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SHELDON DINGWALL is building MY DREAM BASS
- Thread starter BurningSkies
- Start date
It was named by the the maker, as such I shall always think of it that way.
I don't tend to name my instruments, but I definitely won in this way, since one of the other famous Z's is known as the 'SNOTBURST'
FRB, is that two standard FD-whatever pups under one wood cover/ramp?
That looks very functional and sleek (beautiful).
PS I guess you could maybe fit three under it.
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,350
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
I believe it's got regular stock FD-3 pickups in the standard Z-1 configuration. The fancy cover was for the original owner, who desired an integrated 'ramp'.
I don't know how I'd feel about the ramp part, but I love the way the bass looks. Also, when FRB took possession, I believe he commissioned a fretless neck.
Congrats! Good things really do come to those who wait. I bet I would NOT be getting any sleep tonight if I were you. 
Looking at your pics again, I just noticed all the cool little details. Subtle flaming on the spalted maple, and the angular curves like that of an antique furniture.
With the AB's now over $2k, I can only imagine what this beauty must have cost you, though.
But if it takes 3 years, if I placed an order for one now, I'd probably have it in my hands when I'm actually good enough to enjoy it!
Looking at your pics again, I just noticed all the cool little details. Subtle flaming on the spalted maple, and the angular curves like that of an antique furniture.
With the AB's now over $2k, I can only imagine what this beauty must have cost you, though.
But if it takes 3 years, if I placed an order for one now, I'd probably have it in my hands when I'm actually good enough to enjoy it!
BurningSkies is right on the pickups and their position
The ramp does not allow to dig in so I went ahead and commissioned a fretless neck. This is by far the best fretless I have even played or heard.
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Burning, it´s really nice to see the colors of the lion of judah upright. green gold and red. I see so many images with the flag colors in an incorrect order.
This bass is truly an instrument to bring the message of peace from jah to earth.
I was a bit nervous when I read that you were going to have the colors on your bass, but the vibe comes across strong and righteous. When you get it, I hope to see some live images with the reggae acts you play with.
respect.
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,350
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Thanks! I can say in all honesty that the wait was well worth it. Tonight will be me and a drummer in a room, and I'll get a chance to see what it can do and what the electronics package is capable of...The guys (tonight only one can be there) I play with on Thursdays cover rock, soul, funk, blues, reggae, dancehall, 60's ska, etc. So I'll get a chance to ride a lot of different styles with it.
Congrats! Good things really do come to those who wait. I bet I would NOT be getting any sleep tonight if I were you.
Looking at your pics again, I just noticed all the cool little details. Subtle flaming on the spalted maple, and the angular curves like that of an antique furniture.
With the AB's now over $2k, I can only imagine what this beauty must have cost you, though.
But if it takes 3 years, if I placed an order for one now, I'd probably have it in my hands when I'm actually good enough to enjoy it!
Yeah, it was a bit more than an AB, but luckily I paid in 2005 dollars, which made it possible (I'm sure to the chagrin of the shop's bottom line). If you look at my total investment, and spread it out over the order time, it actually turns out to be reasonable.
Keep in mind, that I have a lot of options that while not necessary for playability or tone, I wanted because of the look. Getting to look the bass over in person, there are tons of little cool touches and such. . . little 'hidden' places that are really extraordinary. Things like the attention to detail in the battery compartment, the sculpting on the back of the neck where it meets the headstock and how the fingerboard meets the neck and the spalt laminate. They're really cool. The sculpting on the 'point' of the voodoo/cello cut and how it meets the forearm cut and the 'tummy' cut is really beautiful.
One of my co-workers does woodwork and he actually walked away with only a brief look because he said it was so out of his league that it was going to depress him.
I have to correct you on one thing though...I will be getting some sleep tonight! I don't have to worry about my instrument in shipping, and I have a very beautiful girlfriend who won't stand for me playing bass all night! No matter how nice a bass it is, I love her more!
This weekend between house-pain-ting and social engagements, I'll try to spend some time taking some detailed pictures, although I'm sure they won't be anywhere as nice as the ones that come out of Sheldon's lightbox!
Bryan R. Tyler
TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002
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- May 3, 2002
- 28,949
- 20,937
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- Reviewer: Bass Player Magazine
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,350
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Thanks! I also see a lot of flags flying the colors in the "wrong direction", but that goes back to the early 70's. Of course the Ethiopian flag is really where the cue is taken from, and symbolically, the hope and promise the green represents SHOULD be on top.
Congrats on a VERY unique bass. I personally, am not a big fan of multicolors on a bass. BUT, there is only one luthier I know who could have pulled that off with such perfection that it still makes the bass stunning, even for the likes of an old-school guy like me.
Enjoy!
PS One of these days, I'm going to have to pass through the 'Cuse when you're gigging just so I can see and hear it in person.
Enjoy!
PS One of these days, I'm going to have to pass through the 'Cuse when you're gigging just so I can see and hear it in person.
And all us existing Dingwall owners want another one!
Congrats! Now where are the soundclips?
EG
Congrats! Now where are the soundclips?
EG
Be VERY careful. Owning and playing Dingwalls is like being addicted to crack (just ask Fullie)
. And maybe just as expensive.
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,350
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Congrats on a VERY unique bass. I personally, am not a big fan of multicolors on a bass. BUT, there is only one luthier I know who could have pulled that off with such perfection that it still makes the bass stunning, even for the likes of an old-school guy like me.
Enjoy!
PS One of these days, I'm going to have to pass through the 'Cuse when you're gigging just so I can see and hear it in person.
Thanks! I'm always up for meet ups, and I'm always happy to share my love of Sheldon's basses with both the new and the fully initiated! Our gig schedule has been fairly limited recently, but look for us to be in full swing in the next 6 to 8 months. Lately we've been doing college shows and cultural festivals...but we'll be hitting the bar scene again soon.
And all us existing Dingwall owners want another one!
Congrats! Now where are the soundclips?
EG
Heh. I'd love to provide them right away, but it will probably take until I have some free time to do it right! My next few weeks are crankin' with projects and work, so I see what I can sneeek in...first up will be some more pictures and details!
Gratz on a cool looking bass
It makes me want a Dingwall: A super-j 5 banger with 24 frets.......
It makes me want a Dingwall: A super-j 5 banger with 24 frets.......
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,350
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
OK! Back from 4 hours of playing.
I can now say that I really love this bass. I'm sure it will take some time for me to settle in, but since I already have one of Sheldon's basses, it's about 50% like being home and 50% road of discovery.
First off, I was right, this bass is a burner. Its very easy to play flash. I thought my AB had that going on, but this one rips.
It IS a different beast from the AB when it comes to sound and feel. I can tell they share the same DNA, but there's some definite differences. The Z/V definitely sounds like ash to me, the AB is closer to the 'traditional' sound and the Rastaburst has more presence...its punchy and out front and very alive while the AB is a touch more restrained. Its very easy to get around on the neck, so I'll be able to keep working on my finesse playing.
Since this is my 'any style goes' night, it was fun to cover some territory!
I played with my LMII set flat, and with only one cab...my Bergantino HT115.
Early first impressions are the new FD-3 Mach II when in series together is fat and big. You lose a bit of definition off the top, but I bet this will be the sound I stay in for most of my reggae gigs. With the lows rolled up just a touch and the passive treble roll-off brought just a little forward things were right where I like them. Lively with the lows to fill a room.
When the lows are pushed even more (about half way up) the bass kicks like a mule. It's still punchy as hell, but the low mids were kicking the crap out of us in a good way. I could feel it in the center of my rib-cage!
I really also like the Parallel-all-around setting (both pickups in parallel internally and with eachother). This is a KICKIN' slap tone. I found myself having fun all over the neck with this one, pulling quick diads and triads along with funky slap (I'm definitely a finger player more than slap, but can get by if I feel it). With the low boosted a touch and the treble flat, this is a naturally scooped sound with that nice high end sheen. I found myself doing something I didn't think I'd do...rolled UP the treble on the OBP-1 just a touch! This setting was screamin'! Good fun and I didn't find myself "dropping out" as sometimes happens with parallel/slap.
I also worked with the mixed settings (parallel/series, series/parallel, each runing either series/parallel) but it will take more time to figure out which variants will work for me.
Either way, I was having a great time, and the Z is VERY comfortable. The contours are all in the right places and the assymetric neck profile is comfy, slimmer than the AB I have but with the same vibe.
I can now say that I really love this bass. I'm sure it will take some time for me to settle in, but since I already have one of Sheldon's basses, it's about 50% like being home and 50% road of discovery.
First off, I was right, this bass is a burner. Its very easy to play flash. I thought my AB had that going on, but this one rips.
It IS a different beast from the AB when it comes to sound and feel. I can tell they share the same DNA, but there's some definite differences. The Z/V definitely sounds like ash to me, the AB is closer to the 'traditional' sound and the Rastaburst has more presence...its punchy and out front and very alive while the AB is a touch more restrained. Its very easy to get around on the neck, so I'll be able to keep working on my finesse playing.
Since this is my 'any style goes' night, it was fun to cover some territory!
I played with my LMII set flat, and with only one cab...my Bergantino HT115.
Early first impressions are the new FD-3 Mach II when in series together is fat and big. You lose a bit of definition off the top, but I bet this will be the sound I stay in for most of my reggae gigs. With the lows rolled up just a touch and the passive treble roll-off brought just a little forward things were right where I like them. Lively with the lows to fill a room.
When the lows are pushed even more (about half way up) the bass kicks like a mule. It's still punchy as hell, but the low mids were kicking the crap out of us in a good way. I could feel it in the center of my rib-cage!
I really also like the Parallel-all-around setting (both pickups in parallel internally and with eachother). This is a KICKIN' slap tone. I found myself having fun all over the neck with this one, pulling quick diads and triads along with funky slap (I'm definitely a finger player more than slap, but can get by if I feel it). With the low boosted a touch and the treble flat, this is a naturally scooped sound with that nice high end sheen. I found myself doing something I didn't think I'd do...rolled UP the treble on the OBP-1 just a touch! This setting was screamin'! Good fun and I didn't find myself "dropping out" as sometimes happens with parallel/slap.
I also worked with the mixed settings (parallel/series, series/parallel, each runing either series/parallel) but it will take more time to figure out which variants will work for me.
Either way, I was having a great time, and the Z is VERY comfortable. The contours are all in the right places and the assymetric neck profile is comfy, slimmer than the AB I have but with the same vibe.
