Looks nice Sheldon!

The maple fretboard looks good, IMO. It's got the blackburst&maple Z feel Because the maple fretboard, fretless will not be an option for the ABZ? EDIT: Are those pickups FD3-A in a FD-3 size shells instead of EMG size shells? These covers have the Dingwall label, while those on the Combustion prototypes are blank.

Another sweet looking Dingwall model from Sheldon. The maple board makes it really pop out visually. Can't wait to get one in my hands!!!

Wooow! Thaat ABZ turned out really cool! What are the colour options for the ABZs?

[quote="Bocete":33y2ln4f]These covers have the Dingwall label, while those on the Combustion prototypes are blank.[/quote:33y2ln4f] Actually, the Combustion prototypes [i:33y2ln4f]do[/i:33y2ln4f] have the Dingwall logo on them. Photo from NAMM: [img:33y2ln4f]http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9484/pickups.jpg[/img:33y2ln4f] As you can see from the bridge pickup, the logo's a bit hard to see if the light isn't hitting it at just the right angle.

[quote="Jjango":1l8kyoao] Actually, the Combustion prototypes [i:1l8kyoao]do[/i:1l8kyoao] have the Dingwall logo on them. As you can see from the bridge pickup, the logo's a bit hard to see if the light isn't hitting it at just the right angle.[/quote:1l8kyoao] Oh. Still, the proportions and screw positions are different. The Combustion pickups are significantly wider that the ones on ABZ, or seem like they are.

Yeah, they look like FDs.

I'm digging the matte finish. Is it poly gel? Mark

Sheldon I love to see an all maple with vintage mustard tint like on old Fender necks with the body tinted too. Are the Pu's N=parallel B=series? Please make sure you give us a series option for the neck pu.

The pickups are FD3's on this one. N/P, B/S. The finish is matte polyurethane over oil on both the neck and body. It's tougher than the gel.

Can't wait to see an all-natural version. Mark

Now for the questin dear to my heart..... Will the ABZ be available as a 4?

Ya I'd like to see and ABZ in a 4 as well.

I'd like to see it as a 6 string.

Maybe this doesn't matter --> what does the "Z" stand for? Z-bass as in zebra? I sorta thought if this was the case, the price would have gone up, not down will it be available in frettless/4-str/6str?

Hi Guys, Currently only available in a 5. Send your 4 and 6-string requests to Dingwall Sales. If we get enough demand, we'll make it happen. Because of the Swamp Ash body similarity to the Z-series we chose the "Z". In this economy there's little point in coming out with new models that cost more, so we sat down and looked the cost/time/ performance ratio of every component and feature. Gloss finishes top the list of being the most costly and time consuming. They look great, but don't add to the perfomance. We shortened the neck finish turnaround time using a satin finish. That's about it.

Given it's made in shop, will a fretless version be available? I guess the maple fingerboard would have to go, plus it would need a lot more work giving it a nice upcharge. Maybe even pushing it into the ABI price range. So probably not? (but I'd be all over it) Maybe the cost & effort would be reduced by using rosewood or maybe ebony instead of wenge+epoxy. EDIT: [url:14chqhmx]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Dingwall_ABZ.html[/url:14chqhmx] They state that the ABZ comes with a Dingwall passive preamp, a spec mistake?

[quote="Sheldon Dingwall":lqkc6v5e]Hi Guys, Currently only available in a 5. Send your 4 and 6-string requests to Dingwall Sales. If we get enough demand, we'll make it happen. Because of the Swamp Ash body similarity to the Z-series we chose the "Z". In this economy there's little point in coming out with new models that cost more, so we sat down and looked the cost/time/ performance ratio of every component and feature. Gloss finishes top the list of being the most costly and time consuming. They look great, but don't add to the perfomance. We shortened the neck finish turnaround time using a satin finish. That's about it.[/quote:lqkc6v5e] Your gloss finishes are beautiful Sheldon, but I prefer the natural finish like on my ABII's. The instrument feels so alive. You can also steam dents out of a natural oil/wax finish. I've never wiped either of my basses off and they still look mint brand new. I also tend to favor my solid body ABII-5, it just has something a little extra tonewise. (about 1.5lbs heavier) If leaving out the chambering process and the scroll holes can get the price down even more I think it would be positive IMHO. I would also venture to recommend leaving the tummy cut off the back of the bass I also like the oil finished necks. Easy to fix dents, if they ever happen.

can't wait to see ABZ with natural finish and maple fretboard...

[quote="SPYD3R #9":1en5j26e]can't wait to see ABZ with natural finish and maple fretboard...[/quote:1en5j26e] mmmmm - maple I'll have to say, as far as looks go - maple is pretty sweet, only I don't like those pesky fret markers ruining the look