In this interview, Sheldon Dingwall shares Dingwall Guitars' history and challenges in creating an instrument to deliver the sound he wanted and much more. #fannedfrets #thehypeisreal #custombass
I just applied for a job with Dingwall, and while I highly doubt that they (Dingwall) haven't already thought of building guitars, my hope is to bring guitar design ideas to the company, as that is, impo, my area of expertise.
@ishen3771 No dice lol. The shop in Saskatoon is full, and the resume pile is very high. I am building a bunch of guitars on my own right now. They will be available for sale in the fall under the brand name Optimal Unison.
@@peachmelba1000 Ah I see. Nice that you've started building your own instruments though! Btw thanks for replying to a 1 year old comment of yours so fast xD
Tried a Dingwall NG3 5 string for the first time about 4 weeks ago. The bass did not leave my mind for a week. Got that "the one that got away" feeling when i was thinking i wasn't going to buy it. I've allwas been into the classics, the Jazz basses, Precisions, Sting Rays, 4003s etc. The Dingwall felt like a future classic and i needed one. The NG3 now sits in my lap at home. Didn't feel right that I wasn't going to have it. I've only had it for 3 weeks, but it feels like it's going to be mine the next 40 years.
I've met and talked to Sheldon and the guys at Dingwall many times, The work they do on both domestic and custom sides is just phenomenal! Much love for the Boys and Boss at Dingwall. ❤
currently saving up for my own NG3. but back before there was only a combustion, i emailed dingwall support asking about a certain spec about their bass. I was surprised that it was Sheldon himself who answered me and explained. hopefully i meet him in person one day. definitely an icon in making modern basses.
In The Netherlands we had an equivalent of Duran Duran, a band called 'Doe Maar' they were a ska/reggea band. Henny Vrienten their frontman and bassplayer was a big believer in these basses. When one of his Dingwalls got stolen, he launched a full on press campaign to get it back and eventually did. Sadly he passed away last year april 25th age 72 from cancer. He was 1 of Hollands biggest composers with a succesfull career spanning 4 decades also, doing movie scores, being a ghostwriter and composing the music for Sesame Street. Bc all lyrics were in Dutch Doe Maar never rose to fame internationally but he is the equivalent of John Taylor here. The band quit in 1984 after only 4 years because they drawed crowds in like when The Beatles or The Stones came to Holland. I hope Sheldon once gets to know this. Maybe give Henny Vrienten an honourable mention and put his picture between the artists on his website. He deserves it!
That custom number with the burl top and cracks inlays - I've held that. It's got, I think, a roasted ash neck and it is GORGOUS. Absolutely exquisite.
I had the pleasure of meeting Sheldon and have him work on my bass when he was still in the basement of a Music Store in Saskatoon. He was a great guy then and he is the exact same guy now. Lee Sklar said he never took the invitation to play peoples bass’s, but Sheldon was just different. I’m so happy to finally own a Dingwall. Everything he says about them is true! I learned even more in this video. Fabulous video Andertons !! 😃
Great interview, I love how Sheldon is a historian of guitar technology from ancient times to today. And modestly credits all the work of pioneers that he has built upon to create his guitars. And 2 cool guys having a very interesting conversation. Great post guys!
such a great interview, Ralph Novak is such a genius and it's so cool to see people like him and Sheldon being such great champions for the art of making instruments.
Awesome! Great business from Saskatchewan, Canada where I’m from! These are world-class instruments and it’s so awesome to see his great work being played around the world. Cheers!
Same here - toontown born and raised. I remember drooling over the Voodoo's hanging on the wall at HEL Music on broadway as a young bassist. Finally got an ABI at some point that I had for 22yrs till she burned up in my house fire. Hoping to replace her with another ABI or II in the near future once insurance settles up!
Now, this was an interview!!! Sheldon is certainly a futurist. Great to hear inside stories that inspire. That being said, I NEED to get ME one of these!!!
I played a Dingwall in 2002 or 2003 and it took me until this year to be able to get one for myself. Got a Combustion 3, 5 string. I also have a MM Bongo 5 and have owned several other mid range basses. I unboxed the Combustion and let it warm up from the Feburary shipping temps and played it. Never had such a great setup on an instrument before. Right out of the box it shammed my Bongo. I have since setup the Bongo using Sheldon's specs and it plays fantastic. For me the Combustion is a destination bass. I am afraid to try any of the Canadian ones now because I can't afford them! :)
It's been a year and a half since i've bought my combustion and it's easily the best bass i've ever played, it has the most comfortable neck i've ever tried. I really hope that one day i'll be able to purchase one of the more high-end instruments by you!
Great interview! I’ve lived that trying-to-find-the-right-colour in China experience. It’s exhilarating when you get there. :-) Warm regards from a fellow Canadian… and congrats on the new bass!
I am a guitar player (and recording/mixing engineer), and I own 3 Dingwall Basses (2 combustions & an NG-2). They absolutely do the thing better than any other bass I've played or tracked with.
Sheldon's defiffo one of the premier bass wizzards, there's him, Rob from Status (now retrired), Phil From Kubicki (rip), Chris from Overwater my fave luithiers of all time...
Fantastic interview! I really love these one-on-ones. I had firmly said a hard “NO” to the Combustion, as it’s made in China. I suppose I’m willing to at least take a second look.
Kudos for using Toby from The Omnific for the demo! This guy deffo can show all that Dingwall bass is capable of! Incredible musicians the whole band! 🙌
Interesting comment on pickup tone - I find I have a favourite tone for practising and recording, but use a different one live because it works much better in the context of guitar and drums around it.
Great Video... I startet watching it by cleaning the bedroom but endet it with my NG3-5String in my arms! Some Days ago I played some stuff, I played on a fretless bass before, but now I play everything on the Dingwall, because theres pitch / pitch / pitch / pitch / pitch not fret / fret / fret / fret / fret / fret !!!
This is such a profound and instructive interview, containing information that goes WAY beyond the simple design of bass guitars. I encourage anyone to watch and pause often as you do so,…Go down the rabbit holes that Sheldon brings to light, from Fury guitars onwards. It's SO educational and fascinating.
I'm from winnipeg and yes one of my friends have a dingwall and he let me try it and went to Long and mcquade and order the NG3 and still waiting for the bass can't wait
Huge dingwall fan! Got an ng2 and a D roc. I'm slowly trying to work up to a prima 😉 Seriously though. Can't put into words how good they feel to play.
I wish I had the money for a Dingwall right now lol. I’m a guitarist and upright bassist wanting to get into electric bass (for modern metal) and I’ve been drooling over Dingwalls lately. Sigh.
Very cool! Man I want one his basses, but so so expensive. One day for sure, I know it’s worth the money. I like that new model they have kinda firebirdish. I dug that one cause, it’s just different from the others, (always like that the shape is more radical) but it has a lot of specs that I want…. Compared em to some Ibanez 5 string fan frets I was looking at too. Idk I’m kinda just holding for that special one, his basses kinda make me go yeah… “you need a good bass that’s the one”. I record music, and started on bass but play guitar now. I’m not talented like these guys, but rather have that one bass that I enjoy playing and records well and not fight with it. Sometimes guitars are like that, but bass you know when it’s right. One day.
Personally even though I am from Canada, I discovered Dingwall through Arjen Lucassen of Ayreon & Star One through Ayreon's video of The Day That The World Breaks Down.
Just saying as an 8 string guitar player I'd happily accept a guitar that says dingwall on it. A white combustion 8 string guitar with a maple fretboard would be an insta buy for me.
I was worried about the 37in b string being too long, I have a 35in scale bass and the extra inch is definitely noticeable to reach the first fret. Because it's multiscale that bass is actually shorter than a 34in scale bass!
…"Do I not like this pickup cause it's 'bad' or do I not like it cause I'm not used to (hearing) it?…Profound question…Always listen and re-listen and challenge your own mind…Allow the possibility of new sonic avenues in your music…That's a beautiful thing!
I heard 7-8 strings Dingwall guitars? Yes please! Godin probably won't make them and didn't build a metal guitar since their Redline series in the 2000s. Would be nice for a Canadian player to be able to go to a Canadian builder for that type of guitar.
I'm so surprised Lee thought Nolly was too serious. Periphery are a bunch of goofs in the best way. Misha even mentions in the P2 doc that everyone thinks Nolly is serious when he's actually not. He made a ball sack kick drum on the Juggernaut doc ffs 😂 Lee if you see this, please take a chance for Nolly's silly side to shine through with you!
Damn man, let mr Dingwall to finish his coments, each time he was going to arrive somewhere interesting you interrumpted with something completely different
Respectfully, I can’t afford your instruments because I can’t afford food, I want it enough but I also want to eat and can’t even do that every week I get the sentiment but, especially in this day and age, it comes off very out of touch Also I went to uni and work in the medical field, it’s not from lack of trying but due to capitalistic greed Sorry rant over
