... I guess that the many suggestions I received are maily due to the fact that either the question i posed is not clever enough to deserve an educated answer, or most of the Dingwall Owners lie in the same drama I lie in, that could be resolved just by an unlimited budjet allowing to buy basically the entire line on beautiful instruments ... Long story short, i decided for the Z2 because, mainly due to the results of a gedankenexperiment, the neck pick up of the Z1 may jeopardize the free movements of the popping fingers during slap execution, and the parallel sound of both pick up is moreintresting on the Z2 (in my opinion). Any further comments are nevertheless more than welcome! Arrivederci!

I am sorry my friend, but personally I have never had the chance to try any of the Z series basses. I am fluent in ABZ / ABII and Super J and if your enquiry was about one of those I would have given you as much info as I could. I believe a member by the name of Metalstorm had one or two, perhaps you can send him a pm and ask him, he's a really nice guy and will have all the time for you to give you some ideas. Good luck

Z1...Z2...just fiddle with the knobs until you get the tone you need. I have 2 Z-series basses. Both are highly adjustable tone-wise...I only use a couple of settings playing live, though. With fresh strings they sound like a grand piano, especially when I whip out the plectrum. Z1...2...3? I figure you can't go wrong with any of them. Congrats.

If I'm not mistaken, Z2 was originally developed with slapping in mind. It used to have 22 frets, meaning more space and thumbing in that sweet location, and the MM pickup positioning is the obvious choice. Z2s have gone to 24 frets since then. If I may ask, why not go for a Z3? Probably the best of both worlds, although you'd lose room to slap and having both bridge pickups in parallel.. But still, a Z3 is proven to be the jack of all trades; why did you exclude it? Just wondering, I'd have gone for a Z2 myself, but I find it strange that you didn't even consider it when you were trying to get the best of both worlds. Humph, FD-3 pickups maybe?

Just curious; how did you place an order if you don't know what model you want yet? Personally, I'd go for a Z3 as well. Though, I think it was mentioned in another thread the Super Fatty pickups that are used on them (Z2 and Z3) are not yet available for 6-string.

The Z3 requires modification of the typical slapping technique.There's not much room. You could do a 22 fret neck on a Z3 and have a litle more space. How about a Z4? Four Fattys arranged like a Warwick $$ ?

Thanks for the many inputs. Actually, in a different tread I heared that there is no Z3 available in 6 strings. Moreover, if Sheldon could make it happen, I fear there would be a lot of wood less in the body, already streamed, an I fear it would be structurally weaker. Anyway, your many answer just convinced me more to stick to Z2, as I wouldn't like to loose space for slapping. I am looking forward to grasp the axe, but I have to wait untill May... I placed an order on a Z2, but given the waiting time, I just thought to have the opportunity to think deeper whether to get a Z2 or a Z1. Z2 wins in the end! A grand piano like sound is just what I am searching for, but without the "stupid" electrinic sound typical of teh 80s, alike steinberger, alembic, "EMG" style. I call it stupid because it really tires me after a while, and resemble more a sinth rather than a bass. Thank a lot guys!

I wouldn't worry too much about having another pickup route making it structurally weaker. I really don't think it would make any difference. You can't go wrong with any choice. I've never met a Dingwall bass I didn't like!

Whelp, If its between a Z-1 and a Z-2 and you're looking for the most diversity of tone, I'd be on the page of a Z-1. Ideally I'd be lobbying for a Z-3 with a few fewer frets (an upcharge there), but without that as a current option, the wider spacing of the Z-1 would win for me.

I gotta agree with Burningskies and going Z3, If you already ruled out a Z3 then I would go Z1.... but I am personally partial to Z3 as I just ordered one! Am I missing something with a Z3 6 string? I have that option on my order form. I am not a huge slapper and my technique is pretty tight on the fretboard as it is, I also have a AB-I and G&:L L2000 that I can use for slapping as well.