I'd love to see some pictures!

Was having a tough time posting pics earlier today. I'll try again now... I'll also take some new ones, especially showing the "battle scars". Those will be posted tomorrow.

Very tempting! So, is the headstock actually rosewood, or just part of it? EG

It's a rosewood overlay. Here's a picture...

In interest of full-disclosure, I wanted to post pictures of the most significant "dings" on the bass. The biggest one is on the edge of the bass by where you'd rest your forearm; it was caused by a guitar stand getting kicked over while this bass was on another stand (I was playing my AB at the time). The same incident caused the ding on the lower bout. Right under the volume knob, the finish chipped when I enlarged the hole for a different pot. Next to the input jack, the finish was chipped by the previous owner--looks like it might have been set down on a hard floor. There's also some minor belt rash on the back and normal play wear. Still, posting all the pictures of my baby is making me want to go play her...it's the sound and the feel that defines this bass, and she has THOSE in spades! John

Here are the pics of the Input Jack and belt rash...

Thank you to those who inquired after my bass, but I've decided (with the help of an annual Incentive at work and my large pending tax return) that it would be dumb of me to let it go. It has bumps and bruises that remind me of some great high-energy shows that we've played together. Those same bumps and bruises make it less collectable. So, it's with the right person.

Reviving an old thread, I know, but it's my thread, so I can do that, right? Anyhow, lately I've been playing my AB a lot, and that tone is just sitting better with me (I use the front PU 60% of the time) than my Z2. So, with that said, and with some trepidation, I am once again considering offers to trade my Z2 for your Afterburner + cash. My preference is for 5-ers; beyond that I'm open to possibilities. PM me or e-mail me: john[underscore]jungblut[at]yahoo[dot]com I wanted to offer this first to those who expressed interest last time, but my old PM's are gone...if any of those folks are still interested, they get "dibs".

I contacted the person who was interested in the bass last year. Since then he has gotten a NEW Z2 and wanted another for a backup... So, my bass is no longer available, and I will be the happy new owner of an X-Top AB 2...

Don't forget the pictures. . .

This one has been photo-op'ed here before; Darkly Dreaming Dave and I are swapping. More photos--and a comparison of my current 1st generation AB to the new kid--will be posted once I actually receive this new bass.

Very nice.

So, I recently traded basses with Darkly Dreaming Dave: My (somewhat worn) Z2 for his very lovely, newer Afterburner 2. This came about because lately I've been using a LOT of neck pickup, and favoring a more round tone, where the Z2 is more bright and "Stingray-ish". Dave and I had discussed swapping the first time I considered trading my bass, but I originally decided to keep the Z2. Since then, Dave got a Sklar Z2 and wanted something more similar to it as a backup. So, this was a really great trade for both of us. What this has allowed me is the opportunity to compare an earlier AB to the latest and greatest. I got my original Afterburner in 2003 -- it was one of the first with FD-3s, and it has an all-maple body. The combination was a bit too bright for me, so when I got my FD-1 equipped Z2, I swapped pickups. Thus my old Afterburner has unusual electronics; FD-1s combined with a Bartolini NTMB preamp. It's a great sound for rock & roll. Although I never use the onboard EQ, it provides nice buffering. When the Afterburner 2 showed up, I was pretty floored by the looks of the bass and the tone is right in line with the looks--hot rod! With the FD-3's (possibly Mach 2, I'm not sure) & Aguilar preamp, and walnut body, it's a bright, airy sounding bass. It's also a lot lighter and more shoulder-friendly. Other things that Dingwall has improved upon; the bridge design is a bit more rounded, and the shoulders of the fretboard have a more gradual round-over so that the overall profile feels a bit softer. But I guess what really impressed me was the consistency of execution of the Dingwall concept--5 years apart, these basses are more similar than different. The moral of the story, I guess, is that there is no such thing as a bad Dingwall. The newer basses have some incredibly nice refinements, but the older basses are far from obsolete. When you start at perfection, you aren't fixing flaws, so much as adding "wow" factor. Thank you Dave & thank you Sheldon! John

I have to say, being on the other end of this trade, I couldn't be any happier. As much as I loved the ABII's looks, tone, and playability, the Z2 I received from John has been everything I wanted it to be, and more. I planned on using it as a backup to the Sklar, but I have a feeling it will get close to equal playing time depending on my mood. I have to say thank you to John, as I'm not sure a trade could have gone any better. Dave PS I guess I should change my avatar...

Glad to hear this worked out for you guys.