[quote="Smallmouth_Bass":1cqvqqpn]It seems to make sense to have the C1/C2 pickup route option for future models, like having the J/P option on the SJs with pickguards. The only thing being that you're obliged to have a pickguard.[/quote:1cqvqqpn] That's something that I'd neves considered but it's doable.

We've been talking about this. Question: how many would be interested in us offering C2 modified Combustions? We'd do the rout, pickguard, B-boosting and wire the neck pickup in series here at our shop on our remaining stock of first run Combustions for a nominal charge. We're down to limited colors and fingerboards on the remaining stock so would most likely be Matte Black RW with matte black PG and CAR RW with Parchment PG. If we see enough interest we'll make it happen.

I'll have some excellent live audio of the C2 soon. We've recorded the whole gig per channel and the tracks sound great. I'll upload some samples once they're merged, balanced etc. Well, after a few weeks I can say I enjoy the C2 very much. The my definitely favorite sound is just slightly rolling off the bridge pickup, neck on full. Just to lose that scoop maxed parallel pickups give. For that reason, I think I will stay on the vol/vol config, possibly eventually add a series mode push-pull. The more powerful preamp is still needed in my opinion, until I boost bass it sounds kind-of weak. Well, compared with what I have in mind. The lows on this bass seem to be more clear and definite, compared to my AB-II. I assume it's a fretless thing, though it doesn't make much sense. The C2 also turns more heads around, I've gotten a lot of compliments for the way it sounds. At a gig I played just before an other band, and while we were getting off the stage, the bassist of the following band told me that he's enthusiastic about his sound because he had no idea the amp/stage can be setup to make the bass sound so clear

[quote="Sheldon Dingwall":1ui15l2e]Question: how many would be interested in us offering C2 modified Combustions? If we see enough interest we'll make it happen.[/quote:1ui15l2e] I think the C2 is a great idea. That might be enough to make me unload some unloved basses and get another Combustion...like I need it.

[quote="Sheldon Dingwall":2s6ysbfq]We've been talking about this. Question: how many would be interested in us offering C2 modified Combustions? We'd do the rout, pickguard, B-boosting and wire the neck pickup in series here at our shop on our remaining stock of first run Combustions for a nominal charge. We're down to limited colors and fingerboards on the remaining stock so would most likely be Matte Black RW with matte black PG and CAR RW with Parchment PG. If we see enough interest we'll make it happen.[/quote:2s6ysbfq] Me!!! That is a great idea.

[quote="Bocete":2n6grx1m]Basically, I love the sound of Musicman basses, while I like everything about Dingwalls. The Dingwall-meets-EBMM was my ideal bass.[/quote:2n6grx1m] +1 on that. I've played a MM Sterling 4 for more than 10 years, and the [b:2n6grx1m]only[/b:2n6grx1m] configuration I like is with that single bridge pickup. It's really counter-intuitive: I like a really rich, fat--but very articulated--sound, and I am able get get that better (on my MM) with just a bridge pickup only than with the other configurations (& I've tried 'em all). By the way, I'm NOT suggesting a single pick-up Combustion. Those MM HH pickups (with their 3 coils) are worth one "normal" pup. (I'm [b:2n6grx1m]not [/b:2n6grx1m]trying to start something here, either) Thanks for being a pioneer, and I'm really happy it worked out well (for you, for me, and for many of us). ~Datta

Here are some sound samples! [url=http://kiwi6.com/file/0xin4a7v01:1r3w7laq]Both pickups maxed[/url:1r3w7laq] [url=http://kiwi6.com/file/j3687v91hl:1r3w7laq]Neck pickup only[/url:1r3w7laq] [url=http://kiwi6.com/file/99ig6hd035:1r3w7laq]Bridge pickup only[/url:1r3w7laq] All these have been recorded through by Boss GT10B, all flat, through USB into the laptop. The preamp of the bass is flat, except for the second portion of the parallel mode sample where there's a ~40% boost on both bass and treble to get closer to that MM thing. I tried to cover various ranges of styles and dynamics so you can get a better picture of how it behaves. People usually apologize for their lack of skill, but I truly believe I've deserved the right to apologize here Also note that the bass is still factory setup. Some strings react slightly differently then others, and even on different areas of the neck. I was advised to get it setup after it's at least somewhat "broken-in", so I'll do so when I install the new preamp. A new batch of samples will be coming after that. I wanted to make samples before changing the preamp, as this gives you an idea of what the basic C2 mod does: just FD-3s in series in Z2 config. You can see the bass is pretty MM-like in parallel mode (both pickups maxed) and very P-like with the neck pickup soloed. The bridge pickup, eh, not my thing (and my AB-II is certainly better suited for that job) but it's the stock Combustion pickup so nothing new there. With the John East 2 band pre-EB MM preamp on the way, I guess it will come even closer to the bassy-sparkly sound of the StingRay. I don't think it will get exactly there - if you want a 100% StingRay sound, buy a StingRay, it's that simple - but it will be close enough and will have a touch of uniqueness and definition that I'm looking forward to. A true blend between Dingwalls and MusicMan basses. Cheers, Bo

Cool. The neck does sound P-ish and there's a nice burp from the bridge pu.

[quote="Bocete":1120a47e]Here are some sound samples! [url=http://kiwi6.com/file/0xin4a7v01:1120a47e]Both pickups maxed[/url:1120a47e] [url=http://kiwi6.com/file/j3687v91hl:1120a47e]Neck pickup only[/url:1120a47e] [url=http://kiwi6.com/file/99ig6hd035:1120a47e]Bridge pickup only[/url:1120a47e] [/quote:1120a47e]Thanks for sharing, Bo. I look forward to hearing those pups in series as well (my favorite MM config).

[quote="Bocete":2j29n6bo]Here are some sound samples! [url=http://kiwi6.com/file/0xin4a7v01:2j29n6bo]Both pickups maxed[/url:2j29n6bo] [url=http://kiwi6.com/file/j3687v91hl:2j29n6bo]Neck pickup only[/url:2j29n6bo] [url=http://kiwi6.com/file/99ig6hd035:2j29n6bo]Bridge pickup only[/url:2j29n6bo] [/quote:2j29n6bo] [url=http://www.geneburnett.com/Media/MP3s/Dsamples/1)%20For%20What%20it's%20Worth.mp3:2j29n6bo]My current setup[/url:2j29n6bo] This has been my sound for around 12 years (I'm playing a MM Sterling w/ a single bridge pup). I don't need to [i:2j29n6bo]duplicate [/i:2j29n6bo]that sound on a Combustion, but I want to be in the same ball park: Nice & fat with some edge. What do you think? Am I barking up the wrong tree?

I can only guess But I think the series setting will pull this off. I'll try to dial this sound in once I install the selector, will let you know.

[quote="Bocete":7plsali2] But I think the series setting will pull this off. I'll try to dial this sound in once I install the selector, will let you know.[/quote:7plsali2] Yeah, please keep us all posted. So, pardon my ignorance, but I assume the selector you refer to will give you series or parallel?

[quote="DattaGroover":2b2548mf][quote="Bocete":2b2548mf] But I think the series setting will pull this off. I'll try to dial this sound in once I install the selector, will let you know.[/quote:2b2548mf] Yeah, please keep us all posted. So, pardon my ignorance, but I assume the selector you refer to will give you series or parallel?[/quote:2b2548mf] Both, plus neck or bridge pickup soloed. The standard Dingwall pickup selector.

[quote="Bocete":bmzo5pos]I can only guess But I think the series setting will pull this off. I'll try to dial this sound in once I install the selector, will let you know.[/quote:bmzo5pos] Are you installing a stacked volume pot?

No. All Dingwalls, apart of the Combustion, have a single volume knob and a 4 position rotary pickup selector. Both in series, both in parallel, soloed neck and soloed bridge pickup. Combustions are the only with vol/vol. I'm going for a single vol, the said selector, and then the John East EBMM pre: stacked bass/treble, and stacked mid/mid sweep. The bass/treble stack is the pre-Ernie Ball 2 band, while the mid/sweep stack is very neutral unless dialed in. There's also a bright switch push-pull just like on a Sabre or Cutlass, not sure which of those two. I will possibly add toggle switches for individual pickup series/parallel. Not gonna add active/passive as the said preamp is not neutral, it colors the sound even when on flat, so bypassing will alter the sound significantly.

[quote="Bocete":10agvrt6] [...] I wanted to make samples before changing the preamp, as this gives you an idea of what the basic C2 mod does: just FD-3s in series in Z2 config. [...] [/quote:10agvrt6] I'm confused. Did you install FD-3's or leave the stock FD-3A's? Haven't listened yet (I'm at work) but I will when I get home. . . looking forward to it.

FD-3s, not Alnico. They can be considered kind-of mandatory for this thing, as it's about sounding more modern and aggressive.

So, the John East EBMM preamp has been in for about a week. [img:199eknap]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cC5DgeyguI0/TiaePglkhWI/AAAAAAAAAnA/SePktSaSqps/s640/IMAG0076.jpg[/img:199eknap] I really feel the C2 is complete now A true merge of Dingwall and a Stingray. Just imagine how that should sound, and it sounds exactly like that. Initially, I was a bit sad because the preamp hasn't changed the dramatically. The sound has become a bit more "compressed" maybe, and definitely more punchy, but only subtly. However, boosting the bass and treble makes all the difference. I can easily get all the typical Stingray sounds I can think of and a few more great sounds to boot. The bass doesn't only sound like a Stingray, it plays like one; it makes me smile, makes me want to accent that note so hard the string almost snaps and the bass reacts up to the challenge, with all the Stingray sparkliness. On my AB-II the low B is just a string like any other, like on all Dingwalls and like it should be. But for some reason I get a special pleasure of riding the low B on the C2, and yet, it still gives me the ability to throw in a low C in basslines for four stringers and not sound overwhelming or deep. The only way I can explain this is that by attack you can get the sound from ground-shaking-B-string-has-a-voice-of-it's-own to perfectly balanced. I am yet to make any sound samples, but I promise to do so. The controls are: volume, the usual NSPB selector, a bass/treble stack with a push-pull bright mode and a min/sweep control. This is the John East EBMM 3 band 3 knob preamp/config you can find on [url:199eknap]http://www.east-uk.com/[/url:199eknap] with a 4 pos selector added. As for the 4 position selector: this is the newer one, with a volume trimmer for the Series control. Initially, I've given the series setting the same volume as the parallel setting, and I've realized that the settings sound remarkably similar. Parallel had more treble, but the two could easily be mistaken for the same setting with the series setting having a treble cut. I've observed the same thing on my AB-II when playing with the trimmer. However, boosting the series setting a bit from that position made it different enough from the parallel setting. It seems only a tad louder but the character of the sound is different and the series setting sits on it's own. Installing the 4 pos was the right decision, and I don't see the need for any additional blending options. The bass/treble stack has a circuit that's an update of the pre-EB MM preamp in components/quality but has a same sound and characteristic. You can find more info on John East's website, but basically, this is what gives the bass the MM feel. The mid/sweep stack sounds neutral by default and can be used to pinpoint the exact sound you're looking for; but the character this bass is given by the bass/treble stack. The preamp can be bought without the mid/sweep stack (the bass/treble stack is split into two single knobs) and it also loses the bright mode push-pull that, honestly, I'm yet to find a use for. I should also note that the John East knobs are for 5mm shafts and the 4 pos selector has a 6 mm shaft so it had to be ground down to 5 mm. No biggie. So, with this, the mod is complete. Black hardware, a de-tuner and all the other goodies are not a part of this mod per-se. Financial report: (prices in USD) $1200 for the bass ~$400 for the pickups and the custom pickguards (as I ordered two) ~$250 for the preamp = $1850 USD (+ shipping and any tech work) Which brings it to the ABZ price range. Compared to the ABZ you lose some build quality (as in, not hand-made) which is significant, but you get a beast with a very different sound. The ABs can sound aggressive but in a very different way; the C2 stands on its own ground. The investment is very decent considering that it is still in the low-tier Dingwall price range and, very importantly, that you can do the mod as you go, you don't have to throw all the money away once. I really feel the FD-3 pickups are a must for this mod. The preamp helps a lot but if I had to save money somewhere I'd wait with the preamp and get it later. The mid stack can also be skipped to save about $80 but it's a neat tool to have around. Not sure if there's anything else to say... I love playing this bass, love how it looks, how it plays and how it sounds, and I have absolutely no regrets about doing this mod. I hope I've intrigued you and that maybe some day a second C2 will pop-up somewhere Great thanks to Sheldon for his advice on the build and making me the custom pickguard, and to John East for making this awesome preamp and answering my numerous questions. Cheers, Bo

Nice work Bo. Ok, now who's up for a C3?

[quote="callum":2oq5y7nc]Nice work Bo. Ok, now who's up for a C3? [/quote:2oq5y7nc] That actually sounds interesting to me...