Seriously: Dingwall Afterburner 1 vs Squier Deluxe Jazz V active...

[flipper_gv]

the combustion is being sold at a 1/3rd of the price of a regular ABI. Look for them. People who got their hands on them were really impressed with the awesome quality.

 

[PB+J]

I've been playing a passive AB1 five string for four years now. It killed any desire for another electric bass. I don't even try other brands in stores any more. It does every single thing I want an electric bass to do, and does them all really well. It gets a passable P-bass type tone, and a good j-bass type tone, and a couple sounds all its own that are all good. The neck is stable and comfortable. It's quiet and well shielded. It's light and balances perfectly.

The big deal for me is the fanned frets--it's just too much of an advantage on a five string. All the strings have the same tension, the same feel, which makes the whole thing much easier and better to play.

Is it worth the extra money? To me it is, but everybody's different.

 

[BurningSkies]

All respect to the Squier, there's really no comparison. There's not even a comparison to the MIA Fenders I own and really no comparison to any of the Fender Custom Shop basses I've picked up.

Dingwalls are really that well built, finished and sounding. Of course, whether YOU will like the way it feels, plays and sounds is 100% subjective.

 

[Jefenator]

Pretty much as stated in the (odd?) title:
Dingwall Afterburner 1 vs Squier Deluxe Jazz V active. What are your thoughts and experiences?

Having played exclusively 4-string basses since 1996 I figured it was time to break new ground. I am looking for a omfortable and well crafted bass with a refined/warm and full sound.

The Squier Deluxe gets a lot of positive reviews here for sure and having tried the CV and VM series, I see what you mean. The active preamp is not a bonus to me, but it can be bypassed with a mod, as I saw in one thread. The Dingwall also gets all "thumbs up" on this board, I think. A higher price will not always equal better performance, but the Dingwall seems worth what they are selling for?

Here in Sweden, an imported Afterburner (whitout the nice top) would cost about 7 or 8 times as much as the Jazz. What will the extra money bring me? Pros and cons?

One reason to go for the Squier is that I am having a 34" five string fretless built now. Sticking to a 34" fretted fiver will perhaps make the two transitions easier. (Going five string + going fretless five string.)

Please note: In this case I see no real "middle ground". I have tried MIM and MIA Fender Jazzes, Yamaha and Ibanez mid price models to name a few. To me it is either the semi classic (and good looking!) Squier or the "think outside the box" Dingwall.

/Alexander

I wasn't very attracted to Dingwalls until I actually played one for a set. I was impressed by how everything was so carefully designed and crafted - I could really feel it in the way the thing played and sounded. I was (and still am) on a vintage kick so it took a lot to woo me over to something all modern like this. But I definitely "got" that axe.

Now I've bought one for myself and my impression is the same - still blown-away.

I've owned about 7 other low B instruments, some cheap, some more expensive and the Dingwall has been by far the best for comfort, playability and low B authority.

I haven't tried the Squier model you refer to. Maybe you'd get lucky and get a good one. (Certainly could happen - my other favorite low B is on a Taiwanese-made Yamaha fretless - 1000 times better than my top-of-the-line TRB.)

But if I had to choose without trying out and I wanted to get it right the first time, my money would be on Dingwall.

HTH - good luck with your quest!

 

[nastyn8c]

I really don't think this is a contest. Having played both and owned neither, I'd say you are comparing an apple to a diamond-encrusted orange. While the ABI is not active, the tone is so killer that you won't miss anything. I generally run my ABII passive anyway.

Feel-wise, as mentioned above, it isn't for everyone. Personally, I was dealing with some serious wrist issues, and playing the DW was an ingredient in alleviating them. I'd say it's worth a try.

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