NBD: Dingwall D-Roc

[DDXdesign]

Man, o man. This one was a surprise. Out of the blue entirely.

I've been a shorter-scales-only guy for a couple years now, which kinda stemmed from a wrist and tendon problem on my fretting hand, combined with crunchy shoulders that necessitate lightweight basses lately. So, enter the 32" basses and the 30s I have now, right, all well and good.

WELL - we did a video recently on the versatility of Dingwall basses and had a few in studio courtesy of Ashley Reeve, plus our head honcho Chris has had his black D-roc for a little bit, as seen/heard in a smattering of our other videos. After that Dingwall video shoot, I borrowed the D-roc for a couple weeks, as I loved the sound.

(Side note: I actually *had* a Dingwall afterburner 5 almost 20 years ago, but I shortly discovered that 5s aren't for me - 4 and 6 are fine, but 5 feels weird)

I knew the 36"+ scale on the E string would be extra-difficult. After all, the D-roc starts with a 34" G-string and only gets longer as you go down to E, and even 34 has been a bit of a challenge in recent years; my wrist isn't getting any younger or more supple. But I'm telling you, the sound of this bass PLUS the astonishing playability - I don't remember who Chris had set it up, but they are my hero - I could NOT stop playing this bass, fret stretch be damned and of course fanned frets not being nearly the weirdness they may appear to be. And it's all passive, just the way I likes 'em!
I still can't play 100% of what I can on the short-scales, but I really got to the point I started thinking 'why do I even HAVE these other basses?!?! I should get THIS!' - it just has this feel, man.

I found that I could get my hands on a new D-roc for a decent sale price. However, they only had one color available - the vintage tobaccoburst. Nice color, but I really wanted this bass in either the charcoal black or the midnight blue/purple. BUT, Chris said 'oh hell, I'd love the burst one - it'd match my Tbird'.

SO, I went ahead and bought the burst one, and traded it to him for the black one, and now I am the proud owner of one of the best basses I've ever played or heard.

I still really want to try out a Super P or Super J 4, just to see the feel of the 32-34 scale spread instead. ( @Sheldon D. )

 

[JeffJ2112]

Good thing I'm not there or I'd drool on it!

 

[Snake101st]

This was a nice read, as someone that's waiting on a droc 5 in blue-purple that has mostly been playing short scale of late for similar reasons (it was between that or a 5-6 string NG3, but the droc shape called to me, despite not being a tbird guy)... Are you mostly playing sitting, or some standing with a strap as well?

Wondering how you are sitting (classical or normal) and how you have the strap set up (low and at an angle or more high up to stay consistent with your seated position) to be able to be this comfortable with it.

 

[DDXdesign]

This was a nice read, as someone that's waiting on a droc 5 in blue-purple that has mostly been playing short scale of late for similar reasons (it was between that or a 5-6 string NG3, but the droc shape called to me, despite not being a tbird guy)... Are you mostly playing sitting, or some standing with a strap as well?

Wondering how you are sitting (classical or normal) and how you have the strap set up (low and at an angle or more high up to stay consistent with your seated position) to be able to be this comfortable with it.

I'm sorry to have missed this question! So, much belated, but - I play standing at all times here at home. I only sit when I have to (like when we are shooting videos) - I would have to play this one classical-style when sitting because i like to have the neck angled upward. When on a strap, it's a little higher than most rockers - I can't play slung low like a Duff or Krist might - but it's not up in McCartney territory, and I do try to keep it about at a 45deg angle. I could try to get a picture.

 

[Snake101st]

I'm sorry to have missed this question! So, much belated, but - I play standing at all times here at home. I only sit when I have to (like when we are shooting videos) - I would have to play this one classical-style when sitting because i like to have the neck angled upward. When on a strap, it's a little higher than most rockers - I can't play slung low like a Duff or Krist might - but it's not up in McCartney territory, and I do try to keep it about at a 45deg angle. I could try to get a picture.

Thanks for getting back to me! I was actually able to find a shop 2 1/2 hrs away to try a D-Roc (4 and 5) and NG3 (4, 5, and 6) and liked the NG so much that I canceled my D-Roc preorder and bought an NG3 6 string in white that I found a killer deal on.

The shape was more comfortable for me, both standing and sitting, and the neck cutout on the D-Roc was very limiting. If I was getting just one 4 and one 5 or 6, a D-Roc 4 for just rocking out and sticking to the money frets would be a great option, but I was looking for a be all end all bass here.

Still adjusting to the C string and finding the ways to use it that make sense in a band setting - I'm in a 4 piece with one guitarist so opportunities are limited and it seems like more of a fun solo thing or a once in a while hook thing - but I love it and have gotten nothing but compliments on its look and tone!