The original Lamborghini-inspired Kyle Konkiel Signature model launched back in 2023 with a custom color-shift finish, Nordstrand EQ and an additional pickup configuration. We’ve since been working with Kyle to put a new spin on his custom axe, substituting the color-shift finish for Matte Army Green, upgrading the hardware to include our new Minimalist bridge, and thanks to the addition of an EMG 3-band preamp, the second incarnation is now ready to tell a new story.
The Kyle Konkiel Signature Combustion brilliantly showcases the smooth curves that are so typical of Dingwall bass designs. The body is alder with a 5-piece maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, and Ralph Novak’s multi-scale, fanned-fret system, which results in a 34–37-inch scale spread across the five strings (the scale length of the B string is three inches longer than the G). The body also has a new Matte Army Green finish. “The finish was inspired by my Dad who was in the Vietnam War,” says Kyle. “I still have his old army fatigues and they’re all in this colour, so it’s really an homage to him.”
“We base a lot of our success on the person-to-person relationships that we’ve built with our artists,” says Dingwall CEO, Sheldon Dingwall. “It’s about catering for players that want to go beyond what’s available and get something that’s very specific to them. The greatest reward is when a player is blown away by the bass they receive. Then we know we’ve done our job.”
The result is a powerful combination of looks, feel, and flexibility, with a fast, comfortable neck that lets you be as adventurous as you like.
From a bass player’s perspective, there are still plenty of tone shaping options available thanks to three of Dingwall’s highly-rated FD3n pickups, an EMG 3-band active EQ and Dingwall’s Quad-tone rotary control. As with the first edition, Kyle chose to compliment the existing setup with a simple selector switch for the middle pickup that allows for a total of eight unique pickup combinations to choose from.
“One of my favourite things about this model is the pickup wiring,” says Kyle. “Dingwall typically use a four-way rotary control, but we’ve added a toggle switch that also engages the middle pickup in any one of the existing pickup configurations. This bass can get you wherever you need to go in terms of tone, regardless of what genre you’re playing.”
Limited to an exclusive run of just 100 instruments, this new edition maintains many core features of the existing Combustion range like the 34-37-inch multi-scale, 24 ‘banjo-size’ frets, and licensed Hipshot Ultralite tuners. Once you discover that the magnetic battery cover on the back flips on and off with zero effort, you’ll wonder how you ever had the patience to unscrew the compartment cover on your old instruments. Elsewhere, we’ve upgraded the black hardware to include our Minimalist bridge, and updated string retainers.
Dingwall strings have been meticulously tested to maximize performance and deliver a tone that blends effortlessly with any style of music. We were the first company to design strings specifically for multi-scale instruments. Available in both nickel and stainless steel, our strings provide an even tension for optimal balance, letting you experience the warmest highs and the tightest lows possible.
Note: basses are shipped with Dingwall Nickel Strings
