the story on this JS3X?
Link Removed

Talk dirty to me....

No, but it looks awesome!

 

[CL400Peavey]

No, but it looks awesome!

I wonder if there is enough money to get Sheldon to build me a bass with solid super fatties from the bridge to the neck.... fun them all in series.

 

[BurningSkies]

I wonder if there is enough money to get Sheldon to build me a bass with solid super fatties from the bridge to the neck.... fun them all in series.

Hurdles:

-Sheldon deciding he does or doesn't want to do it
-cost of development (CAD for the CNC), testing and/or custom wiring design
-time (spare development time is hard to come by)
-cash.

 

[CL400Peavey]

Cash solves/eases a lot of those.

 

[BurningSkies]

Cash solves/eases a lot of those.

Oh, so you're wealthy now.

I just cobbled enough together for a few sets of Dingwall nickel/steels. Its been about a year since I got new ones and it's time, with some decent shows coming up.

...I'd love to be saving for a new bass, but beyond saving for a house, I'm really looking at having Jule synthesize and build me a 2 channel power amp out of the new Hypex units he's using for his integrated amps. I don't have a price tag, but it's a similar development situation I believe.

 

[smeet]

I'm confused about the differences between the Afterburner models...
Between the ABZ and the AB1, it looks like the only differences are the finish and the body/fingerboard woods, is that correct?
Do they sound or feel significantly different?

 

[Grand Wazoo]

I'm confused about the differences between the Afterburner models...
Between the ABZ and the AB1, it looks like the only differences are the finish and the body/fingerboard woods, is that correct?
Do they sound or feel significantly different?

Unless I am mistaken The AB1 series are also active whereas the ABZ are only passive.

 

[smeet]

The website lists the Glock preamp as an option for both. Maybe it's standard on the AB1 and an option on the ABZ?

 

[Grand Wazoo]

The website lists the Glock preamp as an option for both. Maybe it's standard on the AB1 and an option on the ABZ?

That could either be an error on the website or a recent update (things constantly change at the Dingwall farm) but as far as I know, my ABZ 5 is passive see pic of control cavity and it is listed on many stores as passive see link here: Invalid Link Removed

The new ABZ series from Dingwall brings together the brilliant fan fret technology with a more streamlined build that produces a Canadian hand made bass at a really good price.
Lightweight, easy to play, massive array of tones - this bass will take you to a new level of playability and tone.
Time after time players are amazed at how easy and intuitive fan frets feel to play - most admit that it is actually easier and more natural.
5 String Bass 34" - 37"
•Dingwall made in Canada FD3-A pickups
•Dingwall passive controls, volume, pickup selector (Bridge, both parallel, both series, Neck), tone.

http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/553a60b7.jpg.html

 

[smeet]

OK, given that it's passive, how much of a sound difference is there between ABZ and AB1? Is the AB1 a whole new world of tones, or just a bit more control from the pre? Do the wood choices make the AB1 sound more round and warm and mid-rich?

 

[Grand Wazoo]

OK, given that it's passive, how much of a sound difference is there between ABZ and AB1? Is the AB1 a whole new world of tones, or just a bit more control from the pre? Do the wood choices make the AB1 sound more round and warm and mid-rich?

Since I don't have an AB1, I can only give you a comparison between the ABZ and ABII (I think the difference between ABI and ABII is the fact that the ABII has fancier woods and hollow tone chambers in the body) However the glock preamp is to me just like a boost to the natural passive sound, the two band one can help you in muddy situations allowing you to add a lot of bass or a lot of treble, no mid control, and does not change the sound palette it only enhances it. However I never use the preamp, because I dig the tone control in passive and such does not work while active and while the treble and bass controls of the glock are centre detented allowing you to boost and cut, even if you turn the treble to zero is still not as velvety as a tone control turned down. But that's just my take on them. It is safe to say that the Glock does a good job of boosting frequencies but not so good a job in cutting them, but then you can always pull the volume switch off go back to passive. Would I buy another preamp'd Dingwall? Maybe not. I would stick to passive ones as I found them to be more suited to my needs.

Try both and decide

 

[BurningSkies]

Traditionally the AB-1 is passive with the standard Dingwall Shelled FD-3 pickups, alder body, gloss finish (often with maple top). 5pc maple neck with Wenge board. The active version is considered the AB-1.5.

The ABZ is the flat finish, ash bodied passive, maple fretboard. The pickups are FD-3 but in a different shape shell, more of the 'standard humbucker sized shell...some 'custom' upgrades available.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Traditionally the AB-1 is passive with the standard Dingwall Shelled FD-3 pickups, alder body, gloss finish (often with maple top). 5pc maple neck with Wenge board. The active version is considered the AB-1.5.

The ABZ is the flat finish, ash bodied passive, maple fretboard. The pickups are FD-3 but in a different shape shell, more of the 'standard humbucker sized shell...some 'custom' upgrades available.

And the last sentence is no longer accurate because new ABZ are coming with wenge fingerboard / wenge necks so as I said things are always changing at the Dingwall farm following the flavour of the month...

 

[singlemalt]

My AB-1's, a five string and six string are both passive with the blue eqube in the tone circuit. They look to be about the same vintage, maple necks, wenge boards, alder body with flame maple tops. Very light weight. Hard gloss finish.

I've been tempted by a couple AB-2's, the semi hollow body and cool f hole. But it seemed I'd mostly be gaining a pre amp, and I don't use the ones on the Super PJ's.

My understanding was that the ABZ could be priced lower to reflect the less labor intensive finish. Which makes the ABZ a whole lot of bang for the buck.

My two cents says there would be very little difference in sound. But then I've never given the wood / sound thing much credit. As always, ymmv!

 

[eloann]

So I don't have a bass preamp at home right now. For the following video I went through an A/DA guitar preamp and cab simulator !

 

[CL400Peavey]

Oh, so you're wealthy now.

hahahahahahahahahaha

No. I am not even getting the OT I was 6 months ago. A boy can dream though.

 

[spiritbass]

A boy can dream though.

Can you put your head in your hands OH NO... (obligatory Supertramp reference ).

 

[spiritbass]

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!!

So Bob, the honeymoon period is over - is this one a 'keeper'? I am still highly intrigued by ash/wenge combination. It looks totally HOT with the transparent white IMO. Steve Rolfeca opined that the solid wenge necks sound a bit compressed to his ears. I assume this would be in comparison to a mostly or all-maple neck. I'm still trying to imagine how neck compression would sound...

 

[steve_rolfeca]

So Bob, the honeymoon period is over - is this one a 'keeper'? I am still highly intrigued by ash/wenge combination. It looks totally HOT with the transparent white IMO. Steve Rolfeca opined that the solid wenge necks sound a bit compressed to his ears. I assume this would be in comparison to a mostly or all-maple neck. I'm still trying to imagine how neck compression would sound...

That was my attempt to describe slightly longer sustain, a bit more fundamental, and a more prominent midrange voicing. Keep in mind that my experience has been mainly with Karol acoustic guitars, Warmoth bass and guitar necks, and Warwick basses. In terms of numbers, my sample has been relatively small.

As with all matters related to lumber, it depends on the weight and density of the particular varieties used. Sheldon may look for different things in his neck blanks than those other guys.

Sheldon's recent comments as a builder with hundreds of near-identical necks to look back on, are more trustworthy.

 

[spiritbass]

That was my attempt to describe slightly longer sustain, a bit more fundamental, and a more prominent midrange voicing. Keep in mind that my experience has been mainly with Karol acoustic guitars, Warmoth bass and guitar necks, and Warwick basses. In terms of numbers, my sample has been relatively small.

As with all matters related to lumber, it depends on the weight and density of the particular varieties used. Sheldon may look for different things in his neck blanks than those other guys.

Sheldon's recent comments as a builder with hundreds of near-identical necks to look back on, are more trustworthy.

Thanks for the clarifications, Steve. I believe that even with Sheldon's vast experience (compared to ours!), it is almost 'mission impossible' to generalize the characteristics of different wood species due to the variables you mentioned. If I had the disposable income, I'd be conducting my own research with a wenge-necked instrument, but this is not the case.