And the drooling and GAS will only get worse once the SuperJ 5's hit the street!

You'd better be careful. You might be tipping the scale on owning too many Dingwalls - and thereby creating an unfair monopoly on bass tone in Europe. In the US you'd most certainly have a suit brought for unfair competition.

[quote="Dingwall Sales Lamb":23w3jbwv]Well Eddy you have outdone yourself. I think it is now official, you get first prize for the race to own the most Dingwalls. I'm sure it warms the hearts of all Dingwall owners to know that you actually do play them all and that they don't sit in their cases never seeing the light of day. I applaud your enthusiasm and your assistance in helping me develop the market in Greece... Dingwall Sales[/quote:23w3jbwv] Thanks for your kind words Dingwall Sales. It was a pleasure meeting you and Debbie in Greece, and I look forward meeting you again in the future anytime you may visit. I am a firm believer in Sheldon's pieces of art (oh, basses are they called??? ) and believe it or not, the decision of Bass Gallery in the UK to order Dingwalls was influenced by the fact that Alex (of Bass Gallery) had the chance to try most of my heard out, along with my 8 at the time Dingwalls (just ask Alex, he will tell you). When he got back, he got in touch with you. This is what I call pleasure to show the world Sheldon's work, cause the basses speak for themselves

[quote="groovemachine":22wqr80j]You have a really hard job because you have to move 62 Strings!!! If you need a hand for this "hard job" just call me......... [/quote:22wqr80j] You are more than welcome to help me on the hard job of replacing the 62 strings . If you come around please bring that gorgeous Z2 along to listen side by side with mine. Now I realize that I have no red Dingwall, no sapphire blue Dingwall, no fretless Dingwall.... I need to contain myself till I receive my Artist Prima. 2yrs away, only

Let's start taking a closer look at these pieces of Art, that I (we all) call Dingwall basses. The journey in the Dingwall Universe of Art and Sound will work in the order they were initially presented Here comes the first ever Artist Prima: Specs -6 string (B-C) -37" to 33.25" scale lengths -Pau Ferro fretboard -5-piece maple neck (graphite reinforced) -24 banjo frets -Abalone small block markers -Redwood Lace Burl top and back -Gloss finish -Flamed maple accents on top and back -FD-1 Pickups in Redwood lace burl/flamed maple/walnut covers -Aguilar OBP-3 preamp with the BlueEQube circuit and neck/series/parallel/bridge 4 position selector knob -matching knobs -matching headstock -matching control cavity and battery compartment covers -Detuner on the B string http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthrea ... t=dingwall This is a beauty to have, hold and play. Sheldon has created the ultimate 6str for me and this one is showcasing the level of Sheldon's art (woodwork, playability, ergonomics and sound). In the words of the Sheldon "By the way, this bass is the prototype Prima Artist. Geoff's input and willingness to experiment came at the right time for us to spread our wings a bit and raise the bar on the Prima design." The sound is deep, full yet modern-ish (FD-1's). There is no lack of clarity or body across the strings and the board. Very balanced and very easy to play (sitting or standing up). No problems with chords or tapping. The preamp (OBP-3) is very versatile, but the bass has sonic authority that the preamp is sheldom needed. After I present the Champagne 6str I will make a head to head comparison between the two. To be fair though, the Champagne one needs upgrading to FD1's or FD3's

FR.....can you give us a back shot? -edit- opps nevermind - the talkbass forum link has all the shots we need!

Here comes my second 6 str Prima (actually the first 6str Dingwall I bought). Not an Artist, but breathtaking nevertheless. you can actually see it on the Products page of Dingwall over the Prima description. I call it "Champagne" cause the burled maple top and back remind me of fine champagne bubbles Specs are: -6 string (B-C) -37" to 33.25" scale lengths -Wenge fingerboard with mother-of-pearl inlays -5-piece maple neck (graphite reinforced) -24 banjo frets -Exhibition grade burled maple top and back -Gloss finish -Dingwall designed Bartolini Pickups (vol is push/pull for active/passive) -Bartolini preamp and neck/series/parallel/bridge 4 position selector knob -matching knobs -matching headstock -magnetic battery compartment -Detuner on the B string The bass has a detailed sound with great body and bump in the sound but lacks the superb clarity and punch of the other Prima Artist (blame the Barts for that). With the help of the eq it can get close to the Artist Prima sonic territory but still missing something. When I upgrade to FD3's and OBP-3 I will let you know again, how the two compare. This one is for more subtle, thick and cushioning approaches whereas the Artist Prima is more in your face and robust. Different strokes for different blokes

Here comes my Emerald Green Prima 5. I have to admit I bought this one sight unseen. It left me speechless (pics just don't do justice to this one) Specs are: -5str (B-G) -37"-34" w/ zero fret -Wenge fingerboard with mother-of-pearl dot inlays -5-piece maple neck (graphite reinforced) -24 banjo frets -Flame maple top and back -Gloss finish -Dingwall designed Bartolini Pickups w/ vol and balance (vol is push/pull for active/passive) -Bartolini preamp (3 pos mid switch) I could not capture the color, but it's deep emerald green. The dual density core (walnut/alder) is not showing a lot but it's a beauty to hold and show. Even though this Prima is Bart equipped (I will go out to have a fund-raising sale of my other basses to equip my Prima's with FD3's) it's got good body and nice attack. Having heard the FD equipped Prima's and Z's I know I have to upgrade the pickups (I hardly use the preamp anyway)

Here come the one I call Prima 5, cause with a few extra touches (neck woods, matching pickup covers, battery compartment, knobs, control cavity cover and Artist Prima pickups) it could be an Artist Prima The specs are -5 string (B-G) -37" to 34" scale lengths -Wenge fretboard -5-piece maple neck (graphite reinforced) -24 banjo frets -Side markers only -Quilt Maple Top & Back -Contrasting Bubinga Accent Laminates top and back -Gloss finish -FD-3 Pickups -Aguilar OBP-3 preamp with the BlueEQube circuit and neck/series/parallel/bridge 4 position selector knob -matching headstock -Detuner on the B string This one showcases Sheldon's level of craftmanship at every level: esthetics, playbility, ergonomics, sound. It's the epitome of what a Dingwall can be (just before it reaches the level of Artist Prima). Playability and ergonomics is second to none. The sound is full, detailed, balanced with great authority and attack

Now is the turn of the Transparent Prima. The name was derived due to the "transparent" quality of it's sound (NOT wimpy though). I had this one at a rehearsal that had quite some sonic density: a loud, busy drummer; a Gibson Explorer corina 25yrs old, thick and dense sounding; a PRS custom 22, thick but more sparkly; an Ibanez Steve Vai 10th yr Anniversary, bright and screaming; two keyboard players; 3 vocalists. This very bass could be heard without turning up loud!!! No matter how many frequencies were thrown in front, it was tranparent enough to be heard through!!! I am no expert but IMHO a contributing factor is the padauk top and back Specs are: -5 string (B-G) -37" to 34" scale lengths -Wenge fretboard -5-piece maple neck (graphite reinforced) -24 banjo frets -Abalone small block markers -Padauk Top & Back (I am not aware of Sheldon making another one like that; please correct me if I am wrong) -Oil finish -FD-3 Pickups -Bartolini preamp -4 position selector knob neck/series/parallel/bridge -matching headstock Very versatile bass. No excessive presence in any particular sonic range, yet bright and full (maybe a touch low-mid shy)

My "Uber Alles" ("above all" in German). It started it's life with Barts and balance knob and it has ended up with FD3's and 4 pos rotary switch. Fine trails of it's past can be observed in the zero fret, Kahler brigde and the Bart preamp. It is my first Dingwall. I bought it in 1999. I was on the phone calling Sheldon to see why he thinks he has created something good, in terms of bass. I find a kind, very knowlegdable person with many ideas for present and future. So I get to buy this one. And my addiction had just started. I trully tried to contain myself by buying and trying as many basses as I could; but resistance is futile!!! See what I've ended up with: a dozen of Dingwall basses!!!! Oops, sorry... back to the thread. The bass had FD1's then FD3's. I did not change the preamp cause I hardly touch it. Specs are: -5 string (B-G) -37" to 34" scale lengths -Wenge fretboard -5-piece maple neck (graphite reinforced) -24 banjo frets -Zero fret -Abalone dot markers -Walnut body (two pieces) -Wenge Top & Back -Oil finish -FD-3 Pickups -Bartolini preamp -4 position selector knob neck/series/parallel/bridge From what Sheldon has told me, it's the only 5str one in existence (there was another one, a 6str sold in Switzerland just before I got mine). Soundwise it's the one that gave me my username "Fullrangebass". Need I say more?

The Z1 is the successor to the Zebra series. The classic ash/maple recipie uplifted to the next level of luthiery sprinkled with the magic touch of Sheldon. It is not as tamed as the Prima series. It's more aggressive and has more presence and attack (Sheldon really knows how to combine the pieces together. Specs are: -5 string (B-G) -37" to 34" scale lengths -Maple fretboard -5-piece maple neck (graphite reinforced) -24 banjo frets -Black small block markers -Quilt Maple Top -Gloss finish Trans-black -FD-3 Pickups -Aguilar OBP-3 preamp with the BlueEQube circuit and neck/series/parallel/bridge 4 position selector knob -matching headstock -Detuner on the B string It's the classic Z1 sound.

The Z2 is the classic SR with the Dingwall touch upgrade and finesse. Specs are trully similar to the Z1 but needs upgrading to FD3's Specs are: -5 string (B-G) -37" to 34" scale lengths -Maple fretboard -5-piece maple neck (graphite reinforced) -24 banjo frets -Abalone small block markers -Spalted Maple Top -Gloss finish Trans-blue -Bartolini Pickups -Bartolini preamp -4 position selector knob neck/series/parallel/bridge -matching headstock -Detuner on the B string

[quote="fullrangebass":10kgv37e]My "Uber Alles" ("above all" in German). It started it's life with Barts and balance knob and it has ended up with FD3's and 4 pos rotary switch. Fine trails of it's past can be observed in the zero fret, Kahler brigde and the Bart preamp. It is my first Dingwall. I bought it in 1999. I was on the phone calling Sheldon to see why he thinks he has created something good, in terms of bass. I find a kind, very knowlegdable person with many ideas for present and future. So I get to buy this one. And my addiction had just started. I trully tried to contain myself by buying and trying as many basses as I could; but resistance is futile!!! See what I've ended up with: a dozen of Dingwall basses!!!! Oops, sorry... back to the thread. The bass had FD1's then FD3's. I did not change the preamp cause I hardly touch it. Specs are: -5 string (B-G) -37" to 34" scale lengths -Wenge fretboard -5-piece maple neck (graphite reinforced) -24 banjo frets -Zero fret -Abalone dot markers -Walnut body (two pieces) -Wenge Top & Back -Oil finish -FD-3 Pickups -Bartolini preamp -4 position selector knob neck/series/parallel/bridge From what Sheldon has told me, it's the only 5str one in existence (there was another one, a 6str sold in Switzerland just before I got mine). Soundwise it's the one that gave me my username "Fullrangebass". Need I say more?[/quote:10kgv37e] Having played quite a few of FRB's Dingwalls (and a Fodera, an R-Bass, a Sei and a few more I can't recall) side by side, I have to say that this is the most amazing bass I've ever played. I played it just for a couple of minutes, but instantly connected with this bass, never felt so much at home with any other... Sheldon, I'll sell you my soul for one like this (as I don't have the money for a Prima Artist and doubt I ever will [img:10kgv37e]http://www.pcworld.hu/forum/style_emoticons/default/weep.gif[/img:10kgv37e])

The Zebra. In such a collection to miss one of the predessesors would be a sacrilege. The great thing is that it came fully loaded with FD3's and 4 pos rotary switch. The specs: -5 string (B-G) -37" to 34" scale lengths -Pau ferro fretboard -5-piece maple neck (graphite reinforced) -24 banjo frets -Side dot markers only -Two piece ash body -Gloss finish Trans-teal -FD-3 Pickups -2 band Bart preamp -Locking tuners -no active/passive option here Very upfront and agressive sounding. Very technique responsive. Super great for any kind of rock or slap. The eq does not help the bass to be versatile

Sheldon doesn't need souls, just loonies... lots and lots of 'em. You're off the hook, DL... enjoy your next Dingwall.

Fullrange, thank you for posting all of these pics... your collection is amazing, and it makes me very anxious to get my own started. I really only need three or four Prima Artists, right? Wait. I'm serious. Oh man, this is gonna take a while...

My Voodoo. It has some deviations from the normal voodoo line. Parallel pickups (or we should call them "vertical-to-the-strings-pickups"?), jumbo frets, black solid color, Sperzel locking tuners and Villex pickups and electronics. The specs are: -5 string (B-G) -37" to 34" scale lengths -Rosewood(???) fretboard -7-piece maple neck (graphite reinforced) -24 jumbo frets -Abalone block markers -Two piece walnut/alder body -Gloss finish Solid Black -Villex Pickups -Villex Electronics (Vol/Vol, Mid-control, Villex PASSIVE Booster) -Locking tuners The bass came originally with BC Bartolini pickups. Upon arrival it was below hte rest of the Dingwalls. So I materialized a long hybernating plan: to place villex pickups to a Dingwall. I placed the order and the pickups (along with the tone and mid control) were installed. I hardly use the tone pot so I went on to try another disturbing idea of mine: The Villex passive booster had just come out; why not place it there and if I don't like I remove it. Did I like it? please read here http://www.talkbass.com/reviews/showpro ... 36/cat/500 http://www.talkbass.com/reviews/showpro ... 36/cat/500 The bass is still a Dingwall, but the even-ness of the same note played in different strings is not here. Very different, yet very useful too.

My avatar Z1. Sheldon really came perfect again. The best Z1 ever (until the master comes up with the next step in the evolution of the bass) Specs are like the Z1

The "Brazil" one (Snotburst, as it was previously called). I am the last person to speak about it, but I have to admit that I am more than happy that I finally got it. Very deep and super thick sounding, but not with the attack and/or presence of my Prima 5, the Transparent or the Uber Alles Prima. A unique beauty; very exotic in both, looks, sounds and feel. I will record with it next Friday on my Latin/ Nuevo Flamenco project (along with my Uber Alles and the Villex-loaded Dingwall) I trully apologize for boring you with stupid details like these. Please forgive me. I am a confessed Eponymous Ding-aholic