ern500evo

After a lot of years using various Class D amps (GK MB Fusion, TH500, RH450&750, GB Shuttle 9.2) I decided, for some unknown reason, to dust off my old chrome fronted ABM500RC at the weekend and use it for a gig. I used my Dingwall NG2 and ran through my Barefaced Big Twin 2, and I really liked it! I’d estimate that it’s 7 years+ since I gigged this amp. I stopped using it when I bought a Warwick Tubepath, and then eventually moved to class d amps. Now this has got me thinking, I always used to use a drive pedal in front, to give it some edge and brightness, but that was with my old MAG810. I noticed on the gig that even without any pedal switched on it sounded a lot different to what I remember, much clearer. A lot of this is owing to the darkglass pre in the Dingwall and the BF cab no doubt. It’s led to me looking at ABM600 s, and most of the reviews I’ve seen say it’s a fairly big improvement over the 500 series. So I was wondering if any of the BC collective are using the ABM600 through a relatively hifi cab? Reading reviews and watching YouTube vids is all good and well, but if any of you guys can offer some real world thoughts, it would be much appreciated!

Latest addition, NG2 in Laguna Seca blue. Loving it so far!

Cool, I’ll have a listen when I get chance, thanks!

I only really stopped using it as I wanted to go more lightweight. As I said, Saturday was the first time I’ve ever gigged it through my Barefaced Big Twin 2, and it just seemed to work. I always prefer quite a bright, modern type sound, but I’m guessing the combination of Dingwall NG2 and the BT2 provides as much of that as I need, and the ABM gives it some girth and warmth. Reviews I’ve read and watched of the 600 Evo 4 all seem to be very complimentary.

So after the weekends successful gig with my old ABM500 RC, I now find myself looking at ABM600 Evo iv’s! Here we go again!

Saw Reef at the Cheese and Grain in Frome on Thursday. Second time I’ve seen them this year, also saw them at Motion in Bristol. Such a good live band. First time I’d been to the venue, really small place which was cool, hard to imagine that the Foo Fighters did a gig there before headlining Glastonbury! Support was from Broken Witt Rebels, who were excellent, singer has a great voice with a very powerful blues rock tone.

Decided to take my original ABM500evo RC on last nights gig. First time I’ve gigged it with my Barefaced Big Twin 2. I’ve owned the ABM for about 10 years, but have been using various class d’s since owning the BF cab, and for the last couple of years, I’ve been using a GK MB Fusion. I’m not really sure what prompted the decision to dig it out of the spare room and use it, but I’m glad I did, it sounded great. Used my Dingwall NG2 all night, and I’m not sure if it was the contrast of hifi bass and cab paired with the warmer old school tone of the ABM, but it just worked! So much so that it’s going back into a rackcase tomorrow and I’m going to use it for the remainder of this year’s gigs. To think, I put it up for sale a couple of years ago for £175 but it didn’t sell, maybe it wasn’t meant to be. These older ABM’s are an absolute bargain on the used market.

I had a very similar experience at the Winter Gardens in Weston super Mare! Looking back now, I don’t know why the type of venue didn’t raise alarm bells immediately! 😂

Cadbury Court, I think it’s called Cadbury House and is quite a posh hotel now.

Worst gig ever was a band showcase, or at least that’s what it was billed as, at a Country Club/ hotel type place. We were told there would be travelling expenses plus food and drink for all the acts. Arrived at venue to be told that travelling expenses info was incorrect, not really an issue as it was only half an hour or so away from us. We were a originals rock band, all hair and Ibanez guitars (as was the thing back then), we then get told we were on between the magician and the Neil Diamond impersonator, alarm bells are starting to ring. Go to the backstage room, here’s the free food and drink, a huge bowl of stale crisps and a crate of out of date light ale! Get through the gig, being largely ignored or frowned at, and as we’re packing guitars away in the backstage area, the organiser comes in and says “well done lads, you finished second, Neil Diamond won”. Feeling very deflated by now, our guitarist pipes up to try and cheer us up and says “ah well, he was very good, at least we came second” at which point our drummer walks in and says “turns out only three acts turned up, and while we were getting ready backstage, the magician tried to saw his assistant in half but the table broke and she fell off the stage and fractured her wrist, and we only beat him by one vote”! Luckily no one else wanted the light ale so at least we could drink enough to see the funny side of it all!

The latest incarnation! Still toying with the idea of getting a Darkglass M900 head though.

I’m a big fan of The Temptations, but have to say The Faces cover of I know I’m losing you is fantastic. Rod Stewart at his finest.

I had, in fact I still have, an early Ashdown ABM500 evo, I used that thought lots of different cabs and it was always plenty loud enough for a 4/5 piece rock band. They can be picked up pretty cheaply too

I was there on Tuesday, picking up my new Dingwall NG2. Top service, the two younger guys were there, I think one is called Ash and I didn’t get the other guys name. Polite, friendly and professional, asked if I had any questions and if I was familiar with the controls layout, then just let me get on with trying it out for a bit, occasionally coming back out to ask if I needed anything etc. Traded my Bongo in for it, very smooth transaction.

You’re welcome Dan, although I am starting to think my bank balance would be happier if I didn’t watch any of your reviews, my EBS Sheehan pedal was a result of being convinced by your review! I’m really impressed with the NG2, even after just the couple of hours I’ve had it home. Bang for buck it is exceptional, don’t get me wrong it’s by no means a ‘cheap’ bass, but the hardware, electronics and build quality wouldn’t be out of place on a bass in the £2k plus bracket

Well, made a trip to Bass Direct this morning and came home with a Dingwall NG2 four string in Laguna Seca Blue! Been looking at these for a while, and after watching @dood review the combustion and NG, the GAS got even worse! Was a bit unsure about fanned frets but after getting some feedback from BC’ers and a couple of friends who have played them, decided to go and try one out. I’d narrowed it down to two finishes, the white swirl and LS blue. The white swirl was sold by decided to take a trip and have a look at the blue one in the flesh. Glad I did, the pics don’t really do this colour justice, it’s fabulous, a lovely deep matte finish that looks really good against the carbon fibre look scratchplate and maple neck. Plugged it into a Genzler Magellan and Genzler cab in the shop. Played in passive mode first off, just to get a feel for its natural tone. Flicking through the pickup selector positions delivers some lovely results, it’s got a natural zingyness and brightness to it which I really like. Flick the switch to engage the 18v Darkglass preamp and there’s some immense power on tap, with cut and boost controls for bass, low mid and hi mid. I found it’s got almost a Stingray sort of rasp and bite to it, and having the eq and pickup selector options means there’s a lot of tones to be explored. I was always impressed by the workmanship and build quality of my Bongo and Stingray basses, and this is the same. The fit and finish are excellent, and considering that this is he ‘cheaper’ range of Dingwall, then it’s a testament to the outstanding standards they have! Anyway, I’m off to give it a test through my GK MB fusion and BF Big Twin 2, so here’s a couple of pics! Oh and just as a side note, the 2 young guys at BD this morning, Ash(?) and the young guy who actually served me, were polite, friendly and professional!

I’m heading up there tomorrow to have a look at a Dingwall NG2, but the dealings i’ve had with both Mark and Marcus via email and messages have, so far, been top notch.

That is cool! I really like the Ducati white in your review video, also loving the white swirl finish. They are really good looking basses.

I was really liking the Ducati white he’s playing in that vid, and also the Laguna Seca blue, but now I keep looking at that swirl white they do and I really like it. It’s different!

I don’t really play chordal stuff high up the, well very rarely, and I’ll still have other basses to use. I’m starting to think that @dood is a bad influence! His review was the reason I bought my EBS Sheehan dive pedal, and now since watching his Combustion v NG-2 vid I’m constantly looking at Dingwall basses! Hardest decision is which colour to choose!

All good info, think I’m going to have to try and find the time for a visit to Bass Direct to have a proper look and try one. Love the 4 string on their website with the white swirl finish!

GAS has emerged and I find myself constantly looking at the Bass Direct current Dingwall stocklist, in particular the new 4 string NG2 models. I’ve never played a fanned fret bass before, and I’m sure this question has been asked, but how easy have you guys that play Dingwall instruments found it to adjust? Also, do you any of you use an NG model playing a variety of genres and styles? I’ve watched Dood’s Combustion vs NG vid and really like the way the NG is voiced, just wondered how it sits in a band mix when covering a variety of music genres.