• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Dingwall Owners Club

#10,862
BuffaloBob4343 said:
I have one. If it's anything like mine, you will love it!! Does it still have the Barts in it?
Click to expand...

Yep. This is a first year Voodoo Prima, I'm told it's one of the first 12. It does have the original Barts, but the preamp was damaged along the way. It's currently wired V/V/T. I'm going to play it a bit once it shows up and see how the Jazz style setup works for me before I make any decisions but I've been already considering some non-invasive changes to the control setup. I'm pondering getting it close in configuration to my Voodoo-Zebra 'rastaburst' without any drilling or permanent changes. That would mean fitting a master Vol., 4-way switch and using the concentric for bass/treble with +/- on both if possible. Maybe a Nord pre. Although the V/V/T may be great and I don't touch it.

I'm honored to be able to have what I consider one of the basses from Dingwall's 'formative' time although I feel a weight as the owner certainly didn't easily come to the decision to sell it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jeff Roller
#10,863
BurningSkies said:
Yep. This is a first year Voodoo Prima, I'm told it's one of the first 12. It does have the original Barts, but the preamp was damaged along the way. It's currently wired V/V/T. I'm going to play it a bit once it shows up and see how the Jazz style setup works for me before I make any decisions but I've been already considering some non-invasive changes to the control setup. I'm pondering getting it close in configuration to my Voodoo-Zebra 'rastaburst' without any drilling or permanent changes. That would mean fitting a master Vol., 4-way switch and using the concentric for bass/treble with +/- on both if possible. Maybe a Nord pre. Although the V/V/T may be great and I don't touch it.

I'm honored to be able to have what I consider one of the basses from Dingwall's 'formative' time although I feel a weight as the owner certainly didn't easily come to the decision to sell it.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I just figured out what you have here before I read your response (had to dig through some old posts on another site).

Very cool piece of history you got there! Since the original pre is shot, I wouldn't hesitate going with a volume/4 way/tone setup. I have an early Z2 with a blend, you'll love until you run into the typical noise conditions you run across in certain rooms.

I leave my blend on center/detent for this reason until I can bear to part with it long enough for the Saskatoon crew to update it with a 4 way.

Congrats, I think it's in very good hands, and it's safe to say you have a pair of the most unique Dingwalls on the planet!
 
#10,864
Jeff Roller said:
Yeah, I just figured out what you have here before I read your response (had to dig through some old posts on another site).

Very cool piece of history you got there! Since the original pre is shot, I wouldn't hesitate going with a volume/4 way/tone setup. I have an early Z2 with a blend, you'll love until you run into the typical noise conditions you run across in certain rooms.

I leave my blend on center/detent for this reason until I can bear to part with it long enough for the Saskatoon crew to update it with a 4 way.

Congrats, I think it's in very good hands, and it's safe to say you have a pair of the most unique Dingwalls on the planet!
Click to expand...

Yeah, funny how it came together, but it convinced me that it's meant to be. I'm speaking sort of out of turn as my wire transfer is floating in the ether right now. Its left my account and hasn't hit the seller yet. Supposedly it will ship next day tomorrow and be here possibly for New Years Eve (depending, I'll consider playing it that night). But yeah, it's a road warrior, with over 1000 gigs on it.

Since the original electronics setup has been removed, I'm not feeling like it hurts the integrity of the instrument to drop in a new preamp and using a 4 way as long as I don't have to modify the control holes as they currently stand.
 
#10,865
BurningSkies said:
Yeah, funny how it came together, but it convinced me that it's meant to be. I'm speaking sort of out of turn as my wire transfer is floating in the ether right now. Its left my account and hasn't hit the seller yet. Supposedly it will ship next day tomorrow and be here possibly for New Years Eve (depending, I'll consider playing it that night). But yeah, it's a road warrior, with over 1000 gigs on it.

Since the original electronics setup has been removed, I'm not feeling like it hurts the integrity of the instrument to drop in a new preamp and using a 4 way as long as I don't have to modify the control holes as they currently stand.
Click to expand...

Agreed, I wouldn't drill holes in it, wouldn't feel right, but replacing the electronics at this point is no more sacrilege than replacing strings.

Speaking of which, from what history I've read about that bass, it sounds like all it needed after all these years and hours of playing was a fret dressing, which is a testimony to how the fanned fret material actually holds up in the real world.

That being said, I switched over to nickle wrapped strings years ago in an effort to prolong fret life. Maybe that was unnecessary after all?
 
#10,866
Jeff Roller said:
Agreed, I wouldn't drill holes in it, wouldn't feel right, but replacing the electronics at this point is no more sacrilege than replacing strings.

Speaking of which, from what history I've read about that bass, it sounds like all it needed after all these years and hours of playing was a fret dressing, which is a testimony to how the fanned fret material actually holds up in the real world.

That being said, I switched over to nickle wrapped strings years ago in an effort to prolong fret life. Maybe that was unnecessary after all?
Click to expand...

Link to whatever you've read? I know I saw an exchange with the owner and Sheldon fairly recently, but I couldn't track it down. I just like to archive any info or conversatons about things. I know it's had a leveling recently, and I have a copy of some of the details from the shop as to what it is. It will be a fun moment receiving it, given I didn't ask for extra detail pictures or anything. I have faith that it's a well played gigging bass. I believe it saw a refresher at the shop in recent months.

I play a lot and haven't had any need for fretwork on my V/Z, although I've worn the finish of the back of the neck. I think the angle of the fret means there's more meat where the fret touches the string so they wear about the same as standard frets or slower.
 
#10,868
BurningSkies said:
Yep. This is a first year Voodoo Prima, I'm told it's one of the first 12. It does have the original Barts, but the preamp was damaged along the way. It's currently wired V/V/T. I'm going to play it a bit once it shows up and see how the Jazz style setup works for me before I make any decisions but I've been already considering some non-invasive changes to the control setup. I'm pondering getting it close in configuration to my Voodoo-Zebra 'rastaburst' without any drilling or permanent changes. That would mean fitting a master Vol., 4-way switch and using the concentric for bass/treble with +/- on both if possible. Maybe a Nord pre. Although the V/V/T may be great and I don't touch it.

I'm honored to be able to have what I consider one of the basses from Dingwall's 'formative' time although I feel a weight as the owner certainly didn't easily come to the decision to sell it.
Click to expand...
I retrofitted my old Bart equipped Voodoo some years back with FD's and an OBP-3. I'd lost both the preamp and one of the pickups. I decided to go with a dual Volume setup(going back to my roots)and haven't regretted it. While my bass has angled pickups it's an early model. There should be room in there but some creativity and compromise may be required.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BurningSkies
#10,869
lowphatbass said:
I retrofitted my old Bart equipped Voodoo some years back with FD's and an OBP-3. I'd lost both the preamp and one of the pickups. I decided to go with a dual Volume setup(going back to my roots)and haven't regretted it. While my bass has angled pickups it's an early model. There should be room in there but some creativity and compromise may be required.
Click to expand...

This would be up to a skilled professional, rather than me. :) I love the OBP1 in my other bass, but to have both a stacked tone setup and the ability to roll off the treble is important.

I really want to hear the pickups first, but FD3's are a thought if they fit...if not, then maybe some of the Nordstrand version of them.
 
#10,870
I have inquired about FD3's to fit these basses and last I knew, the factory no longer makes FD3's in shells that would drop into those routes. BUT, apparently Carrie Nordstrom does under license from Sheldon.

I have pondered new pickups and electronics, but have ended up leaving things as they are. I did upgrade the pre-amp to the newest version of the Bartolini preamp with V(Active/Passive push/pull)-Blend-Stacked B/T. I forget the model but if you have interest, I can look it up. It was drop in compatible and took about 10 mins to replace. The Bart preamps come prewired so you only need to hook up the pickups and remove the conventional jack and hook it up to the locking jack of your bass.

I replaced the preamp because the output volume was real low on the original, and the latest version of the preamp has an adjustable output gain level. While the blend does create some noise, it is not loud. I leave my blend in the middle most of the time because it is clearly the sweet spot tonally.

The thing I like about the Barts is that it gives the bass. A different tonal flavor from my other Dingwalls. It is one of those basses that seems to just sit perfectly in any mix of virtually any genre.
 
Last edited:
#10,872
BurningSkies said:
This would be up to a skilled professional, rather than me. :) I love the OBP1 in my other bass, but to have both a stacked tone setup and the ability to roll off the treble is important.

I really want to hear the pickups first, but FD3's are a thought if they fit...if not, then maybe some of the Nordstrand version of them.
Click to expand...
Right....the shell size is different now I believe.
My bass had 3 knobs and I ended up going with Volume, Volume and stacked Treble/Bass. The Mid is controlled with a mini-pot that I can access easily via screwdriver through one of the existing battery box mounting holes in the back cover.....not ideal but it was a better option for me than no Mid control at all or drilling the bass. We also managed to squeeze a pair of 9 volts in the existing cavity.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BurningSkies
#10,873
BuffaloBob4343 said:
I have inquired about FD3's to fit these basses and last I knew, the factory no longer makes FD3's in shells that would drop into those routes. BUT, apparently Carrie Nordstrom does under license from Sheldon.

I have pondered new pickups and electronics, but have ended up leaving things as they are. I did upgrade the pre-amp to the newest version of the Bartolini preamp with V(Active/Passive push/pull)-Blend-Stacked B/T. I forget the model but if you have interest, I can look it up. It was drop in compatible and took about 10 mins to replace. The Bart preamps come prewired so you only need to hook up the pickups and remove the conventional jack and hook it up to the locking jack of your bass.

I replaced the preamp because the output volume was real low on the original, and the latest version of the preamp has an adjustable output gain level. While the blend does create some noise, it is not loud. I leave my blend in the middle most of the time because it is clearly the sweet spot tonally.

The thing I like about the Barts is that it gives the bass. A different tonal flavor from my other Dingwalls. It is one of those basses that seems to just sit perfectly in any mix of virtually any genre.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I want to hear it as it is right now before I do anything anyway. We'll see what arrives and go from there. There are 3 distinct options...leave it as is, put in a new preamp, and do pickups and pre. I won't know until I get a chance to play it.

lowphatbass said:
Right....the shell size is different now I believe.
My bass had 3 knobs and I ended up going with Volume, Volume and stacked Treble/Bass. The Mid is controlled with a mini-pot that I can access easily via screwdriver through one of the existing battery box mounting holes in the back cover.....not ideal but it was a better option for me than no Mid control at all or drilling the bass. We also managed to squeeze a pair of 9 volts in the existing cavity.
Click to expand...

I honestly don't need a mid. I'm not futzing too much in that range. I'd be happy with a bass and a passive treble roll off. I never boost the treble side at all.
 
#10,874
BurningSkies said:
Yeah, I want to hear it as it is right now before I do anything anyway. We'll see what arrives and go from there. There are 3 distinct options...leave it as is, put in a new preamp, and do pickups and pre. I won't know until I get a chance to play it.



I honestly don't need a mid. I'm not futzing too much in that range. I'd be happy with a bass and a passive treble roll off. I never boost the treble side at all.
Click to expand...
The Glockenlang preamp in my ABZ6 is great, but I don't know if they make it in a stacked bass/treble. It's active/ passive switchable with a passive treble cut/ active boost.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BurningSkies
#10,876
J Posega said:
The Glockenlang preamp in my ABZ6 is great, but I don't know if they make it in a stacked bass/treble. It's active/ passive switchable with a passive treble cut/ active boost.
Click to expand...

BuffaloBob4343 said:
I agree. I like the Glock as well. If I were to decide to replace the Barts with FD3's, I would be tempted to go that route for the pre-amp.
Click to expand...

I like options :D Great time to be a bass player with so many great companies producing gear right now.

Bah. Being held up by federal regulations. My wire transfer is going to take until the 6th due to some kind of Patriot Act something that puts a hold on 'over seas' fund exchanges. Funny, I've never though of Canada as 'over seas'.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: BuffaloBob4343
#10,877
BurningSkies said:
I like options :D Great time to be a bass player with so many great companies producing gear right now.

Bah. Being held up by federal regulations. My wire transfer is going to take until the 6th due to some kind of Patriot Act something that puts a hold on 'over seas' fund exchanges. Funny, I've never though of Canada as 'over seas'.
Click to expand...
Well, I used to live near Lake Superior, which is bigger than some seas...
 
  • Like
Reactions: BurningSkies

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back