The aforementioned construction goals
of the Z3 were confirmed when plucking the strings. Tension on each string
was very even, making 16th-note runs
and string crossing a breeze. Expert slappers may find the spacing between the
neck pickup and the fretboard too narrow
for two-finger popping, but Dingwall
also offers other basses that will appease
thumb players.
Tonally, the Z3 is a Swiss Army
knife. I played it through a Genz
Benz ShuttleMAX 9. 2 head driving
a Glockenklang Quattro 410 cab, a
Glockenklang Soul head driving two
Glockenklang Space Deluxe 1x12s, and an
Eden WT800 driving an Eden 1x15 cab.
With all of these rigs, I was able emulate
the punch of a StingRay or the warm,
plucky sounds of a Jazz bass with a simple
turn of the pickup selector. I compared it
to my 1964 Fender Jazz bass and a 5-string
StingRay, and it was sonically spot-on. The
only difference was that the Dingwall conveyed these tones with more clarity and a
more even fundamental note.
In live settings, the Z3 sat firmly within
the mix and was so responsive that I easily articulated my own voice. Every note
was delivered with great definition—from
the lowest notes of the 5th string to the
upper portion of the 1st string. I was also
able to adapt it to many different musical
styles. The deep growl of the neck pickup
was great on blues gigs, the punch and
crunch of the humbucker was ideal for
rock, and the J-bass position worked well
for R&B and fusion. In each scenario, I
was impressed with the its ability to rise
to the occasion.
The Verdict
The Dingwall Z3 is impressive in sound,
look, and feel, and would suit studio bassists or players who perform multiple styles
of music. The multiple scale lengths and
slapping-space issues may frustrate some,
but anyone else who invests in this boutique beauty will be thrilled with its quality
components, impeccable playability, and
pristine tone.
Rating:
Buy If...
you seek a boutique bass with
clarity, definition, and a multitude
of tones.
Skip If...
you prefer traditional looks, slap
a lot, or are on a budget.
Dingwall Guitars
Street $5610
dingwallguitars.com
or use a mobile device to download
audio clips of the bass at
CLICKHere…
premierguitar.com/oct2011
