Still Dingwall for me. It sounds like an evolved Fender, which I personally gravitate towards. I'm just happy that there are so many choices overall. The RedSub sounded surprisingly good and if the build quality is there, I could see that becoming a great budget alternative.
I have a Redsub and it's ... OK. The tuning machines on mine were garbage but that was easy to fix. Other than that my biggest issue is that the fretwork is sloppy and I'm going to have to spend a bunch of time filing them all down. It's a good instrument for the price but you get what you pay for.
@@whipartist Quality control seems somewhat hit and miss. I bought one for the bassist in my band and the one I got had some minor things (mostly finish related) but other than that it's a great bass. It has one spot where there's some buzz but the action is really low as well. Also stays in tune really well.
I bot this exact model of Redsub, it was a pure garbage in term on finish. There was scrashes around the tuners and the varnish on the body in several spots had clearly been touch by items while being sill fresh making marks on it in several placer. The frets were a bit uneven. Ended it sending it back for refund
Yeah. But fishman fluence pickups will do that. I have a pair in a 5 string Ibanez Mikro bass and the look on people's faces when they try it is hilarious. The first guy immediately tried to buy it..
The ehb 1505ms with the nordstrand pickups should have been tested instead of the 1005ms. The nordstrand pickups make a huge difference, especially with distortion/ overdrive.
I agree the Bart BH2 SUCKS!!! The 1505 sounds great. It is a shame they want an extra $500 for the Nords... I also think the ESP LTD B-1005 should be included in this test. The ESP sounds amazing. I would have a hard time between the ESP and the EHB 1505. (same pickups) I just want to hear a multiscale with Fishman Fluence
I swear Darkglass pedals and plug-ins just KNOW when a Dingwall is plugged in 😂 My opinion is that Dingwall showed why it’s king of the multiscales, nothing else was remotely close. After that, actually impressed with the sound/cost of the Redsub. Spector wasn’t bad, but darker than expected considering what looked like Fishman Fluence pickups that rock, and the Ibanez left something to be desired. (Fully aware all of these could be adjusted throughout their EQ).
Cool to see what different people prefer. For me, that bright tone from the Dingwall with the maple fingerboard is what I gravitate towards, but the deep growl from the Spector is equally badass.
For me personally the only good sound on a dingwall is on the neck pickup. I dont see the whole super bright thing as a benefit for bass. The brighter basses usually miss The meaty frequencies in the lower mids and the bass you get on like a p bass or a gibson eb0 bass that get people in crowds super hyped up
@@southpaw_from_southport1522 the reason people go after dingwall is primarily for that 34-37 inch multi scale. The dingwall super p does not have that. It uses a 32-35 inch multi scale design. I own a multi scale p bass and I will tell you that the fan is nice but it is nothing like what you would get from the 34-37 design. In addition you mentioned the high end being essential for a super hi gain bass tone. That could not be further from the truth. When I used to run high gain bass tones before I decided to go cleaner. All i would hear from live production is turn the highs down. Ymmv but personally I’ll stick to fretless p bass style setups with round wound strings
@@stevenhirsekorn3444 I have a 3-pickup Combustion and I generally use the bridge/neck in parallel most. I don't find it brighter than my Fender Jazz, but I see why you like the neck pickup solo - is a very, very useable tone - I can cover a lot of vintage applications with that and it sounds lovely with a pick. I do use the bridge and middle in series when I want to cut through live with that lower-mid honk.
Before the video started, I was sure that the Dingwall would smoke the other basses but after hearing all 4 basses the winner for me is the Spector. Such a massive sound that's smooth and clear, definitely a modern bass tone.
@@WartornNOR I think Patrick used that EQ voice for this test. The spector has 3 voicing, one passive like, one full range and one smile eq-d one. I'm using on mine the full range voicing, it is how i like and I use EQ how i like on my darkglass microtubes infinity.
I feel exactly the same. Dingwall is no disputed winner, RedSub is cheap but honest good. Spector are midscoop/muddy and Ibanez are weird. All at all - RedSub is every dollar worth only.
Yep, I was impressed by the Red Sub too! That neck is huge though. You could land small aircraft on it. I was very "underwhelmed" by the Ibanez. Are those Dimarzios in it? Did I spell that right? Anyway, I was disappointed by the tone of it. I suppose they could be replaced by some Agulars or Nordys.
@@thebassbuilder The Ibanez EHB 1005 is the Bartolini BH2... They sounds muddy and like shit. The EHB 1505 has Nord Big Split and it sounds AMAZING (the ESP LTD B-1005 also)
Dingwall remains the standard for multiscale 5 strings IMO, though I'm likely biased as I own one. However I've been very impressed with the Spector and Ibanez each had qualities that I prefer. Such as the top and neck material of the Spector and the compact build of the Ibanez. Definitely glad more MS bass options are coming to market
Imho... i) Dingwall NG 3 was the most trebly of the four. It sounds to me like there is a high-pass filter somewhere which is reducing the very lowest "boomy" frequencies. Those mids sound super chunky with some rumble though and the overall clarity is very good. Distortion sounds super hairy and clangy. ii) Spector NS Dimension 5 had a relatively balanced sound; some low rumble, pick attack and treble. Distortion sounds balanced with a combination of rumbly bass and crunch. iii) Ibanez EHB: Very bassy, almost like there's a low-pass filter. Pick attack and trebly sounds are much more subtle. Distortion sounds only sounds a little bit dirty, especially when played with fingers rather than pick. iv) Redsub coliseum: Rather balanced sound, but also a little bit muted (not nearly as much as the Ibanez). A little bit less clarity than the Spector. I'm actually rather impressed with the Redsub, especially considering that it's significantly cheaper than the others... I'm really tempted to pick one up for sure! The Ibanez probably has the best sound if you want to keep a super solid and consistent (*cough* boring *cough*) bass tone. The Spector's probably the best all-round modern bass. The Dingwall is absolutely mental!
I own a different multiscale model by redsub and it seems QC is pretty much non existent on these. mine was pretty bad. super sharp fret ends, fret leveling was bad and the worst part was the neck angle. I had to shim the neck pocket to make it somewhat playable. Unless you have experience in fixing issues like that I recommend to stay away from redsub. now it may be that the one I got was particularly bad, but also maybe not.
I've heard a couple of those Redsubs now (they're the Gear4Music house brand over here) and every one has had a poor low B, kinda negating the whole purpose of the multiscale 5 string thing. Was far worse than a similarly priced regular scale Cort or Sire.
I think the Dingwall and Spector are in a different league. Personally I would pick the Dingwall over the Spector. To my ears the sound is more defined and better balanced. The Spector has some very nice bottom end though. The Ibanez and Redsub don't work for me. 😅
@@craigmoran893 it sounds like it’s been run through heavy EQ and had too much removed. I don’t mind that sound sometimes, but I’d rather get it from EQ and not directly from my bass.
@@Nebvin tje fishmans have 3 settings, passive, active full range and active hi-fi. He probably had it on active hi-fi witch is very scooped. It also has a humbucker/single coil option.
@@adamrushka8096 Yep... This was a comparison video and not meant to highlight everything about the Spector ( would take up too much time for 1 bass) So I doubt he used all the voicings the Fishmans offer...
Hmm. I’d say in regards to best overall in all tests, gotta give it the Spector. Maintained all of its frequencies despite technique and gain changes. I really like the Ibanez for cleans, but not for dirt. Dingwall sounds pretty solid dirty, but I think it’s because I’ve heard that tone how many times now within the past 3-4 years. The Redsub to me was pretty acceptable in everything, just not to the degree of the Spector. For $500, it’s a solid first choice if you ever get one in stock.
Dingwall has a really crushing tone, but it has no bottom. The Spector though...wow. DEEP. In a full mix with loud guitars, the Spector will really stand out, whereas the Dingwall will really just blend into the guitars and add more harmonic information. Depends on what you want. The Ibanez seems like it would be great for jazz. Has a very lo-fi sound. Also, the shorter scale might make it a very practical choice for many players. The RedSub I'd never heard of before this. I wasn't really a fan honestly. Sounded weird clean, sounded weird distorted.
Naw, trust me, the dingwall has enough lows to stand out, while also adding harmonic content. You could easily eq it to add depth, it just also has the benefit of adding higher harmonic content to it
This is pretty tough, everytime I listen to each bass again I find a new favorite. I’d say the Dingwall has the best all around tone, being equally adept at all sections. This surprises me because whenever I hear a metal band use a Dingwall I usually hate the tone. The Spector has a nice churn which is perfect for picks but needs more oomph when playing in fingerstyle. It seems like comments aren’t too into Bartilonis. Personally I love the warmth and throbiness it gives the Ibanez, but sounds kinda flat with distortion. While the Redsub doesn’t have a section where it’s the best, it still holds its own amongst the rest, and looks totally badass. The B strings for both the Ibanez and Redsub were very impressive considering they’re in a shorter scale length than the Dingwall and Spector
In the beginning, it was clearly the Spector I preferred. It just had body to it, presence and the low end was loud and clear. Until it got played with a pick. Then it sounded "flubby" and "rubbery." I'm a player that plays fingers or pick. Depends on the song. I'd go for the Spector without a doubt for finger played songs. Not picked. The Ibanez was the most disappointing. Which was surprising. I didnt expect that at all. Between the Dingwall and the RedSub, it's RedSub. Solely based on looks.
The Dingwall is too clanky for me. I've always rolled the tone off on my bass. It makes my overdrive tone sound more like palm muted guitar chug. I've never been a fan of the clanky dangle dangle sound.
I've been considering buying a multiscale 5 string for ages. This video is SO useful. I didn't know about Redsub before, and I have to say, I was impressed when I heard it and more so when I saw what it costs. The Dingwall still sounds better, and their D-Roc is still my dream bass, but until I can shell out the thousands of dollars that that instrument costs, I'd be very happy with the Redsub. I loved the shape, color and fingerboard! Thanks again! Brilliant stuff.
It's not a very good bass, I wanted to get one too. You're better off buying a non multiscale 5string for the Money or safe Up a bit and get something else.
@@thebassbuilder same. but i've seen a review of the ibanez with the pups swapped out for aguilar pups and they sounded killer. so it's really the stock pickups on that ibanez that's the problem really.
You could compensate on the redsub by EQing properly before the drive. Obviously not ideal in comparison to just having great tone from the bass to start, but for the much lower price range it might be worth checking out
I read a lot of comments about the spector being muddy? Hasn't been my experience, you can have any tone you want with those Fishman Fluence Pickups, anything from pure sludge to ultra bright and everything in between, it kinda depends on where you have the toggle switch set and what knob you turned, for the Price, with build quality and materials the spector wins, thats my opinion, but I also own a spector ns dimension, which I bought after doing this exact same test at my local guitar center, except I tested the ibanez 1505ms, as its the better bass, thanks Dan at Guitar Center for being so patient lol! Dingwall was my favorite over all in tone, but I could not get passed the extra 1400 dollars, the tone wasn't that much better, and honestly the spector felt better in my hands, and the body curve fits my robust curves nicely!
Man, the neck pickup on that Spector has a stunning sound. As much as I like the look of the Ibanez, it definitely didn’t do it for me tone-wise. Also, loved that last riff you played, such grunge.
i have other Ibanez basses and quite like them, but this one sounds muffled. Might work fine in certain contexts though. As for the Spector, it's my favorite in this comparison and others like it. Sounds much more polished and a raw and edgy as the Dingwall. I wonder though if it cuts through or if the more subdued tone will easily bury it in the mix.
That Redsub held its own! I like a really articulate bass tone so it sounded the second best (behind the Dingwall) to me. The Ibanez just sounded kind of flat and muffled which surprised me as I'm a big fan of Ibanez basses.
The Barts in the 1005 just aren't very good, they sound like you threw a blanket over your cab. The 1505 with the Nordy's would bring a lot more to the table, as they are similar to Dingwall pickups.
The spector sounds amazing, Dingwall have serious competition as the 'de-facto' multiscale bass. I found the sound of the Ibanez disappointing and almost too vintage in character for such a modern instrument.
Dingwall over the Spector by a smidge. The Redsub was surprisingly good, just a little lacking in highs. The Ibanez sounded like straight ass in every test.
Man I love that Spector. The style and sound are awesome. I really want to like Dingwall’s because they look cool, but just don’t like their sound. I do like the look of the Ibanez…kinda.
Was expecting them all to sound about the same. Was very surprised to be disappointed by the sound of the Ibanez to be just "flat". Thanks for the vid.
The least impressive was the Ibanez. I do like the range that the Spector shows, and while im not a big fan of the scooped sound, that can easily be fixed by just bumping up the mids on your eq. I would still probably buy the Dingwall, but the Spector is closer to the "do everything" bass that i am looking for
On balance, I thought that the Ibanez was the most consistently good across all pickups and tones. I felt that the RedSub performed well, given the big difference in price: it sounded slightly muffled, not as 'hi-fi' as the others. The Spector had the most interesting core tone, surprisingly scooped: if you liked it, and could afford it, that would be an easy choice. The Dingwall wasn't to my taste, and came nowhere near justifying its price. I felt that the RedSub was being held back, either by cheap strings or relatively low-quality pickups, but I couldn't tell whether it was the strings, the pickups, or both. Putting the same new strings on all the basses removes that factor and would allow us to hear more clearly what contribution the bass is making to the tone. (I know it's a counsel of perfection: five-string sets aren't cheap.) Full marks for including the DI tracks.
Honestly, the Dingwall underwhelmed me, which is surprising. Also, I have the EHB 1005ms myself, and I purchased it knowing from your review, and others, that it's pickups were not the best. Even so, it wasn't the best sounding of this bunch, but I thought the tones you got from it compared to some of the others were not dramatically worse. Very interesting. I'd be curious to hear you speak about your impressions!
@@ThomCate Haha! I'm glad to hear that you thought the same things. Videos like this honestly just prove to me that you don't need to spend a fortune on a bass to get one that sounds good. Part of the reason I got the EHB is I liked the look of it so much, and I've been happy about how I've been able to dial in different tones on it. Getting more multiscale basses available across price ranges is great, and I hope to see more of them!
Dingwalls are definitely a "pick hard with lots of drive" bass. That or just plow it with loads of compression. I feel like the other basses are a bit more rounded out to be more generally usable.
They all sound really good in their own ways, even the Redsub. The Dingwall's brashness is still unrivaled, if that's what you want, but I could see many of these sounds being useful.
The Dingwall is my fav. But to be completely fair, the preamp in it has a lot to do with it, for me. Spector was an extremely close 2nd. But build quality aside, the Redsub surprised me the most.
I really liked the Dingwall, but I loved that I could still catch some of that same bite from the bridge pickup of the Redsub, while still getting a much darker, more typical tone like the Spector or Ibanez from the neck.
Bought RedSub Coliseum 6 month ago, and in love it since, hearing this comparision I'm even more glad of mu purchase. Finish and QC may lacking, but fingerstyle sounds best (for me) from these basses. Thanks for video!
Awesome comparison. Honestly It's hard to choose a favorite. If prog metal or Djent the Dingwall.. BUT I think the Spector would be a damn good fit in almost any genre.
Spector and then Dingwall. I think multiscale is the future for bass. I'm waiting for the day that Fender makes a multiscale bass. That'll change the game
Spector all the way. Dingwall makes incredible instruments, and had the Spector not been in this video, they would have been my pick. Nothing beats that classic Spector growl though.
Any chance you can re-do the spirit of this video with proper 34-37" scales all around? Would love to hear FD3N (open market Dingwall) vs Nordstrand big splits (ESP B-1005MS) vs Aguilar DCB (Mayones Patriot VF37) vs KRH (Kiesel A2) and of course, Fishman Fluence again (Spector NS Dimension 5)
The Spector is suuuper scooped sounding which sounds good in isolation but I've noticed that they tend to disappear in a mix. Then again, you can always just add that back with EQ. And you can get the Dingwall to do the same thing with a few small tweaks on the EQ as well.
They have three pickup modes. He had it the wide frequency response mode or scooped mode, not the traditional. Not the best demo. Check out Nathan Navarro or spectors own channel
@@jobelewis6416 Ibanez has two versions of that bass, the 1005 is not short scale one. I love mine personally, I think it sounds great, so lightweight and easy to play, was a game changer back when gigs where a thing. Plus that roasted neck feels amazing and looks incredible.
So useful. My next bass will be a 5 string, and it seems to me that multiscale is the right engineering solution. I really appreciate the back-to-back licks for comparison. When will we get the build/playability comparison?
Spector wins by a large maregin IMO, the bottom one is the ibanez, the tone seems deaf compared to the other ones. Do we will have a review of the coliseum ?
after month with Coliseum 6- great value, great tone, very comfortable neck. Price is super low, but be prepared to invest some $ at start- frets needs polishing, tuners are worthless (I changed them for Warwick ones), same for nut.But even after that, overall cost is worth it, just need some time and work at start :)
For some reason I was really hoping the Spector would be my favourite, but the Dingwall still came out top, for my ears. It's just got that growly mid-range and clarity that the others don't quite have - unsurprising given they're like THE multi-scale bass company. The Ibanez didn't sound anywhere near as good as I remember from trying it years ago. Even the RedSub sounded better.
Left out the Ibanez(with and actual headstock), and the LTD multi-scale basses. Certainly worthy of mention in my opinion. Especially the LTD. It's actually amazing and gorgeous
I think you should also look closer at the sound of the D and G strings, particularly the G string. For me, a 34" g string is just too tight (no pun intended)--the fundamental is too constrained by the tension, and it just doesn't resonate. Even though I like the definition of the Dingwall B string, for usable tension across the whole range of the instrument, the clear choice is the Ibanez.
It's amazing how clean and clear the Dingwall is, even with a boatload of gain on the amp sim. The Spector is a close 2nd and the other two don't even compare. I wish somebody would toss in the USA Bartolini's into a multiscale Ibanez because the difference between the import and USA pickups are HUGE. I own a SR505e and having played with the stock pickups for a few years and getting the USA pickups a year ago, I can confidently say there's a big difference between the two. On a parallel fret bass, it's still pretty muddy with gain, so maybe the multiscale would help...?
If I have to be honest I used to hate multi scale basses. I always thought they looked weird and wrong and I had a cringy hipster hate for 'em "How dare they change the way basses are built? They should remain the same they always were" But once I started paying attention to how good they sound, active or passive, I realized I was oh so wrong about them. Now I dream of owning a Dingwall D-ROC but sadly they aren't shipped to my country. And buying something in dollars is real fucking expensive. But I know someday I will own one, it's my goal and I will achieve it! And you are to thank for making me realize how good they are. Thank you Pat, keep up the amazing content! Greetings from Argentina!
Well, it is harder to play chords on them, especially chords that incorporate harmonics. You'll never hear TH-cam presenters talking about it but it's true.
My favourite is the Spectre but honestly I am surprised at just how good the Red Sub sounds. I was in Gear4Music yesterday and never bothered picking up a Red Sub. Walked out with an Ibanez SR400 quilted maple transparent black burst.
@@jasonbenford3427 There gorgeous aren't they and with a matching quilted maple black burst headstock too. Interestingly enough I almost never use the power tap feature. I use single coil a lot when I'm playing anything off Undertow or Ænima and standard humbucker for lateralus & 10,000 Days. Coil split is such a useful feature and I'm surprised by how many instruments with humbuckers don't have this feature from the factory. I'll have to play with the power tap switch a bit more and figure out where to use it.
They are GORGEOUS!😘 I almost got the aquamarine burst, but the salesperson talked me into the Dragon!😊 Truthfully, I use the middle setting the most. I add a bit more bridge pickup & a little more mid on the eq. Real Spunky!🏋 First setting is real warm!🤗
@@jasonbenford3427 Sounds good man! What sort of music are you playing? Personally I'm just a beginner trying to recreate Tool's (Justin & Paul's) bass tone and I can't afford a £7K Wal or £2.5K Rickenbacker or the expensive amps they use. I cut the mids a bit and often use slightly more neck pickup. This goes into a Darkglass Alpha Omicron distortion pedal.🎸🎛️ You can get some really epic and brutal distortion out of it but I use it to give a really nice subtle overdrive. It really adds to my tone and sometimes I forget it's even there until I turn it off and hear the unprocessed sound! I have an EQ pedal after that to slightly tweak some frequencies and I'm pretty happy with the results.
to anyone looking to get the redsub, now named the g4m I am a owner and it is great, just be aware that your gonna wanna get something like emgs to replace the pickups. by far the weakest point of the instrument is the electronics mainly the preamp and a lot of neck dive with a cheap guitar strap
I understand wanting to limit scope for the video, but the dingwall has a 4th pickup configuration of bridge and middle pickup in series which would have been interesting to hear too. And the fishmans in the Spector have two different modes. Since the Spector sounded so different from the others I’m curious if the other pickup mode would have been any different.
The RedSub impressed me, why spend more money? Fix it in the Mix? No not necessary, this beast is my killertone. But how does it feel when playing? You can only try it out by yourself with playing in your own hands.
The comparison should have been made w similar fretboards on all four. The maple D'wall and the Redsub sounds edgier while the others have the lovely Rosewood-muddiness. Hard to compare. But I'm impressed by that Redsub budget bass, although the D'wall is No 1 for me here. I actually tried a similiar Ibanez today (!) and was impressed by the variety of sounds, even if I couldn't find my personal favourite sound. In this comparison, it's in last position for me!
Theres just something about the Dingwall Tone i really hate. For me its the Spector, then the Ibanez. The Redsub sounded like a weaker Ibanez to me while the Dingwall like a Dingwall, cant really say which one i disliked more.
I almost bought one of those Spectors. I've owned numerous over the years and they've always sounded killer. After hearing the Fishmans they stuck in it I'm glad I didn't.
This video surprised me. I was really expecting the Ibanez to be in the top 2. It was honestly the least impressive. Of course that dingwal is king. Amazing instrument. What shocked me the most is that the $500 Sounds amazing.
Dingwall - "Both Pickups" - which two of the three are you referring to? There are 4 pickup combinations: Bridge, Bridge/Middle in series, Bridge/Neck in parallel, and Neck. Just curious which setting "Both Pickups" was.
I think the Ibanez version of that bass should have been with the Nordstrand pups, since it's competing with Dingwall and Fishman Fluence... Barts were great 20 years ago... Loved the Spector and the huge low end, but the dingwall tone is more defined for me and has more presence overall. Thanks for this video it helped me a lot on deciding what to buy.
I've been an Ibanez fanboy ever since I started playing bass, but I must admit that I'm quite surprised with how disappointed I am in that tone from that Ibanez. And not only that! Last year I bought an SR675 because I joined a band and wanted something new, and while it does the job and plays pretty good it just doesn't sound that good. It's equipped with Bartolini pickups, and I'm starting to think that those are the reason why I don't like it as much. I've been looking heavily into Dingwall ever since Nolly got his signature, and atm I'm more tempted than ever before to just go ahead and get myself a Dingwall. I think it was the true star of this video. I get why some people find it clanky/thin, but you can always roll some of the topend of and add some bass on the EQ. It's so much harder to add treble to an instrument, imo. Would love to do some recording with a Dingwall.
A follow up to my original comment: ...I went ahead and bought a Dingwall! I actually got one exactly like the one he plays in this video. Same finish and everything! :-D My impression so far is that it easily blows away any other bass I've played in terms of sound and playability. I'm still getting used to the beast, but it plays wonderfully. Tried doing some recording with it, and out of the box it just fit straight in the mix without flobby lowend or fizzy highs, making post processing so much easier. Both my clanky distorted bass tone and my clean tones are miles ahead of any tone I've gotten out of my other basses. Atm I'm keeping my Ibanez as a backup, but I'm really tempted to sell it (...and buy more Dingwalls!) :-P
@@RasmusYde I agree with you that the Dingwall sounds the best here. How are you getting on with yours? Does it work well outside of a metal/rock context?
@@nanophyr_4468 the short answer is: I love it! 😃 It sounds awesome and plays great. I mostly play it with a distorted sound, but it also does a beautiful clean sound. It’s in no way a one-trick-pony. It’s easily the most versatile of all my basses.
@@RasmusYde Awesome! And thanks :D I'm looking to pickup my first 'non-beginner' bass and have been looking up everything Dingwall for the past month! Glad to hear it play well in other contexts too
@@nanophyr_4468 Dingwalls are expensive - there's no way around that - but after playing and doing some recording with mine I've come to the conclusion that the pricetag is well justified. I had a lot of reservations/worries about buying one - be it the price, the multiscale (had no previous experience with that), scale length, maybe even the hype? - but all that was put to shame during my first week of ownership. Just did a little bit of bass tracking with my Dingwall today. Even with dead-ish, dirty and well used strings it somehow still manages to sound amazing in recordings! :-P Mind you, I've paired mine with a Darkglass Alpha Omega amp, which in itself produces killer sounds, but I recon the bass is at least 50-75% of my current sound.
I presume when you started going through them all for the second time using all the different pickup choices that you were running your 2i2 with your amp modeler. That made a huge difference with the sound of the Spector in particular. What cab were you emulating for that sound? Before then the Spector just didn't do it for me although I have a friend who has played one longer than I've known him and he swears by it. I personally still prefer the Dingwall sound although there were definitely places where the Spector sounded better to me
Probably the RedSub for me. First of all, its even cheaper in germany. I can spend about 300€ on top of that on upgrades along with 400-500€ worth of weekend sweat to make the thing a beast.
I really dislike the dingwall, just seems.. so.. glassy? i think... but have a feeling it would sit the best in a mix. But on their own for me, it goes Ibanez Bridge/Spector everything else number 1 Ibanez everything else number 2 Redsub 3 Dingwall 4 okay... the DI tracks the dingwall sounds MUCH better, maybe i just didn't like the amp sim on it
I've been looking at the Redsub for a while. How bad was the VAT tax on it when you got it? I don't mind spending the money for the redsub to also put a tone capsule in it for less than $800.
Hate to say it but the Dingwall is just clearer and sharper and everything else felt muffled and muddy. but if you're gonna go with a muffled and muddy tone the Spactor does have more power behind it. Gonna be a dingwall for me.
It's the Spector for me on it's own, but the dingwall would cut through better in the mix, the Ibanez is just bland sounding to me. The Redsub didn't do anything for me either tbh.
The Dingwall stands out in every test . Tone monster
Still Dingwall for me. It sounds like an evolved Fender, which I personally gravitate towards. I'm just happy that there are so many choices overall. The RedSub sounded surprisingly good and if the build quality is there, I could see that becoming a great budget alternative.
I purchased a Redsub and it was sadly unsatisfactory. I ended up finding a Schecter instead that was on sale.
I have a Redsub and it's ... OK. The tuning machines on mine were garbage but that was easy to fix. Other than that my biggest issue is that the fretwork is sloppy and I'm going to have to spend a bunch of time filing them all down. It's a good instrument for the price but you get what you pay for.
@@whipartist Quality control seems somewhat hit and miss. I bought one for the bassist in my band and the one I got had some minor things (mostly finish related) but other than that it's a great bass. It has one spot where there's some buzz but the action is really low as well. Also stays in tune really well.
My biggest worry with that is that ergonomics seem pretty seriously lacking on the Coliseums
I bot this exact model of Redsub, it was a pure garbage in term on finish. There was scrashes around the tuners and the varnish on the body in several spots had clearly been touch by items while being sill fresh making marks on it in several placer. The frets were a bit uneven. Ended it sending it back for refund
The spector just sound huge. Amazing tone
Yeah. But fishman fluence pickups will do that. I have a pair in a 5 string Ibanez Mikro bass and the look on people's faces when they try it is hilarious. The first guy immediately tried to buy it..
The jury is definitely out on those pickups mate.
The spector has humbucker pickups, Dingwall has split coil pickup like a P bass
@@francoishtzl157 I think the spector has a pull pot to switch to single coil.
@@dkpianist 3 voices I think
For me the winner is Spector...though 5 plus years ago, it was all Dingwall. So great to hear everyone now can compete with them 💪🏻
The ehb 1505ms with the nordstrand pickups should have been tested instead of the 1005ms. The nordstrand pickups make a huge difference, especially with distortion/ overdrive.
However the 1005MS is just over the 1k mark while the 1505MS is 2,500
@@tackypotato207 they are $1699 from Sweetwater all day.....not sure where you're getting your figure from.
I agree the Bart BH2 SUCKS!!! The 1505 sounds great. It is a shame they want an extra $500 for the Nords...
I also think the ESP LTD B-1005 should be included in this test. The ESP sounds amazing.
I would have a hard time between the ESP and the EHB 1505. (same pickups)
I just want to hear a multiscale with Fishman Fluence
Huh. I didn't realize the Spector has the Fishman...
Yes but the point was to have a wider range in price to see if that really makes a difference. And of course, you can definitely tell the difference!
I swear Darkglass pedals and plug-ins just KNOW when a Dingwall is plugged in 😂
My opinion is that Dingwall showed why it’s king of the multiscales, nothing else was remotely close. After that, actually impressed with the sound/cost of the Redsub. Spector wasn’t bad, but darker than expected considering what looked like Fishman Fluence pickups that rock, and the Ibanez left something to be desired. (Fully aware all of these could be adjusted throughout their EQ).
It's 100% a matter of taste. For me the Spector sounded a thousand times better. Even the Ibanez sounded nicer. To my ears.
Well, there is a dark glass tone capsule installed in dingwalls
Cool to see what different people prefer. For me, that bright tone from the Dingwall with the maple fingerboard is what I gravitate towards, but the deep growl from the Spector is equally badass.
For me personally the only good sound on a dingwall is on the neck pickup. I dont see the whole super bright thing as a benefit for bass. The brighter basses usually miss The meaty frequencies in the lower mids and the bass you get on like a p bass or a gibson eb0 bass that get people in crowds super hyped up
@@stevenhirsekorn3444 Dingwall makes a P Bass.
@@stevenhirsekorn3444 & That super bright clanky tone is almost essential when running lots of distortion.
@@southpaw_from_southport1522 the reason people go after dingwall is primarily for that 34-37 inch multi scale. The dingwall super p does not have that. It uses a 32-35 inch multi scale design. I own a multi scale p bass and I will tell you that the fan is nice but it is nothing like what you would get from the 34-37 design. In addition you mentioned the high end being essential for a super hi gain bass tone. That could not be further from the truth. When I used to run high gain bass tones before I decided to go cleaner. All i would hear from live production is turn the highs down. Ymmv but personally I’ll stick to fretless p bass style setups with round wound strings
@@stevenhirsekorn3444 I have a 3-pickup Combustion and I generally use the bridge/neck in parallel most. I don't find it brighter than my Fender Jazz, but I see why you like the neck pickup solo - is a very, very useable tone - I can cover a lot of vintage applications with that and it sounds lovely with a pick. I do use the bridge and middle in series when I want to cut through live with that lower-mid honk.
Before the video started, I was sure that the Dingwall would smoke the other basses but after hearing all 4 basses the winner for me is the Spector. Such a massive sound that's smooth and clear, definitely a modern bass tone.
I quite like it too!
Sounds like someone playing inside a box with the EQ cranked to the max on the bass side to me. Dingwall sounds way more natural and better.
@@WartornNOR I think Patrick used that EQ voice for this test. The spector has 3 voicing, one passive like, one full range and one smile eq-d one. I'm using on mine the full range voicing, it is how i like and I use EQ how i like on my darkglass microtubes infinity.
The RedSub impressed me the most. The Spector and Ibanez sounded muddy and the Spector too scooped on top of that. I say Dingwall 1 and RedSub 2
I feel exactly the same. Dingwall is no disputed winner, RedSub is cheap but honest good. Spector are midscoop/muddy and Ibanez are weird. All at all - RedSub is every dollar worth only.
Yep, I was impressed by the Red Sub too! That neck is huge though. You could land small aircraft on it. I was very "underwhelmed" by the Ibanez. Are those Dimarzios in it? Did I spell that right? Anyway, I was disappointed by the tone of it. I suppose they could be replaced by some Agulars or Nordys.
@@jeffjones9448 I think they are the MK1 Bartolini’s in the Ibanez. That is their import line of pickups. Not much character in them.
@@thebassbuilder The Ibanez EHB 1005 is the Bartolini BH2... They sounds muddy and like shit.
The EHB 1505 has Nord Big Split and it sounds AMAZING (the ESP LTD B-1005 also)
Exactly
Dingwall remains the standard for multiscale 5 strings IMO, though I'm likely biased as I own one. However I've been very impressed with the Spector and Ibanez each had qualities that I prefer. Such as the top and neck material of the Spector and the compact build of the Ibanez. Definitely glad more MS bass options are coming to market
Imho...
i) Dingwall NG 3 was the most trebly of the four. It sounds to me like there is a high-pass filter somewhere which is reducing the very lowest "boomy" frequencies. Those mids sound super chunky with some rumble though and the overall clarity is very good. Distortion sounds super hairy and clangy.
ii) Spector NS Dimension 5 had a relatively balanced sound; some low rumble, pick attack and treble. Distortion sounds balanced with a combination of rumbly bass and crunch.
iii) Ibanez EHB: Very bassy, almost like there's a low-pass filter. Pick attack and trebly sounds are much more subtle. Distortion sounds only sounds a little bit dirty, especially when played with fingers rather than pick.
iv) Redsub coliseum: Rather balanced sound, but also a little bit muted (not nearly as much as the Ibanez). A little bit less clarity than the Spector.
I'm actually rather impressed with the Redsub, especially considering that it's significantly cheaper than the others... I'm really tempted to pick one up for sure! The Ibanez probably has the best sound if you want to keep a super solid and consistent (*cough* boring *cough*) bass tone. The Spector's probably the best all-round modern bass. The Dingwall is absolutely mental!
Must say, I was pleasantly surprised by the redsub
True... just not big on the looks. And could've used more space between pickups for more versatility.
I own a different multiscale model by redsub and it seems QC is pretty much non existent on these. mine was pretty bad. super sharp fret ends, fret leveling was bad and the worst part was the neck angle. I had to shim the neck pocket to make it somewhat playable.
Unless you have experience in fixing issues like that I recommend to stay away from redsub.
now it may be that the one I got was particularly bad, but also maybe not.
@@DroctorKloebner mine was bad too.
I've heard a couple of those Redsubs now (they're the Gear4Music house brand over here) and every one has had a poor low B, kinda negating the whole purpose of the multiscale 5 string thing. Was far worse than a similarly priced regular scale Cort or Sire.
@@MegaTerryNutkins My B is fine to be fair. It plays well after setting it up. I was mainly disappointed with the finish for a new bass.
I think the Dingwall and Spector are in a different league. Personally I would pick the Dingwall over the Spector. To my ears the sound is more defined and better balanced. The Spector has some very nice bottom end though. The Ibanez and Redsub don't work for me. 😅
I wish I liked the Spector more, it looks incredible. But I prefer the sound of the Dingwall by far.
Yeah i agree, it looks great, 37inch, neckthru but it's let down by those pickups. I can't even put my finger on why the Fishmans sound wrong.
@@craigmoran893 it sounds like it’s been run through heavy EQ and had too much removed. I don’t mind that sound sometimes, but I’d rather get it from EQ and not directly from my bass.
@@Nebvin tje fishmans have 3 settings, passive, active full range and active hi-fi. He probably had it on active hi-fi witch is very scooped. It also has a humbucker/single coil option.
@@adamrushka8096 Yep... This was a comparison video and not meant to highlight everything about the Spector ( would take up too much time for 1 bass) So I doubt he used all the voicings the Fishmans offer...
Hmm. I’d say in regards to best overall in all tests, gotta give it the Spector. Maintained all of its frequencies despite technique and gain changes. I really like the Ibanez for cleans, but not for dirt. Dingwall sounds pretty solid dirty, but I think it’s because I’ve heard that tone how many times now within the past 3-4 years. The Redsub to me was pretty acceptable in everything, just not to the degree of the Spector. For $500, it’s a solid first choice if you ever get one in stock.
Dingwall has a really crushing tone, but it has no bottom. The Spector though...wow. DEEP. In a full mix with loud guitars, the Spector will really stand out, whereas the Dingwall will really just blend into the guitars and add more harmonic information. Depends on what you want. The Ibanez seems like it would be great for jazz. Has a very lo-fi sound. Also, the shorter scale might make it a very practical choice for many players. The RedSub I'd never heard of before this. I wasn't really a fan honestly. Sounded weird clean, sounded weird distorted.
Naw, trust me, the dingwall has enough lows to stand out, while also adding harmonic content. You could easily eq it to add depth, it just also has the benefit of adding higher harmonic content to it
This is pretty tough, everytime I listen to each bass again I find a new favorite. I’d say the Dingwall has the best all around tone, being equally adept at all sections. This surprises me because whenever I hear a metal band use a Dingwall I usually hate the tone. The Spector has a nice churn which is perfect for picks but needs more oomph when playing in fingerstyle. It seems like comments aren’t too into Bartilonis. Personally I love the warmth and throbiness it gives the Ibanez, but sounds kinda flat with distortion. While the Redsub doesn’t have a section where it’s the best, it still holds its own amongst the rest, and looks totally badass. The B strings for both the Ibanez and Redsub were very impressive considering they’re in a shorter scale length than the Dingwall and Spector
My favorite tones came from the Spector! #teamSpector
Spector Love! Bought myself one of these right as they launched it. Could not be happier.
Dingwall sounds killer. Wish I had a chance to play one.
In the beginning, it was clearly the Spector I preferred. It just had body to it, presence and the low end was loud and clear. Until it got played with a pick. Then it sounded "flubby" and "rubbery." I'm a player that plays fingers or pick. Depends on the song. I'd go for the Spector without a doubt for finger played songs. Not picked.
The Ibanez was the most disappointing. Which was surprising. I didnt expect that at all. Between the Dingwall and the RedSub, it's RedSub. Solely based on looks.
The Dingwall is too clanky for me. I've always rolled the tone off on my bass. It makes my overdrive tone sound more like palm muted guitar chug. I've never been a fan of the clanky dangle dangle sound.
you should give it to me then
I've been considering buying a multiscale 5 string for ages. This video is SO useful. I didn't know about Redsub before, and I have to say, I was impressed when I heard it and more so when I saw what it costs. The Dingwall still sounds better, and their D-Roc is still my dream bass, but until I can shell out the thousands of dollars that that instrument costs, I'd be very happy with the Redsub. I loved the shape, color and fingerboard! Thanks again! Brilliant stuff.
It's not a very good bass, I wanted to get one too. You're better off buying a non multiscale 5string for the Money or safe Up a bit and get something else.
I got the RedSub, and I got myself an Ibanez now and i am sending the RedSub back, altough it isnt that bad, but it has some Problems :D
It's not horrible at all, but there are some very good 5 string options at that price range
Comparing 4 multiscale (green) basses. This is a major RedSub win to me.
probably something to do with a lower pickup output compared to the dingwall and the spector. they dont drive the distortion as much
Bad thing about Spector is no mid control only bass and treble. Sounds way too scooped for me
That RedSub sounds great overall. I say the Dingwall would be my first choice followed closely by the RedSub.
@@thebassbuilder same. but i've seen a review of the ibanez with the pups swapped out for aguilar pups and they sounded killer. so it's really the stock pickups on that ibanez that's the problem really.
You could compensate on the redsub by EQing properly before the drive. Obviously not ideal in comparison to just having great tone from the bass to start, but for the much lower price range it might be worth checking out
I read a lot of comments about the spector being muddy? Hasn't been my experience, you can have any tone you want with those Fishman Fluence Pickups, anything from pure sludge to ultra bright and everything in between, it kinda depends on where you have the toggle switch set and what knob you turned, for the Price, with build quality and materials the spector wins, thats my opinion, but I also own a spector ns dimension, which I bought after doing this exact same test at my local guitar center, except I tested the ibanez 1505ms, as its the better bass, thanks Dan at Guitar Center for being so patient lol! Dingwall was my favorite over all in tone, but I could not get passed the extra 1400 dollars, the tone wasn't that much better, and honestly the spector felt better in my hands, and the body curve fits my robust curves nicely!
Man, the neck pickup on that Spector has a stunning sound. As much as I like the look of the Ibanez, it definitely didn’t do it for me tone-wise. Also, loved that last riff you played, such grunge.
i have other Ibanez basses and quite like them, but this one sounds muffled. Might work fine in certain contexts though.
As for the Spector, it's my favorite in this comparison and others like it. Sounds much more polished and a raw and edgy as the Dingwall. I wonder though if it cuts through or if the more subdued tone will easily bury it in the mix.
That Redsub held its own! I like a really articulate bass tone so it sounded the second best (behind the Dingwall) to me. The Ibanez just sounded kind of flat and muffled which surprised me as I'm a big fan of Ibanez basses.
The Barts in the 1005 just aren't very good, they sound like you threw a blanket over your cab. The 1505 with the Nordy's would bring a lot more to the table, as they are similar to Dingwall pickups.
I think they use shorter (multi)scales, too.
This video made me realize that I REALLY want that Spector! That thing sounded massive!
That Spector sounds great... and I still haven’t heard a Dingwall that’s sounded good.
The spector sounds amazing, Dingwall have serious competition as the 'de-facto' multiscale bass. I found the sound of the Ibanez disappointing and almost too vintage in character for such a modern instrument.
I love the warmth and roundness of the Spector, but love also the clarity and versatility of the Ibanez.
I'm already a fan of Spector but this comparison really drove that home
Dingwall over the Spector by a smidge. The Redsub was surprisingly good, just a little lacking in highs. The Ibanez sounded like straight ass in every test.
Man I love that Spector. The style and sound are awesome. I really want to like Dingwall’s because they look cool, but just don’t like their sound. I do like the look of the Ibanez…kinda.
Was expecting them all to sound about the same. Was very surprised to be disappointed by the sound of the Ibanez to be just "flat".
Thanks for the vid.
The least impressive was the Ibanez.
I do like the range that the Spector shows, and while im not a big fan of the scooped sound, that can easily be fixed by just bumping up the mids on your eq.
I would still probably buy the Dingwall, but the Spector is closer to the "do everything" bass that i am looking for
On balance, I thought that the Ibanez was the most consistently good across all pickups and tones. I felt that the RedSub performed well, given the big difference in price: it sounded slightly muffled, not as 'hi-fi' as the others. The Spector had the most interesting core tone, surprisingly scooped: if you liked it, and could afford it, that would be an easy choice. The Dingwall wasn't to my taste, and came nowhere near justifying its price.
I felt that the RedSub was being held back, either by cheap strings or relatively low-quality pickups, but I couldn't tell whether it was the strings, the pickups, or both. Putting the same new strings on all the basses removes that factor and would allow us to hear more clearly what contribution the bass is making to the tone. (I know it's a counsel of perfection: five-string sets aren't cheap.) Full marks for including the DI tracks.
Honestly, the Dingwall underwhelmed me, which is surprising. Also, I have the EHB 1005ms myself, and I purchased it knowing from your review, and others, that it's pickups were not the best. Even so, it wasn't the best sounding of this bunch, but I thought the tones you got from it compared to some of the others were not dramatically worse. Very interesting. I'd be curious to hear you speak about your impressions!
OK, GTFO of my head, because that is word-for-word what I came here to say.
@@ThomCate Haha! I'm glad to hear that you thought the same things. Videos like this honestly just prove to me that you don't need to spend a fortune on a bass to get one that sounds good. Part of the reason I got the EHB is I liked the look of it so much, and I've been happy about how I've been able to dial in different tones on it. Getting more multiscale basses available across price ranges is great, and I hope to see more of them!
Dingwalls are definitely a "pick hard with lots of drive" bass. That or just plow it with loads of compression.
I feel like the other basses are a bit more rounded out to be more generally usable.
They all sound really good in their own ways, even the Redsub. The Dingwall's brashness is still unrivaled, if that's what you want, but I could see many of these sounds being useful.
you can tame Dingwall's brashness with the twist of a knob.
The Dingwall is my fav. But to be completely fair, the preamp in it has a lot to do with it, for me. Spector was an extremely close 2nd. But build quality aside, the Redsub surprised me the most.
Thanks for this comparison. For me, it cemented my decision on the ding wall.
I really liked the Dingwall, but I loved that I could still catch some of that same bite from the bridge pickup of the Redsub, while still getting a much darker, more typical tone like the Spector or Ibanez from the neck.
I feel like you set your signal chain using the dingwall then plugged the other basses in without catering to their individual tones?
Same
I bought yesterday my first dingwall, it sounds awesome on my axe fx 3. Darkglass gives many opportunities for sound. Thank you for review
Bought RedSub Coliseum 6 month ago, and in love it since, hearing this comparision I'm even more glad of mu purchase. Finish and QC may lacking, but fingerstyle sounds best (for me) from these basses. Thanks for video!
I feel its a tad misleading to put the workhorse Ibanez against two higher end basses (don't know much about the redsub).
Man oh man...that Spector....tasty goodness
Awesome comparison. Honestly It's hard to choose a favorite. If prog metal or Djent the Dingwall.. BUT I think the Spector would be a damn good fit in almost any genre.
I like the Spector best. I think it sounds more "finished" than the Dingwall. Probably less work to fit it in the mix.
Spector and then Dingwall. I think multiscale is the future for bass. I'm waiting for the day that Fender makes a multiscale bass. That'll change the game
The Day Fender makes Multiscale Basses is the Day Pigs achieve flight
Spector all the way. Dingwall makes incredible instruments, and had the Spector not been in this video, they would have been my pick. Nothing beats that classic Spector growl though.
Surprised by the spector-the neck pickup was good but both/bridge settings very underwhelming
All round I preferred the dingwall, Ibanez meh redsub ok
In blind compatison Spector just a winner tone. So much subbass harmonics.
Spector all the way for me.
Any chance you can re-do the spirit of this video with proper 34-37" scales all around? Would love to hear FD3N (open market Dingwall) vs Nordstrand big splits (ESP B-1005MS) vs Aguilar DCB (Mayones Patriot VF37) vs KRH (Kiesel A2) and of course, Fishman Fluence again (Spector NS Dimension 5)
Spector killed them all !!!
That "just the B string" section was money. Thank you!
The Spector is suuuper scooped sounding which sounds good in isolation but I've noticed that they tend to disappear in a mix. Then again, you can always just add that back with EQ. And you can get the Dingwall to do the same thing with a few small tweaks on the EQ as well.
They have three pickup modes. He had it the wide frequency response mode or scooped mode, not the traditional. Not the best demo. Check out Nathan Navarro or spectors own channel
Actually, I had it on Voice 2 or Traditional with full frequency, full dynamics throughout the entire video
Perfect timing. I'm in the market for a multiscale 5 string right now. So tempted to go for the Ibanez EHB1005MS
i love mine
Funny that was my least fav
I can attest, the 1005ms is a beaut of a bass
Meh, they’re short scale so not really the same thing
@@jobelewis6416 Ibanez has two versions of that bass, the 1005 is not short scale one.
I love mine personally, I think it sounds great, so lightweight and easy to play, was a game changer back when gigs where a thing. Plus that roasted neck feels amazing and looks incredible.
So useful. My next bass will be a 5 string, and it seems to me that multiscale is the right engineering solution. I really appreciate the back-to-back licks for comparison. When will we get the build/playability comparison?
Spector wins by a large maregin IMO, the bottom one is the ibanez, the tone seems deaf compared to the other ones. Do we will have a review of the coliseum ?
I was hoping you’d give us your opinions on them! I’m so distraught between a Spector and a Dingwall!
Ok Tone wise the redsub is not bad at all. Now we need to know about the rest of all things that matter.
after month with Coliseum 6- great value, great tone, very comfortable neck. Price is super low, but be prepared to invest some $ at start- frets needs polishing, tuners are worthless (I changed them for Warwick ones), same for nut.But even after that, overall cost is worth it, just need some time and work at start :)
For some reason I was really hoping the Spector would be my favourite, but the Dingwall still came out top, for my ears. It's just got that growly mid-range and clarity that the others don't quite have - unsurprising given they're like THE multi-scale bass company. The Ibanez didn't sound anywhere near as good as I remember from trying it years ago. Even the RedSub sounded better.
Left out the Ibanez(with and actual headstock), and the LTD multi-scale basses. Certainly worthy of mention in my opinion. Especially the LTD. It's actually amazing and gorgeous
Man those Dingwalls are killin it this time around! They are definitely the big thing this era for bass!
That dingwall sounds amazing!!
I think you should also look closer at the sound of the D and G strings, particularly the G string.
For me, a 34" g string is just too tight (no pun intended)--the fundamental is too constrained by the tension, and it just doesn't resonate.
Even though I like the definition of the Dingwall B string, for usable tension across the whole range of the instrument, the clear choice is the Ibanez.
@@Chillhoof Good point!
Maybe it's the unevenness that's bothering me, not so much there being too much tension on the G string.
That Dingwall stole the show. I'm very surprised at the lack of definition on the Spector.
Listening to the DI tracks, I did like the pick sound of the Spector over the Dingwall.
Nice try, Nino
Should I get a Spector?
The Spector is stunning, tone wise, just worried as it’s supposed to suffer neck dive ?
Anyone tried on ?
It's amazing how clean and clear the Dingwall is, even with a boatload of gain on the amp sim. The Spector is a close 2nd and the other two don't even compare.
I wish somebody would toss in the USA Bartolini's into a multiscale Ibanez because the difference between the import and USA pickups are HUGE. I own a SR505e and having played with the stock pickups for a few years and getting the USA pickups a year ago, I can confidently say there's a big difference between the two. On a parallel fret bass, it's still pretty muddy with gain, so maybe the multiscale would help...?
Wow to me the Spector killed it!
If I have to be honest I used to hate multi scale basses. I always thought they looked weird and wrong and I had a cringy hipster hate for 'em "How dare they change the way basses are built? They should remain the same they always were"
But once I started paying attention to how good they sound, active or passive, I realized I was oh so wrong about them. Now I dream of owning a Dingwall D-ROC but sadly they aren't shipped to my country. And buying something in dollars is real fucking expensive. But I know someday I will own one, it's my goal and I will achieve it!
And you are to thank for making me realize how good they are. Thank you Pat, keep up the amazing content! Greetings from Argentina!
Well, it is harder to play chords on them, especially chords that incorporate harmonics. You'll never hear TH-cam presenters talking about it but it's true.
@@pCeLobster That's fine by me, I usually play with a pick and keep things fairly simple. I'm not a fancy skilled player yet
that spector 🤯
My favourite is the Spectre but honestly I am surprised at just how good the Red Sub sounds. I was in Gear4Music yesterday and never bothered picking up a Red Sub. Walked out with an Ibanez SR400 quilted maple transparent black burst.
Picked up the EQM about two months ago!....POWER TAP!..🤣
@@jasonbenford3427 There gorgeous aren't they and with a matching quilted maple black burst headstock too.
Interestingly enough I almost never use the power tap feature. I use single coil a lot when I'm playing anything off Undertow or Ænima and standard humbucker for lateralus & 10,000 Days. Coil split is such a useful feature and I'm surprised by how many instruments with humbuckers don't have this feature from the factory. I'll have to play with the power tap switch a bit more and figure out where to use it.
They are GORGEOUS!😘
I almost got the aquamarine burst, but the salesperson talked me into the Dragon!😊
Truthfully, I use the middle setting the most. I add a bit more bridge pickup & a little more mid on the eq.
Real Spunky!🏋
First setting is real warm!🤗
@@jasonbenford3427 Sounds good man! What sort of music are you playing? Personally I'm just a beginner trying to recreate Tool's (Justin & Paul's) bass tone and I can't afford a £7K Wal or £2.5K Rickenbacker or the expensive amps they use.
I cut the mids a bit and often use slightly more neck pickup. This goes into a Darkglass Alpha Omicron distortion pedal.🎸🎛️ You can get some really epic and brutal distortion out of it but I use it to give a really nice subtle overdrive. It really adds to my tone and sometimes I forget it's even there until I turn it off and hear the unprocessed sound!
I have an EQ pedal after that to slightly tweak some frequencies and I'm pretty happy with the results.
Thanks a lot for the review!
to anyone looking to get the redsub, now named the g4m I am a owner and it is great, just be aware that your gonna wanna get something like emgs to replace the pickups. by far the weakest point of the instrument is the electronics mainly the preamp and a lot of neck dive with a cheap guitar strap
I understand wanting to limit scope for the video, but the dingwall has a 4th pickup configuration of bridge and middle pickup in series which would have been interesting to hear too.
And the fishmans in the Spector have two different modes. Since the Spector sounded so different from the others I’m curious if the other pickup mode would have been any different.
The RedSub impressed me, why spend more money? Fix it in the Mix? No not necessary, this beast is my killertone. But how does it feel when playing? You can only try it out by yourself with playing in your own hands.
Ive been eyeing the dingwall for a while but that spector just sounded evil🤘
The comparison should have been made w similar fretboards on all four. The maple D'wall and the Redsub sounds edgier while the others have the lovely Rosewood-muddiness. Hard to compare. But I'm impressed by that Redsub budget bass, although the D'wall is No 1 for me here. I actually tried a similiar Ibanez today (!) and was impressed by the variety of sounds, even if I couldn't find my personal favourite sound. In this comparison, it's in last position for me!
The thing you have to watch out for on the Redsub is QC. I got one and it is just awful. Gonna take a lot of time and money to get it fixed.
For me.
1.Dingwall and Redsub - both basses are amazing
2.Spector
3.Ibanez
You should have indicated which voicing and pickup mode you used on the Spector, There are so many to choose from!
Theres just something about the Dingwall Tone i really hate.
For me its the Spector, then the Ibanez.
The Redsub sounded like a weaker Ibanez to me while the Dingwall like a Dingwall, cant really say which one i disliked more.
I almost bought one of those Spectors. I've owned numerous over the years and they've always sounded killer. After hearing the Fishmans they stuck in it I'm glad I didn't.
Why? Fishmans sound really cool!
This video surprised me. I was really expecting the Ibanez to be in the top 2. It was honestly the least impressive. Of course that dingwal is king. Amazing instrument. What shocked me the most is that the $500 Sounds amazing.
The Dingwall has the best clarity. It's a more organic, natural tone.
For me, that Spector outclasses all of the competition. I'd love to see it go head to head with a Wal in a tone shootout.
Dingwall - "Both Pickups" - which two of the three are you referring to? There are 4 pickup combinations: Bridge, Bridge/Middle in series, Bridge/Neck in parallel, and Neck. Just curious which setting "Both Pickups" was.
I think the Ibanez version of that bass should have been with the Nordstrand pups, since it's competing with Dingwall and Fishman Fluence... Barts were great 20 years ago... Loved the Spector and the huge low end, but the dingwall tone is more defined for me and has more presence overall. Thanks for this video it helped me a lot on deciding what to buy.
Awesome!!
RedSub is the great surprise here. Sounds aggressive and massive. Heart says Dingwall ng3, but wallet says RedSub.
I've been an Ibanez fanboy ever since I started playing bass, but I must admit that I'm quite surprised with how disappointed I am in that tone from that Ibanez. And not only that! Last year I bought an SR675 because I joined a band and wanted something new, and while it does the job and plays pretty good it just doesn't sound that good. It's equipped with Bartolini pickups, and I'm starting to think that those are the reason why I don't like it as much.
I've been looking heavily into Dingwall ever since Nolly got his signature, and atm I'm more tempted than ever before to just go ahead and get myself a Dingwall. I think it was the true star of this video. I get why some people find it clanky/thin, but you can always roll some of the topend of and add some bass on the EQ. It's so much harder to add treble to an instrument, imo.
Would love to do some recording with a Dingwall.
A follow up to my original comment: ...I went ahead and bought a Dingwall! I actually got one exactly like the one he plays in this video. Same finish and everything! :-D
My impression so far is that it easily blows away any other bass I've played in terms of sound and playability. I'm still getting used to the beast, but it plays wonderfully. Tried doing some recording with it, and out of the box it just fit straight in the mix without flobby lowend or fizzy highs, making post processing so much easier.
Both my clanky distorted bass tone and my clean tones are miles ahead of any tone I've gotten out of my other basses. Atm I'm keeping my Ibanez as a backup, but I'm really tempted to sell it (...and buy more Dingwalls!) :-P
@@RasmusYde I agree with you that the Dingwall sounds the best here. How are you getting on with yours? Does it work well outside of a metal/rock context?
@@nanophyr_4468 the short answer is: I love it! 😃
It sounds awesome and plays great. I mostly play it with a distorted sound, but it also does a beautiful clean sound. It’s in no way a one-trick-pony. It’s easily the most versatile of all my basses.
@@RasmusYde Awesome! And thanks :D I'm looking to pickup my first 'non-beginner' bass and have been looking up everything Dingwall for the past month! Glad to hear it play well in other contexts too
@@nanophyr_4468 Dingwalls are expensive - there's no way around that - but after playing and doing some recording with mine I've come to the conclusion that the pricetag is well justified. I had a lot of reservations/worries about buying one - be it the price, the multiscale (had no previous experience with that), scale length, maybe even the hype? - but all that was put to shame during my first week of ownership.
Just did a little bit of bass tracking with my Dingwall today. Even with dead-ish, dirty and well used strings it somehow still manages to sound amazing in recordings! :-P
Mind you, I've paired mine with a Darkglass Alpha Omega amp, which in itself produces killer sounds, but I recon the bass is at least 50-75% of my current sound.
I presume when you started going through them all for the second time using all the different pickup choices that you were running your 2i2 with your amp modeler. That made a huge difference with the sound of the Spector in particular. What cab were you emulating for that sound? Before then the Spector just didn't do it for me although I have a friend who has played one longer than I've known him and he swears by it. I personally still prefer the Dingwall sound although there were definitely places where the Spector sounded better to me
Probably the RedSub for me. First of all, its even cheaper in germany. I can spend about 300€ on top of that on upgrades along with 400-500€ worth of weekend sweat to make the thing a beast.
How was the fit and finish on the Redsub? I need a bass for Drop-F and I'm not stoked about putting my Dinger there
I really dislike the dingwall, just seems.. so.. glassy? i think... but have a feeling it would sit the best in a mix. But on their own for me, it goes
Ibanez Bridge/Spector everything else number 1
Ibanez everything else number 2
Redsub 3
Dingwall 4
okay... the DI tracks the dingwall sounds MUCH better, maybe i just didn't like the amp sim on it
I've been looking at the Redsub for a while. How bad was the VAT tax on it when you got it? I don't mind spending the money for the redsub to also put a tone capsule in it for less than $800.
Hate to say it but the Dingwall is just clearer and sharper and everything else felt muffled and muddy. but if you're gonna go with a muffled and muddy tone the Spactor does have more power behind it. Gonna be a dingwall for me.
It's the Spector for me on it's own, but the dingwall would cut through better in the mix, the Ibanez is just bland sounding to me. The Redsub didn't do anything for me either tbh.