SHELDON DINGWALL is building MY DREAM BASS

[LP75]

A few thoughts:

It's wonderful when you know what you like, what you want, what works for you, where to get it, and you have the money to order it.
Even better when the builder gives you *this* kind of personal attention.

I had almost forgotten about Dingwall until I was in Bass Northwest last year to pick up my custom order Modulus. There were 2 high-end Dingwalls up on the featured spot atop the wall of amps and cabinets just inside the door. They were both semi-hollow-body, with something like highly figured cocobolo tops, just mind-blowing gorgeous. One was a 5-string and one was a 6-string, and they were made specifically for Bass Northwest.
I began to re-think my decision on the Modulus.....

I have generally grown tired of spalted tops - especially since they began appearing on $300 Korean basses, and many are downright ugly.
Your Dingwall is GORGEOUS - not too "busy" or sloppy looking - it's got a great look, nice colors, very tasty.

I hope for you that it's everything you dream upon holding it, and playing it, and that it FEELS and SOUNDS even better than you could have imagined.

 

[Ozroscoe]

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...

For those that may not know BurningSkies had originally specced out the Z2 shown here and changed his mind after two years.

I started out in the Dingwall cult with a bog standard AB1 5er ordered from Bass Central without ever having played a fanned fret bass. When it arrived I was blown away: its more than an instrument, its a piece of industrial art. This is a bass I just want to pick up.

Adjustment to the fanned frets was not an issue for me, but as an old flat-strings P bass player for over 40 years I've had to adjust to the hi-fi sound. I've since added a three-band Glock pre-amp that has cured most of my issues.

Tracking the forums at the DW site I'd worked out that probably the best option for the sound in my head was a Z2 with FD3s/Mach switchable with (I'm about to swear Sheldon - look away now!) chrome flats. When this production slot opened up I jumped.

Gone a bit overboard with the options - birds-eye maple fretboard, Sklar bars, OB3 - but what the heck! Burning already had a matching headstock and matching wood pup covers ordered, so I've stuck with those as well.

Also gone for a traditional three-tone burst along the line of this Z3 - probably the prettiest bass (to my eyes) I've seen. Now with a maple fretboard...

 

[eeyorebass]

...options - birds-eye maple fretboard, Sklar bars, OB3...

What are Sklar bars? I'm guessing something to do with Leland Sklar, but I've never heard of this before.

Jeremy

 

[Ozroscoe]

What are Sklar bars? I'm guessing something to do with Leland Sklar, but I've never heard of this before.

Jeremy

Off-set bars instead of dot fret markers. Designed to mess with guitarist's heads.

Here's an example....

 

[AK Rev]

Like mini-blocks you might say.

 

[Parabolic Box]

Maaan, Fullrange's Z3 looks sooo nice.

 

[BurningSkies]

A few thoughts:

It's wonderful when you know what you like, what you want, what works for you, where to get it, and you have the money to order it.
Even better when the builder gives you *this* kind of personal attention.

I had almost forgotten about Dingwall until I was in Bass Northwest last year to pick up my custom order Modulus. There were 2 high-end Dingwalls up on the featured spot atop the wall of amps and cabinets just inside the door. They were both semi-hollow-body, with something like highly figured cocobolo tops, just mind-blowing gorgeous. One was a 5-string and one was a 6-string, and they were made specifically for Bass Northwest.
I began to re-think my decision on the Modulus.....

I have generally grown tired of spalted tops - especially since they began appearing on $300 Korean basses, and many are downright ugly.
Your Dingwall is GORGEOUS - not too "busy" or sloppy looking - it's got a great look, nice colors, very tasty.

I hope for you that it's everything you dream upon holding it, and playing it, and that it FEELS and SOUNDS even better than you could have imagined.

Thanks, man! I feel like the bass will be what I like. I like lively FEELING instruments, and my alder bodied AB is already very alive. I know that for me that ash has even more of that feel to it (I have a beautiful, very light ash tele that really sings in your hands). While maple/ash may seem to be odd for a reggae player, for me FEEL is king, and I tend to EQ at the amp a fair amount for the right tonal balance. I think that Sheldon's basses have full-range tone covered, so I can mold it into any shape I will possibly want.

Besides...I do on occasion play non-reggae gigs and jams, and I'm sure I'll also enjoy the top end on occasion.

You comment on the semi-hollows...which are Afterburner II's in their newest incarnation. They're pretty freekin' sweet...and think, that level of craftmanship/detail is on Sheldon's 'affordable' range of instruments. I believe Tom Bowlus actually ended up selling his Prima Artist to FRB since it was 'too nice'!

 

[BurningSkies]

For those that may not know BurningSkies had originally specced out the Z2 shown here and changed his mind after two years.

I started out in the Dingwall cult with a bog standard AB1 5er ordered from Bass Central without ever having played a fanned fret bass. When it arrived I was blown away: its more than an instrument, its a piece of industrial art. This is a bass I just want to pick up.

Adjustment to the fanned frets was not an issue for me, but as an old flat-strings P bass player for over 40 years I've had to adjust to the hi-fi sound. I've since added a three-band Glock pre-amp that has cured most of my issues.

Tracking the forums at the DW site I'd worked out that probably the best option for the sound in my head was a Z2 with FD3s/Mach switchable with (I'm about to swear Sheldon - look away now!) chrome flats. When this production slot opened up I jumped.

Gone a bit overboard with the options - birds-eye maple fretboard, Sklar bars, OB3 - but what the heck! Burning already had a matching headstock and matching wood pup covers ordered, so I've stuck with those as well.

Also gone for a traditional three-tone burst along the line of this Z3 - probably the prettiest bass (to my eyes) I've seen. Now with a maple fretboard...

Ah, it's sad that fate didn't ordain that top/bass for me, and I wish it could have worked, but sometimes things work out for the best...The bottom line is that I'll get an amazing bass, and so will YOU.

That piece of spalt was a desktop picture for me for a number of years. While it's been replaced more recently with a different (and now much admired) piece of wood. And now you've learned how to jump line for the wait.

 

[BurningSkies]

OK...new pic...this one's a detail picture.

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If anyone hasn't noticed, the nice curve of the tail of the bass not only acts as a beautiful aesthetic design feature, but also houses the locking jack for the output. The jack is recessed in a nice little sculpted nook, that's designed to allow for easy un-locking. Here's the output jack being worked into shape. A nice 'hidden' bonus feature. Sometimes the little things can make a difference!

 

[Brim]

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Hmmm...anyone else notice the body on the right. It doesn't have the correct size pickup routes for the usual Z2 pickups. I'm guessing some SuperPhatties are going into this one?

 

[DaneB]

the one next to it was from an earlier batch and has been edited and is slated to head to Australia!

Must intercept!

 

[svtb15]

Pete!!! my man.. whats happenin"
Oh geez I have major GAS after going top the site.. I guess the fanned frets are that way to be more ergonomic, so i suppose theoretically it should be easier to play... ??
I have to try one of these basses. My FAV player Lee Sklar uses one ..

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!

 

[svtb15]

Thank you very much for all that info.
The Z series seems to be what i would look at . The Prima is a little to nice for me..
Im rough on my basses. And I do Like Swamp ash or Alder bodies.

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!

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]

Anything that messes with guitarists heads. Im game.

Off-set bars instead of dot fret markers. Designed to mess with guitarist's heads.

Here's an example....

 

[Blues Cat]

You'll have no trouble adjusting to FF's Kirk.

 

[Psychicpet]

My FAV player Lee Sklar uses one ..

mine too!! I couldn't even bring myself to say hi to him at NAMM, I just kinda stood about 20 feet away and totally clammed up and froze, going "that's Lee freakin' Sklar!! Lee Sklar!!"




but they really are nice to play and the tone... as hi fi as you're going to get/want/need/require/etc, etc, etc

 

[smakbass]

mine too!! I couldn't even bring myself to say hi to him at NAMM, I just kinda stood about 20 feet away and totally clammed up and froze, going "that's Lee freakin' Sklar!! Lee Sklar!!"




but they really are nice to play and the tone... as hi fi as you're going to get/want/need/require/etc, etc, etc

you did the same thing when you met me...

 

[SMASH]

... 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!

You're saying that it's a single knob that does either a passive tone roll-off in one direction or an active volume boost in the other direction ?!

Or is it just a regular active treble volume boost/cut?

That's real cool if it's the former. If so, I'd like to hear more about it please.


I too found the fanned frets easy to adjust to. So easy there's almost no adjustment at all, though if you look down that can trip you up.

However I found that if you want to do a lot of chording, especially up high, it's pretty tough. In fact I couldn't do it at all for some chords in some positions, but I didn't try that hard to make it work either. Regular playing felt totally natural, except maybe on the lowest notes.

 

[svtb15]

me too. But 2 years ago at NAMM i went up to him. .He was the nicest most humble person I have ever met.
Very cool and asked his drummer friend to take a pic of us...I have that pic in my studio.

One thing that stood out to me was when he was taolking to a guy in a wheel chair. He knelt down to talk with him face to face instead of talking downward at him...
That blew me away.. And he like dogs as I do so we hit it off.
Sorry for the derail.. But Kudos to Sklar

mine too!! I couldn't even bring myself to say hi to him at NAMM, I just kinda stood about 20 feet away and totally clammed up and froze, going "that's Lee freakin' Sklar!! Lee Sklar!!"




but they really are nice to play and the tone... as hi fi as you're going to get/want/need/require/etc, etc, etc

 

[Blues Cat]

Sheldon's hybrid treble control is active boost, passive cut w/a center detent. It's very useful.

For the hybrid to work the batteries have to be in.

You're saying that it's a single knob that does either a passive tone roll-off in one direction or an active volume boost in the other direction ?!

Or is it just a regular active treble volume boost/cut?

That's real cool if it's the former. If so, I'd like to hear more about it please.


I too found the fanned frets easy to adjust to. So easy there's almost no adjustment at all, though if you look down that can trip you up.

However I found that if you want to do a lot of chording, especially up high, it's pretty tough. In fact I couldn't do it at all for some chords in some positions, but I didn't try that hard to make it work either. Regular playing felt totally natural, except maybe on the lowest notes.