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Dingwall Super J Thread!

toniwonkanobi

toniwonkanobi

May 23, 2008
1,550
144
Northern California
#1
I might be jumping the gun here, but I didn't see a unified place for Dingwall Super J (and P/J) specific Dingwall info. A few Dingwall owner's threads, but lots of AB, Z, and Combustion stuff to sift through ;)

Might be a useful place to gather info for the Super J lovers! Let this be a place for reviews, sound clips, and anything else Super J related (:
 
#3
FlyLow said:
That's a beauty, congratulations!

:)
Click to expand...

Yeah man! I have a bass friend/mentor (in the sense that he has so much cool bass gear to try out it's not even funny) who has two (!) Dingwall Prima Artists. They are pretty killer to say the least. I timidly played one (what -- 10K each, right?) and was amazed how effortlessly it is to on play non-parallel frets (especially in the money zone). I have been flipping gear a lot lately and even though I JUST picked up a sweet Fender 5, decided to try this Dingwall out instead. We'll see how I like it ;)

I'm a Fender guy at heart, so this was the logical step into fanned-frets.

Thanks for checking in!
 
#4
ac3320 said:
...I'm a Fender guy at heart, so this was the logical step into fanned-frets...
Click to expand...

Yes, I have been a Fender guy as well for many years, but Sheldon Dingwall blew me away first time I played mine. The long 37 inch B-string on a Dingwall has no peer. I think my Dingwall is the perfect bass to complement my Fender - the best of two worlds...

And that Dingwall neck..Wwwow! How did he ever come up with that feel...

:)
 
#5
FlyLow said:
Yes, I have been a Fender guy as well for many years, but Sheldon Dingwall blew me away first time I played mine. The long 37 inch B-string on a Dingwall has no peer. I think my Dingwall is the perfect bass to complement my Fender - the best of two worlds...

And that Dingwall neck..Wwwow! How did he ever come up with that feel...

:)
Click to expand...

True, nothing quite like a 37" B. What's cool about Sheldon's stuff, and it's really apparent on the Super J's (since it's clearly aimed at doing the Fender thing, but better) is that it's all unique, in-house stuff.
 
#9
ac3320 said:
I might be jumping the gun here, but I didn't see a unified place for Dingwall Super J (and P/J) specific Dingwall info. A few Dingwall owner's threads, but lots of AB, Z, and Combustion stuff to sift through ;)

Might be a useful place to gather info for the Super J lovers! Let this be a place for reviews, sound clips, and anything else Super J related (:

Here's mine (arrives tomorrow):
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...

I love this pickguard, especially with Olympic White.
 
#12
tkcthulu said:
What time is it now?
Click to expand...

Hey it just got here!

First impressions:

1. Whoa. this thing is freaking light! 8.2 lbs says the dealer, but it's gotta be the lightest bass i've ever owned!

2. Fit and finish are IMMACULATE. This is the first boutique bass i've owned, so it's a crazy difference from previous Fenders. Well not crazy, all the AV62 and other Fender's i've had are a definite step above the rest of the Fender non-Custom Shop basses. But little things like...this Dingwall Super has NO SPACES between the control plate and the pickguard. NO NECK POCKET GAP (okay, a little, but that's probably good for the wood to expand). The nut was clearly cut correctly. And i might be mistaken, but i think all of the pickguard holes and control plate holes have recessed metal threads. I may be just imagining that though, but I think i am right about that.

3. It has stainless GHS strings on there. Haven't had a stainless bass in about a year and a half, so I forgot what they sound like! Sounds like Marcus miller (esp. with the 4-way switch on parallel mode).

4. Series mode is killer. I had installed a series/parallel switch in previous jazz basses, but it's really apparent here in this Super J. In fact the whole rotary knob is killer. Roll off the passive tone in series mode, and you've got 'sorta' P bass city!

5. Silly me, the fanned frets: they are NO big deal, really. I didn't even think about them! Just got straight to playing. The Super J only has a 34.35 - 32" stretch, unlike the other Dingwalls, so this probably helps it not seem so foreign. Biggest detriment to wanking is probably the strings' tension, which is more than my usual DR Sunbeams. Got a pair that i can throw on at any minute, but might just enjoy the stainless tones for a while!

6. The hipshot ultralites do a great job. Effortless turning, and a nice ratio too.

7. the pickups are physically bigger than most single coil 4-string pickups, but it's not to weird that i can't naturally rest my thumb on the pickup when playing over the E or A strings.

8. The neck profile is definitely on the small side. Some guys with big clubbers might possibly find it TOO small, but I dig it. Definitely thinner than the AV62 jazz necks i've had/played/used. I LOVE IT!

9. I'm pretty sure mine has the oil/wax finish on the back of the neck, specifically because i can feel the seams where the neck pieces are glued. I know this would scare a bunch of guys, but it can easily be cleared up with some 0000 steel wool or a scotchbrite bad and some carnauba wax afterwards!

10. Did i mention it is light as heck?!

More to come!
 
#13
Isn't there a type of eye glasses that will make the fanned frets appear normal?

I've never played a Dingwall, but I like everything I see and hear about them. There are a lot of details that just seem like they're very well thought out.
 
#14
Gizmot said:
Isn't there a type of eye glasses that will make the fanned frets appear normal?

I've never played a Dingwall, but I like everything I see and hear about them. There are a lot of details that just seem like they're very well thought out.
Click to expand...

He (Sheldon Dingwall) really did think a lot of things out. The amalgamation of a bunch of sweet little ideas is what makes his basses special IMO. (Aside: yet another reason why you shouldn't let anyone tell you [silver] amalgams are bad for you -- they are not! haha). It's probably even more evident on the Z models and such. This is *just* tame enough to still be J enough for me. I like the modern voicings of this other models, but can only have a couple basses that i use regularly to justify having them, and i just wouldn't use the modern basses except at home noodling around :/

I'm going to see if i can get a hold of a sweet little Zoom HD recorder (kinda like KJung has) to do some clips or something. It would also be nice to catalog all the gear i go through...which is a lot here in the past 6 months :p
 
#15
wait.... am I too late to the party, errr do I qualify? :D

Here's my pride and joy.

Dingwall Super J 5 strings P/J pickups

Fiesta Red / Maple fingerboard with pearloid block inlays / non matching headstock / active Glockenklang 2 band preamp. DOB Feb, 11th 2011

SJ5FiestaRedfulle.jpg

SJ5fiestaredbodye.jpg

SJstringtreee.jpg

DSC04068.jpg

DSC04076.jpg
 
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#16
Minty said:
wait.... am I too late to the party, errr do I qualify? :D

Here's my pride and joy.

Dingwall Super J 5 strings P/J pickups

Fiesta Red / Maple fingerboard with pearloid block inlays / non matching headstock / active Glockenklang 2 band preamp. DOB Feb, 11th 2011

SJ5FiestaRedfulle.jpg

SJ5fiestaredbodye.jpg

SJstringtreee.jpg

DSC04068.jpg

DSC04076.jpg
Click to expand...

Ha i saw this baby on the Dingwall club thread. Nice! I love the fiesta red :D How do you like the Glockenkang preamp? And how does the P pickup change the tones from the regular Super Phatty?
 
#17
Well in a nutshell, the P pickup it's really where it's at! It's got this perfectly defined low sound, that it's so clear you can almost see it scultptured in the air you and can almost box it! I can't explain it otherwise. The bridge super fatty really compliments the P-style one, specially when played together in parallel, it has a beautiful mid scooped sound that is ideal for most musical genres. But I tell you once you click on active and you are in the soloed P pickup, a slight palm muting and a pick and the response through the speakers is thunderous.

I love it, the glockenklang has balls of steel.
 
#18
Minty said:
Well in a nutshell, the P pickup it's really where it's at! It's got this perfectly defined low sound, that it's so clear you can almost see it scultptured in the air you and can almost box it! I can't explain it otherwise. The bridge super fatty really compliments the P-style one, specially when played together in parallel, it has a beautiful mid scooped sound that is ideal for most musical genres. But I tell you once you click on active and you are in the soloed P pickup, a slight palm muting and a pick and the response through the speakers is thunderous.

I love it, the glockenklang has balls of steel.
Click to expand...

nice man ... nice all around! I might have to pick up a p pickup and new pickguard just to shake things up once in a while :)
 

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