Dingwall D-Bird

[therealting]

Went to the London Bass Guitar Show today, left poorer and richer at the same time. Whaddya think?

[IMG]http://i66.tinypic.com/oa0ymo.jpg[/IMG]

Edited March 12, 2016 by therealting

[krispn]

Did you buy it?

[Beer of the Bass]

The Thunderbird shape looks surprisingly natural with fanned frets, more so than some of their other models IMO. I like the way the bridge and upper frets end up in line with the slant of the body.

[Cato]

Not usually my sort of thing, but I've got to admit that it's a looker.

[krispn]

It's a total babe!😀

Edited March 12, 2016 by krispn

[NancyJohnson]

That headstock has to go!

[Happy Jack]

Absolutely+1.

Love the look and style of the bass, love the alignment of the body shape and the high register frets, but that headstock totally sucks (man) and the appalling tuners are the rancid icing on the cake.

Opportunity missed.

Which is actually a huge relief. With the right headstock, I would have had no choice but to buy it.

[Twincam]

Pretty much the same as others have said I like the bass, it looks good but the headstock and tuners look imo a bit cheap dare I say. Really like the rest of the bass though and the pose ain't bad either.

T shirt sucks tho! Lol

Edited March 13, 2016 by Twincam

[Kev]

Didn't realise he was selling it otherwise I would have enquired. How much was it up for?

I really liked it, fantastic tone and rapid neck. Upper fret access is poor and I'm not sure about that headstock, but if it really is combustion level pricing I would be very interested!

[therealting]

Just to clarify - I didn't buy it, it wasn't up for sale. I went to see it out of curiosity, but ended up really liking it.

I went again today and had the chance to chat with Sheldon for a full half hour. I brought up the headstock and he was very aware that it polarised opinion, but also said that many of Dingwall's design decisions have done in the past, and people tend to get used to things over time... I'm kind of inclined to agree, (although I still think the MM Bongo is one of the ugliest things I've ever seen). The headstock does look very beautiful in person, and because of its shorter length (and the rear strap), the bass balances quite beautifully on a strap. I for one really like it, I think it has that signature Dingwall vibe with a nod to the original.

[neepheid]

They probably couldn't make the headstock too Thunderbird-y for legal reasons. Gibson aren't quite as trigger happy as Rickenbacker but they've got form.

I don't have a problem with the headstock, or the tuners.

Edited March 13, 2016 by neepheid

[Muzz]

I love the headstock...and the bass looks miles better in the flesh, so to speak... Tobacco sunburst, different pups and a maple board and my cash is Sheldon's...

[therealting]

I'd be a sucker for tobacco burst too - I said that to Sheldon myself.

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

Good for metal...

[therealting]

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1457906567' post='3002970']
Good for metal...
[/quote]

A brushed aluminium pickguard and headstock facing would finish the look...

[MoonBassAlpha]

It's almost as if the Thunderbird shape was conceived with fanned frets in mind. I like the headstock too but think it would look even better with the tuners angled back a bit Warwick stylee. Would look amazing in a heavy rock context.

[NancyJohnson]

I posted elsewhere that of the Spector headstock works great with the Thunderbird body.

[Cameronj279]

I think normal Thunderbirds look ridiculous but that one actually looks not bad. The body flows a lot better with the fan frets. I also think the headstock is fairly nice.

Why would people want the massive t-bird headstock?

[Bigwan]

Bet that thing got some fondling over the weekend!

[Musicman20]

Nice idea, but nope, not into that headstock. Needs something a little more traditional.

[synthaside]

[quote name='Cameronj279' timestamp='1457942584' post='3003096']
Why would people want the massive t-bird headstock?
[/quote]

I'm pretty sure I'd miss the massive amounts of neck dive , I mean what's my left hand for ? if not propping up my boat anchor of a headstock. ;-)

Cant say i'm a fan of the Ibanez style stock either to be fair .

Edited March 14, 2016 by synthaside

[neepheid]

The Thunderbird Studio had a much more svelte take on the standard headstock - perhaps some ideas there?

[neepheid]

[quote name='Cameronj279' timestamp='1457942584' post='3003096']
Why would people want the massive t-bird headstock?
[/quote]


It doesn't have to be massive (see above). Can't imagine most Dingwallers wanting it to be honest, but if this bass is to serve as a gateway drug for the more traditional bassists to more fanfrettedess in future, perhaps a nod to the past might work in its favour

[keefbaker]

I had a go of a couple of Dingwalls while there including the D-Bird. Lovely bass but it's not a Thunderbird clone, it's a Thunderbird shaped dingwall. If you want a Thunderbird clone get a Mike Lull (although some people still say that's not a proper one either)

On a side note it surprised me how quickly I got used to the fanned frets. Well, except for the F on the E string, that still threw me a bit. But I can now see a Dinger in my future. Maybe next year at the 2017 show.