Mark-- I have FD1s in my ABI. I don't think - at least it hasn't -farted or burped for me. The pickups are super punchy, tons of mids, aggressive sounding. Not like any fender Jazz bass I've ever played. Now my rear p'up on my SJ has a lot of bark in it, but i believe its a one off from Sheldon

[quote="evilgus":8rceteq0]Given I rarely use passive mode and generally have some bass & treble boost going, would Fatties give me something similar with flat EQ? (At least the bass boost bit.) Cheers, EG[/quote:8rceteq0] Yes, I'm sure you could dial it in. Speaking of pickups, I have said in the past, and have also mentioned to Sheldon, my only niggle with my Dingwalls was that I couldn't get the bridge pickups to bark and fart like a Jazz bass. I've heard FD1s have that tone, but somebody else will have to confirm that. The Mach pickups that Sheldon put in my Voodoo came closer to getting that tone, but still lacked that certain midrange bump I wanted. The Fatties have that tone available, but with the switching options available a Z3 can pull off any tone you should need. When I get another upmarket Dingwall, it will definitely have Fatties. Mark

Good discussion, guys, I've also been contemplating a custom Z order and wondering whether to try Fatties or stick with FD-3 4Ls. My ABII is really rocking my socks off and I don't want to lose that general sound, but also not sure I could afford to keep both basses. Given I rarely use passive mode and generally have some bass & treble boost going, would Fatties give me something similar with flat EQ? (At least the bass boost bit.) Cheers, EG

[quote="John H.":8lziljaz][quote="Dragonlord":8lziljaz]Good decision, to be honest I never understood going with super fatties on Zs. OK, I'm sure they're great for the super J, but it's a more traditional oriented tone, with less definition and harmonic content. FD-3s are incredible pickups and I wouldn't want an AB/Z/Prima with fatties instead of FD-3s. That's where my excitement about the Z3 ended too.[/quote:8lziljaz] Hi Dragonlord, Where did you get the impression that the Super Fatties have less definition and harmonic content than the FD-3s? When I played the FD-3s and Fatties side by side (my ABII and twoport's Z3), I didn't get that impression. They were different in subtle ways, but I don't think one was less than the other. Let me know your experience. Thanks, John[/quote:8lziljaz] +1, John. I see the Fatties as having all the qualities the FD3 has, but they're hotter and punchier. You can dial it in to sound like FDs if you want. It's the Dingwall pickup that you can get to break up if you push it. I can get very convincing P and J bass tones, or modern tones out of my Z3. The Fatties rock. Mark

[quote="Dragonlord":1fosrbj5]Good decision, to be honest I never understood going with super fatties on Zs. OK, I'm sure they're great for the super J, but it's a more traditional oriented tone, with less definition and harmonic content. FD-3s are incredible pickups and I wouldn't want an AB/Z/Prima with fatties instead of FD-3s. That's where my excitement about the Z3 ended too.[/quote:1fosrbj5] Hi Dragonlord, Where did you get the impression that the Super Fatties have less definition and harmonic content than the FD-3s? When I played the FD-3s and Fatties side by side (my ABII and twoport's Z3), I didn't get that impression. They were different in subtle ways, but I don't think one was less than the other. Let me know your experience. Thanks, John

Good decision, to be honest I never understood going with super fatties on Zs. OK, I'm sure they're great for the super J, but it's a more traditional oriented tone, with less definition and harmonic content. FD-3s are incredible pickups and I wouldn't want an AB/Z/Prima with fatties instead of FD-3s. That's where my excitement about the Z3 ended too.

Mine are also FD-3 Mach II 4L pickups.

Sheldon bleached the spalted top, to remove as much of the brown/tan color as possible. It will be finished in a black burst. Pickups will be the FD-3 Mach IIs with switchable series/parallel on both.

Frank and BunrningSkies, Which pickups are going in your Z1s? Beautiful spault tops!

[quote="amodeo@mitre.org":181kfu1h]Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing the third one in the top picture. And playing it! [/quote:181kfu1h] Super nice top on that one! Mine's in the bottom picture, far left! Anyone wants more detailed shots, I've got a thread running at TB with more!

Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing the third one in the top picture. And playing it!

I'm looking forward to seeing that new Z3, as always, and the Z1 with fatties. The top looks great!

Looks like Sheldon decided to make the Super Fatties parallel on the new Zs.

Can't wait to see the Z2 with Fatties. Mark

Here's a quick shot of the current run. See you in a week.

[quote="amodeo@mitre.org":3ed4puwn]Are there any photos of the last two Zs from this group (or three Zs if you count that reworked voodoo)? Or did I miss them? Also (and more important from my perspective), any idea when the next batch of Zs will be underway?[/quote:3ed4puwn] Just got an update from Sheldon...looks like either my batch 1.5 Z, or possibly batch 2 are soon to happen. Got a picture of my new top/body blank glued up and ready for the CNC...

[quote="fullrangebass":2hxuovjf]I confess, I confess. I have nothing to do with this Z2!!! On the other hand, we never know what the future holds!!! [/quote:2hxuovjf] Oh yes we do, when it comes to Fullrange and Dingwalls! Mark

I confess, I confess. I have nothing to do with this Z2!!! On the other hand, we never know what the future holds!!!

[quote="guitarded":10szxr0e][quote="BurningSkies":10szxr0e]Just a quick update. I believe at this time the Z-2 has been claimed. One of our people has contacted Sheldon and has made arrangements for this bass to be theirs...and going far far away from Saskatoon. Congratulations to the new owner, you're going to have an amazing bass![/quote:10szxr0e] Stop the madness, Eddy! (I think). BTW, isn't [i:10szxr0e]everywhere[/i:10szxr0e] far away from The Flatlands? Mark[/quote:10szxr0e] Wrong continent.

[quote="BurningSkies":3omdx91y]Just a quick update. I believe at this time the Z-2 has been claimed. One of our people has contacted Sheldon and has made arrangements for this bass to be theirs...and going far far away from Saskatoon. Congratulations to the new owner, you're going to have an amazing bass![/quote:3omdx91y] Stop the madness, Eddy! (I think). BTW, isn't [i:3omdx91y]everywhere[/i:3omdx91y] far away from The Flatlands? Mark