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SHELDON DINGWALL is building MY DREAM BASS

#241
Fetusyolk said:
That is really a beautiful bass. very tastefully done, the spalted and the colour blend perfectly.

congratulations on your beautiful bass, idk how u sleep at night knowing its not in ur arms yet :P
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Sheldon actually and obviously takes all the credit on this. While I had a choice of tops, he sent me the ones that he believed would work and in the end, I think it was obvious which one was best. The wood was picked with that finish scheme in mind! :)

With each set of pictures, it becomes more difficult to sleep! Once the ball was rolling, it got moving fast...so its not too far away as far as I can tell!
 
#242
msquared said:
I especially love that the inlays match. It really ties it all together.
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Yeah! I dig it a lot. I like the black borders and the color over spalt for the inlay material works awesomely. I like that the finish is unified across body, pickups, fretboard and headstock.

BananaKing said:
Dear god!

That has to be one of the most unique and Beautiful combos I've ever seen!

Very nice choice. I can't wait to see it finished and hear some clips.

Congrats!
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Thanks, I can't thank the Dingwall Designer Guitar shop enough. Best in the world.

pbass2 said:
OMG---that is the coolest thing I've seen in a long time.
Man, I had an AB1, and it was prolly the best recording bass I ever owned, but alas, at the end of the day the scale was too much for me(I'm a 'lil bugger). I'm a big reggae and dub hed and I regret that I couldn't work that bass into my thing. No more solid and focused a low end to be found anywhere else. I LOVE the finish on your bass--can't wait to see pics of the finished masterpiece.
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Luckily, the bass is in scale with me at 6'2". It doesn't feel that long to me. I love the fact that my AB is clean and clear and focused down low. It means I can push a lot of lows and not have it be wash and boom. Its solid and clear. Last week we did an outdoor show, and we had a bunch of people comment on how unlike other reggae bands, they could actually hear the notes clearly no matter how loud. I was pushing VERY boosted lows that day too!

I can't forget that I also play non-roots music and with an amp set flat, it's a great sounding bass. useable tone across the frequency spectrum.
 
#244
gorgeous end-grain there!! and the idea of having the blocks be matching to the body and headstock... very cool!

can't wait to see this one when it's finished!!




BurningSkies said:
Update!!!

Now that the neck is being worked on, things are coming along quickly! :)

The fretboard is on, radiused (compound) and the fret slots are cut (fanned, of course!).

Originally I had gone with no inlays or markers on the neck. I really liked the clean look of nice maple. But as time went on, I got more feedback on the fact that my AB has no face markers...and the feedback was negative! A lot of guitarists and keyboard players I was on stage with were having a hard time 'reading' my playing when we were in improvisational or 'backing riddim' mode. When a singer or guest on stage calls a riddim they don't usually give a key, and I'm pretty quick to figure out where they're singing (or should be!) The other players were having problems figuring it out with the 5th string and also fanned frets.

Soooo...about a year in I contacted Barry & Sheldon and requested I have dots or bars at 5 & 12. Just enough to let everyone read me, but not enough to be all down the neck! Sheldon came back to me with the idea of something with a bit more action...as the body/headstock already had so much, he thought small markers would be underwhelming. After a bit of thinking, I figured he was right!

The idea he posited is for large 'block' inlays at 5 & 12 (keep in mind this is before the 70's style Super-J was around)...and better yet, the blocks are of the same spalted wood as the top! :)

Here's some action:

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You can see that the inlays consist of two pieces...the center, spalted block, and a black surround. I think the surround does a good job of anchoring the blocks visually, so the spalt blocks aren't "floating".

Here they are in place:
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And here's the whole neck so you can get a feel for the layout. I was hoping that the 5th and 12th would be fairly evenly spaced, and I think it really works!

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So, that gives a nice idea of how things balance nicely! Of course they're not quite done yet...there's some finishing magic to happen, but that will be a bit more of a wait!
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#246
evilgus said:
Man, what a surprise! Great choice and fantastic work!

EG
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Sheldon's not messin' round. ;)

ghoulbug said:
The paintjob looks simply beautiful.
I'm used to the intentionally dulled vintage look, so this comes as a pretty big breath of fresh air. :cool:
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Thanks! I have some 'vintage' instruments, complete with faded finishes, scratches, dents, dings and wear...I really appreciate vintage instruments, but when I moved to my AB-1 3+ years ago, I made a very specific move to new ideas, updated design and open minded philosophy about what a bass should be. :)
 
#247
BurningSkies said:
Sorry for the wait everyone! Its been a very long day, but I wanted to get this all up and posted before bed!

In reviewing this pics to put them up, I have to say that they have the same effect of taking my breath a way as they did this morning. If possible I'm even more in love with this project than I was before.

Now I know this finish isn't going to be for everyone. I know that there are plenty of people who don't like busy wood or bright colors...that's OK. :)

I'll let the pictures of the finishing process speak for themselves. Color coat done:

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*per Sheldon, the finish is a bit darker in person, as many of these shots were taken with flash in less-than-optimum conditions...
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Holy crap thats awesome! :eek:
 
#251
nohbudi said:
Wow... If that thing plays anything like the AB1 Bowlus has been dragging around.... Well I have no doubt you will be keeping this one. I just wish I had the chance to play it through that monster Reeves....
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I shall be keeping this bass even if it doesn't play like a mofo. Sheldon's work is like having a beautifully sculpted work of art or maybe a wonderfully designed exotic sports car...I have no doubt that it will sound great, though. I've said it before...Sheldon doesn't mess around. Sound really is #1, even if it seems otherwise from the looks of this one. :)
 
#254
FCM3 said:
Again-- Sheldons work is A+++++ amazing.
I hope you keep your afro-jamaican gig, that bass is perfect for it--duh obviously

cant wait to see the finished product
frank
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The band is going well. We're gigging, writing and having loads of fun. As a 'founding' member with a few other long time players/friends of mine, it does look like a solid gig. :) Even if it did come apart, I would be on to the next project. I've been playing Jamaican music or Jamaican inspired music since the early 90's and I have no intention of stopping!

If you haven't already, check out some of the other Z basses from this batch...they're all quite beautiful and unique!
 
#256
BurningSkies said:
Luckily, the bass is in scale with me at 6'2". It doesn't feel that long to me. I love the fact that my AB is clean and clear and focused down low. It means I can push a lot of lows and not have it be wash and boom. Its solid and clear. Last week we did an outdoor show, and we had a bunch of people comment on how unlike other reggae bands, they could actually hear the notes clearly no matter how loud. I was pushing VERY boosted lows that day too!

I can't forget that I also play non-roots music and with an amp set flat, it's a great sounding bass. useable tone across the frequency spectrum.
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I keep thinking I must have another go at it one day. The fact that you use yours for reggae inspires me. I listen to some recordings I did with my AB1 and man, what a clear and focused sound---really like a fiver Pbass taken to the next level (and that's an understatement). Heck I don't even like steel strings and I loved that bass and those strings! I had a shoulder injury from boxing that got a little aggravated with the extra reach I had to use with that bass (I'm 5'8") so i let it go, plus I wasn't playing fives much then. But man, what a sound . . I miss it . . .
 
#258
Thingus995 said:
BurningSkies that is GORGEOUS... congrats man
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Thanks Man! I'm very excited about it...I also feel very blessed to have this instrument built and to have such a great artist and luthier agree to build it. In the end, even though the bass will be 'paid in full', I will still owe a great debt of gratitude to all the people at the Dingwall shop.

Here's another new Z that's just been completed:
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