Adam Neely uses one for jazz and fusion styles. They’re perfect for metal, but in general are still an active bass with great pickups. I’d love to try one at some point
Probably because most bass players prefer the traditional/vintage tone over modern active basses. But if you do like the modern tone then ye dingwall is underrated for those sounds outside of metal.
I love the little laughs you do at the end of each demo. I could tell you were really having fun with this bass! Dingwalls are awesome in their own regard, I personally own a Combustion (non NG) model. Shame a lot of people only see it as a "metal djent" bass, I'd argue that they have alot of versatility or even the most versatility out of all the iconic bass guitars out there.
I love the lower frequencies boosted with just a touch of the highs. That’s the sweet spot to me. Sounds also that it would be a phenomenal fusion bass.
Thank you for demoing the low B string. It peeves me that others demo 5 string basses and never touch the string except to rest their thumbs on it. I buy a 5 string for that added low end growl and building shaking tone. These Dingwalls are amazing!
Thanks Dex! I've been guilty of that in the past ;P, but it would be a sin to ignore the B string on a dingwall haha. Yes they're absolutely amazing, I love mine
I'll finally be getting an NG3 6 string this year and I absolutely can't wait. Also the fact that it'll be an exclusive Dingwall run? Hnnng! Fantastic video!
A stylish bass with very good sound. The lowest strings (B, E) seem like they have pretty wide gaps between the frets that would necessitate a bit of stretching for most average-sized hands/fingers. I am not sure I would want one of these for myself, but I can understand why people like them. They certainly get a lot of love on Talkbass.
Thanks Sam! Indeed you are correct, but in practice you really don't notice it that much unless you're playing at the extremes (first two frets or above the 14th or so). I do find Ibanez's approach with the EHB much more 'one size fits all' where the 35" B string gives you the the feel you want, and the 33" G string gives you that extra reach without being jarring compared to a standard 34" scale instrument.
The scale length of the NG and the neodymium pickups definitely make the NG sound closer to a bongo tone in my opinion, but that's probably also because the Bongo has that really nice 4 band preamp
Great video, I've for an NG2 that I've done only cosmetic changes to because how much I like it stock (save for occasionally moving the front pickup forward since the one I have came pre-routed for three pickups). I can see what you mean by having THAT tone color all the various options but I almost see it like a modern/new version of how I view the P bass (its sound can carve out a niche in almost any genre). Some string manufacturers like Payson also offer other string types like flatwounds, ground wounds, and coated rounds, that can curb that edge a bit and add a nice thump to the very present natural tone. The same can be said about my frankly dead/old roundwounds that still feel viably bright using the preamp and pickup selector.
I have a passive ABZ-5 with the maple neck. For all intents and purposes, it's a satin-finish, extra lightweight Canadian-made equivalent to the Combustion, with better hardware, no pick guard, and a slightly warmer and more mid-forward voice. Best gear purchase I've ever made, bar none- including the '64 Precision I bought in the early '70's, and used for 13 years.
I SO hope you’re growing that magnificent fro back. It would hide the beautiful blue mighty jazz...but you can always move that. The Dingwall is such a spectacular instrument, they have a “you really know your shit” look about them. They also look like they are made by Ferrari (more race car than bass). It’s nice to hear one playing funk and groove, rather than trying to put the “metal” guitar player out of a job. Anyway, sounds great, you are definitely going to change your preamp and pups....that’s just you!!!! Cheers lobster. Yep...you basically just confirmed that...awesome!
The hi-mid concept grabs enough treble to satisfy the high end appetite. Especially for bassists. One might say that the hi-mid is the new High.. Yeah baby,. especially when I hear you slap it, real nice. I'm satisfied 🚬
I can't wait for your NG3 mod video. I'm curious to hear all 3 pickups together...and other tricks you surely have up your claw...bcuz I just wanna hear a Dingwall that sounds rich and full as a bass should...imo. Escape that clank!
:) not that I'm a crazy person who watches their own videos all the time.... but Friday's vid I've watched like 10 times and it sounds sooooo gooooood.
I got one of these and it keeps calling me to play it. It’s very unique, and in a good way. I feel I’m more of an ol 18:37 d school p and/or j guy, but I’m really digging this bass. 🤔
Thanks Longdongchong! Indeed, though some preamps like the John East can target up to 2k via the mid sweep (in high mode), the 2.8Khz high mid is definitely a unique thing to Darkglass. The 500hz is in the ballpark where some other mid controls are.
Love this review! Dingwall's have always been super cool to me, super crispy yet super full! I would love to see a review of the Stingray Ray35HH if you can get your hands on one, there are a couple reviews out there but none by the lobster himself!
Great one again Lobman. Next has to be the standard Combustion 5/3 without the Darkglass preamp. Or a super PJ 5($$$$) Not a fan of the darkglass clank.
Nice, like you, not exactly the music I would play but still, looks like a fun bass. When you said you were getting a red one, not only did I think you were gonna review them together, but I also thought I might like the red better. I was wrong, much to my disbelief, but I like the Gold one better. Now I can’t wait for that review. If you get a chance, if you can’t have the, both there at the same time, when you have the gold back, can you do a PIP box to show this red one at the same time, for a side by comparison. Thanks again, great-job. I am looking forward. To your upcoming Unboxing, then review, then Mod Series on that new Candy Apple Red Sterling SUB Ray4HH. Gotta do it quick, I want to see / hear it upgraded before my Olive SUB Ray4HH sells, it might change my Mind. Lol.
Thanks a lot lobsterman! Which one would you recommend for beginner: this one or ibanez ehb1005ms Would really like to hear your thoughts on that because you played them both and about 1000 other bass guitars.
Thanks Mandrey! For a beginner!? Neither hahaha. Multiscale and 5 strings would be pretty daunting for someone new to the instrument. Of the two, I would say the Ibanez is more traditional, takes normal strings, and is probably more beginner friendly overall.
Reason I am asking is... I bought ibanez and I am beginner. 😝 I do blame you for my purchase. I would not say I am true beginner I do play guitar. I currently borrow bass and when I started looking I stumbled on Ehb and really liked it. Huge fan of your channel. You should involve your subscriber base in some way. I would love to see that kind of content from you.
I just ordered a Combustion 5. based on this video. Thanks for describing the difference between Combustion and the NG. China is not responsible for quality, the bass company is.
I'm remembering why I sold my Z1 & continued with the Lakland 55-94. This bass sounds exactly like mine did~ weird. The weirdest part was the G string~ it ALWAYS sounded thin to me & it seems that is still the case. I would actually cringe when I had to hit ANY note on the G string & I'm still cringing listening to it. I was going to ask Sheldon to build me (in Canada) a Z1 with a single P bass pickup & just a volume control & nothing else~ and I still may do that. They've got their Super P, but it's just 35" scale, which defeats the purpose for me. Luckily though the P Bass sound IS Sheldon's favorite, so I think he could pull it off. Otherwise, I'll just give Kiesel a try. In other news I have a 1986 white Peavy Dyna Bass that I bought new, played for about an hour, and moved to Hawaii without it~ definitely a closet classic. The next time I visit RI I'll drive it over to you & you can review it if you like~ I see that you like to do vids on older bases. During my hour of playing this thing I remember loving it~ it felt 4 lbs lighter that the G&L L2000 I had just sold & the three band preamp sounded much better to me than the 'Mack truck up you butt' preamp on the G&L. At the moment that ESP super slapper has me forgetting all about the B string~
Thanks Mikey! You know, you're not wrong. I'm not enamored with the darkglass tone. I have a very special video vid on my Dingwall (mods!) dropping this upcoming friday that might wow you. In regards to the Dynabass, absolutely! Feel free to reach out over IG or email and we can coordinate :).
@@LowEndLobster Everytime I look at a Dingwall review it's with some guy slamming away on it with a pick & heavy distortion~banging his head up and down with diarrhea-grade bass face. I guess the Darkwhatever preamp serves that crowd.
The L series preamp gets a rap as being a heavy handed preamp but I've found that to be anything but true. Ditch the battery (just bypassing really doesn't do it) start with everything turned all the way down and start from there. Small adjustments make big differences and the volume knob is your friend!! No disrespect intended. I just feel the L series gets no love for how stellar they can sound! I have a 3 bolt L2k and L1500 that sound absolutely insane. Everytime I think about selling one, the tone makes it impossible.
I'm actually surprised how little this resembles a Stingray, tone-wise. I figured position 3 would be pretty indistinguishable, but it doesn't really have that "smack" that Stingrays are known for. The Dingwall is much more neutral sounding to my ears.
Is this one manufactured in China or Canada. Dingwall's headquarters is in Saskatchewan. Some of the higher end instruments are made there. From what I understand, all final set ups and QC is done in Canada. How do the fan frets compare to the Ibanez models you have featured (still watching the video so not sure if you comment on this!)?
Your golden one sounds better. Actually, this isn't really my kinda sound. But I gotta admit - that B string is an absolute monster. I only hope what you've said about the quality of Chinese Dingwalls will positively affect the social credit score of the sweatshop workers who assemble them ;-)
Nice looking bass, and I like their design approach... However, $2500 for an instrument made in China?! That's a bridge too far for me. As always, another fun video Lobster!
Thanks Monahan! You definitely touch on an important point. I'm hoping to get some face time with Sheldon at some point in a LobsterChat format and will definitely ask about it. Though it is very easy to paint Chinese labor with a wide brush (and rightfully so, there's a lot of exploitation, borderline if not full slave labor, human rights violations, etc that ends up producing cheap and low quality instruments), I don't believe that's true in all cases of Chinese production. However, I only have limited info on this but definitely know it's an important topic that we will definitely discuss more in this context! I think transparency from manufacturers is extremely important and will definitely do my best to get the most accurate information
This bass is very punchy and articulate. I'm not sure if it's versatile enough to use for other genres. It has a bit of a Warwick Thumb vibe to my ears.
There's a video from Nolly Getgood of Periphery where he talks about his Dingwalls in depth - this is shortly after he started using them I believe - and he kept comparing it over and over to a Warwick. I came away thinking Nolly would probably be just as happy playing a Warwick with fanned frets.
@@Bassic778 Oh he's played all kinds of stuff. I remember an old Periphery "in the studio" video where he was laying down a sick tone with an American Deluxe Jazz. And in this video you can see him recording part of "Make Total Destroy" with a Warwick Streamer: th-cam.com/video/iP7iY3BYvh4/w-d-xo.html
@@LowEndLobster kalium strings? Or any more? I’m heavily considering purchasing an NG2 and although I’ve been a kalium customer for years, they’ve had pretty bad reviews this past year. So if there’s a good alternative I’ll go there
Thanks Shred! The B string is definitely sweet, but outside of that I think there's a lot of genre-centric hype surrounding the darkglass preamp. Don't get me wrong, it's a very solid preamp but it heavily colors the tone and it's hard to escape. Passive mode doesn't give you a passive tone control to get a fatter tone, and the pickups with the preamp bypassed are definitely on the harsh side. That being said, heavier music and more avantgarde stuff definitely appreciates this type of tone. The triple pickup thing is cool for the NG3 and combustion models, but the 4 way rotary switch doesn't give you the ability to run all 3 out of the box. My upcoming mod video on my personal Dingwall might seem more appealing to you (it is for me) from a tone perspective. Muuuuch wider tonal palate and none of the dark glass coloring... and a passive tone control. I don't want to spoil it ;)
I really like the Darkglass, but the color of the tone is probably the main reason why someone would go for it over another preamp of similar price. Plus, with options like the Duncan 2-band (just got one myself), which has the treble boost/cut at about 3khz for $100 less, it seems very... idk, maybe “niche”? An EMG 3-band with mid sweep costs the same and doesn’t color the tone nearly as much. But the Darkglass flavor is hard to replicate if it’s not something you already have onboard. Can’t wait to see how your personal Dingwall looks after it comes out from under the knife!... or under the soldering iron, I suppose.
Great sounding bass. A friend and I were discussing today why neither of us has pulled the trigger on an active bass. I’m a beginner, whereas he’s a semi-pro bassist with years of experience. His view was that if you can’t get the tones you need from a P or J bass and your amp settings, then you’re not doing things right!
I feel like that's a bit reductionist. The same guy who designed P and J basses made the Stingray. Those sound vastly different from the P or J. Also, having a higher output from active electronics affects effect pedals in different ways.
Thanks Jaxon! Hehe you're not wrong. I'm a bit of a traditionalist/old school when it comes to my tones. Wait until you see the mods that I did to mine :)
@@LowEndLobster I’m not a traditionalist but I really think the J bass can do the most. Excited to see the rest of your Dingwall content though! The D-Roc Standard is still on my radar, lol.
@@jaxonvictoria4345 as a fellow jazz bass owner I second that. There are lots of other basses I like, many of them are much more expensive and/or fancy, but the jazz just does it for me.
I've been avoiding 5 string basses my entire life, not out of elitism, they're just horribly uncomfortable to me. I might just consider a dingwall once their used prices start dropping a bit
@@fistinair1979 we'll see. I waited on darkglass and got one for a good deal, I assume the same will happen here once the metal crowd gets bored of them and starts selling
@@ileutur6863 I'd agree, it's tough to say of these will dramatically drop in price used given how little are produced it seems (also the prices have gone up for a new one, which I suspect will bring up used prices respectively)
Thanks Arsenije! If you want to check out a 5 string multiscale without dropping dingwall coin, the Ibanez SRMS and EHB offerings are quite solid for the price (especially used!).
17:20 maybe the modern metal image thing is more an artifact of the Darkglass electronics, as there are plenty of videos starting with a topic loosely paraphrased as "darkglass, not just for metal anymore"
18:35 What do I think? I think that I want to buy a Kiesel XM8 and Johnny Lee Long's Yamaha TRB6P fretless for the same cash as a Dingwall. Speaking of double H shootouts - he's also got a Fender double H 5 for a hell of a deal...
Not really a fan. I just can't get over the looks. It's not the fanned frets, or the modern look. I really like the Ibanez EHB. Not really a fan of the Darkglass "clanky" sound either. It's got some other usable tones, however. I heard they are made very well. I've never met one in person. Maybe I'd change my mind if I had one in my hands, but I just don't think it's my thing. The Dingwall Super P might be more up my alley.
Thanks Bizi! I dig the looks, but I definitely understand where you're coming from about the tone.... though we have a special vid (Dingwall mods!) coming Friday that you will like!
The MOST IMPORTANT Question: How much Claws would the NG2 get? 🤔 - I played recently one in a local store and would like to know how the rating would be 🤷♂😅
@@LowEndLobster Well - okay, I mean, as far as I know are the pickups/electronics nowerdays the same (except the covers) in the NG2 Models 🤔🤷♂. So the rating would be still up to date 🤷♂.
These always seemed to be pushed forward as some modern metal bass, but they always seem way more versatile than people give them credit for.
Modern Metal = Djenty Boi
Adam Neely uses one for jazz and fusion styles. They’re perfect for metal, but in general are still an active bass with great pickups. I’d love to try one at some point
Probably because most bass players prefer the traditional/vintage tone over modern active basses. But if you do like the modern tone then ye dingwall is underrated for those sounds outside of metal.
Thanks!
Ja dat is waar
Yet another awesome bass I can't afford. I'll just live vicariously through Lobster. :-)
Makes 2 of us😂
Hehe thanks Max!
I really like how much joy you seem to get from playing these Dingwall basses. BTW, that bass definitely needs a few more knobs. (Kidding.)
Thanks Mark! LOL we need a knob for every day of the week and one for holidays XD
I love the little laughs you do at the end of each demo. I could tell you were really having fun with this bass! Dingwalls are awesome in their own regard, I personally own a Combustion (non NG) model.
Shame a lot of people only see it as a "metal djent" bass, I'd argue that they have alot of versatility or even the most versatility out of all the iconic bass guitars out there.
Thanks Kyle :)
I love the lower frequencies boosted with just a touch of the highs. That’s the sweet spot to me. Sounds also that it would be a phenomenal fusion bass.
Thanks Everett!
Always love your playing ..and now I want that Dingwall ..I can live on beans on toast for a few years but have that beauty in my hands...awesome
Thanks Andy!
Thank you for demoing the low B string. It peeves me that others demo 5 string basses and never touch the string except to rest their thumbs on it. I buy a 5 string for that added low end growl and building shaking tone. These Dingwalls are amazing!
Thanks Dex! I've been guilty of that in the past ;P, but it would be a sin to ignore the B string on a dingwall haha. Yes they're absolutely amazing, I love mine
Terrific sounding bass, great playing too. Thank you for sharing this demo.
Thanks Matt!
*adds to list of dream basses*
:)
Very cool demo. Thanks lobster 🦞
Thanks Sparks!
I'll finally be getting an NG3 6 string this year and I absolutely can't wait. Also the fact that it'll be an exclusive Dingwall run? Hnnng! Fantastic video!
A stylish bass with very good sound. The lowest strings (B, E) seem like they have pretty wide gaps between the frets that would necessitate a bit of stretching for most average-sized hands/fingers. I am not sure I would want one of these for myself, but I can understand why people like them. They certainly get a lot of love on Talkbass.
Thanks Sam! Indeed you are correct, but in practice you really don't notice it that much unless you're playing at the extremes (first two frets or above the 14th or so). I do find Ibanez's approach with the EHB much more 'one size fits all' where the 35" B string gives you the the feel you want, and the 33" G string gives you that extra reach without being jarring compared to a standard 34" scale instrument.
It sounds good with the preamp off, but then the Tone Capsule kicks in and it sounds even better!
Nice one!
Thanks B@ssiCS!
Would love to see a good comparison with a NG and a STINGRAY, and a BONGO
Now we're talkin! Friday I will unveil my modded dingwall... and a tone comparo with other basses will come soon ;)
@@LowEndLobster sweet!! Can't wait!!
*whispers in Big Chonks*
The scale length of the NG and the neodymium pickups definitely make the NG sound closer to a bongo tone in my opinion, but that's probably also because the Bongo has that really nice 4 band preamp
@@justinc246 yes I love the bongo preamp wish they would put a 4 band in the stingray
Great video, I've for an NG2 that I've done only cosmetic changes to because how much I like it stock (save for occasionally moving the front pickup forward since the one I have came pre-routed for three pickups). I can see what you mean by having THAT tone color all the various options but I almost see it like a modern/new version of how I view the P bass (its sound can carve out a niche in almost any genre). Some string manufacturers like Payson also offer other string types like flatwounds, ground wounds, and coated rounds, that can curb that edge a bit and add a nice thump to the very present natural tone. The same can be said about my frankly dead/old roundwounds that still feel viably bright using the preamp and pickup selector.
Thanks Justin! I definitely want to try out some Payson flats for my gold bass. Would be interesting to do a comparison with the new guts!
I have a passive ABZ-5 with the maple neck. For all intents and purposes, it's a satin-finish, extra lightweight Canadian-made equivalent to the Combustion, with better hardware, no pick guard, and a slightly warmer and more mid-forward voice. Best gear purchase I've ever made, bar none- including the '64 Precision I bought in the early '70's, and used for 13 years.
sick bass
Thank you!
I SO hope you’re growing that magnificent fro back. It would hide the beautiful blue mighty jazz...but you can always move that.
The Dingwall is such a spectacular instrument, they have a “you really know your shit” look about them. They also look like they are made by Ferrari (more race car than bass). It’s nice to hear one playing funk and groove, rather than trying to put the “metal” guitar player out of a job. Anyway, sounds great, you are definitely going to change your preamp and pups....that’s just you!!!! Cheers lobster.
Yep...you basically just confirmed that...awesome!
Thanks man! We'll see what the hair gods have in store lol
@@LowEndLobster MAGNIFICENT
The hi-mid concept grabs enough treble to satisfy the high end appetite. Especially for bassists. One might say that the hi-mid is the new High..
Yeah baby,. especially when I hear you slap it, real nice. I'm satisfied 🚬
I can't wait for your NG3 mod video. I'm curious to hear all 3 pickups together...and other tricks you surely have up your claw...bcuz I just wanna hear a Dingwall that sounds rich and full as a bass should...imo.
Escape that clank!
:) not that I'm a crazy person who watches their own videos all the time.... but Friday's vid I've watched like 10 times and it sounds sooooo gooooood.
@@LowEndLobster dude I can't wait even more now!
I got one of these and it keeps calling me to play it. It’s very unique, and in a good way. I feel I’m more of an ol 18:37 d school p
and/or j guy, but I’m really digging this bass. 🤔
I still haven't found any place that has a dingwall. I wanna try one. Either this or the d bird. They are cool. Thanks lobster.
Or you can drive to Lobster's house.
Thanks Ross! We may be seeing a D-Roc (new dbird) soon :)
If it had a passive tone it would be my dream bass
and so you pay a luthier to put one in
2.8khz is no where near typical mid preamp frequencies. For example, on an Audere preamp, mid is at 500hz and high mid is at 800.
Thanks Longdongchong! Indeed, though some preamps like the John East can target up to 2k via the mid sweep (in high mode), the 2.8Khz high mid is definitely a unique thing to Darkglass. The 500hz is in the ballpark where some other mid controls are.
Hang in there Lobster.
Love this review! Dingwall's have always been super cool to me, super crispy yet super full! I would love to see a review of the Stingray Ray35HH if you can get your hands on one, there are a couple reviews out there but none by the lobster himself!
Thanks Jake! We'll definitely be checking out more SBMM Stingrays this year. I have a killer Ray4HH project planned!
Even for metal, I'd prefer a much more neutral tone as a starting place. There's only so many places you can go from that Darkglass starting point.
Thanks! Yeah I agree, the tone gets heavily colored by the DG and though it is flexible... you can't really escape that DG sound.
@@LowEndLobster Hit the passive switch and then color the tone with whatever you desire lol.
Just love it 😊😅
Great one again Lobman. Next has to be the standard Combustion 5/3 without the Darkglass preamp. Or a super PJ 5($$$$) Not a fan of the darkglass clank.
Thanks Jean-Paul! Friday you will see my Dingwall in its final form with some epic mods ;). We say bye bye to the darkglass.
Now we're talking👍👍👍. And so we wait 🕛🕧🕜🕑🕝
Nice, like you, not exactly the music I would play but still, looks like a fun bass. When you said you were getting a red one, not only did I think you were gonna review them together, but I also thought I might like the red better. I was wrong, much to my disbelief, but I like the Gold one better.
Now I can’t wait for that review. If you get a chance, if you can’t have the, both there at the same time, when you have the gold back, can you do a PIP box to show this red one at the same time, for a side by comparison. Thanks again, great-job. I am looking forward. To your upcoming Unboxing, then review, then Mod Series on that new Candy Apple Red Sterling SUB Ray4HH. Gotta do it quick, I want to see / hear it upgraded before my Olive SUB Ray4HH sells, it might change my Mind. Lol.
Thanks Toby!
Thanks a lot lobsterman!
Which one would you recommend for beginner: this one or ibanez ehb1005ms
Would really like to hear your thoughts on that because you played them both and about 1000 other bass guitars.
Thanks Mandrey! For a beginner!? Neither hahaha. Multiscale and 5 strings would be pretty daunting for someone new to the instrument. Of the two, I would say the Ibanez is more traditional, takes normal strings, and is probably more beginner friendly overall.
Reason I am asking is... I bought ibanez and I am beginner. 😝
I do blame you for my purchase. I would not say I am true beginner I do play guitar. I currently borrow bass and when I started looking I stumbled on Ehb and really liked it.
Huge fan of your channel. You should involve your subscriber base in some way. I would love to see that kind of content from you.
I just ordered a Combustion 5. based on this video. Thanks for describing the difference between Combustion and the NG. China is not responsible for quality, the bass company is.
Enjoy! Check out my NG3 videos, it's one of my favorite basses (also modded).
If I were to get a 5 string, it would definitely be a Dingwall NG3 or a Warwick Thumb
I have a Thumb 5, which sounds great, but the Dingwall has a very different sound. I always wanted one and it may still happen.
@@keytronek I just really like that nasal sound on Thumbs lol
Very different basses, but both excellent. I used to have a Thumb 4 a long time ago and still kick myself for selling it
I do like that!
Thanks Wes!
A very good Review , thanks . Looking good Sound very Good , but the price we have to think about it ?
I'm remembering why I sold my Z1 & continued with the Lakland 55-94. This bass sounds exactly like mine did~ weird. The weirdest part was the G string~ it ALWAYS sounded thin to me & it seems that is still the case. I would actually cringe when I had to hit ANY note on the G string & I'm still cringing listening to it. I was going to ask Sheldon to build me (in Canada) a Z1 with a single P bass pickup & just a volume control & nothing else~ and I still may do that. They've got their Super P, but it's just 35" scale, which defeats the purpose for me. Luckily though the P Bass sound IS Sheldon's favorite, so I think he could pull it off. Otherwise, I'll just give Kiesel a try. In other news I have a 1986 white Peavy Dyna Bass that I bought new, played for about an hour, and moved to Hawaii without it~ definitely a closet classic. The next time I visit RI I'll drive it over to you & you can review it if you like~ I see that you like to do vids on older bases. During my hour of playing this thing I remember loving it~ it felt 4 lbs lighter that the G&L L2000 I had just sold & the three band preamp sounded much better to me than the 'Mack truck up you butt' preamp on the G&L. At the moment that ESP super slapper has me forgetting all about the B string~
Thanks Mikey! You know, you're not wrong. I'm not enamored with the darkglass tone. I have a very special video vid on my Dingwall (mods!) dropping this upcoming friday that might wow you. In regards to the Dynabass, absolutely! Feel free to reach out over IG or email and we can coordinate :).
@@LowEndLobster Everytime I look at a Dingwall review it's with some guy slamming away on it with a pick & heavy distortion~banging his head up and down with diarrhea-grade bass face. I guess the Darkwhatever preamp serves that crowd.
The L series preamp gets a rap as being a heavy handed preamp but I've found that to be anything but true. Ditch the battery (just bypassing really doesn't do it) start with everything turned all the way down and start from there. Small adjustments make big differences and the volume knob is your friend!! No disrespect intended. I just feel the L series gets no love for how stellar they can sound! I have a 3 bolt L2k and L1500 that sound absolutely insane. Everytime I think about selling one, the tone makes it impossible.
I'm gonna buy something similar for an acoustic blues type thing my friend wants to do. Just because I hate P bass honk lol
I'm actually surprised how little this resembles a Stingray, tone-wise. I figured position 3 would be pretty indistinguishable, but it doesn't really have that "smack" that Stingrays are known for. The Dingwall is much more neutral sounding to my ears.
Thanks Brett! Tomorrow video will get us closer to that tone with my Dingwall :)
Is this one manufactured in China or Canada. Dingwall's headquarters is in Saskatchewan. Some of the higher end instruments are made there. From what I understand, all final set ups and QC is done in Canada.
How do the fan frets compare to the Ibanez models you have featured (still watching the video so not sure if you comment on this!)?
I think only the custom shop stuff is made in Canada.
All the models aside from custom shop ones are made in China.
As mentioned the custom shop ones are made in Canada.
This one is made in China as is my NG3. They do not feel like your typical MIC instrument and the quality control is VERY high.
That's a great sounding bass. For the cake, it better be, right?
Thanks Jim! Indeed
Your golden one sounds better. Actually, this isn't really my kinda sound. But I gotta admit - that B string is an absolute monster.
I only hope what you've said about the quality of Chinese Dingwalls will positively affect the social credit score of the sweatshop workers who assemble them ;-)
Thanks BD! Hehe
*Starts Lobster video
*Watches for a minute
"Oh yeah I almost forgot to like the video."
XD Thanks Sean!
Nice looking bass, and I like their design approach... However, $2500 for an instrument made in China?! That's a bridge too far for me. As always, another fun video Lobster!
Thanks Monahan! You definitely touch on an important point. I'm hoping to get some face time with Sheldon at some point in a LobsterChat format and will definitely ask about it. Though it is very easy to paint Chinese labor with a wide brush (and rightfully so, there's a lot of exploitation, borderline if not full slave labor, human rights violations, etc that ends up producing cheap and low quality instruments), I don't believe that's true in all cases of Chinese production. However, I only have limited info on this but definitely know it's an important topic that we will definitely discuss more in this context! I think transparency from manufacturers is extremely important and will definitely do my best to get the most accurate information
Watched this again! So with the ng3 you don’t get both back pup in parallel Correct? Just series?
Yes.
@@LowEndLobster Hmm interesting!! Thanks lobster 🦞!!
@@bassimprovjams3772 The 6 way rotary I have does give me both rear pickups in parallel as well as the d-roc triple pickup mode, which is nice.
@@LowEndLobster I know!!
This bass is very punchy and articulate. I'm not sure if it's versatile enough to use for other genres. It has a bit of a Warwick Thumb vibe to my ears.
Thanks Keith! I agree, luckily my personal NG3 is much more flexible thanks to the new guts ;) - vid Friday!
@@LowEndLobster Cool! Looking forward to watching it!
There's a video from Nolly Getgood of Periphery where he talks about his Dingwalls in depth - this is shortly after he started using them I believe - and he kept comparing it over and over to a Warwick. I came away thinking Nolly would probably be just as happy playing a Warwick with fanned frets.
@@jamesquirk8656 Very interesting! I didn't know he played a Warwick before his Dingwall! Thanks for the info!
@@Bassic778 Oh he's played all kinds of stuff. I remember an old Periphery "in the studio" video where he was laying down a sick tone with an American Deluxe Jazz. And in this video you can see him recording part of "Make Total Destroy" with a Warwick Streamer:
th-cam.com/video/iP7iY3BYvh4/w-d-xo.html
hey my name is Rick and I have an NG-2 as well. mine is white though
This might seem like a silly question but do dingwall basses require a specific set of strings?
Great question! Yes they do
@@LowEndLobster kalium strings? Or any more? I’m heavily considering purchasing an NG2 and although I’ve been a kalium customer for years, they’ve had pretty bad reviews this past year. So if there’s a good alternative I’ll go there
@@cptnspicywiener Newtone Strings
I never got the hype behind Dingwall basses, other than the multi-scale design. What’s the general appeal of these aside from the scale?
Thanks Shred! The B string is definitely sweet, but outside of that I think there's a lot of genre-centric hype surrounding the darkglass preamp. Don't get me wrong, it's a very solid preamp but it heavily colors the tone and it's hard to escape. Passive mode doesn't give you a passive tone control to get a fatter tone, and the pickups with the preamp bypassed are definitely on the harsh side. That being said, heavier music and more avantgarde stuff definitely appreciates this type of tone. The triple pickup thing is cool for the NG3 and combustion models, but the 4 way rotary switch doesn't give you the ability to run all 3 out of the box. My upcoming mod video on my personal Dingwall might seem more appealing to you (it is for me) from a tone perspective. Muuuuch wider tonal palate and none of the dark glass coloring... and a passive tone control. I don't want to spoil it ;)
I really like the Darkglass, but the color of the tone is probably the main reason why someone would go for it over another preamp of similar price. Plus, with options like the Duncan 2-band (just got one myself), which has the treble boost/cut at about 3khz for $100 less, it seems very... idk, maybe “niche”? An EMG 3-band with mid sweep costs the same and doesn’t color the tone nearly as much. But the Darkglass flavor is hard to replicate if it’s not something you already have onboard. Can’t wait to see how your personal Dingwall looks after it comes out from under the knife!... or under the soldering iron, I suppose.
Great sounding bass. A friend and I were discussing today why neither of us has pulled the trigger on an active bass. I’m a beginner, whereas he’s a semi-pro bassist with years of experience. His view was that if you can’t get the tones you need from a P or J bass and your amp settings, then you’re not doing things right!
I feel like that's a bit reductionist. The same guy who designed P and J basses made the Stingray. Those sound vastly different from the P or J. Also, having a higher output from active electronics affects effect pedals in different ways.
@@AndyRipley42 - Isn’t it good we all have different points of view.
Thanks Rev!
@@revlewisrees9880 Wasn't trying to be rude but rather give an alternative view. Sorry if it was taken as such.
what strings were on this beast?
I think I had dunlops or dingwall branded strings on this.
What do you think about the passive D-Roc models?
I think they're cool! I've never played one... but that may change soon ;)
My personal life goal is to be able to play a dingwall
A good goal, they're wonderful instruments
Dingwalls are extremely nice and all, but to my ears nothing speaks ‘epitome of bass tone’ than my Fender Jazz Bass. My opinion, of course.
Thanks Jaxon! Hehe you're not wrong. I'm a bit of a traditionalist/old school when it comes to my tones. Wait until you see the mods that I did to mine :)
@@LowEndLobster I’m not a traditionalist but I really think the J bass can do the most. Excited to see the rest of your Dingwall content though! The D-Roc Standard is still on my radar, lol.
@@jaxonvictoria4345 You may be seeing one here sooner than you think ;)
@@jaxonvictoria4345 as a fellow jazz bass owner I second that. There are lots of other basses I like, many of them are much more expensive and/or fancy, but the jazz just does it for me.
What happened to the bass pants?!?
They were in the wash ;P
I'd be intrested in getting one if it was black.
I've been avoiding 5 string basses my entire life, not out of elitism, they're just horribly uncomfortable to me. I might just consider a dingwall once their used prices start dropping a bit
I wouldn't hold your breath on that. Usually used ones go for only slightly less than new prices because availability for new ones is scarce.
@@fistinair1979 we'll see. I waited on darkglass and got one for a good deal, I assume the same will happen here once the metal crowd gets bored of them and starts selling
@@ileutur6863 I'd agree, it's tough to say of these will dramatically drop in price used given how little are produced it seems (also the prices have gone up for a new one, which I suspect will bring up used prices respectively)
Thanks Arsenije! If you want to check out a 5 string multiscale without dropping dingwall coin, the Ibanez SRMS and EHB offerings are quite solid for the price (especially used!).
0:00 You know it's gonna sound like a Dingwall lol lol lol
buddabuddaboooooooom
11:25 everyone always wants to drop off into Fat Albert land and then suddenly they remember...*cosby*
eeeeep
17:20 maybe the modern metal image thing is more an artifact of the Darkglass electronics, as there are plenty of videos starting with a topic loosely paraphrased as "darkglass, not just for metal anymore"
18:35 What do I think? I think that I want to buy a Kiesel XM8 and Johnny Lee Long's Yamaha TRB6P fretless for the same cash as a Dingwall.
Speaking of double H shootouts - he's also got a Fender double H 5 for a hell of a deal...
I know this is old... but I want to find one of these early NG2's (the owner of this won't sell haha), and swap in some fishmans.... I have problems
Looks like it has 19mm string spacing? Expensive for a Chinese made Bass....
Used they can be found for cheaper, usually their owners keep them really well maintained so they're close to brand new.
18mm on 5 and 6 strings - 19mm on 4 strings (and Super series 5s)
Correct, 18mm on the 5'ers.
💙👊😎
:)
Not really a fan. I just can't get over the looks. It's not the fanned frets, or the modern look. I really like the Ibanez EHB. Not really a fan of the Darkglass "clanky" sound either. It's got some other usable tones, however. I heard they are made very well. I've never met one in person. Maybe I'd change my mind if I had one in my hands, but I just don't think it's my thing. The Dingwall Super P might be more up my alley.
Thanks Bizi! I dig the looks, but I definitely understand where you're coming from about the tone.... though we have a special vid (Dingwall mods!) coming Friday that you will like!
Not to bad go wilder please.
:)
The MOST IMPORTANT Question:
How much Claws would the NG2 get? 🤔 - I played recently one in a local store and would like to know how the rating would be 🤷♂😅
I'd give it a 4/5. Didn't really rate this because it's an older model, but the NG series is super well built and sounds great.
@@LowEndLobster Well - okay, I mean, as far as I know are the pickups/electronics nowerdays the same (except the covers) in the NG2 Models 🤔🤷♂. So the rating would be still up to date 🤷♂.