Dingwall Super P Far East model?

[PTB]

I’m late to this but have just stumbled across the SP1 5 string on Bass Direct’s website so I’m looking forward to playing one. 
I also need a light bass - just under 9lbs ideally - but this is ticking a lot of boxes for me. 

[Machines]

I got one. It's a smidge under 9lb

 

Full review later.

 

 

Edited May 25 by Machines

[Chadu25]

5 hours ago, Machines said:

I got one. It's a smidge under 9lb

 

Full review later.

 

 

 

Nice! Where’d you order from? Getting the same one from BassDirect. 

Edited May 25 by Chadu25

[Machines]

1 hour ago, Chadu25 said:

 

Nice! Where’d you order from? Getting the same one from BassDirect. 

 

GuitarGuitar had one 5 string in stock (one 4 string still available). 

 

From the packaging it was sent directly to someone at GG head office, rather than being a bulk delivery.

[Machines]

Summary - I don't think anyone is going to be disappointed with the SP1.

 

The setup was decent but a little 'on the edge' for me, I felt it benefited from lowering the pickups and raising the action a bit (truss relief) to let the strings ring a bit more.

 

Soundwise the P pickup is sublime, fat and with clarity, also the J is definitely not thin (it's actually a 6 string sized pickup from Combustion model). Blended in parallel they give an excellent balanced tone where neither pickup is overpowering, and in series it takes on a totally new character - but without overwhelming the output (which is an issue i've had on ALL Combustion based models).

 

It has the Fender vibe to the looks and tone, but with Dingwall zest, it could easily be a 'one to rule them all' instrument. However as I practice bass polyamory, that won't happen with me. 

 

n.b. now features block inlays (Neck Illusions) and Canadian knobs

 

 

 

 

[Chadu25]

2 hours ago, Machines said:

 

GuitarGuitar had one 5 string in stock (one 4 string still available). 

 

From the packaging it was sent directly to someone at GG head office, rather than being a bulk delivery.

Nice! Hoping I get mine too soon! I’m so excited!

[Machines]

 

[Dood]

On 25/05/2025 at 23:19, Machines said:

Summary - I don't think anyone is going to be disappointed with the SP1.

 

The setup was decent but a little 'on the edge' for me, I felt it benefited from lowering the pickups and raising the action a bit (truss relief) to let the strings ring a bit more.

 

Soundwise the P pickup is sublime, fat and with clarity, also the J is definitely not thin (it's actually a 6 string sized pickup from Combustion model). Blended in parallel they give an excellent balanced tone where neither pickup is overpowering, and in series it takes on a totally new character - but without overwhelming the output (which is an issue i've had on ALL Combustion based models).

 

It has the Fender vibe to the looks and tone, but with Dingwall zest, it could easily be a 'one to rule them all' instrument. However as I practice bass polyamory, that won't happen with me. 

 

n.b. now features block inlays (Neck Illusions) and Canadian knobs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great pictures and review Machines! Nice bass!

[SumOne]

On 25/05/2025 at 14:02, Machines said:

I got one. It's a smidge under 9lb

 

 

 

This is very useful to know, in fact as far as I can see it is the first/only time the actual weight has been mentioned anywhere online. It is just about on my self-imposed 4kg limit.

 

Once Bass Direct have them in stock I'll make a trip there to try it out vs the new Ibanez EHB. I think I'll probably prefer a few things on the SP1 like the tone and front facing jack, 22 frets (more room in that plucking area), body shape, and the look...but I expect the Ibanez will stack up in a similar way for scale lengths, tone, and playability and will be about 0.5kg lighter (and £250 cheaper) so it'll be a tough call.

[Machines]

2 hours ago, SumOne said:

Once Bass Direct have them in stock I'll make a trip there to try it out vs the new Ibanez EHB. I think I'll probably prefer a few things on the SP1 like the tone and front facing jack, 22 frets (more room in that plucking area), body shape, and the look...but I expect the Ibanez will stack up in a similar way for scale lengths, tone, and playability and will be about 0.5kg lighter (and £250 cheaper) so it'll be a tough call.

 

That EHB will sound VERY different. I've had a bass with those Fishman pickups and could not get on with them - very 'EQ'd' sound, like a more extreme EMG. I would also say the Dingwall quality will exceed the Ibanez.

[Chadu25]

Excited to receive the "ÿour order has shipped" email from Bassdirect! They are due to arrive soon last time I messaged them which was 2 days ago.

[Woodinblack]

2 hours ago, Machines said:

 I would also say the Dingwall quality will exceed the Ibanez.

 

I would have thought they would be the same? I have only had one dingwall and quite a lot of ibanezs but I didn't get that feel from my dingwall.

 

[SumOne]

 

[krispn]

I loved my super p and would love to try one of these but the recent price jumps!!! 
Stillifni had to consolidate down to one bass I’d be happy with a green one 😀

[Musicman20]

20 hours ago, krispn said:

I loved my super p and would love to try one of these but the recent price jumps!!! 
Stillifni had to consolidate down to one bass I’d be happy with a green one 😀

There seems to be wildly different prices. Bass Direct have the 4 strings for 1899. Much more in some other stores.

[SumOne]

56 minutes ago, Musicman20 said:

There seems to be wildly different prices. Bass Direct have the 4 strings for 1899. Much more in some other stores.

Yeah, I guess there's a certain amount of supply and demand for the pricing of these first ones, but the 'out of stock' pricing at Bass Direct is best.

 

Seeing as a D-roc is about £1,650 for a 4 string or £1,750 for a 5 I'd hope that is roughly where the price of an SP1 settles. If anything then not having a preamp or fancy glitter paint jobs would presumably make it a bit cheaper to produce. 

[krispn]

Yeah I was hoping it would appear for a bit less but world wide the cost of basses and almost everything else is getting silly…still wanna try one mind!

[Musicman20]

36 minutes ago, SumOne said:

Yeah, I guess there's a certain amount of supply and demand for the pricing of these first ones, but the 'out of stock' pricing at Bass Direct is best.

 

Seeing as a D-roc is about £1,650 for a 4 string or £1,750 for a 5 I'd hope that is roughly where the price of an SP1 settles. If anything then not having a preamp or fancy glitter paint jobs would presumably make it a bit cheaper to produce. 

I think you might be right - once the initial rush is over they might end up a little cheaper. So far:

 

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/dingwall-sp1-5-string-ducati-white/

 

1950 - which is a wildly cheaper than the early stock in other stores.

[MichaelDean]

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?

[Machines]

26 minutes 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?

 

Impossible to answer, I'd probably expect a smaller margin with little 'bonanza sale' wiggle room.

[MrDinsdale]

I would love to grab one at some point, not really feeling any of the finishes just yet but look solid. 

[Woodinblack]

On 01/06/2025 at 16:28, krispn said:

I loved my super p and would love to try one of these but the recent price jumps!!! 

 

Its certainly going a bit crazy when suddenly £2k for an indonesian instrument is being talked about like a bargain!

[markorbit]

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.

[krispn]

It was on preorder at BD and I wonder if things have just jumped up a bit in price since the preorder? 
 

Could be that they all end up at the wrong side of 2k

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 14:48 by krispn

[Musicman20]

The tones from those pickups sound great, it looks fantastic, no doubt plays great but the smaller banjo frets and cost aren't for me.

 

I am surprised their import basses are now 2k+. I realise manufacturing location doesn't mean much now, heck look at Apple and how insanely high quality their products are, but....it's a lot for a modern take on a PJ from China.