• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Fanned 5

#21
A little progress on the body today. Back edges rounded over, control cavity routed, sunken recess made in the tail cut for locking Neutrik jackplug. Since I seem to have got the Dingwall thing going here, I thought I'd make use of some of their really cool little design details.
rounded.jpg

Pity the 2 pieces of wood (from the same stock) have such different appearances.
 
#26
I wouldn't think it would matter too much as long as it doesn't say "Dingwall" on the headstock. There's so much more awesome packed into a Dingwall than just the neat looking shape.

I love the idea of a fanned fret axe with a 34.5" B string. The 37" is the one thing keeping me from being a Dingwall owner.
 
#27
Sheldon, I bow to your presence, your basses are magnificent! As I said earlier, I certainly didn't start out to copy a Dingwall shape, it was traced from my Warmoth Gecko body, and I added the cut out of the tail before I had seen your superb creations! I did however, steal the jack plug positioning idea, which is really neat.
Anyway, please rest assured, this is a home build project just like my recent ric build. I have no intention of selling these on or making them for a living. If, however, you have any vacancies for an enthusiastic guitar builder, then I'm free next month while visiting the US ;)

In the meantime, I seek advice about bass pre-amps, availability in the UK and essential options to consider. We're going for a single MM humbucker pup here. I'd like a 3-band boost/cut and an active/passive switch. i have no experience of fitting or using bass preamps.

M2: I'm going for an E(34.5") to C(32.5") 5 string.
 
#31
Al Heeley said:
...I have a feeling these standard of pickup may be beyond my current budget.
Click to expand...

Al -

I would expect to pay around $300 or so for pickups for your bass, if you are going to have two pickups. If you stick with one pickup, you can get away with just over hald that (most places offer a small discount if you buy a piar of pickups over their individual pickup pricing)

I'm still all for the angled fat stacks. I think they have a wonderful tone, are versatile, and if you placed them close together, you could approximate a MM sound, I'd think. It wouldn't be exactly the same, but the string coverage would be close.
 
#34
Thanks Shawn. Those staggered pups look cool. I ned to curb my budget on this one though - I'd like to go for a pre-amp to boost the performance of a relatively cheap pickup rather than pay $150 -$300. Maybe I go for a cheap budget pickup to put in a a test. If the bass comes out well, feels good and seems to have good vibe, then I can consider upgrading to a really decent pickup - only then I have to commit to a straight-on rout for the MM type so I can get the build finished.
 
#35
Al Heeley said:
Thanks Shawn. Those staggered pups look cool. I ned to curb my budget on this one though - I'd like to go for a pre-amp to boost the performance of a relatively cheap pickup rather than pay $150 -$300. Maybe I go for a cheap budget pickup to put in a a test. If the bass comes out well, feels good and seems to have good vibe, then I can consider upgrading to a really decent pickup - only then I have to commit to a straight-on rout for the MM type so I can get the build finished.
Click to expand...

In my opinion the improving should be done at the pickup level first. Skip the preamp if you're on a budget, but get your basic tone right with quality pickups. I'm not talking about expensive boutique stuff, but good pickups go way further down the tone road than a good preamp does. The better preamps are quite transparent, anyway.
 
#36
ehque said:
In my opinion the improving should be done at the pickup level first. Skip the preamp if you're on a budget, but get your basic tone right with quality pickups. I'm not talking about expensive boutique stuff, but good pickups go way further down the tone road than a good preamp does. The better preamps are quite transparent, anyway.
Click to expand...

+153.782

A bass needs to have its tone built from the ground up. Otherwise, everything "downstream" will need to work that much harder to compensate for the issues "upstream"...

start with a solid body and good neck...put good strings on it, next...then get good pickups in it...if the bass sounds great at this point the preamp will do very little...
 
#37
PilbaraBass said:
+153.782

A bass needs to have its tone built from the ground up. Otherwise, everything "downstream" will need to work that much harder to compensate for the issues "upstream"...

start with a solid body and good neck...put good strings on it, next...then get good pickups in it...if the bass sounds great at this point the preamp will do very little...
Click to expand...

While agreeing about the construction and quality components saying that a pre-amp can do very little beyond that I can't go with.
If all the other parts of the bass are up to scratch a good pre-amp has a good source of material to work with and can accentuate what is all ready good in the bass giving it a far larger tonal palette to work with.

Also a well made pre-amp can also make up for short comings in the rest of the bass to a degree which is not the ideal situation but will help get usable tones from another wise uninspiring bass.

Alan
 
#39
As is apparent by his comments, Sheldon Dingwall is a great guy, to say the least!!! I've got 2 Dingwalls that I've purchased used, and he's treated me like I bought them from him personally!

I'm not trying to be a jerk here, or start an argument. But, out of respect for Sheldon and his revolutionary bass designs, I think you should alter your basses body shape. It wouldn't take much. Right now, it's a dead ringer for a Dinger, HEHE.

Just my opinion,
JJ
 
#40
Skelf said:
While agreeing about the construction and quality components saying that a pre-amp can do very little beyond that I can't go with.
If all the other parts of the bass are up to scratch a good pre-amp has a good source of material to work with and can accentuate what is all ready good in the bass giving it a far larger tonal palette to work with.

Also a well made pre-amp can also make up for short comings in the rest of the bass to a degree which is not the ideal situation but will help get usable tones from another wise uninspiring bass.

Alan
Click to expand...

I agree, Alan...but as I said, the signal is built on what comes before (1st = good instrument, 2nd = good pickups, 3rd = good preamp)...a good preamp can DEFINITELY makeup for short comings in a bass...but isn't it better just to have a great set of pickups to begin with and then go from there?

then there's the ACG basses...great woods...fantastic construction...good pickups (would you make anything sub-par? I don't think so)...and one of the most versatile onboard pre's on the market... = AWESOME PRODUCT...
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back