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SHELDON DINGWALL is building MY DREAM BASS

#83
BurningSkies said:
Blip!

A few more from the same batch!

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Obviously the one of the left is mine, the one next to it was from an earlier batch and has been edited and is slated to head to Australia!
Click to expand...

Hey Burning, I think yours is the best. What caught my eye when you first showed the pic, was the way the bridge pickup fits in that open section on the left side. Also how the bridge seems to line up both sides in between.
 
#84
MHLakland said:
Hey Burning, I think yours is the best. What caught my eye when you first showed the pic, was the way the bridge pickup fits in that open section on the left side. Also how the bridge seems to line up both sides in between.
Click to expand...

Thanks!

I can't take credit for Sheldon's good eye for such things.

What's going to be cool is that the wood missing currently from the pickup locations will be back in place! The pickup covers will utilize the removed top wood and be finished to match the body! This will be a theme carried throughout the bass.

If you look closely, the body next to mine is topped with 'brother wood'. The top on that one is the 'slice' that was right next to mine on the original uncut piece of maple.:)
 
#85
So right before heading out on vacation this weekend, Sheldon sent out a new set of pictures. These ones continue the body carving.

-First off, you may note that the routing for the neck joint is complete as are the pickup routes (before it was just the topwood that had been excised and retained). Also, the routing for the bridge 'sub plate' has been done.

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See? Now it's like a bass, not a bass-shaped block of wood! Now the bridge sub plate gets through body bolts, which explains why you see 4 drill holes rather than 5, the number of strings. The individual bridge pieces will mount to the top of the aluminum plate.

Also note, that unlike some of the basses shown from this batch, mine has a less complex control layout. The three switches toward the bottom of the lower bout are for each pickups' parallel/series internal switching. The third will be a passive/active switch. The mounting holes above those will be for the tone controls and the 4 way switch.

Because this bass is spec'd with an OBP-1, it means that there's no mid control, only bass and treble. This was my choice as well as a shop suggestion. As my main gigs are reggae, I'm looking for warm smooth lows. The OBP-1 is perfect. I usually roll off the highs and possibly some mids, so instead of the usual boost-only treble control, the spec is for Sheldon's proprietary hybrid treble control. It rolls off the treble in one direction and boosts treble in the other. No need to a VTC style second roll off! Back when I ordered this bass, the Shop was just playing with this idea. I'm glad it worked out!

If you haven't seen it, the switching on most Dingwalls is a 4 way bridge/series/parallel/neck switch. It doesn't have some of the tonal trade offs that multi volume or blend circuits have, and after having one on my AB, I can attest to the fact that it works wonderfully and I don't miss the Jazz style setup in the least.

That one little hole out there in deep space I believe to be the volume's home. We all need volume!
 
#86
BurningSkies said:
Blip!

A few more from the same batch!

Invalid Link Removed

Obviously the one of the left is mine, the one next to it was from an earlier batch and has been edited and is slated to head to Australia!
Click to expand...

Hey - that's my Z2 in the middle! I almost didn't recognise it without it's hip - starting to look pretty cool.

Thanks for giving it up Burning... glad I didn't have to wait two years. I think I'm also glad I put my hand up for it BEFORE it was painted from what I've been reading here. ;)

I'm looking forward to the 'Batch GTG'. Location suggestions?
 
#87
Ozroscoe said:
Hey - that's my Z2 in the middle! I almost didn't recognise it without it's hip - starting to look pretty cool.

Thanks for giving it up Burning... glad I didn't have to wait two years. I think I'm also glad I put my hand up for it BEFORE it was painted from what I've been reading here. ;)

I'm looking forward to the 'Batch GTG'. Location suggestions?
Click to expand...

I love that top, and I think you've now got a beautiful Z-2 happening! I Did you finally nail down what finish you're going to get done? Why don't you give your specs for the TB crowd...
 
#88
Another pic: The back now routed:

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Now that's a nice piece of ash! For those who don't know, the Z series used the Dingwall 'dual density' concept. What that means is that the bass is made from two different weights of wood. We all know that there's heavy and light ash. The heavy wood is used for the bass side of the instrument while lighter wood stock is used for the treble side. Of course, this has tonal results, and it also works to keep the weight of the bass in a reasonable area. Too light and you get neck dive, too heavy and you have a boat anchor. In this case, it should be just right!

In the upper right corner, you can see the battery chamber. Sheldon doesn't use the standard 'crappy' box, his battery compartment tops are secured by magnets and are easily accessible while on the gig without a screwdriver or hex wrench, but the 'rare earth' magnets are strong enough that you don't have to worry about losing the lid!
 
#96
What 5 string model is fairly lightweight, since i like a light bass without too many switches... I like a basic Jazz bass style with maybe 2 band EQ.. not into 3 band eqs.
I like there transparent red finishes too.. But I like the normal Dingwall shape over the Super J...
I dont know the differences between the Prima, Z1 , Z2 and the Afterburner series.
Just curious.
Thank you,... Yup I have GAS
 
#97
svtb15 said:
I have the vintage thing down.. but something modern is needed in my stall.
I wish i had never sold my old kubiki factor.
But the dingwall may be what the doctor ordered.. I have never played the fanned fret though and wonder how it is to get used to.
Click to expand...

not hard at all. as long as you look at the edge of the fingerboard and not the fretboard while playing.

the frets really do fall under the hand surprisingly well without any real need for massive shedding before playing out.

I think a Dingwall is exactly what the doctor ordered Kirk! :smug:
 
#98
Is this the first bleach job he's done? Or is it something he does with all his blackburst finishes.
Click to expand...

BurningSkies,

As far as I know, the bleaching is not the normal process for any of his basses, but was Sheldon's idea when I mentioned that I was looking for more gray-to-black with as little brown tint as possible. I'm not aware of any other bass that was bleached, but I cannot state that mine will be the first.
 
#99
As I said in my first post in this thread, there were no problems adjusting to the fanned frets. I was playing shows within 48 hours of receiving my Afterburner.

My AB-1 is the lightest of all my basses, none of which are boat anchors. I might point you in the direction of the AB1.5 (see Jong at Jivesound for more info) Its basically an AB1 with an OBP-1 installed. Alder body, 5pc maple neck, Wenge board and maple top. The pickups are Sheldon's FD-3's and depending upon the bass, they'll be the Mach II versions. It won't break the bank but will also not be free! ;)

The next step up is the AB2. Now chambered, its a walnut body and various tops, depending on what Sheldon is feeling like working at that time. Stock preamp is the OBP-1.

Z series are the next bump up, and are priced as such. They're ash bodied and have a variety of options available. These can be as fanciful as maybe you can imagine! :eyebrow:

Of course, next up is the Prima Artist. They're the top of the bunch, and are pretty much the 'sky's the limit' basses of Sheldon's. Look for lots of VERY nice woods and extreme detail tweaks...and probably a price to match!

svtb15 said:
What 5 string model is fairly lightweight, since i like a light bass without too many switches... I like a basic Jazz bass style with maybe 2 band EQ.. not into 3 band eqs.
I like there transparent red finishes too.. But I like the normal Dingwall shape over the Super J...
I dont know the differences between the Prima, Z1 , Z2 and the Afterburner series.
Just curious.
Thank you,... Yup I have GAS
Click to expand...
 
#100
Franco Bollo said:
BurningSkies,

As far as I know, the bleaching is not the normal process for any of his basses, but was Sheldon's idea when I mentioned that I was looking for more gray-to-black with as little brown tint as possible. I'm not aware of any other bass that was bleached, but I cannot state that mine will be the first.
Click to expand...

That's cool. It very well could be. I really like how willing they are to trying new things and really making your bass the reality that you want it to be!
 

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