MichaelDean

I respectfully disagree. The 36.25" of the E on a long scale Dingwall is not pointless. I know people go on about the B strings, but the E strings are really something else. Add in some Payson reduced core nickel strings that are specifically engineered for that scale and you have magic. I sometimes wish my Combustion was a 4 string - I write differently on 4 and 5 strings. A 4 string multiscale is also great for people who want to tune in some super low tunings. I say this as someone who also still greatly enjoys a Mustang too. It's all horses for courses, YMMV, etc. and a reason to buy more basses 😁

Nah, just look at this Harley Benton: https://m.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_pb_50_fr_vintage_series.htm?o=4&search=1581757674 As long as the headstock is different enough (and I'd say this is), I don't think Fender do much these days.

Just received a strap courtesy of Tim, nice guy and easy to buy from

I don't know if I'm asking in the right place or if build diaries is better. My Mustang was in bad shape when I bought it years ago and I refinished the body using Manchester Guitar Tech nitro. It was always a bit patchy and very thin but I was young and impatient. Buckle rash has taken off a lot of the back paint and where I'd meant to leave it matte, my forearm has eventually buffed the contour. So, I'm planning to refinish it in the summer when the weather is a bit better! I've got an idea for a black grain filled and white blonde finish and wanted to get some Ash offcuts to practice with. Anyone know where to look? EBay only seems to have planks or stuff like that for £20+ which is a bit more than I'd like to spend on trying it out. I could also venture out to the Bristol Wood Recycling Project to see what they have, but you never know what's going to be there and how much prep work I'd need to do to it first. I've attached a couple of pics.

There is no whine 👍

I just upgraded my power supply in order to be able to ditch the additional power supply for my B3N and got one of these: https://www.dv247.com/en_GB/GBP/Fame-DC-Junior/art-GIT0040359-000?campaign=PSM_UK/kelkoo&ProgramUUID=MrLAqJarZEUAAAFobL.P7Dz7#rating-area With 500ma off each output, it should power just about anything I throw at it. Seems solid so far!

I saw someone on the Dingwall thread on TalkBass who had one made and echoed your sentiment. He was a bit nervous to start with, but practice made it much easier.

You can buy the RM 210 and 115 on the Ashdown website in different colours. Unfortunately, it looks like they only do custom covers on those two models though. Could be worth an email to them to see what they say?

There aren't a lot of aftermarket options if you're looking for Mustang specific parts. The bridge you'd have to get second hand as Fender don't sell them separately and there are no direct aftermarket options if you're after the classic look. Pickups can be purchased easily enough, but if you want Nordstrands or similar, often they don't come with the pickup shells (ugh!). The control plate and pickguards can be found easily online. Necks and bodies are harder to come by though. I think because there aren't any off the shelf replacements like you get for P and J basses, necks and bodies just don't really get separated. Your best bet is probably to put your DIY efforts into something else and just buy a Mustang.

After playing a Mustang for years, I got a Sterling by Musicman Ray 5 for a hip hop band I joined. It sounded great and was a good intro to 5 strings. They're also reasonably priced second hand. That wasn't a super budget nor super expensive way in to 5 strings. I only moved it on because I got a Dingwall as an engagement gift from my fiancée.

Yeah, exactly this on mine too.

I got one a few weeks ago - as all have said, they're great amps! I particularly like the bit of edge engaging the valve gets you. I have it set so it's not in your face, but it just adds warmth and will snarl a bit if I dig in a bit more. Enjoy!

I ran a PF500 for about 8/9 years, so it was an early production model. It did loads of practices and gigs and never let me down. Really solid bit of kit and sounds great. Got loads of compliments on my tone with that head. Only moved it on because it had been 9 years and I wanted to see what else was out there.

I can confirm it sounds fat and hefty with a 212! I'm very pleased with my couple of week old ABM 600. I just came from an Ampeg PF-500 and quite a few years before that I had a LMII. It's like there are some frequencies that don't fill out in the same way with class D. At least not the stuff I've tried. The size/weight does mean I can't put my head in my gigbag anymore, but it does balance nicely with my pedalboard in the other hand!

How about a bit of black nail polish in the dents?

Soooo, after my least thread about reliability I was convinced to get an ABM, but after scouring the used for a few weeks, I couldn't find one close enough to me. So I just went and ordered a new one! 😁 Doesn't quite match my cab like my old Ampeg, but its got the heft I wanted. I'm one happy bunny! Sounds great with my Dingwall and my Mustang. Really looking forward to the next practice now!

Also very useful! 👍

They only had the older v2 stuff in store otherwise I would have been tempted to try it out. Only interested in a head at the moment though. My Zilla cab is looooverly. Maybe I nip in on my lunch break and try the old range to get a feel.

This is what I wanted to hear! Thanks!

I'm in the market for a new amp. I've been using my Ampeg PF-500 almost since the model came out and it has been incredibly reliable, but I feel like I want a change. My first decent amp was a Trace Elliot Commando 12, which didn't have a proper DI out and wasn't quite loud enough for me at that time. I then moved to a Markbass CMD 102P - very nice too, but too modern for me. Then I got my Ampeg with the matching 210 cab and I was set until I started playing 5 string. I'm now rocking the Ampeg with a Zilla neo 212, which is an excellent combination, but I haven't been amp shopping for about 8/9 years and wanted to see if I was missing anything. I was in the Bristol PMT the other week trying some stuff out (really wanted to like Orange stuff but it wasn't me!) and what really grabbed me by the ears was an ABM 300 EVO IV. Sounded really smooth through the Orange 112 I was plugged into and very reminiscent of my old TE. But, both that and an ABM 600 that was on display both had reliability issues. The 600 didn't even turn on so the salesman got the 300 fresh out of the box in front of me. The 300 had a fault with the switches where it would cut out after pressing the switches. I know Ashdown are known for being reliable and have a good presence here, but two faulty units in the same shop makes me nervous! Has anyone else had any good/bad issues with the ABM EVO IV range? Also, anything else that I should be looking at amp wise? I know I'm not after anything too modern sounding, I prefer a more vintage tone and I like my mids. My main player at the moment is a Dingwall Combustion 5. I know I don't like the current Orange stuff (tried the Terror Bass and OB1), I don't like what I've heard from the Ashdown Rootmaster from using them at practice studios. I am interested in a Trace Elliot AH 600-12. Price range is up to £700 and second hand is encouraged. I'm a sprightly 32 as well, so weight isn't a huge concern.

Yes, I used their one. I should have ordered two cans of the clear coat though - it doesn't quite go as far if you want a gloss finish. My bike is a bit shiny in some places, but not all...