f you’re a serious bass player, but have yet to acquire one of these classic models, the Dingwall Super P really is a no-brainer. The look and feel lean towards the traditional, however the tone and quality are everything you’d expect from a Dingwall. Available in: 4 or 5-strings, with two or three pickups, active or passive electronics, and a range of available finishes.
Available in:
-4 and 5 strings
The most obvious feature is, of course, the unique multi-scale design that Dingwall are renowned for, but the fun doesn’t stop there. Our finish uses a special polyester that’s been formulated for electric guitars. As a result, the bodies look as thought they’ve been dipped in glass, but the finish is extremely thin, which allows it to be acoustically transparent. We also build the bodies slightly thinner than standard to reduce weight and provide a bit more resonance. Swamp ash is also an option for those who would like a little less mid-presence in their tone.
Another distinctive feature is the headstock scallop, which serves two functions. It reduces headstock mass slightly, and it defines a three-dimensional Hot Rod style flame on the bottom edge. Many players complain about the head-heavy balance of a traditional bass guitar. We decided to do as much as possible to reduce the weight of the headstock, while subversively keeping it as traditional looking as possible. The silhouette may put you in mind of a Fender, but there’s a truly distinctive vibe here that you’d notice even if you were blindfolded.
Of course, there’s more to a great bass than its wood, and the Super J is no less innovative in its hardware. The Hipshot Ultralite tuners are already very light weight, but we made them even lighter by shortening the string post. By countersinking them into the headstock and designing a shape that causes the string to sit as low as possible, we also eliminated the use of string trees. This further reduces weight and improves tuning stability.
“In total we managed to shave off roughly 100 grams,” says Sheldon Dingwall. “It doesn’t sound like much, but it makes a huge difference in the way the bass balances.
The double expanding truss-rod style is one of the industry standards. However, our installation method – taught to us by Glenn McDougall of Fury Guitars, involves gluing the truss rod into the neck under almost 1000-LB of pressure. This creates a coupling of steel to wood, increasing both sustain and harmonic content.
The pickups are our own custom neodymium design, which sound predictably full and punchy. The standard passive system includes volume and tone controls, which are made in-house. The control knobs are exclusive to Dingwall Guitars and feature a soft-touch formula for extra comfort and grip. Basses with an additional bridge pickup also benefit from the added versatility of our Quad-tone pickup selector, which allows further tonal exploration.
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
