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Dingwall Super P prototype


Grand Wazoo
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[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1325427521' post='1483011']
I noticed the Dingwall. Couldn't hear it at all, well barely.
[/quote]Nothing new about the Later mix there then, I still maintain the tv sound person should be relieved of their position (or shot, either works). Saw the Dingwall whilst surfing, mmmm nice.

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[quote name='mercuryl' timestamp='1325428897' post='1483034']
Why oh why oh why is the pick guard a rip off shape of the Fender version. Have people got no imagination? For heavens sake - if you are a bass maker, show some originality.
[/quote]

Try reading the rest of the thread....including Sheldon's response on this page!!

I also noticed Dave Swift using it, looked cool and was a very supportive sound, which is what he's all about :)

Si

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[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1325431319' post='1483055']

Try reading the rest of the thread....including Sheldon's response on this page!!

I also noticed Dave Swift using it, looked cool and was a very supportive sound, which is what he's all about :)

Si
[/quote]
I have read the whole thread. In my view, the manufacturer could have created their own pick guard design but has deliberately virtually copied the Fender design. I think that is very poor, with no justification ..... other than chasing sales by riding on someone else's coat tails.

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[quote name='mercuryl' timestamp='1325431960' post='1483066']
I have read the whole thread. In my view, the manufacturer could have created their own pick guard design but has deliberately virtually copied the Fender design. I think that is very poor, with no justification ..... other than chasing sales by riding on someone else's coat tails.
[/quote]

But catering to those players who want a Dingwall but also the aesthetics of a Fender doesn't work when you change the design. Dingwall have plenty of original designs and custom options that players can go for, if you're gonna put out a Fender Clone....do it well, which Sheldon no-doubt does.
In any case, you play a Warwick Streamer....which is a ripped design from Spector....forced originality just for the sake of it will never take the place of proven good designs.

Si

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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.

Edited by mercuryl
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[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]

It's a business, it's about money no originality at the end of the day. Whichever way you look at it Dingwall make great basses and if you want a fanned fret p bass then there's not much out there so they're filling a gap in the market.

If they didn't do it then someone else would.

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If you don't like it just come out and say so, don't beat around the bush.. :) Sheldon makes weird basses as well - I have a modded ABZ which I adore... But guess what, most of the guitards I play with don't notice either the fact it's got five strings or fan frets.. If you don't like Sheldons take on a P bass that's fine, but guess what, that's only one mans opinion and Dingwall are clear who their market are.. Perhaps you could point me towards a take on a P bass you do like? Or are you simply trolling?

[quote name='mercuryl' timestamp='1325431960' post='1483066']
I have read the whole thread. In my view, the manufacturer could have created their own pick guard design but has deliberately virtually copied the Fender design. I think that is very poor, with no justification ..... other than chasing sales by riding on someone else's coat tails.
[/quote]

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[quote name='charic' timestamp='1325438100' post='1483145']
Whichever way you look at it Dingwall make great basses and if you want a fanned fret p bass then there's not much out there so
[/quote]

Exactly what I was going to say!

I actually spent about 90minutes jamming on a Dingwall last night and have got to say that the fanned frets felt natural very quickly, especially at the head end. Got slightly confusing at the dusty end where the amount of 'fan' actually gets more than the fret spacing, but still got the hang of it by the end.

The other thing I noticed is that although the G string is 34" the stretch at the dusty end seems easier than with parallel frets. Almost felt like a 32", which is what I normally play.

What I really want to try is a fanned fret 5 string where the G string is 32"! Do Dingwall or anyone do such a thing?

Edited by Count Bassy
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I also don't feel that it's chasing sales.
Leo Fender got it right....first time...and when a player wants to retain that, but also asks for some more modern features, it's down to builders like Sheldon to provide that within the context of their brand
I bet he had an inbox full of emails asking for a dingwall trad p-bass before he thought about doing one. It's called supply and demand :)

Si

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[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1325438640' post='1483156']
Perhaps you could point me towards a take on a P bass you do like? Or are you simply trolling?
[/quote]
I'm not trolling. As for "......a take on a P Bass that I like?......" My whole point is that I don't like [u]any[/u] takes on P basses or J basses. Do you think they could have achieved the same sound with a different body shape and a different pickguard. Yeah, probably. So why didn't they.

Because they want to chase sales using someone else's design.

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Loved the look of Dave's bass last night. I have enjoyed the Dingwall's I have played and if I ever gave in to my GAS and went after a 5 string Precision this is likely to be one of the first places I would look. Personally I love fender designs, he got it right IMHO but I am quite happy to have as many companies as possible build their own versions but with their own innovations and a huge range of custom options.

Unfortunately due to my experiences over the years if I was looking for a good quality well made Precision or Jazz the last place I would look would be Fender, I would take my Squier over a USA build P any day of the week and if I had a lot of money it would go on a Sei or a Nordy Jazz.

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[quote name='mercuryl' timestamp='1325428897' post='1483034']
Why oh why oh why is the pick guard a rip off shape of the Fender version. Have people got no imagination? For heavens sake - if you are a bass maker, show some originality.
[/quote]

The pickguard has been debated over the Dingwall forum before what you see as the finished article. Please let me remind you that what you saw could be pretty much the making of a possible Dave Swift's signature bass, all the features you see down to the John East P Retro preamp are Dave Swift's personal choices and his request to keep the look of the bass as close as possible to that of Fender P minus the fanned frets the bridge and pickup.

However the Dingwall Super P bass "per se" it is still a prototype, hence the features are still subject to change before the final design is approved by Sheldon Dingwall. My wish would be for everyone to stop dissing what is not yet cast in stone. I am sure Mr. Sheldon Dingwall himself will tell you that it is still work in progress.

Having recently spoken to Dave Swift I have asked him his thoughts about this new bass and he was over the moon about it, he said he's very pleased with it, he said he is pretty much old school when it comes to bass sounds and this new Dingwall seems to be right up his street.

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You must be kept busy complaining about all the other P and Jshaped basses out there then.... :) Perhaps you've not considered that some folk like the look of a P Bass but want something different/better? Or are required to have a "Fender" type bass by style gurus? You don't work for Apple by any chance?

[quote name='mercuryl' timestamp='1325444597' post='1483230']
I'm not trolling. As for "......a take on a P Bass that I like?......" My whole point is that I don't like [u]any[/u] takes on P basses or J basses. Do you think they could have achieved the same sound with a different body shape and a different pickguard. Yeah, probably. So why didn't they.

Because they want to chase sales using someone else's design.
[/quote]

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As a fan of more "traditonal" looking basses (Fender, MM, Gibsons), but also a fan of more "high-tech" offerings by the like of Dingwall, Sei and, in particular, Status (I would sell my left nut for a MK1 Kingbass) I believe that Dingwall have got this particular P "clone" absolutely spot on. If Status had stuck to the headless, angular look of the original Series 2000 from the 80's, they probably wouldn't sell a lot of basses in 2012. This is because (unfortunately) the aesthetics of an instrument are sometimes more important to a player than how the instrument actually sounds. If the bloke from Embrace turned up for a rehearsal with a Series 2 headless in FPPR and adorned with LED's in the neck, it's not going to look right, is it? But because he likes the technology involved in graphite necks, the stability of graphite with regards to touring (the neck is going to stay the same in humid eastern countries as it would in, say, Leeds) and the sound from a modern EQ system, coupled with a retro look, perfect for a more traditional "rock" band, then why would he want to play anything else? Same with the Dingwall - some of their "original" designed basses would look totally out of place in a more trad setting, and players are acutely aware of this, so why shouldn't Sheldon Dingwall diversify his range to cater for that type of player? It's ridiculous to suggest otherwise. As much as artistry goes into his basses, Mr. Dingwall is a businessman, who (as one member has already pointed out) has found a niche in[i] his [/i]market for this type of bass. There are hundreds of cars on the market that look incredibly similar to other manufacturer's vehicles, but so what? Hats off to him. If you don't like the look of it, then don't look at it. ;) I want one...

Edited by Grant
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[quote name='mercuryl' timestamp='1325444597' post='1483230']
I'm not trolling. As for "......a take on a P Bass that I like?......" My whole point is that I don't like [u]any[/u] takes on P basses or J basses. Do you think they could have achieved the same sound with a different body shape and a different pickguard. Yeah, probably. So why didn't they.

Because they want to chase sales using someone else's design.
[/quote]

There's nothing wrong with chasing sales by any legal means you can in my opinion. All businesses are tough to run and your competition are always ruthless.

But maybe some players want the Dingwall features in a[u] traditional Fender P look[/u]? I might well be in that group myself. ;) What's wrong with that?

Frank.

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Best p bass I have played is a 1980's squire, I have a 1983 jap that is pretty ok. I can think of rakes of companies that make a better jazz or p then fender ever did. But that is prob about the most boring and over debated arguement on the interweb


I just got to sit and watch he show with the 5 way speaker thing on and man I dig daves tone. Bass looked and sounded fantastic. Next bass could be a super p but I still have an itch for a sandberg

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Hi all - well I have the first three of these bad boys being made reserved for the shop. There will be two versions, a traditional Alder bass with gloss finish and an ABZ Swamp Ash Bass with exposed grain and satin finishes. Provisional information and prices on my site [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/DING_SUPERP.html"]here[/url] - now the wait!

Any questions please ask away.

Regards

Mark

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Built time is around 5 months on a Dingwall at the moment - I guess these should be here around April.

I have 3 five stringers so far but will add a couple of 4 bangers.

I have a 'Dave Swift" Super P in Olympic White, Tort p/g, East P Retro and a couple or Super PZs, one passive, one active - I have yet to confirm colours on these, probably a 2 toneburst and a black.

I was speaking to Mr Swift and so far he is loving the Super P 5 and is just tweaking strings to get as comfy as possible. I have the [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Dingwall_strings.html"]Payson strings[/url] coming in this week so I will have the choice of; Stainless Steel, Nickel and Flatwounds, all custom wound for the Dingwalls.

Regards

Mark

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