Dingwall Owners Club

[Selta]

Heh, I see what you mean. I think Kalium has just had tremendous growth and may be having hard times keeping up with everything. I still like Skip and Chris - they're good folks. I use their strings on my parallel fret basses. I'm glad you at least tried out Payson's strings. I still need to get around to ordering another box from him, and I may do the normal (not reduced core) set this go 'round.

 

[CL400Peavey]

I guess if I pay $50+ bucks for a set of strings, and two of the strings are bad, a simple email reply isnt too much to ask.

 

[Selta]

Youch!

 

[reddavid]

I like the Dingwall Nickel strings on the Super P/J and Super P. Dingwall SS for the longscale Prima. Tried others and came back to the originals.

 

[BurningSkies]

I'm a big fan of Sheldon's strings. I like the feel of both the steel and the nickel. To my ears, the nickel don't go quite as high aggressively and also have a nice low mid bump. They also to my ears are a bit 'richer' across the board. The steels are 'flatter' but do have a bit more up top.

The steels have a little less tension in the feel, but both are in the same ballpark and keep a lively touch. I find they last about the same in terms of 'deadening' but both can be soaked in denatured alcohol a number of times and remain usable for months if not years.

 

[J Posega]

I'm still a firm believer in the Dingwall branded nickel's. I've never gotten on with steel strings, all of them are just too coarse feeling.

That said, I had a stint with La Bella flats on my ABZ6... they felt great, sounded good, but the B was just too flatwound sounding for such a lively bass. I've since restrung with DW nickels again.

I ran a set of Circle K's (now Kalium) on my first ABZ5 and they were a slight improvement over regular steels (not quite as coarse, or zingy). But navigating their site is a huge pain even after they "improved" it, and there are too many customer horror stories for me to bother until I've got a Dingwall I wanna string in some crazy low tuning. I had a set of Payson nickels on that same ABZ before Dingwall released their own, and found the Paysons to be slightly too heavy.

My Super P has a pretty worn in set of Dunlop Super Bright nickels, and they're really great sounding. The bass had some dead, dead, dead nickels on it when I got it (Paysons, judging by the ball ends), so I never really had a solid "home base" tone to go on. I've got a set of Dingwall nickels for when I tire of the Super Brights, which I would say are maybe a bit brighter than regular nickels at first, and perhaps last a little longer than regular nickels, but by no means keep new-string tone for very long (I don't like the ultra fresh string sound anyway). But, like I said, I put those on just after receiving it so I haven't compared the bass with a 'standard' string.

 

[Subscript]

I'm thinking about ordering a Dingwall - I've played an ABZ and liked it but I'm wondering if it's worth the upgrade to a Z2 at all. Comments? The specs say there's a thinner neck, which I would really like, but the other differences look negligible to me at that price difference.

 

[bebass]

I'm thinking about ordering a Dingwall - I've played an ABZ and liked it but I'm wondering if it's worth the upgrade to a Z2 at all. Comments? The specs say there's a thinner neck, which I would really like, but the other differences look negligible to me at that price difference.

I think if I were to upgrade it would have to be a Z3; they look amazing to me. Although a decked out 3X ABZ with Darkglass pre and switches is what I ordered for the store.

 

[J Posega]

I'm thinking about ordering a Dingwall - I've played an ABZ and liked it but I'm wondering if it's worth the upgrade to a Z2 at all. Comments? The specs say there's a thinner neck, which I would really like, but the other differences look negligible to me at that price difference.

It all depends on what features you really want. I don't really think of the other models as an 'upgrade' from the ABZ as much as just a different version of greatness.

You could always ask if they'll be a thinner neck on an ABZ.

I'd really like an ABZ with NG2 pickup spacing.

 

[Selta]

So, I'm a little confused on the models.
I was under the assumption (when I placed my order), that the ABZ's wouldn't offer fancy tops (quilted/flamed and so on). They apparently do.

So, it seems that the main difference becomes that the Wenge fretboard is "standard" on the AB1/AB2, whereas it is Maple on the ABZ. Looking at the 2016 price list, you can't "buy up" to a Wenge fretboard, so that's a differentiator.

The ABZ's are also Swamp Ash standard, with options for other woods. AB1 and AB2 each have a different standard wood.

I'm still pretty certain I made the right choice with AB1. Option for option, the price actually wasn't that much, especially if there's an option to buy up to Wenge fretboard (which I would do, as I love that wood).

 

[Thumper]

I'll have to look at the 2016 price list, my order was based upon the 2015. On the Super Ps and Js and the ABI if I recall correctly, the maple board (my preference) was an option.

 

[bebass]

So, I'm a little confused on the models.
I was under the assumption (when I placed my order), that the ABZ's wouldn't offer fancy tops (quilted/flamed and so on). They apparently do.

So, it seems that the main difference becomes that the Wenge fretboard is "standard" on the AB1/AB2, whereas it is Maple on the ABZ. Looking at the 2016 price list, you can't "buy up" to a Wenge fretboard, so that's a differentiator.

The ABZ's are also Swamp Ash standard, with options for other woods. AB1 and AB2 each have a different standard wood.

I'm still pretty certain I made the right choice with AB1. Option for option, the price actually wasn't that much, especially if there's an option to buy up to Wenge fretboard (which I would do, as I love that wood).

I ordered an ABZ in January. I got Wenge fretboard, maple neck.

 

[Selta]

So, what is the real difference between the models? Just what comes standard instead of being an option?

 

[Thumper]

I would say standard is the base price, anything costing extra (option) becomes a custom?

 

[pravus]

So, what is the real difference between the models? Just what comes standard instead of being an option?

From my understanding these are the differences:

x) Base body wood (ABI - Alder, ABII - Chambered Walnut, ABHS - Bubinga, ABZ - Swamp Ash)
x) Paint finish (ABZ - Open grain satin, all else are gloss)

Standard options for *all* Afterburner models:

x) 5-piece Maple neck with wenge fretboard
x) 2 x FD3 pickups

Upgrades for all models include the following:

x) X-top
x) Wenge neck
x) Blacked out head and heel
x) Upgraded fretboard material (Birdseye Maple, Ziricote, etc.)
x) Fretboard inlays (blocks, ivoroid, painted, etc.)
x) Pickup upgrades (3x, P-tone)
x) Darkglass/Glockenklang electronics
x) Pickup toggles
x) All kinds of paint options

The only real model specific upgrades are a swamp ash body on the ABI and a figured bubinga top for the ABHS. All of this information is based on the price guide and ordering process I've been through. As you can see the ABZ (and all models) have a lot of options available. I'm sure Sheldon and crew can work with you on other things but this at least gives you an idea of what you can mess with.

 

[Selta]

Huh. I need to look into this more. I think I want the gloss finish (green to black burst). Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

The options and models evolve as they go along as well. I know the options were quite limited when the SuperP 5 first came out as I believe they were trying to get a bunch out as fast as possible. Now, you have a lot more choices. Of course, any time you customize, even if it's from an established list of upgrades, the costs will go up accordingly. But that's one of the benefits of dealing with a small manufacturer; you can usually get a lot more customization (within reason), as long as you're willing to wait a while (and have the cash).

 

[bebass]

From my understanding these are the differences:

x) Base body wood (ABI - Alder, ABII - Chambered Walnut, ABHS - Bubinga, ABZ - Swamp Ash)
x) Paint finish (ABZ - Open grain satin, all else are gloss)

Standard options for *all* Afterburner models:

x) 5-piece Maple neck with wenge fretboard
x) 2 x FD3 pickups

Upgrades for all models include the following:

x) X-top
x) Wenge neck
x) Blacked out head and heel
x) Upgraded fretboard material (Birdseye Maple, Ziricote, etc.)
x) Fretboard inlays (blocks, ivoroid, painted, etc.)
x) Pickup upgrades (3x, P-tone)
x) Darkglass/Glockenklang electronics
x) Pickup toggles
x) All kinds of paint options

The only real model specific upgrades are a swamp ash body on the ABI and a figured bubinga top for the ABHS. All of this information is based on the price guide and ordering process I've been through. As you can see the ABZ (and all models) have a lot of options available. I'm sure Sheldon and crew can work with you on other things but this at least gives you an idea of what you can mess with.

This is the info I have.
Solid colors not available on ABZ.

I beat myself up trying to figure out if I wanted to order an Indigo Burst instead of the Natural on the ABZ. It can either be easy or difficult unless one knows exactly what they want. On the ABII I saw an x-top that was unique and just was amazing so that is what I went with on that one. On the SuperJ it was an easy pick once I saw the vintage burst with the white pickguard.
Also Luminlay dots on the side except with the SuperJ.
I think the options of 3X pickups with either the Glockenklang or the Darkglass gives so wide a choice of playable tonal options that it should make anyone happy.

 

[Selta]

Yeah. I posted my build as it was when I did the deposit. Went with 3x pickups (would love a p-tone, but not available on 6ers), glock pre, 3x switches. We'll see if I change my build haha.

 

[99Z3]

I have a Mothers Day special price on the AB1, if your serious about wanting it.. PM me..