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Fan Fret system?


Pinball
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Hi, I'm just curious about what this is like to play.

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/dingwall-combustion-5-string-bass/106445148

Anyone into against the fan fret system? Any playing experiences?

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[quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1341987386' post='1727355']
Hi, I'm just curious about what this is like to play.

[url="http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/dingwall-combustion-5-string-bass/106445148"]http://www.gumtree.c...-bass/106445148[/url]

Anyone into against the fan fret system? Any playing experiences?
[/quote]

I tried a combustion in the bass gallery. Very playable indeed, however the sound wasn't for me in this particular case. The Dingwall Super J5 sounded much MUCH better to me (but then it does cost a fair bit more :lol: )

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I think this is the same bass:

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/178407-dingwall-combustion-5-price-drop-l750/page__p__1701602__hl__combustion__fromsearch__1#entry1701602"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/178407-dingwall-combustion-5-price-drop-l750/page__p__1701602__hl__combustion__fromsearch__1#entry1701602[/url]

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I've tried a couple and despite the look they're very easy to play single note lones on, no more difficult than a normal spaced instrument. Chords are a slightly different prospect, however, and need an adjustment.

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Takes about 30 seconds to adjust to the fanned-frets. They may look weird from the front, but from the playing position there's hardly any difference. If you play lots of chords at either extremes of the neck you may have to adjust your technique, but otherwise I can't see any problem.

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[quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1341987386' post='1727355']
Hi, I'm just curious about what this is like to play.

[url="http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/dingwall-combustion-5-string-bass/106445148"]http://www.gumtree.c...-bass/106445148[/url]

Anyone into against the fan fret system? Any playing experiences?
[/quote]

Scale length differs from the top to bottom strings...I think on these models something like 33" to 35" Low E (B?). I believe the 'jazz' type basses from Dingwall
go from 32" to 34" low E. ALl the models are on the Dingwall site.

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I seem to be one of the few people who've tried them and not got on with them! Despite the fact that the whole design concept and geometry of the instrument makes perfect sense to me, it just didn't feel right in my hands. I really, really wanted to like it, but I had to admit to myself that I just felt awkward playing it, although I'm sure with lots of practice and effort I could get used to it, but I just decided it wasn't for me.

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I switch without any hassle between 4 string standard fretted and 5 string fanned, it took me some seconds literally to get used to. Even during a show I change between my stingray4 and my Dingwall, playing goes automatically. Each time I play a show with the Combustion, I get audience asking what the #### I am playing..

And despite the fact that it might look odd, the technology behind the fanned frets actually works really well, I have never, ever heard a B string this thunderous as on my Dingwall Combustion. My girlfriend is still picking up the pieces of all the glasses that fell off the shelves downstairs..

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Fanned-frets or not, Dingwall basses are great-sounding, high-quality instruments.

Whether they're right for you is down to your own personal preference. The only way to know is to try one out and see how it sounds and feels.

I'm a recent convert, simply because Dingwall make the best sounding and playing basses that I'm yet to try (and have been able to afford...).

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