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SHELDON DINGWALL is building MY DREAM BASS

#183
I personally, and you know this...would do the matching top/finish. That way, with the very unique grain pattern of the spalt will remain contiguous and continuous!

But then, you knew I'd say that...



In other news, Look for me to post some new pictures in the next day or so...I've got updates! :)
 
#187
Ok! Home from work and I've had a chance to take the pictures that Sheldon sent me and move them to my webspace. :)

First off, Ozross' Z is moving a bit faster than mine, due to some working on some of the details of my neck, etc. Its cool with me, as I know its well worth the wait.

First off, here's the body, back from the sealer/prefinish stage. You'll see that the grain/spalt/flame is becoming more apparent now. :D

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You'll also note that it's darker due to the treatment. Looks nice, huh? Sheldon just posted on his message board about the new 'feature' in the pickup routs. You'll see that there's a new circular 'drill' spot in each. He's gone to fully shielded pickup routes and that's the location for the grounding lug. This bass should be nice and quiet...as long as I say away from those stage side neon signs!

The back currently looks a bit like this:

Invalid Link Removed

You can see that the grain has been enhanced with a dark tinted grain filler, to make it stand out. This is where the name of the model "Zebra" comes from. The zebra now has its stripes!

I also have some neck shots...but those will wait a day or so.

This is really coming together just like I had hoped. It will be hard with the weekend's gig and other upcoming gigs, knowing that soon I will be doing shows on a beautiful new bass! My Afterburner will get some extra love just so it doesn't feel left out...
 
#188
Thanks for all the help guys. This just about sums up my position:
Smallmouth_Bass said:
Oooh, I change my mind. Do that!
Click to expand...

I've been flippin' and floppin' by email with Sheldon, but I guess you need something to take your mind off the Dow...

Some really great options there. Have decided to go with the amber because:
1. The black stain would probably look purple or blue and I'm not sure that'd be too cool;
2. Any changes to the type of wood (currently it matches the top) would delay the whole process. Having jumped the queue - thanks again BurningSkies! - I'm looking forward to my Christmas present. :hyper:

Cheers
Ross
 
#189
BurningSkies said:
Ok! Home from work and I've had a chance to take the pictures that Sheldon sent me and move them to my webspace. :)

First off, Ozross' Z is moving a bit faster than mine, due to some working on some of the details of my neck, etc. Its cool with me, as I know its well worth the wait.

First off, here's the body, back from the sealer/prefinish stage. You'll see that the grain/spalt/flame is becoming more apparent now. :D

Invalid Link Removed

You'll also note that it's darker due to the treatment. Looks nice, huh? Sheldon just posted on his message board about the new 'feature' in the pickup routs. You'll see that there's a new circular 'drill' spot in each. He's gone to fully shielded pickup routes and that's the location for the grounding lug. This bass should be nice and quiet...as long as I say away from those stage side neon signs!

The back currently looks a bit like this:

Invalid Link Removed

You can see that the grain has been enhanced with a dark tinted grain filler, to make it stand out. This is where the name of the model "Zebra" comes from. The zebra now has its stripes!

I also have some neck shots...but those will wait a day or so.

This is really coming together just like I had hoped. It will be hard with the weekend's gig and other upcoming gigs, knowing that soon I will be doing shows on a beautiful new bass! My Afterburner will get some extra love just so it doesn't feel left out...
Click to expand...

That is a stunning, awesome bass (in progress)! :eek: :cool: :bassist: Truly, you have a classic amongst classics on your hands. Just watch your back for Eddie looking to move in and snatch it away! :D

I am going to be playing two gigs tomorrow (big, sold out benefit show in the afternoon, and then a killer riverside bar in the evening), and I'll be bringing the review Z3 and my still stunning SJ4 to both gigs. :bassist: :bassist: :bassist:

Oh, and as for those neon signs, if I see any, I always just go unplug them right before we start playing. :smug:

Tom.
 
#190
tombowlus said:
That is a stunning, awesome bass (in progress)! :eek: :cool: :bassist: Truly, you have a classic amongst classics on your hands. Just watch your back for Eddie looking to move in and snatch it away! :D

I am going to be playing two gigs tomorrow (big, sold out benefit show in the afternoon, and then a killer riverside bar in the evening), and I'll be bringing the review Z3 and my still stunning SJ4 to both gigs. :bassist: :bassist: :bassist:

Oh, and as for those neon signs, if I see any, I always just go unplug them right before we start playing. :smug:

Tom.
Click to expand...

See...that's how you can tell a gigging/grunt musician...they know all about neon signs and how to tell if they're on the same circuit as the stage!

I'm interested to hear how your Z-3 test goes...if you want to give a quick sneak preview comment or two here, I wouldn't mind! It would be sad if I had to wait for the next issue of BG to read about it. ;)

No need to worry about FRB. He's already expressed his interest in my project. Unfortunately, this is one Dingwall that won't end up in his dusty museum. It may end up on my pyre with me when they send my boat down the river though...

A good friend of mine looked at the new pictures and commented "Man, it looks better already than some finished basses".

For the fun of it...Here's a 'group' of Z necks being worked on. You may note that the one on the right hand side matches the body wood on mine...

img_1961_145.jpg
 
#191
BurningSkies said:
I'm interested to hear how your Z-3 test goes...if you want to give a quick sneak preview comment or two here, I wouldn't mind! It would be sad if I had to wait for the next issue of BG to read about it. ;)
Click to expand...

Don't worry, I'll post some sneak peaks and whatnot prior to issue #2 coming out. :cool:
 
#193
Ok.

So I got to try one the other day, and I think that my mind may have changed.

I loved the tone and the playability. I'm going to guess that the setup was terrible on the last one that I tried.

I still wont really be getting one shortly due to financial circumstances, but I'm hoping that I can eventually get one.

Your bass is awesome as well. I love the idea of those colors on that Spalted maple. Very original.

Looks very nice. Congrats. :)
 
#194
BananaKing said:
Ok.

So I got to try one the other day, and I think that my mind may have changed.

I loved the tone and the playability. I'm going to guess that the setup was terrible on the last one that I tried.

I still wont really be getting one shortly due to financial circumstances, but I'm hoping that I can eventually get one.

Your bass is awesome as well. I love the idea of those colors on that Spalted maple. Very original.

Looks very nice. Congrats. :)
Click to expand...

I'm glad you got a chance to try one of Sheldon's basses that DID have the right set-up. I've never had a complaint about my AB, and have only ever had to tweak the trussrod slightly on a seasonal basis in the past 3+ years.

Thanks on the finish thing...I actually can't take much blame. I happen to like Sheldon's vibrant colors very much. The blue Z on his splash page is over spalt, and there's another red one I've seen where the spalting makes it look like veins and almost flesh. I loved both. When we started talking about the instrument, Sheldon (who does a great job of taking an idea, running with it and improving it) made some awesome suggestions and all of them were pretty solidly right where I wanted to go. I think maybe (hopefully) that Sheldon knows that I'm pretty open to new ideas, trying stuff out and that I'm not looking for 'conservative or traditional'. I think I'm pretty vocal about the fact that I like progressive design, new ideas and um...a bit of flash.

Along the way, he's also made suggestions as he's had time to think about things and those have also been dead right-on. As this is my first custom build, its made a good impression on me. I really wish I had the $$$ to jump into another, but I just don't see that happening soon. (fretlessfretlessfretless).
 
#195
BurningSkies said:
Sheldon (who does a great job of taking an idea, running with it and improving it) made some awesome suggestions and all of them were pretty solidly right where I wanted to go.


Along the way, he's also made suggestions as he's had time to think about things and those have also been dead right-on. As this is my first custom build, its made a good impression on me. I really wish I had the $$$ to jump into another, but I just don't see that happening soon. (fretlessfretlessfretless).
Click to expand...


I must say that Mr. Dingwall an outstanding luthier to work with......a thinking, patient class act and a huge talent IME/IMO. Cliff Bordwell is another who I've had a great experience with. As far as doing another build, Burnin', it'd purely be for the thrill of the ride, 'cause truth be told, this puppy is likely the first, last and only bass you'll ever need. I'm itching for the sound clips and review.:hyper: As a matter of fact, since we're both upstate, I might have to grovel for a test-drive.
 
#196
lomo said:
I must say that Mr. Dingwall an outstanding luthier to work with......a thinking, patient class act and a huge talent IME/IMO. Cliff Bordwell is another who I've had a great experience with. As far as doing another build, Burnin', it'd purely be for the thrill of the ride, 'cause truth be told, this puppy is likely the first, last and only bass you'll ever need. I'm itching for the sound clips and review.:hyper: As a matter of fact, since we're both upstate, I might have to grovel for a test-drive.
Click to expand...

Heh. If I only bought basses I needed, I'd not have ordered this one! ;)

The fretless idea is waaaaaay back on the list. I don't play fretless much, I haven't picked my fretless up since I bought my Dingwall (well, yes I have, but I've dropped it right quick because it doesn't sound or feel anywhere as good as my AB)...It would be a complete frivolity!

Hey, I don't know what part of the upstate world you're from, but you definitely have an open invitation to try out the bass when its finished.
 
#200
UncleBalsamic said:
Would you guys think it's a good idea for me to buy a Dingwall sight unseen or not?

Also, I can't to see the finish on your bass BurningSkies.
Click to expand...

Thanks, it should be a trip!

I think that many of us Dingwall players had to buy our basses sight-unseen. As you can tell, I certainly don't regret it. I know that its daunting, but if you live in a place where you can't find someone who will let you try theirs, you should find a dealer who will provide good return terms, in case you find that it won't work for you.
 

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