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keep my sadowsky or get a dingwall?

havuk

havuk

Jan 5, 2005
584
0
55
DFW TEXAS
#1
I know everyone loves these topics but I just wanted to hear some opinions.. I have a sadowsky NYC 4 P/J and just recently came across a Dingwall super J 5 and it happens to be the exact model and color I dreamed of ordering. I am in a unique position where I can sell my Sadowsky and can afford to pay the difference in basses, I play all types of music and love the sadowsky sound but the dingwall is awesome too.

Does anyone have experience with both nasses that could give their opinion on the differences in playability and tone etc?? I'd really appreciate it, thanks!
 
#3
Have you ever played a Dingwall?

I sold a Sadowsky to buy a Dingwall earlier in the year. I absolutely HATED the Dingwall to put it mildly. I really wanted to like the tone and the cool fanned frets, but I couldn't. I actually sold it about a week later. Dumbest bass related thing I have ever done.

N.B. This is just MY OPINION. Many here absolutely love Dingwalls, but I just couldn't get around the sound and feel.

Try one before buying if you haven't already.
 
#5
I have not been able to try one, I've read plenty about them and watched some clips on youtube but noone around here sells them. I'm leaning towards keeping my Sadowsky and I have a Roscoe on the way... Thanks for the opinions.
 
#6
I've owned 2 Sadowsky Basses but none stayed with me (after trying them for few weeks). I am sure that many players love Sadowsky basses, rightfully so, but the tone of my Dingwalls has still to be challenged.

Having said that, the "Dingwall Tone" is really different depending on the model but the cornerstone of that tone lies on the tightness, clarity and definition of the notes. The Dingwall B (even low Ab) has yet to be matched (in few days I will add some experience over F# on a Dingwall but till then....:ninja::hiding::ninja::hiding::ninja::hiding:)

Some of my Fender adoring friends love my avatar Z1, my Super J's (4 or 5) or my Z3 while some others (again Fender worshiping friends) love my Emerald Green or Villex-loaded Voodoo (worlds apart compared with the Z1 and Z3). Others that are not as fixed to the Fender tone like the Prima Artist tone, or the AB tone. Not All Dingwalls share one sound.

Back to the OP, the Super J is what a J should be in year 2010: a J tone with warmth, clarity and definition. My vote goes to get the Dingwall Super J
 
#9
If you dig it, keep the Sadowsky. I'm one also who find the Dingwalls very well made, but nothing particularly special, and the fanned frets don't really make sense to me, given the amazing tone and B string that Sadowsky and others get from a nice simple 34" scale:p
 
#10
I say sell the Sadowsky and get the Dingwall since the stars are lining up for you.

I used to check in to the TB Set Up and Repair section looking for fixes for my 34" basses. The 34's are all gone.

I've purchased 3 Dingwall's sight unseen and have kept 2 of them. The fretless is sold.

If you're having tone problems with too much zing and fret buzz with low action on a 37"-34" Dingwall try the new pure nickle wraps. There a little more smoother with a little more tension on the E,A and D.
 
#11
The majority of players who I've spoken with that are uncomfortable with a Dingwall have issues with the long scale length on the B and E string, many of the others fall into the "not my thing"/"can't really see myself playing fanned frets" camp. With a SJ you're not going to have the scale length issue, and you're obviously comfortable with the appearance and styling of the bass. If you're a "meat n potatoes" kind of player you'll probably go out and gig it the first day you get it, seriously.
 
#12
Tried a dingwall once and wasn't all that impressed with the tone. Sure it's super clean, but it's not my thing. What everyone said about the tone is true: powerful, clarity, tight, clean. It gotta be your thing. Me, I prefer some texture to the tone, that's why I'd stay with the Sad. I'm sure the B string on a dingwall feels tight, but some B strings that I've played on a 34'' felt almost as tight (warwick and others) and most 35'' I've tried were as tight (except the lakland skylines). Also, most B strings I've tried had useable tone, so if you can live with a good sounding floppy B strings, most 5 strings should do, hence no need to me for 37'' Dingwall.

I say, take the time to really try it to see if you like the fanned frets and the tone before trading a bass you know you like because it could end up you being sorry you've bought something because you were impulsive.
 
#13
I bought a Dingwall, played it for a while and sold it, and went back to my usual old Sadowsky basses. I prefer the Sadowsky tone overall, and found the Dingwall tone lacking in comparison. I had an AB-1 and ran it through a Sadowsky preamp, so the playing field was fairly even in terms of electronics.

I also couldn't get with the extended scale length, as first position is a real reach, even for average to large individuals. The fanned frets aren't a major learning curve, although certain techniques that are easy on standard frets are significantly more challenging on fanned frets. It also has to be noted that I'm a diehard 34" scale player who wants to play something that at least looks like a Fender Jazz, and I've literally been playing a Sadowsky since many TB members were still in diapers.

Ultimately, a non-standard design like Dingwall offers brings a number of solutions to the table, but it brings a new set of problems as well. Even though it's hard to check one out because the dealer network is so small and exclusive, the best thing to do is spend time with a Dingwall to make sure it's the bass for you.
 
#14
When I've tried Dingwalls I've found the fanned frets were absolutely no problem for me. The tone of them didn't exactly grab me though. Lots of people swear by both brands though. In your position I would try to give a Dingwall a thorough try-out before buying. Who knows, it might be your thing.
 
#15
havuk said:
I have not been able to try one, I've read plenty about them and watched some clips on youtube but noone around here sells them. I'm leaning towards keeping my Sadowsky and I have a Roscoe on the way... Thanks for the opinions.
Click to expand...

Good move. I also have a Roscoe (SKB-3005) and it is a much better bass (again, just IMO) than any Dingwall I have played. My Sadowskys are gone and I am back to a bunch of Fenders, but I will never be Roscoe-less!
 
#18
I have owned both. And as much as I love the sound of the B string of the Dingwall(The best most defined B in the business IMHO) the scale length of the Dingwall made it very uncomfortable for my left hand to stretch out to reach the first 5 frets. Also the special strings you have to use on the Dingwall are hard to find. You can't just walk into any music store and find them. So you are forced to buy multiple sets of them at a time. Which can be costly. They go for around $40.00 a set plus shipping.

With my Sadowsky I get the high quality bass that I want. It's light weight. Sounds awesome. And I can use any set of strings I want. Plus the resale of value of a Sadowsky is a lot higher than a Dingwall. Plus from my experience from selling the couple of Dingwalls I owned I found that even when I priced them real low they still did not sell very fast.

I would keep the Sadowsky.
 
#20
Baird6869 said:
Your rastaburst doesn't count.;):D That is on a different level.

If I owned that bass and absolutely hated the feel of it, I would still hand it on my living room wall just to look at.:p
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, it sounds and feels as good as it looks. I played my AB-1 the other night and can't believe how much I missed the Rastaburst! And I LOVE my AB!
 

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