Dingwall Owners Club

[RHA III]

Suck it up and deal. It'll likely not sound good on stage but it'll be fine out front. If you're doing a short set I wouldn't sweat it.

One of my bands did 35 minutes a few months back. Awful stage sound but I used a Noble DI and the sound out front was fantastic.

Yeah this is what I'm thinking, I've seen shows that this sound company puts on and the bass is always really nice sounding out front. They must have the tech, but it's all PA gear that I'm not too familiar with.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I am fortunate to have bought my Afterburners and SJ5 when I did. The prices really have taken off since then (10+ years), but even with the price increases over the years, they're still worth it.

I find that in general, prices have increased significantly in the last 3-5 years for both new and used instruments, so it's not necessarily specific to Dingwall.

 

[BurningSkies]

Ah. Back to the old beater bass convo hey! Sweet Colour.

Yeah, I really should have held onto my blue AB-1...but you know, what can you do. Funny considering a 1600$ bass a beater, but that's what this is. I can take it on the road and not worry about someone scratching it or 'dinging' it and if god forbid it get stolen, it's not the end of the world. Lots of time in the back of a van these days for it. I turned down the gig bag as well. I've got a pile of gig bags but I need something that can be at the bottom of a stack of gear.

 

[Jeff Roller]

My "beater" NG is my only Dingwall with nary a scratch or "ding".

I bought it new and I baby my gear, but life happens it's bound to get whacked the next gig now that I've jinxed it.....

 

[AB Nate]

My "beater" NG is my only Dingwall with nary a scratch or "ding".

I bought it new and I baby my gear, but life happens it's bound to get whacked the next gig now that I've jinxed it.....

I hope not.

 

[AB Nate]

I didn't want to sell my beater bass as I love it. It's awesome.
But my Z is more awesome. And I love playing it more. So I'm thinking on a day to day basis if I love the Z more then I'll suck it up on the dingy bar shows and take my chances and push for keeping it vs the bustin.
What a rediculous 1st world problem to have.

 

[Jeff Roller]

I didn't want to sell my beater bass as I love it. It's awesome.
But my Z is more awesome. And I love playing it more. So I'm thinking on a day to day basis if I love the Z more then I'll suck it up on the dingy bar shows and take my chances and push for keeping it vs the bustin.
What a rediculous 1st world problem to have.

I have subscribed to the logic of downsizing, and have let quite a few go....

Each one has it's own voice and tonal characteristics though....I had them all out on stands with fresh strings recently. Simply plucking the G string on each, acoustically, confirms their subtle differences. I don't think I can whittle down any further without losing a cherished tool.

 

[BurningSkies]

I didn't want to sell my beater bass as I love it. It's awesome.
But my Z is more awesome. And I love playing it more. So I'm thinking on a day to day basis if I love the Z more then I'll suck it up on the dingy bar shows and take my chances and push for keeping it vs the bustin.
What a rediculous 1st world problem to have.

I've played my Z on over 60 stages so far this year...dive bars to 5000+ people venues. So yeah, I've always had that philosophy, but there's a couple things. My Z is not just a regular Z. It's a one-off that's pretty darned customized and although insured, the replacement value is in the 5-figure range. Then there's the Voodoo Prima. It's one of the first 12 production basses Sheldon made. I'd like to make sure that remains both in my possession and in good shape. We're also playing out further and in more rooms that are new to us. I don't really trust people that much. Also, eventually some will trip, or there will be a flying patch cord end or something. I'll be less inclined to have a problem with that if I'm using a 1600 dollar bass rather than a 12000 dollar bass.

 

[AB Nate]

I've played my Z on over 60 stages so far this year...dive bars to 5000+ people venues. So yeah, I've always had that philosophy, but there's a couple things. My Z is not just a regular Z. It's a one-off that's pretty darned customized and although insured, the replacement value is in the 5-figure range. Then there's the Voodoo Prima. It's one of the first 12 production basses Sheldon made. I'd like to make sure that remains both in my possession and in good shape. We're also playing out further and in more rooms that are new to us. I don't really trust people that much. Also, eventually some will trip, or there will be a flying patch cord end or something. I'll be less inclined to have a problem with that if I'm using a 1600 dollar bass rather than a 12000 dollar bass.

The problem with having nice things....

 

[bebass]

Question for you guys with more experience playing out...

I'm playing a festival type gig this weekend, 8-9 bands total. The promoter/sound company is asking us to leave our drums and bass rigs at home and only bring the guitar amp. This is a first for me as we normally supply everything ourselves. I asked what happens to my signal and was told I'll be plugging in to an 8 channel rack mount di that goes to the main board x-32. My bass monitor will be an older Behringer 15 pa cab.

If I insisted on bringing my bass rig I could, but I really don't want to be the only bass player who does this. Especially since we're just one of the opening bands, and it should make the time in-between bands less.

So would you guys just go with it and be happy not to haul gear or is this a time when some type of DI box (reddi, countryman etc) is the way to go?

I'm gonna bring my AB with the Darkglass pre, so I've at least got that. Yes I know this isn't the Live Sound part of the forum, but I think I'll get a better, quicker, nicer answer here!

I always take my own gear. One time we were booked for a gig at a state fair and the promoter was furnishing "backline" and told us all we had to do was to show up with our instruments. Got there and there was no backline except a broken snare drum. Ha ha
Even if I absolutely know I will be playing through a complete kick-tail PA system, I still take my amp, which has one of the best DIs I have heard. And as a previous FOH guy, I always listened, as much as possible, to what the players wanted, so it is not unreasonable to expect the bass player to have his own DI that he likes.

 

[BurningSkies]

The problem with having nice things....

True. And I'm always careful when talking Dingwall 'lines' because even at 'entry level' they're not that entry level in the scope of the greater bass market. And my experience is that they're all great instruments, each with their own thing happening. The shop has always been good at figuring out where to be efficient without sacrificing quality. I don't expect to be any less pleased with a Combustion line any more than the Afterburner, Zebra or Prima lines. I'll just have slightly less worry when I walk away from soundcheck in a new room in a far off town if I'm not leaving half a car worth of bass unattended.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

True. And I'm always careful when talking Dingwall 'lines' because even at 'entry level' they're not that entry level in the scope of the greater bass market. And my experience is that they're all great instruments, each with their own thing happening. The shop has always been good at figuring out where to be efficient without sacrificing quality. I don't expect to be any less pleased with a Combustion line any more than the Afterburner, Zebra or Prima lines. I'll just have slightly less worry when I walk away from soundcheck in a new room in a far off town if I'm not leaving half a car worth of bass unattended.

I guess that's a good thing as it means you're getting more gigs and expanding your audience. It's all about the music!

 

[BurningSkies]

I guess that's a good thing as it means you're getting more gigs and expanding your audience. It's all about the music!

Yep. Grabbing this dragon by the tail while we can. All over NY, CT, MA,VT this summer/fall then getting offers in MI, TX, CO, etc. So that means van time, and not the cushy big tour bus, but a 10 person extended Sprinter and lots of hours on the road. Getting radio play nationally (and Canada), and currently charting on a bunch of radio charts including last month we were #9 on the Relix 'Jam Band' chart (new chart out tomorrow and we hear we're moving up).

I'm super thankful for the opportunity, but with that comes way more demands on time and gear and us personally. Part of why I'm not around these parts so much these days.

Told our booking agent to get us up a tier so I can quit my day job.

 

[BurningSkies]

I always take my own gear. One time we were booked for a gig at a state fair and the promoter was furnishing "backline" and told us all we had to do was to show up with our instruments. Got there and there was no backline except a broken snare drum. Ha ha
Even if I absolutely know I will be playing through a complete kick-tail PA system, I still take my amp, which has one of the best DIs I have heard. And as a previous FOH guy, I always listened, as much as possible, to what the players wanted, so it is not unreasonable to expect the bass player to have his own DI that he likes.

Yeah, I always have my stuff, even if it's just to sit off stage or in the van if not needed. Nothing worse than being on a stage and not being able to hear yourself or possibly worse...being able to hear your tone being trashed by random smacked-out backline gear.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Yep. Grabbing this dragon by the tail while we can. All over NY, CT, MA,VT this summer/fall then getting offers in MI, TX, CO, etc. So that means van time, and not the cushy big tour bus, but a 10 person extended Sprinter and lots of hours on the road. Getting radio play nationally (and Canada), and currently charting on a bunch of radio charts including last month we were #9 on the Relix 'Jam Band' chart (new chart out tomorrow and we hear we're moving up).

I'm super thankful for the opportunity, but with that comes way more demands on time and gear and us personally. Part of why I'm not around these parts so much these days.

Told our booking agent to get us up a tier so I can quit my day job.

Congrats! It sounds like a fun band.

What made you go with the NG over the standard Combustion that has a similar pickup configuration as your other two?

 

[BurningSkies]

Congrats! It sounds like a fun band.

What made you go with the NG over the standard Combustion that has a similar pickup configuration as your other two?

The pickup config on the NG is more of a negative than a positive to me, but Sheldon thinks I can net some of the same sonic ground, and I'm willing to work it. I'm guessing if anything I'll get it closer to a P-bass tone anyway. The real selling point is that he said it had a neck profile that was similar to an AB, which I'm already comfortable with and that the preamp was probably more similar to the OBP-1 that I use and love in the Rastaburst. I may have to spend some time re-learning some of the EQ, but that's fine. I recently did that anyway when I moved from all pickups in series and run series to running both in parallel...and fell in love with that tone all over again.

 

[singlemalt]

Oh yeah, that series pups in parallel is so cool! Not so saturated, or loud, as all in series, but crisp and defined. Focused. Another great flavor, like the solo'd P but not as spanky on the high end. Super range with the hybrid tone, and some cool stuff happening with the volume knob.

Does the NG do passive?

The automotive colors are so cool. As beautiful as the stained woods and premium figured tops are, the solid colors hold their own. Tough choices!

What is the weight range on the NG's?

 

[BurningSkies]

Oh yeah, that series pups in parallel is so cool! Not so saturated, or loud, as all in series, but crisp and defined. Focused. Another great flavor, like the solo'd P but not as spanky on the high end. Super range with the hybrid tone, and some cool stuff happening with the volume knob.

Does the NG do passive?

The automotive colors are so cool. As beautiful as the stained woods and premium figured tops are, the solid colors hold their own. Tough choices!

What is the weight range on the NG's?

Yeah, the switch in the control layout is a preamp on/off. It's a 3 band,but not bass/mid/treble. It's bass/mid @ 500, hi-mid at 2.8K.

I don't know that Sheldon's come out with a good weight range, probably due to the off-shore production. It's an alder body, so I don't expect it to be hugely heavy.

The Parallel setting I found ended up being deeper and warmer and flatter. I love the low-mid punch of the series but the parallel ends up being warmer and more musical and tonally richer to my ears. Of course it only took me 9 years of playing this bass to come to that conclusion.

 

[Jeff Roller]

Yep. Grabbing this dragon by the tail while we can. All over NY, CT, MA,VT this summer/fall then getting offers in MI, TX, CO, etc. So that means van time, and not the cushy big tour bus, but a 10 person extended Sprinter and lots of hours on the road. Getting radio play nationally (and Canada), and currently charting on a bunch of radio charts including last month we were #9 on the Relix 'Jam Band' chart (new chart out tomorrow and we hear we're moving up).

I'm super thankful for the opportunity, but with that comes way more demands on time and gear and us personally. Part of why I'm not around these parts so much these days.

Told our booking agent to get us up a tier so I can quit my day job.

I'm sensing an opportunity here.

Since Nolly is no longer touring with Periphery, Sheldon is going to need a new signature model. And Burning Skies star is rising, I'm smelling a BS Combustion. Well, that's not an attractive name, but if you can get a paint scheme like his Z, it will fly off the shelves......

 

[NaH]

I'm sensing an opportunity here.

Since Nolly is no longer touring with Periphery, Sheldon is going to need a new signature model. And Burning Skies star is rising, I'm smelling a BS Combustion. Well, that's not an attractive name, but if you can get a paint scheme like his Z, it will fly off the shelves......

How about we call it the Rastabustion?