Dingwall Owners Club

[The_Owl]

I have a few questions about options ordering a Dingwall. First of all, is it possible to order an ABI with 19 mm string spacing, and a slightly wider neck at the nut? I have quite big hands, and I feel more comfortable with wider spacing. AFAICT, the option isn't mentioned on the website.

Also, is it possible to have a 3X pickup wired standard but with the fourth position being all pickups on instead of bridge only?

Third and last, is the passive tone on the ABI a standard passive tone, or the Tone Fusion control?

Calling @Sheldon D. and anyone else who might know.

 

[Selta]

I have a few questions about options ordering a Dingwall. First of all, is it possible to order an ABI with 19 mm string spacing, and a slightly wider neck at the nut? I have quite big hands, and I feel more comfortable with wider spacing. AFAICT, the option isn't mentioned on the website.

I'm fairly certain the answer is no. No neck profile or string spacing changes what so ever.

Also, is it possible to have a 3X pickup wired standard but with the fourth position being all pickups on instead of bridge only?

Again, pretty sure no. If you want an "all on" option, you need to spec the D-bird rotary, or DIY after the fact.

Third and last, is the passive tone on the ABI a standard passive tone, or the Tone Fusion control?

Unsure on this one...

 

[Sheldon D.]

I'm fairly certain the answer is no. No neck profile or string spacing changes what so ever.


Again, pretty sure no. If you want an "all on" option, you need to spec the D-bird rotary, or DIY after the fact.


Unsure on this one...

Selta called it.

The tone control on an ABI is a standard style. The Tone-fusion control is only available on the Super P (not Pj).

On a fanned-fret instrument, the nut and bridge spacing affects the fret placement which also affects the dot placement and if you're super anal, the pickup placement. Changing the nut or bridge spacing even slightly causes an avalanche affect that is prohibitively time consuming and expensive.

The Super J and P have a 19mm bridge spacing but the nut width is the same on all of our models.

 

[BrBss]

Selta called it.

The tone control on an ABI is a standard style. The Tone-fusion control is only available on the Super P (not Pj).

On a fanned-fret instrument, the nut and bridge spacing affects the fret placement which also affects the dot placement and if you're super anal, the pickup placement. Changing the nut or bridge spacing even slightly causes an avalanche affect that is prohibitively time consuming and expensive.

The Super J and P have a 19mm bridge spacing but the nut width is the same on all of our models.

I seem to recall reading that pickup placement is also fixed?

 

[Sheldon D.]

I seem to recall reading that pickup placement is also fixed?

That's correct

 

[BuffaloBob4343]

That's correct

Sheldon, I believe that if you made every single component placement, string spacing, pickup choice, pre-amp choice, color and finish choice, wood choice, scale length, tuner choice, fret wire choice, neck profile, nut width, dots, plain, inlays, etc. available (and BTW, you are one of the most accommodating luthiers in the business in helping buyers modify their instruments even after purchase), people would STILL come up with some proposed modification you hadn't even thought of yet! I guess the next step will be 3D printing of the entire instrument from end-to-end!

 

[Funk]

I have a few questions about options ordering a Dingwall. First of all, is it possible to order an ABI with 19 mm string spacing, and a slightly wider neck at the nut? I have quite big hands, and I feel more comfortable with wider spacing. AFAICT, the option isn't mentioned on the website.

Also, is it possible to have a 3X pickup wired standard but with the fourth position being all pickups on instead of bridge only?

Third and last, is the passive tone on the ABI a standard passive tone, or the Tone Fusion control?

Calling @Sheldon D. and anyone else who might know.

@The_Owl

I also have big hands and before I had my Dingwall I had a custom bass with 19mm string spacing and a 36 inch scale length. That bass felt really good to me until I played a Dingwall. I can't tell you enough how comfortable Dingwalls feel. I thought the 18mm spacing was going to feel too cramped but everything on these basses feel so right. Ergonomic beasts.

 

[The_Owl]

Selta called it.

The tone control on an ABI is a standard style. The Tone-fusion control is only available on the Super P (not Pj).

On a fanned-fret instrument, the nut and bridge spacing affects the fret placement which also affects the dot placement and if you're super anal, the pickup placement. Changing the nut or bridge spacing even slightly causes an avalanche affect that is prohibitively time consuming and expensive.

The Super J and P have a 19mm bridge spacing but the nut width is the same on all of our models.

Thanks for answering. It makes perfect sense, I just had to ask. I have some pondering to do...

 

[IvanBassist]

So, I just put a set of SS DW strings on my SJ4 and I noticed quite a few differences compared to the Sansone strings it came with.

- The DW strings have a bit more tension. I was kind of expecting that because of the different gauges (42-102 vs 45-105). A minimal adjustment of the truss rod solved that.
- Both have different treble frequencies. To me it sounds like DW have more treble and bass and the Sansone more upper high mids. Both are pretty bright, but the DW seem to be more tame.
- Even though DW's gauge is 45-105, they are very easy to play. I've been playing light gauge strings for quite a bit and I was pleasantly surprised.
- I think the Sansones feel smoother.

Both are great strings. I'll see how the new ones hold up

I'll probably record a video with the new strings soon

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Nice to hear an NG2 being used for "traditional" bass tones.

Love, love, love the tones Drew is getting on this clip:

 

[spiritbass]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing, Steve!

 

[Sheldon D.]

Sheldon, I believe that if you made every single component placement, string spacing, pickup choice, pre-amp choice, color and finish choice, wood choice, scale length, tuner choice, fret wire choice, neck profile, nut width, dots, plain, inlays, etc. available (and BTW, you are one of the most accommodating luthiers in the business in helping buyers modify their instruments even after purchase), people would STILL come up with some proposed modification you hadn't even thought of yet! I guess the next step will be 3D printing of the entire instrument from end-to-end!

Haha, in the past we racked our brains trying to cover every single option and color and consistently the first calls we'd get were for something we hadn't considered.

 

[Sheldon D.]

So, I just put a set of SS DW strings on my SJ4 and I noticed quite a few differences compared to the Sansone strings it came with.

- The DW strings have a bit more tension. I was kind of expecting that because of the different gauges (42-102 vs 45-105). A minimal adjustment of the truss rod solved that.
- Both have different treble frequencies. To me it sounds like DW have more treble and bass and the Sansone more upper high mids. Both are pretty bright, but the DW seem to be more tame.
- Even though DW's gauge is 45-105, they are very easy to play. I've been playing light gauge strings for quite a bit and I was pleasantly surprised.
- I think the Sansones feel smoother.

Both are great strings. I'll see how the new ones hold up

I'll probably record a video with the new strings soon

DW nickels are smoother feeling. Almost as bright as SS but with a little more low mids.

 

[IvanBassist]

DW nickels are smoother feeling. Almost as bright as SS but with a little more low mids.

I'll definitely give them a try once I run out of SS strings

 

[MichaelOz]

DW nickels are smoother feeling. Almost as bright as SS but with a little more low mids.

Love the nickels - they add that little extra growl without losing much (if any) zing. Started using DR Pure Blues (which are nickel) instead of Hi-Beams (SS) on my straight basses as well. Consider me a nickel convert.

Regards,
Michael

 

[BuffaloBob4343]

Haha, in the past we racked our brains trying to cover every single option and color and consistently the first calls we'd get were for something we hadn't considered.

I guess it's human nature, or maybe it's just us bass geeks, but that surprises me, NOT AT ALL!

 

[Jeff Roller]

This wasn't an option from Sheldon, so I did a thing.....
Thank you Pat Wilkins! Luminlay dots installed as well. Pat lives up to his reputation, I can't even see a mask line anywhere on the headstock. Wow.....

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Now that's yellow!

 

[Jeff Roller]

Now that's yellow!

I know....needs black strings don't it?

 

[Waltsdog]

Purple neon strings would be best