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Warwick or Dingwall?!

#21
I've owned an FNA LTD, a Thumb and a Dolphin 4, and there were things I loved about them and things I wasn't so crazy about.

The low-mid growl of the Dolphin was incredible, but I was not as much of a fan of the upper register. Otherwise, a gorgeous instrument and although a relatively thick neck, still very comfortable to play.

The big thing for me on the fivers was the 16.5 mm spacing. I just could never seem to get with that. Again, not as much of a fan of the upper register of those as well.

I now have exclusively Dingwalls, not that I wouldn't consider another parallel fret bass.

But I can say that you can get really great growl from a Dingwall as well, and the upper register cuts but never harshly.

I have never played a combustion, but should you decide to go Dingwall, if I were you I would try to find a used ABI or ABZ. They can be had for in the $1600 to 1800 range and it is generally agreed that the workmanship and attention to detail of the Canadian built Dingers is head and shoulders above the combustion.

Not to say that the combustion isn't a nice bass or worth the money, but virtually everyone I know who bought a combustion was soon looking for their first Canadian built model, which is a tribute to both the combustion for hooking them as well as the Canadian built models because they are so impeccably designed and built.
 
#24
BuffaloBob4343 said:
I have never played a combustion, but should you decide to go Dingwall, if I were you I would try to find a used ABI or ABZ. They can be had for in the $1600 to 1800 range and it is generally agreed that the workmanship and attention to detail of the Canadian built Dingers is head and shoulders above the combustion.

Not to say that the combustion isn't a nice bass or worth the money, but virtually everyone I know who bought a combustion was soon looking for their first Canadian built model, which is a tribute to both the combustion for hooking them as well as the Canadian built models because they are so impeccably designed and built.
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^ This. Previously I owned a Voodoo fiver - fantastic instrument. My current fiver is also fantastic, despite being paralell-fretted and having a 34" scale (Circle-K .150 set balanced strings). While at Bass Central some time ago I tried out a Combustion and it didn't "do it" for me like the Voodoo. That was feel only; I didn't plug it in because I didn't like it.

Look for an older used Voodoo or an AB1 or something if you really want to go the fanned-fret route. In the end you have to live with it; sounds like you'd be happy with either one.

Raz
 
#26
TheEmptyCell said:
The hell are you on? Dingwall's are tuned to the same temperament as every other bass out there.
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This. fanned fret instruments work and are tuned the same way as parallel fret instruments, it's just that you incorporate multiple scale lengths into a single fretboard, making it more comfortable for your fretting hand, and giving you a tighter B (or whatever the hell you want to tune to) thanks to the usually longer scale length.
 
#27
+1 on ABZ over Combustion. I've tried both and, while the Combustion was good, the ABZ was soo much better. The store owner said that the Combustion was the most popular Dingwall for web sales but those who came into the store and tried them left with the ABZ.
 
#28
cidbass said:
$1600 for used Thumb BO?.. You can score a used neck thru model for that price nowadays. The sound and feel are much better in my opinion. I've owned multiple Thumbs, both BOs and NTs.
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I agree with this about price of the Thumb BO; I personally sold a used Thumb BO for like $1,100 shipped; great condition; no issues at all. You can find them a lot cheaper than the one you are looking at, if you take your time and look for the deal.
Having said that, I am a Warwick lover and loved my Thumb 5 BO. Unfortunately, I have never had the pleasure of playing a Dingwall. I would love to, but there are not any around close to me; I like playing before buying when spending that much.
So I cannot truthfully compare the two brands. BUT, I know for a fact hands down, that Warwicks (the ones I have owned; somewhere between 13-15 total ) have a great Low B and they all cut thru mixes great in any setting. Again, I can't compare to the Dingwall, but Warwick basses are some of the best on the market IMO. I love the bell brass frets, size of the frets, all the different wood combos, the growl, the feel, the tone, the adjustment abilities, etc., etc., etc.
At the end of the day, it is about personal preferences. These are both great basses that you can't go wrong with either way. But again, check prices; you can find cheaper than that for the Thumb any day of the week. Not sure about the pricing on the Dingwall.
 
#29
Just a note on what someone said before. Nolly does use Dingwall but he also uses American Deluxe Jazz and Mayones Comodous Classic. See the pattern? All jazz-bass like instruments. On the other hand, he also recorded Make Total Destroy with a Warwick, only it was a Maple fretboard Warwick.
 
#30
Drnonsense said:
Straight and simple, I'm buying one of these basses and I need help choosing. Hit me with your thoughts and thanks in advance!

5 String Bolt On Warwick Thumb- $1600 used (mint condition)

or

5 String Dingwall Combustion - $1440 at L and M. (New)

Looking for a djenty bass in the vien of Periphery, Monuments, and Tesseract. Need a solid low end and the option to drop tune to a full step.

Love you all,
Luke
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where are you located?
there is a used thumb BO 5 in vancouver here for $1000.
 
#31
Dingwall all the way. I haven't played a thumb in quite awhile, but after having a Combustion, I really don't think I can go to anything else besides Dingwall. You MAY want to consider changing pick ups in it. MAY. I didn't dislike the stock pups, they just weren't what I was going for. I put EMGs in mine, but you may want to consider one of Dingwall's better pickups.
 
#33
johnnydingle said:
Dingwall all the way. I haven't played a thumb in quite awhile, but after having a Combustion, I really don't think I can go to anything else besides Dingwall. You MAY want to consider changing pick ups in it. MAY. I didn't dislike the stock pups, they just weren't what I was going for. I put EMGs in mine, but you may want to consider one of Dingwall's better pickups.
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Sorry to derail. In case anyone wants a recommendation, which EMG's did you install?
 

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