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About a week and a half ago I acquired my first Dingwall. A Super PZ5 - the Z apparently denotes the optional Swamp Ash body but from now on I’ll just call it a Super P. I’ve deliberately waited a little while before writing this review as I didn’t want the thrill of New Bass Day to cloud my judgement and result in an overly gushing writeup. Having said that... This bass is a real keeper. Dingwall have taken a good hard look at the classic P bass and really made it their own, whilst absolutely honouring the things which made the original so great. The body shape is totally familiar but it’s a few millimetres thinner than you’d see normally, with a few subtle contours and carves which all shave the weight down. Oh and the Swamp Ash helps too. These body adjustments and the Hipshot Ultralite hardware all add up to making this thing a seriously light instrument at 7lbs 14oz. The electronics are all Dingwall’s own - with the tone of the pickup being modelled on (I believe) one of Sheldon Dingwall’s favourite Precisions, but with a Neodymium magnet for a hotter output. The “Tone Fusion” knob does something I’ve never seen before in a passive circuit: it has a centre detent and turning it anticlockwise has the expected result of passively rolling off treble. Turning it clockwise of the detent introduces a passive mid cut! I’ll admit to using the “traditional” side of the knob much more frequently than the “fusion” side but it’s a very cool feature and kind of psychologically fools me into feeling like I have an active instrument. This knob was actually quite noisy (crackly) in use at first but all that was required was a couple of squirts of contact cleaner in the pot. Totally smooth and crackle-free now, though I was a little worried at first! Now here’s the part some people will be waiting for. Fanned Frets. On the Super P and Super J series basses, the scale of the fan is actually less extreme than on Dingwall’s more “metal-oriented” models. 32” to 35” rather than 34” to 37”. The angle of the fan remains the same, it’s just the overall scale which is reduced by 2 inches. The upside to this is that you can use any brand of long scale strings on the Supers. Great stuff. The neck is maple with a pau ferro fingerboard and it feels lovely. The finish on the neck seems to be somewhere between satin and gloss but it’s incredibly light in feel and doesn’t impede playing speed at all. This particular bass was made in 2012 though so this finish probably started out more on the satin end of the spectrum. I’ve owned passive PJs, active PJs, an active PM and and active P but, absurdly, this is my first ever passive p-only bass...and it is glorious!

Yes. There was a time when Goggle wasn't seen anywhere without a Gaylord. I think it worked a lot better than his short lived Fender sig model. For some reason it never really caught on.

Started the carve of the neck/body transition. Still more to do, but this is the sort of thing I'm going for: It already feels nice as you head towards the top frets but I'll probably scoop the carve out a little more. For those of a nervous disposition, by the way, the two dark lines near the neck join are grain lines in the Sapele, not cracks I've changed tack on the skunk stripe lining up with the purpleheart stripe by the way - I've moved to "from the player's point of view, when it's on the strap and he's gazing lovingly down at the back, it lines up nicely" Overall, I think the shape is coming together. The only thing that niggles a bit - and it may look quite different once the two waist relief areas are deepened (this afternoon's job) is that the back to me looks a bit flat? Having said that, it maybe because this is the first non-concave backed build I've done in a while...maybe this is what they're usually like! So, a bit more body carving and the control chamber next on the list of to-dos

Lovely stuff! https://www.loudersound.com/news/last-flight-to-pluto-release-video-for-coverland

Zig? A Zig? Ah.

I saw Mr Goggle with his sig model on the Slack Mattress re-union tour a few years back when they played Devizes Corn Exchange. The Gaylord sounded absolutely thunderous through Tony's vintage Acoustic rig - heft for days and bags of growl. When he hit the E 12th fret harmonic at the end of Hollywood Hooker a crack appeared in the floor of the venue that went right out the front door, across the square and up the front of WH Smiths.

All joking aside, the Yokken ClangHammer was superb. They did a limited edition with a crispy bacon scratchplate and a neck fashioned from house bricks. The neck dive was atrocious but it sounded so meaty.

Hey Basschat, i did one of these with the Mustang and thought it would be cool to do the same for the Ripper! i personally prefer and really like the sound of the pick on this bass (coming from a 99 percent fingerstyle player) What are you guys feeling? oh and also feel free to share pics and vids of your Ripper basses. Bill.

You had a narrow escape. Could have ended up with a nasty dose of more than the flu. In my youth i wandered into a porn shop in Maastricht. I walked out two minutes later in complete shock. That was the day I realised that everything i previously thought was a bit rude was in fact utterly and completely vanilla

I had a Fender Goggle back in the day. Hung nicely on the strap; fast neck; the deep belly cut was particularly comfortable. The problem was that whichever way you switched the pick-ups they were always out of phase with each other; also, the cap values were wildly inappropriate. As a result, the output was about 75% less than a stock P. In the end I traded it for a re-fin George Formby Strat and never regretted it.

Just in case - A bass string is rather like an old fashioned washing line... in as much as it's usually secured at both ends, otherwise it would be uselessly saggy... very unlike a modern tumble dryer - which is nothing like a bass string. Hope this helps.

We're on a bass forum discussing basses. Who in their right mind would think we need car analogies for that?? 😜

Hmmm, This is usually how 'discussions' with my wife end.

The only (two) BC'ers who have ever bought a TF Bullhead are either selling them or have sold them. There's a bunch of us who still have and love our M6s. Quad erat demonstrandum

The Imprecision.

About as small as I could make it.

Handbox WB100 and Bergantino NV115.

Yes I do, but be aware, I'm just the next fashion waiting to happen

You're all smoking crack; there's nothing that could hold a candle to the Tony Goggle signature model, based on Tony's original Gaylord that he used extensively both live, in the studio and also live. Automatic gearbox, including two reverse modes plus with the "bassface" mod there's nothing that could touch this Anything else is just firewood AFAIC

Yeah... you should see it when it all turns purple... 😈and of course it’s got some killer tones 😃

The day has finally arrived!!! I went down to pick up the new Status this afternoon, then straight to rehearsal... even though I was using the studio gear it sounded awesome and looks very 😎. I couldn’t be happier with it! Ill spend some time tweaking the sound with my gear and get some better pics in natural light, but.... drum roll please.... here is the Status S2 classic, through neck with wrap around LEDs. In chameleon indigo.... 😍😍

Supertwin user here. It absolutely slays - as @Wolverinebass says, his cab is great too - very nice sounding. ST suits me VK suits him. At this level you are looking at an answer where one is right and the other is righter - just

So it’s now ready to assemble, I bought a bridge cover and “ummed and arred” over a pickup one too. Also added a thumb rest/ tug bar for aesthetic reasons too I offered up the neck to the body just to see how it’s going to look I changed the knobs to flat ones instead of domed. I’m now waiting on some labella flats, Dunlop strap locks (on all my basses) and I took the plunge and bought a pickup cover. I’ll update when I’ve got those added them and fixed the neck to the body. Then it’s ready to set up and play.

No, because she is frozen in time (Desperately Seeking Susan time), and so am I for that matter... this is bad... like when I was 14 and fell in love with what's her name out of "Two Mules for Sister Sarah" with Clint Eastwood, and I was gutted to discover that the film was already old, and she was (by that time) 50 or something... that was horrible... and time (for me) is now relative. What the hell are you on about?? 😬

I just had a flashback to when I was a student and one night during Freshers week a small group of us were enticed into a rather dingy club. After few drinks at the downstairs bar we stumbled up the stairs into a room where, when my eyes finally focused, I noticed hardcore gay pornography was being projected on to a wall. Not vanilla guy meets guy gay porn either, things that clearly weren't designed for the purpose were being inserted in places that seemed to have a great deal of trouble receiving them and the 'insertees' really didn't seem to be enjoying the experience. As the saying goes 'There are some things you can never unsee'. The weird thing was that it wasn't a gay club or even a gay night. I think we just accidentally walked into the early stages of a 'special' private party. We left before things got messy.

welcome to page 4

I went to one of those in Wuppertal a long time ago - it was more a dive bar, I had a nasty dose of flu & the woman behind the bar was practically sha...ng the only other customer. After about one drink, I left, thus proving that shnaps does not act as a universal cure........... 😎

You know who else used to sport a Zig bass? Bernie Sanders, when he was backing Joan Baez in '65. He was one of Ralph Zig's first endorsees. Sanders: Zig bass? That f**ker would sustain for days. Vote for me.

Aaah, my dear misguided friend! *shakes head, smiling in a patronising manner* We were discussing the ubiquitousness of the precision bass - my analogy, or analogy if you will, was drawing an interesting comparison between the world of motor-vehicles & bass guitars - subjects that are very dear to many BCers hearts. I had hoped to spark an interesting bass/car discussion that could have led to enlightening & light-hearted interaction. Instead, I was met with your washing line silliness. Ricky, I feel that you've let yourself down, you've let Rickenbacker owners down, you've let BassChat down, and most of all, you've let me down.

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Teebs. Your question answers itself

A while back I ordered a fretted Godin A4 through my local branch of PMT. It took a while to get here, the container it arrived in was delayed in port due to a customs search apparently. When it did get here I was really pleased with it but then after a few weeks I had my ‘short scale revelation’ due to playing (and subsequently buying) a Taylor GS Mini. Being the classic ‘all or nothing’ type of idiot I immediately set about selling my full scale basses. I sold the Godin to a BC user and continued my search for the pefect fretted short scale acoustic bass having filled the fretless equivalent with the Rob Allen Mouse, which is perfect. Having looked for months and months and found nothing that satisfactorily replaced the Godin I began to regret having ever parted with it so a couple of weeks back I contacted the BCr I’d sold it to just to see how they were getting on with it, turns out they didn’t get on with it and had it up for sale at Bass Direct so I took a trip up there to see if it really was as good as I remembered it... it was, so I bought it. I was very lucky, it was still immaculate, not a mark on it, great. I’ve been playing it for the last 2-3 weeks and although it’s a big change back to long scale it is worth it because imho it is unparalleled as an acoustic bass. However, it appears the bass had not forgiven me for turning my back on it. Yesterday evening I had a lesson with my excellent bass tutor, as I was packing away the Godin I got chatting to the tutor’s next pupil, I then left to drive home. I parked just down the road from Che Blank, slung the gig bag over my shoulder and started walking, suddenly the bag went light and a second later came the sickening rattle of the Godin as it clattered across the pavement. I turned round to see it lying on its back thankfully. I picked it up and shoved it back in the case, got to the house and headed for bed not really wanting to look. I gave it a full inspection this morning and it does have a few dings and scratches on the back of the body but far, far, less than I was expecting, in fact you have to look for them, bl00dy thing is built like a tank. It looks like the strap button on the bottom took the brunt of the impact before it toppled on to its back. Oddly this afternoon I parked in roughly the same spot, I happened to look down as I walked away from the car and there was my TC Electronics clip on tuner lying on the pavement where it had been for the last fourteen hours. Not sure what the point of this post is, anyway, if @Jabba_the_gut‘s bass, wot I luv, ends up a) with me and b) being the perfect short scale fretted bass, I will then push the Godin into a lake and hurl flaming torches at it in the Uphelia style.

Which finally plays directly into my hands: I humbly submit as Exhibit A my Shukerbird, The Bass With The Worst Upper Fret Access In Christendom. It should sound really, really different* * It doesn't - it's got two split-coil pickups, and it sounds like a P-bass. Sue me. 😀

'57 Chevy. Which is fine by me.

@Cosmicrain did exactly as he promised - there’s a cool video on his Zoot Bass Facebook page. For some reason I can’t copy the link to here but go check it out. It’s amazing what we take for granted in a bass finish, the video is 11 minutes long and doesn’t begin to show the amount of craftsmanship Mike is putting into this. It’s certainly a good window in to the process though

"Hello, Police." "Yes, this is Gordon from The Police. I'm calling about the guitars you found ..." Oops, wrong thread.

I've just put this together whilst doing some string changing... may be of some use! Chromes, Curt Mangan Rounds, D'addario tapes and GHS Pressurewounds. This is the first time I've used Pressurewounds on a normal scale bass and I'm really enjoying it so far!

For the video yeah I had my TC RH750 and BF two10 on show.. The bass on the album was recorded direct via a valve mic-pre using my 2016 Elite Precision (the bass I'm using whilst 'suited' in the video). The song is about the grind that can happen in a busy working covers band, and the comparative pleasure of performing your own songs to an appreciative crowd....hence the 2 sets of clothes, different basses etc.. Cheers for the kind responses, we're really happy with how this album has turned out, hoping for more positive responses around the scene...

There's 2 Rev. Al Green tunes in our set that I love playing - take me to the river and let's stay together. At first it was the basslines but now we have a lovely new horn section these songs are flying to another level played live! I'm actually loving all our set but those 2 stick out as 'tingly, warm feeling inside' moments 😊

I was the lucky man who bought that black/maple model from @krispn just over a fortnight ago... and ditto to most of what @CameronJ says! I've been playing it almost exclusively to get back my 5-string chops (previously owned a G&L L1505 for a couple of years), and I'm finding I use much more of the neck. I have a bad habit of playing down the money end unless I need to go higher; now I find I'm living around the 7th-10th frets but making frequent excursions up and down whenever I like. I'm getting to know the whole fretboard more thoroughly than I ever have before. The neck is pretty wide near the body end, but the bass is still very easy to play. I've put on EB Cobalt flats rather than my usual Chromes, which allows me to pop a few notes here and there (e.g. in We Are Family). I took it out on a covers gig last Saturday, and it really did the business, to the extent that I got compliments form the keyboard player. @CameronJ - love your Steely Dan cover. I see you use the same floating thumb technique as me - nice one! Here are a couple of crappy phone pics:

It’s one of the finest versions of the humble p bass you can get. It’s immediately familiar yet a revelation in its modernity. The neck is sublime and the rolled edges just feel so good like it’s been played for 50 years, you could play it for hours at a time and the modern radius is reminds you you can tap, slap and chord at will with no worries of the bass itself getting in the way. I’ve just sold one and it was my main bass for about 4-5years. I’d have another in a heart beat and even though fanned fret 4 strings aren’t a necessity I’d love to try a 4 string version just to experience what the neck feels like. Mine was a 5’er too. If anyone get’s the opportunity to play or own one don’t hesitate. Enjoy your new bass. It looks lovely!

How VERY dare you! I'll have you know NONE of my basses have more than the first 12 frets.

Today I have learned many things. The good folk of said bass chat are satisfyingly deranged, opinionated and probably nice people to drink beer and break stuff with I also have a fairly well fleshed out business plan (apart from funding, premises, design, talent..) to establish a guitar company who first product willl be the aforementioned mythical beast that is the shitenbacker banana boat gaylord. We should have a competition, and design it by committee, what could go wrong eh? Oh yeah and something to do with p basses and that.

And yet he bought a verrrry expensive FBass with lots of knobs... He lost me at "An active bass doesn't sound better than a passive bass, because if it did, we would all play active basses...", which shows a fundamental misunderstanding of, well, people, and the zillions of reasons people buy both active and passive basses. Clickbait, as we've discussed before...

I think that when people say 'I can't play with 18mm string spacing' it is just shorthand for 'I could technically play on 18mm string spacing but it isn't my preference and I would prefer to play something else'. I think that it is mostly personal preference rather than a case of bassists being fussy or not being adaptable or any idea that a bassist who doesn't like narrow string spacing is somehow a less talented bassist than someone who does. The context behind someone saying 'I can only play bass on Fender Precision basses might actually be 'I have been playing loads of types of basses for years but have finally discovered that the dimensions and sounds of a Precision are perfect for me, so why bother playing something else?'. I'm sure that if most of the players on this site swapped basses for a weekend of gigs, most of us would be able to 'make do' with someone else's bass for a weekend without the gig suffering. We probably wouldn't enjoy it as much though as playing with the instruments we are used to and have chosen through our own personal preference. It would be a fun experiment though.