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Dingwall Super P prototype


Grand Wazoo
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This bass is not yet in production and only a prototype which is meant to be sent to Dave Swift for approval to see if he likes it or not. It has a John East Retro-P preamp more details to follow once Sheldon feels it's ok to publish these. Infact the main reason I have taken it down, was that after it was posted on the Dingwall forum, the post from Sheldon with the pic and the description disappeared, as a result I thought it better to remove it from here in case it would upset Sheldon Dingwall. So unless he makes it public himself I have no rights to do so. I have lots of respect for him and I don't want to interfere with his intentions.

Edited by Grand Wazoo
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That looks absolutely beautiful to me. (except for that extra string! :) ) I have always wanted to try a Dingwall and a Fanned fret. Maybe i will get a chance if i can get a cheap train ticket to London in March to go to the bass show. (no chance of trying one at Manchester after waiting since last year to get a chance. There were none)

Good to see Swifty with a proper bass (except for that fifth string) Last time i saw him he had some Fodera singlecut 6 stringed plank of horror :) :)

Edited by daz
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[quote name='charic' timestamp='1322550294' post='1452341']Damn it's disappeared from the post[/quote]
You didn't miss out on anything special - another Precision bass body rip-off, just with the as expected varying string length's Dingwall approach. Designed by someone with zero original thought.

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[quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1322573382' post='1452804']
You didn't miss out on anything special - another Precision bass body rip-off, just with the as expected varying string length's Dingwall approach. Designed by someone with zero original thought.
[/quote]

Well your not a fan obviously but Dingwalls are some of the best basses I've ever played. One day I'll get a Super J5! What a SOUND!

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[quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1322573382' post='1452804']
You didn't miss out on anything special - another Precision bass body rip-off, just with the as expected varying string length's Dingwall approach. Designed by someone with zero original thought.
[/quote]

That's why I have removed it. Some of you guys just don't know how to criticize, and always ready to take things too far. In response I would say that is an ignorant reply unless you've tried one you shouldn't diss them like that.

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[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1322576856' post='1452941']
That's why I have removed it. Some of you guys just don't know how to criticize, and always ready to take things too far. In response I would say that is an ignorant reply unless you've tried one you shouldn't diss them like that.
[/quote]

Don't take it down because some people have a brain to mouth problem.

Variety is the spice of like and if you like it, show it.

noel27k, think before you post? Seriously, just think about what you say.

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IMO the OP is being a little over-sensitive.

I can also see where noel27k is coming from. I personally find it rather disappointing, that an otherwise interesting bass manufacturer like Dingwall feel that it is necessary to "dress up" their ideas in the rather dull and unimaginative J and P clone guises.

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[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1322577817' post='1452971']
IMO the OP is being a little over-sensitive.

I can also see where noel27k is coming from. I personally find it rather disappointing, that an otherwise interesting bass manufacturer like Dingwall feel that it is necessary to "dress up" their ideas in the rather dull and unimaginative J and P clone guises.
[/quote]

No dude it's beyond my over sensitive nature, read the first post (I have just altered) and you will understand why.

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[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1322525085' post='1452278']
This bass is not yet in production and only a prototype which is meant to be sent to Dave Swift for approval to see if he likes it or not. It has a John East Retro-P preamp more details to follow once Sheldon feels it's ok to publish these. Infact the main reason I have taken it down, was that after it was posted on the Dingwall forum, the post from Sheldon with the pic and the description disappeared, as a result I thought it better to remove it from here in case it would upset Sheldon Dingwall. So unless he makes it public himself I have no rights to do so. I have lots of respect for him and I don't want to interfere with his intentions.
[/quote]

Good man :)

I've had a bit of banter with Sheldon on here and he seems a really sound guy :)

I'm still looking forward to the TBird!

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[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1322577817' post='1452971']
IMO the OP is being a little over-sensitive.

I can also see where noel27k is coming from. I personally find it rather disappointing, that an otherwise interesting bass manufacturer like Dingwall feel that it is necessary to "dress up" their ideas in the rather dull and unimaginative J and P clone guises.
[/quote]

The thing is, Fender clones sell and that surely has to come first. I love their original stuff too but the moment I picked up the Super J5 it just felt perfect, even my girlfriend commented on it!

Sometimes the unfortunate truth of it is originality and sales don't go hand in hand.

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[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1322577817' post='1452971']
I personally find it rather disappointing, that an otherwise interesting bass manufacturer like Dingwall feel that it is necessary to "dress up" their ideas in the rather dull and unimaginative J and P clone guises.
[/quote]

Sorry, but I can't agree with you on this one. Taking a "[i]rather dull and unimaginative J and P clone[/i]" and making it something a bit different, a bit unusual, is entirely laudable as far as I'm concerned.

The world doesn't need another Squier, Encore or Sue Ryder just now. Nor does it need another Lakland, Sadowsky or Celinder. But combining the most interesting features of an Afterburner or Z2 with a Precision ... that strikes me as being something I'd like to try.

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[quote name='ped' timestamp='1322577445' post='1452961']


noel27k, think before you post? Seriously, just think about what you say.
[/quote]
Leaving aside that it's always nice to get someone's name right, when you're addressing them directly; my question to you would be, Why? Just what, exactly, did I say in my first post that was so offensive, so critical, or so insulting? Simply stated, I just said that a particular "Precision" bass design seemed pointless. In your opinion, that constitutes unfair comment? I don’t know which I find more laughable, that bass, or your statement.

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1322576856' post='1452941']
 Some of you guys just don't know how to criticize, and always ready to take things too far. In response I would say that is an ignorant reply unless you've tried one you shouldn't diss them like that.
[/quote]
What I was looking at, in the OP's unedited post, was a "Precision" bass body shape with Dingwall's take on varying scale length. From a company that has cloned the "Jazz" bass body shape previously (and had the "originality" to call that design the "Super J"), there's now a “Precision” bass clone? Charitably, let's just say that the Super J is Dingwall's homage to the original and iconic Fender designs (and not view it as a cynical marketing ploy, or an exercise in pandering). But, does the bass-buying marketplace really need yet another Fender clone from Dingwall? This, after all, is a company that has its own "unique" body shapes: "Z", "AB", for example. (Although, there's sufficient citation to clearly demonstrate that there's very little about Dingwall's styling that is, in actuality, unique.) Those body shapes, however, represent the culmination of Dingwall's styling, and the execution of its original concepts. So, varying scale length, in combination with fanned fret layout, is one of the "unique" selling points about Dingwall basses. The theory that each string has an optimum length between witness points to achieve best possible relative tuning appears valid, and can certainly be supported with computation and through analysis, but it's not this aspect of instrument's design that I was commenting on, but the lazy and derivative styling (prototype, or not). Certainly, as for any commercial concern, patent and trademark issues aside, Dingwall has the absolute right to manufacture an instrument to any design which it conceives, and if it wishes to build a "Super P" then, I’m sure, it will. But, given that it is capable of originality of concept and design/styling, and has previously paid homage to the iconic, what purpose is served by doing so again (and again)? (This could be said of many instrument designers/makers, of course, but that's a discussion for others, and not one I'm not interested in holding.) That's the question that was in my mind. The answer, of course, was that I thought the design was pointless, and nothing that's been added here alters my opinion.

Oh, and I've played both four- and five-string Dingwall basses. Own a property in Hatton Park, just outside of Warwick, a legacy of when I was lecturing at the University of Warwick. From time to time I'm back in the area (most usually when tenants are moving out/in of that property), so I've had the opportunity to visit a well-known bass store in the area, which stocks said basses. Personally, while observing that the design concept is well executed, and the instruments built and finished to a high standard, I found the sound to be somewhat sterile, which left me wondering if the execution was one of those more science over substance achievements, and if it's not the inherent "dissonances" of the imperfect "tuning" of the traditional fretted design which makes it a more natural listening experience for the human ear. The claimed characteristics for the concept of varying scale length just didn't communicate to my ear, nor did the feel of the instrument offer back anything more to my touch than the other more traditional instruments I own, and play.

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[quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1322587795' post='1453214']
Leaving aside that it's always nice to get someone's name right, when you're addressing them directly; my question to you would be, Why? Just what, exactly, did I say in my first post that was so offensive, so critical, or so insulting? Simply stated, I just said that a particular "Precision" bass design seemed pointless. In your opinion, that constitutes unfair comment? I don’t know which I find more laughable, that bass, or your statement.

[/quote]

Oh I'm sorry I did a typo. My bad. Forgive me.

I'm just pointing out that you could have put your opinion across with a little more thought. At least I thought you could. I was actually referring to your second post, anyway. Zero original thought is probably stretching it a bit (I didn't see the pic but I think the fanned fret thing is pretty original)

Laugh away.

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Well it looked great the short while it was on show . I found a few pics of the mock up online at talkbass that were seemingly exactly the same. Also the Dingwall forum has it on the forum posted by sheldon dingwall.


Sheldon says:
[quote] "the photo must have been corrupted ill post again" [/quote]
Seems it was all a mistake. the pic is back on the Dingwall forum.

[url="http://dingwallguitars.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2170&start=50"]http://dingwallguita...t=2170&start=50[/url]

Edited by daz
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[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1322584696' post='1453131']
Sorry, but I can't agree with you on this one. Taking a "[i]rather dull and unimaginative J and P clone[/i]" and making it something a bit different, a bit unusual, is entirely laudable as far as I'm concerned.

The world doesn't need another Squier, Encore or Sue Ryder just now. Nor does it need another Lakland, Sadowsky or Celinder. But combining the most interesting features of an Afterburner or Z2 with a Precision ... that strikes me as being something I'd like to try.
[/quote]
I guess that it's a difference in perspective. You see someone trying to do something new and interesting with the J and P concepts, while I see it as a dilution of the things that made the Dingwall concept appealing to me in the first place. You might find my outlook rather pessimistic but that's how I feel.

As noelk27 (sorry for getting your name wrong - that will teach me to copy from someone else's mistake) states, the original Dingwall body designs complement the fanned frets while the J and P versions (to me) look much less elegant.

In the end it's all down that subjective thing - taste. If making a Dingwall look like something more familiar gets more people to at least try fanned frets it is good thing. Who knows - they might even come around to the idea that the more original designs work even better.

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Id love a 4 string version. I have a dozen un checked lottery tickets in my room. you never know :) If i win i will buy one for the Forum to be raffled. (after i buy a few for myself of course) Hey maybe if were lucky there will be one on show at London bass show in March ?

Dingwall say:
[quote]No price yet, we're working on it.

The East pre-amp is really trick. It features two stacked concentric controls with multiple functions.

Stack one: Master volume (pull for active), Passive tone (ring)
Stack two: Mid boost (center detent to 10), Bass/Treble boost (center detent to 1), pull for bass boost (frequency selectable internally), variable mid frequency (ring)

As P's have even less room in the control cavity than J's the battery is a custom Lipo with an included charger. There's a relay that automatically defaults to passive mode if the battery starts running low.

We're fans of toggles too but it's not likely that we'll use them on this particular model.

[/quote]

Edited by daz
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