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On 10/06/2025 at 12:02, Chadu25 said:

NBD and my first Dingwall! Pic don’t do it justice. It’s prettier in person and is freakin’ light! Didn’t take long for my hands to adjust on the fanned frets

Every time I see a white one I start to question my choice of vintage sunburst... but I'm not cracking... just yet!

I toured a MkIV AH250 through a red stripe 4x10 back in the day. Wonderful amp although 20 years later I acquired the same model for nostalgic reasons and the sound wasn't how I remembered it.

I got into the SMX 12 band stuff with the tube and the dual-band compressor. That was my favourite preamp and I'm not sure if anybody has bettered it.

Power ratings are so unpredictable. I hear people complaining today that a relatively recent 300w Class D head is hitting it's limits. 300w seemed a lot in the 80s.

On 11/06/2025 at 08:03, SumOne said:

Nice one. I should've got in there with the original Bass Direct prices, their prices have now gone up to £2,050.

£2099 for the Vintage Sunburst. Not sure if that's a mistake.

Once I saw the GuitarGuitar prices (£2299) and after speaking to Andertons I didn't think they would stay under £2k for very long.

Another price increase before too long wouldn't surprise me either.

I remember when some Canadian basses would come in under £2k!

23 hours ago, MichaelDean said:

I sometimes wonder if Bass Direct get a preferential buying rate from Dingwall. They always seem to have the lowest prices. Or maybe they take a smaller margin from the sale price on Dingwalls?

When I was browsing around the other day I did notice that they weren't the lowest in the UK for the John Taylor model.

I've not seen the SP1 near the Bass Direct price though.

35" on the B is better than 34". The E is just over 34" which I think will be a minimal improvement. The rest of the strings are less than 34" which will hopefully make them fuller-sounding so it all makes sense for a Precision vibe.

I hope the combination of fanned frets and overall reduced scale length doesn't make the high frets too condensed for the odd chord up there.

Regarding the graphic above on playing position v pickup angles - you have to also factor in how close you are to the bridge. I can't help thinking the way to play a DIngwall is to adapt a technique which moves forward as you switch to the higher strings.

On 22/04/2025 at 20:57, MichaelDean said:

I still can't get on with the Darkglass tone though. That fizzy top end and seemingly disconnected low just doesn't sound good to me. 

It's not compatible with me neither. I had high hopes for a Vintage Ultra but was so disappointed. I will check out the videos of this but Darkglass are on my 'nope, won't be for me' list.

I don't really do digital without a fight either 🙂

Just revisiting this thread. When this auction ran and it's selling point was 'it was used on All Mod Cons' I thought Bruce had replaced it after that.

I especially like the one he used on the Trans-Global Express gig from 1982 that was filmed and released on video. Upon closer inspection it is the same bass unless he also modified more than one black/maple P the same way.

Assuming he didn't THIS is the Bruce bass to own.

 Back in the 80s I would view the big powerful Trace Elliot heads as the true Rolls Royce of bass amps.

I view this as the modern day equivalent.

pm'd

23 hours ago, HeadlessBassist said:

 

I played an S2000 at BassBros in Warwickshire last weekend, and was reminded how ballsy and powerful the original 2-band preamps were in those things. Just a pity that it was nearly £3000 in 2025 money. *Sigh*

I thought they sold that one. Yes, if I had the money...

I remember Sting's fretless Dark Stain one. Think it was model MC940DS. He always had a phaser on it. Sounded fab and the fact he was a bit loose with the note pitch didn't seem to matter!

Edit: Apparently it's a MC900DS modified to fretless!

4 hours ago, Bass Direct said:

Great times! We do try our very best to get the 80's gear in the shop where possible, Wal/Jaydee/Status etc

 

Yes, you are 'The Bass Centre' in 2025 🙂

Just reminiscing. There were some crackers weren't there. I remember visiting the Bass Centre in Wapping numerous times and seeing Steinbergers, Status's and Wals. I bought a lovely Wal Pro 2E Cherry second-hand for I think... 300 quid.
 

If I had a time machine and some funds I'd go back and get a Status S2000 in black weave preferably with the script font on the brass bridge plate. I love the look of early Status basses. All shiny and new.

We were spoiled.

Passive is my preference. Extensive tone tweaks can usually be done elsewhere and I don't have to worry about batteries and electronics that I didn't need going wonky.

If I have the urge for an active bass it's a plus if it also has a passive mode and it's quite a big deal that it can still function if the battery dies.

When I hear a good demo of a good Fender Precision I ask 'why would you need anything else'?

PM'd

6 minutes ago, binky_bass said:

The 6 string with a flame top and 5 band EQ comes to a shade over £2000 using the discount codes, not investigated shipping though... tempting, but as I've never played one its too much of a role of the dice, that and I don't have a spare £2000! 

Shipping & duties will add around £500 by my reckoning.

I didn't think you could use two discount codes but you can. It makes the price for the stock five-string an attractive £2070.29 and that supposedly includes import duties and taxes. There are only 4 days left for the additional discount code. Tempting.

10 hours ago, Langy said:

Yes we did. Andy Duncan on drums Simon Darlow on keys and Joel Bogen on guitar. I remember driving up to Whetstone from Cranleigh in Surrey every morning during these rehearsals. Probably the hardest part of the gig!!   One thing I recall from the recording sessions is the producer Nick Tauber insisted that I put a new set of strings on my bass for every new track recorded. After two or three tracks of this I thought 'this was not only getting expensive but completely unnecessary'. So, next track I went into the studio, took off the strings , replaced them with the set I'd saved from the previous track. Went back into the control room and Nick said  "Aah! that's better... you can hear the difference it makes!"  I said " of course you're right Nick. I'll change them every track in future" which I did. The same two sets of strings for the whole album! Sorry Nick!

Haha... fantastic. Great story! Yes completely unnecessary. Thanks for the insights Brad.

Nice to see you here Brad. One album you played on gets a reissue this month - Toyah's 'Love Is The Law'. Phil Spalding plays on the other tracks. I think you did the prep at Toyah's house in Whetstone.

Just getting interested in these, especially the V. Sadly what constitutes 'affordable' these days is still fairly pricey. Watched lots of youtube demos and I think they sound good. I've always liked carbon necks for their clarity and consistency. I quite like the 4 string micro-headstock with the straight string pull. I also like the G&L can-opener.

The Klos Apollo reminds me of a cross between Status, Dingwall and EBMM. Only thing I'm not sure about is the carbon pickguard and knobs (on the custom) but they could be changed. I'd probably go passive.

3 hours ago, spyder said:

I noticed the drive decals too. What a stupid design putting them in different positions and having to label them in orange so we can find them. 🤯

Could have all been in a straight line with the left footswitch. Reasons.

7 hours ago, thisisswanbon said:

I like that it's the same circuit - existing owners are less likely to feel put out (especially those new to party like me)... but the headphone in/aux out is a brilliant addition. 

 

Not sure I like the new aesthetic as much as V1. I always liked the rubber knobs on aggie stuff. Also, although lightweight is always good, I find the weight and build of the V1 reassuring; you know you're holding a serious bit of kit.

Yes I prefer the original knobs too. The new ones are a bit bland. A problem I found on the AG were that they weren't easy to read as they seemed to blend into the pedal design. The TH seems better in that regard. I can see a TH pedal in my future.

£229 will get you a Neve RNDI. I A/B'd with my Noble and decided to keep the RNDI and get some cash in. I'm getting interested in the Sushi Box Finally v2  now though.

Very happy with my V2. Form factor and metering just makes it better all round. I did briefly have a V1 but that lost out to my Becos. Becos is now up for sale. The Cali76 V2 won. It just oozes quality.

I found the Streamliner far too wooly for me and I like wool! Maybe I didn't tweak the knobs enough. I think this one will be more to my liking.