skelf Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 [quote name='mercuryl' timestamp='1325437167' post='1483131'] Forced originality? I've heard it all now. A new zenith in claptrap. Whichever way you wrap it up, copying other people's designs for the sake of chasing sales, IMHO is just poor. Come on guys - be brave. Make your own designs. If Leo was just like you, we'd still all be playing upright basses. [/quote] Hi I see you are a asking for original design which I am all for but looking at your basses you don't seem to be buying any of these new original designs and there in lies the problem. Original designs are great but hard to sell so people bring out design to appeal to guys that have a pile of Fender basses like yourself. I have been asked for a Jazz bass I don't know how many times and like Sheldon I agree the world does not need another one but from my point of view my customers are asking for one so there will be J Type launch at the London show. I will however have a selection of my original designs there as well please feel free to come along and try/buy one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poptart Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 (edited) [quote name='skelf' timestamp='1326230694' post='1494279'] Hi I see you are a asking for original design which I am all for but looking at your basses you don't seem to be buying any of these new original designs and there in lies the problem. Original designs are great but hard to sell so people bring out design to appeal to guys that have a pile of Fender basses like yourself. I have been asked for a Jazz bass I don't know how many times and like Sheldon I agree the world does not need another one but from my point of view my customers are asking for one so there will be J Type launch at the London show. I will however have a selection of my original designs there as well please feel free to come along and try/buy one [/quote] If you can't beat them.............. To be honest the Super P came about because Mr S had a all singing Prima Artist 6 but it was overkill for the Jools gig and he loves the tone and vibe of a Precision but wanted something with the Dingwall execution, et voila - the Super P. Mr S was in my shop and I got him on a Super J, he loved the shorter scale length (35" of the Super P and J on the B and 37"on the Afterburners) Sheldon worked his magic and with a little help from Mr East it all came together beautifully. There seems to be a very nostalgic, old school vibe in music today and now Fender Musical Instrument Corporation have lost the battle to hold on to Leo Fenders 1950's and 60s designs the gates have opened for specialist luthiers to use what has now become a "ubiquitous" "bass shape", so why not have a Wolf in sheep's clothing - Mr Swift is one of a growing number of pros taking this route. Mark Edited January 10, 2012 by poptart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skelf Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Can't argue with you on that Mark.. See you at the London Show. Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poptart Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Thanks Alan, I look forward to seeing you at the show. Regards Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 [quote name='poptart' timestamp='1326231906' post='1494306'] There seems to be a very nostalgic, old school vibe in music today [/quote] Completely agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Wazoo Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 Mark please note that the Payson string do not come in the shorter 35" scale, and that is straight from Payson himself, so far he is only building 37" scale ones because he said he hasn't had much demand for the shorter scale ones so for the time being he is only offering them in the 37" scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Wazoo Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 More eye candy from Mr. Sheldon Dingwall's new Super P, this particular model will be on display at NAMM Enjoy!! [IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/bcc42eb7.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/242613cc.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/e9c3aeba.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/c61c4002.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/3797a56b.jpg[/IMG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norwood Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Beautiful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 The fact that they've even designed a new string retainer says it all really. Great attention to detail! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Wowzers. That is a piece of art. I'd opt for a much darker maple, but more than likely rosewood, when it comes to the board. What a pretty bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Pictures like that do not help my GAS!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Wazoo Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1326636959' post='1499753'] Wowzers. That is a piece of art. I'd opt for a much darker maple, but more than likely rosewood, when it comes to the board. What a pretty bass. [/quote] Gareth not much different from mine (which you dissed the look of it when you first saw it... tut tut...) Edited January 15, 2012 by Grand Wazoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Thats a nice bass, personally im a massive rosewood/tort fan, but that is pretty. They both are. Like other basses, the visual appearance takes time for me to adjust and eventually I end up thinking its great. The only 'different' looking bass I have is a Big Al, so getting away from normal P/Ray/J ideas is a big step for me haha. Nope, don't have the Bongo, 2012 is going to be expensive enough and im done with buying basses for a while, (have a Fender P incoming white/rosewood on the Fender rebate, but thats because I also had credit with the store). We all say we are happy with what we have, but I have to mean it now because Im moving in 6 months and have two expensive stag do's coming up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swanbrook Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Not sure Fran but it may have been the rug on the sofa that put Gareth off ;-) beautiful bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftyhook Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 How the heck does that fanned fret thing work then? looks cool, but......am I just being thick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 [quote name='leftyhook' timestamp='1326677281' post='1500473'] How the heck does that fanned fret thing work then? looks cool, but......am I just being thick? [/quote] Extremely well Honestly it's to stop lefties just flipping the bass over Nah, I'll let someone who knows a lot more than me explain it but if you havn't tried one yet you should! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poptart Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 [quote name='leftyhook' timestamp='1326677281' post='1500473'] How the heck does that fanned fret thing work then? looks cool, but......am I just being thick? [/quote] Okay - in a nutshell....... Thicker strings require greater length to have similar tension to strings of less mass. Therefore - just like a piano or a harp the heavy strings are longer on a Dingwall and therefore have a similar tension to the thinner (higher) strings - simple! There is a 3/4" difference from string to string. Playability is easy peasy, the money notes from the 3 - 7 fret are almost parallel and your hand naturally wants to move in the direction of the frets when you go low or high on the bass. 4, 5 or 6 string life is so much easier on a Dingwall, but once you are trying to go low there is nothing like the Dingwall. The Afterburner bases have a 37" scale B string (it does not feel that long) which you can drop tune 2, 3 4 or more semitones with no loss of feel or clarity. The SJSP has a 35" B strings which is also amazing and will drop a couple of semi-tones no problem! On the 4 string SP4/SJ$ you have a 34 1/4" E string that drops nicely down to D or lower, on the Afterburner 4 string the E is 36 1/4" so you can drop that baby drop to a low A or lower, no problem - try doing that on your 34" scale regular bass and it is like playing a bit of old rope! I hope that helps, please ask if you need any more information. Regards Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime_BASS Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 [quote name='poptart' timestamp='1326705414' post='1500589'] Okay - in a nutshell....... Thicker strings require greater length to have similar tension to strings of less mass. Therefore - just like a piano or a harp the heavy strings are longer on a Dingwall and therefore have a similar tension to the thinner (higher) strings - simple! There is a 3/4" difference from string to string. Playability is easy peasy, the money notes from the 3 - 7 fret are almost parallel and your hand naturally wants to move in the direction of the frets when you go low or high on the bass. 4, 5 or 6 string life is so much easier on a Dingwall, but once you are trying to go low there is nothing like the Dingwall. The Afterburner bases have a 37" scale B string (it does not feel that long) which you can drop tune 2, 3 4 or more semitones with no loss of feel or clarity. The SJSP has a 35" B strings which is also amazing and will drop a couple of semi-tones no problem! On the 4 string SP4/SJ$ you have a 34 1/4" E string that drops nicely down to D or lower, on the Afterburner 4 string the E is 36 1/4" so you can drop that baby drop to a low A or lower, no problem - try doing that on your 34" scale regular bass and it is like playing a bit of old rope! I hope that helps, please ask if you need any more information. Regards Mark [/quote] Makes sense, and it does work. Not many people come up with innotive ideas and make them stick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 They certainly are stunning instruments. Whilst I am a Musicman/Fender player (and always have been) it take a lot for me to admire something as much as I do the Dingwall take on Jazz and P basses. I have tried countless times to try something more exotic/modern/different, but as yet nothing feels right to me. I haven't played a Dingwall though. The worst change I tried was a Warwick Streamer, (5 string). That was absolutely everything I DIDNT want in a bass guitar. The humbuckers were nothing like the power/tone that a Ray produces, so Im always a little sceptical to try another brand without serious consideration. As Im all set with gear, apart from new Genz Shuttle, I cant justify looking at more basses, especially at the Dingwall level of pricing, (all the basses I like seem to be £2500+). I do however think Sheldon's deigns are stunning, He definitely has an eye for what a modern 'vintage' bass needs to look like. As much as I think a Sadowsky P/J/PJ looks great, they don't have that WOW factor when you look at them, like these Dingwall's do. Have Dingwall ever considering making boutique basses that have the normal fret system? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftyhook Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Brilliant. Thanks for such an in-depth explanation. I can see how they work visually from a players point of view, just didn't get the variation in fret positions etc. First saw one in the hands of Leland Skla and thought it was a stunt of sorts! Would love one. Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blues Cat Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Dave Swift is using at the moment the standard Super J set of strings on the B, E & A, and using DR sunbeams (45 & 65) on the D & G and this is working out extremely well so far for him. He likes the clarity, precision & bite from the stainless Steels on the lower strings, and in turn likes the softness in feel, the smoother sound and thicker gauge (at least from the D string) of the DR Sunbeams. If I owned a Super P I would try .130 .105 .90 .70 .50 all non tapered nickel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Wazoo Posted January 21, 2012 Author Share Posted January 21, 2012 (edited) This morning I got in touch with Dave Swift and he was very kind to invite me to his place to try the Dingwall Super P prototype, he asked me to bring along my Super J to have a side to side comparison but unfortunately I couldn't because mine is locked away in Big Yellow Warehouse following my house renovation works. Would you believe I took my good camera along only to realize I had left the memory stick in my pc at home so I could only take a few crappy pics with my iphone I was so cross with myself for not checking the camera before leaving. Anyway here are some shots of the Super P This Dingwall Super P is a wonderful player, extremely well setup and with a superb resonance even unplugged, we tried it through Dave's Aguilar amp and cabs and it was total bliss, the John East P Retro really works well with this bass and Dave showed me the setup he uses with Jools Holland's band and it's a real deep thumping old school sound with plenty of dynamics and a sound that fills the room with a well defined presence. I think me trying this bass was the final deciding factor whether I would order one or not, and I am leaning 100% towards putting down my order. Sheldon managed to keep the weight below the 8lbs mark and overall body and neck are well balanced. After a brief trial with DR Strings on the D & G strings he has gone back to a full set of Super J's strings because he found it to the best set for the bass after all. There were a lot of other basses around the room including a fantastic Fodera Anthony Jackson signature model, I am not a fun of 6 strings basses but I did like that Fodera, great looking bass Anyway going back to the Super P really if you get a chance try one plugged in into a decent amp and you will be pleasantly surpirised by its tone and ease of playing. Edited January 21, 2012 by Grand Wazoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 That Fiesta Red one is absolutely stunning. My evil side wants it to have a relic job and be advertised as a 1962 Dingwall... muhahahaha. Any soundclips of the P anywhere Wazoo ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamovic Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I am a fan of Sheldon's work. And this new bass is the nices take on a P-bass I have seen, very cool. Love all the original little details. And I bet that just like with all his other basses the build quality is second to none. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Don't like it I think they look ridiculous, but don't take it personally it just a bit of wood with some metal nailed on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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