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Dingwall Owners Club
- Thread starter FroggyOne2
- Start date
Or for that matter an AB/ABXXX. I have my opinion RE the advantages or not of a 2 vs 3 PUP Dingwall.
I've never owned an SPJ5 or 4. I did own an SJ5 and SJ four string with the x2 fatty pickups. I now own an SJ5X3 (and a Z3 as well). When I want a vintage P-bass sound, I just select the front pickup only on my SJ5X3. FWIW - I think it sounds more like a P bass than when I selected the front fatty pickups on my older SJ basses.
I have a CS '59P, had and sold a '75P, and an American P5 (sold when I got my first Dingwall). I agree, my SJ5XX neck PUP solo'd sounds very P like, in fact, it is nearly identical to the SPJ5 P PUP solo'd. A blindfold test would be needed to tell the difference, and some would get it wrong. With the series/parallel switch engaged, the P tone does get a little rounder with less growl.
If I had it to do all over again, I would still get the SJ5XXX over a SJ5, if only for the stunning visual impact. I could; however, be very happy with the SPJ5, or a SJ5. In fact, other than the SJ5XXX middle/bridge option, which is not nearly as different as one would imagine, the true strength of the SJ5XXX is the flexibility afforded by 3 series/parallel switches. But I would not buy an SJ5XXX without them, IMO, you would be just as well served with either the SPJ5 or SJ5. But there is no loser an any of the scenarios.
I was rocking the SP5 at practice last night, and was so into it, dancing and enjoying the perfect balance, I kind of lost my way in a song or 2, I had to apologize to the band for being distracted. What a joy these basses are to play! I really feel sorry for anyone who hasn't had the opportunity to spend quality time with one.
If I had it to do all over again, I would still get the SJ5XXX over a SJ5, if only for the stunning visual impact. I could; however, be very happy with the SPJ5, or a SJ5. In fact, other than the SJ5XXX middle/bridge option, which is not nearly as different as one would imagine, the true strength of the SJ5XXX is the flexibility afforded by 3 series/parallel switches. But I would not buy an SJ5XXX without them, IMO, you would be just as well served with either the SPJ5 or SJ5. But there is no loser an any of the scenarios.
I was rocking the SP5 at practice last night, and was so into it, dancing and enjoying the perfect balance, I kind of lost my way in a song or 2, I had to apologize to the band for being distracted. What a joy these basses are to play! I really feel sorry for anyone who hasn't had the opportunity to spend quality time with one.
@Thumper - Yes, I agree, with Dingwall, it's all good. Also agree that the series/parallel switches add significantly to the tonal palette of the x3. (I'm usually, but not always, in full- parallel mode.) Personally, I use the "Music Man" position (bridge and middle - both parallel) about 30% of the time, depending on the material. It really does sound very much like the MM I used to play. So I feel I have the three main "Leo" sounds covered with the 3 pickups and switches, and then some....
Ok, maybe the middle/bridge does sound more different than i can hear, Perhaps because I have ZERO MusicMan experience. I did notice the only setting the series/parallel switch had little or no effect (to my ears), was the middle/bridge position, otherwise they really impact the tone.
I am mostly using an older SJ5 (P/J) and have little to complain about other than the fact that I would prefer 18mm sting spacing and a bit of a narrower neck.
Do you guys find that the extra pickup gets in the way on the XXX's with you are plucking with your right hand?
Do you guys find that the extra pickup gets in the way on the XXX's with you are plucking with your right hand?
The third (middle) PUP is actually helpful for me, I use it as a guide. I anchor on it at times, but I also try to pick over it at the G string using my middle finger. This helps me get a softer tone by not picking more towards the bridge as I am prone to do, or using my index finger which is heavily calloused also resulting in a sharper tone. Of course on the SPJ5 I also use the PUP in a similar manner.
I don't anchor my thumb on the pickups. I generally use a floating thumb hybrid technique (generally only muting the B and E-strings) and when I am playing the B, my thumb is floating on nothing!
Not so on my Z3 with the super fatties!!! In MM position seems to be my main squeeze and you hit them switched and it's like BAMMM!! Love it. The versatility I have with true Z is astounding. That same can be said about the SJ5 though too..... just different. She has such a beautiful tone in parallel but im often still always drawn to series the neck pup by itself is so clean and rich but less full.....
crap.... rambling now. It sometimes frustrates me always having my Z drop tuned. I mean no bass does it better but I just enjoy the beauty of standard tuning sommuch more.
I really enjoy playing with the sounds,same on my rigs but I always stick to one sound when I'm with the band. With the diversity you can attain with these instruments it's hard not too. Lol.
Absolutely with Combustion or any other 3X, especially if you have something on hand similar enough to compare them to.
Alright, well, absent any input here, I went ahead and just kept rolling with the Glockenklang pre. It's a known quantity to me, and with what I have available to me in the Axe-Fx, the onboard pre is really a minor consideration anyway. If I really "need" the DG later, it'll be pretty easy to swap in. I don't yet have any update on an estimated completion date, so I'm assuming it's still late December or early January 
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Well I have owned three different dingwalls, a passive AB1 that I bought from 'Skies and still have, a pre fire Voodoo Z1 that I owned briefly and couldnt fall in love with the bartolini electronics, and my Combustion. The combustion originally was a 2 pick up model with the standard EMG pre. I didnt love the EMG, the low eq was too low, the mid too high, and the high useless for my needs. Passive it was great, and I really dig the split coils on the bass. Adding a third pick up in the orientation I have makes it a monster. I love the music man sound, and it rocks having that tonal option on the combustion. The Darkglass EQ is just icing on the cake.
The passive AB1 is tried and true, and I doubt I will ever sell it unless 'Skies comes knocking to pick it up.
No worries at all. It may have even been too late to change it yesterday had I wanted to. I'll just live with my original gut instinct and be quite happy when it shows up.
I have the Glock in my ABZ and I am very happy with it. But I have not had the pleasure of playing one with a Tone Capsule. One of these days hopefully.
One thing I really like about the Glock is it truly faithfully reproduces the tone of the bass without color. The tone with my ABZ active, and EQ knobs in their flat positions, is virtually identical to that of the passive setting. There isn't really any significant change in the volume between the two either. The EQ is set up so that the full range of the EQ settings are all musical and useful. I most often run the pre-amp engaged and flat.
If I am running in parallel PUP mode, I sometimes boost the bass a bit, and it really makes it so nice to get a right amount of bass for my taste. If I'm in series, I will often cut the treble a bit. The P-tone in the neck soloed, I pretty much run flat as well. The nice thing about this for me, is that I can start with the tone uncolored, and then do things to color the tone from there if I want, with pedals or the amp (drive, etc.). Uncolored is a nice starting point and makes the bass more versatile.
On the other hand, I'm sure the Tone Capsule does cool things. And if that produces a tone you like, however colored, that's not a bad thing either. But in your situation (not being able to play a TC equipped version), I think you are better off with the neutral tone of the Glock as a starting point.
I have the Glock in both of my AB1s. I'm fairly used to it and do like it. I am not at all worried about that, at this point. With the 3X and S/P toggles, I think I'll have enough going on that I won't need the additional flavor with the DG. I wish I could've gotten a P-tone, but they are not offered on 6 string models. The next Dingwall I get will have the DG, I think. Which, if all goes according to plan, should really be the last new Dingwall I buy.
If you toggle the neck PUP internally to series, I understand that will get you pretty close to the P-tone when soloed.
