Collection: Dingwall Basses

Dingwall Bass Guitars

If you've ever played any Dingwall Basses, you already know. If you haven't, nothing we write here will prepare you for what that B-string feels like under your fingers.

Dingwall's multiscale design isn't a gimmick. It's physics. By fanning the frets, each string gets its own optimised scale length. The result? Even tension across the board, fundamentals that actually sound like fundamentals, and a low B so tight and defined it earned the reputation of being the "best B in the business." Once you feel it, every parallel-fret bass starts to seem like a compromise.

We're one of Dingwall's largest dealers in Europe, with the biggest custom order list on this side of the Atlantic. Whether you want something off the shelf or built to your exact spec in the Canadian Custom Shop, this is the place.

Ready-to-Play Models

Our stock rotates constantly, but here's what we typically carry:

• Combustion - The workhorse. Affordable multiscale that punches way above its price point.
• SP1 - The P-bass, reimagined. Passive, thinner body, Leo Fender's blueprint run through the fan-fret machine, now with Dingwall's new Minimalist hardware.
• NG3 - The step up. Better pickups, more refined tone, still unmistakably Nolly. The NG3 5 in Ducati White is essentially a permanent fixture on our order list, we restock it as fast as it sells.
• D-Roc Standard - The triple-pickup rock monster, straight off the shelf. Versatile enough for any genre, loud enough to turn heads. Also available as a Canadian Custom Shop build (more on that below).

All models are available in 4-string, 5-string, and 6-string configurations. Finishes include Ducati White, Laguna Blue, Gold Matte, Aquamarine, Metallic Black, Black Forest Green, Celestial Blue, Ari Gold, Ferrari Green, and more.

The SP1: Dingwall's P-Bass, Reinvented

The SP1 is Dingwall's take on Leo Fender's blueprint, run through the fan-fret machine. Thinner alder body, a slim 1-piece maple neck, passive electronics, and the multiscale fingerboard that keeps tension even from string to string and makes the low B a non-issue. It's built through hybrid manufacturing (Indonesia and Canada) and borrows the same pickup concept Dingwall now uses in the Custom Shop Super P. Available as a 4-string (32" to 34.25") or a 5-string (32" to 35"), in Metallic Black, Vintageburst, Dark Candy Green, and Ducati Pearl White.

The new hardware. The SP1 is where Dingwall's new Minimalist bridge shows up: a clean, low-mass one-piece design with a custom riser system, so you dial your action with the risers instead of fighting a pile of grub screws. It ships with lightweight open-gear tuners and a Graphtech Black Tusq nut with a bullet string retainer. Under the hood it stays honest: passive, no battery, no preamp. Just a master volume, a master tone, and a 4-position Quad-Tone selector that runs the Dual-P neck pickup and the FD3n bridge pickup from neck solo through series and parallel to bridge solo.

How the Models Compare

Not sure where to start? Here's the honest breakdown. Note the D-Roc lives on both sides of the line: off the shelf as the Standard, or built to spec in the Custom Shop.

Canadian Custom Shop

For those who want something truly their own, we handle Dingwall Custom Shop orders directly. The lineup includes the D-Roc Custom, Super J, Super P, Super PJ, Z3, Afterburner, and the Lee Sklar Signature, all built by hand in Canada to your specifications.

As a result of years working closely with Dingwall, we know the options, the lead times, and the pitfalls. In other words, we'll walk you through the entire process so the bass you receive is exactly the one you had in your head.

Why Multiscale?

If you're still on the fence, here's what Dingwall's fanned-fret system actually delivers:

• Equalised tension from string to string: no more adjusting your technique to compensate for a slack low B or an overly stiff G.
• Stronger fundamental tones: cleaner lows without the woolly overtones that plague standard-scale 5-strings.
• Better intonation across the entire neck, because each string vibrates at its ideal length.
• That B-string: tight, focused, and articulate. Once you've played it, you'll understand why people won't shut up about it.
• It's actually pretty fast to get used to. Figure about 3 minutes for the lower register and 5 for the upper register (above the 14th fret).

Dingwall Basses - FAQ

Are Dingwall basses actually worth it?
If you play a 5 or a 6 and you've ever fought a floppy low B, yes. The multiscale fixes the exact problem every other 5-string asks you to work around. And beyond the design, the quality control coming out of Dingwall is insane: every bass lands recording-ready and road-ready, properly set up, dressed and intonated, no trip to the tech before its first session or its first gig. If you only play a 4 in standard tuning and you're perfectly happy, you can live without one. Most people who try one don't go back.

Are Dingwall basses for metal only?
No, and it's the biggest myth about the brand. Sure, half of modern metal plays them, but the lineup tells the real story: the SP1 is a passive P-bass, the Super J is a Jazz bass, and the Quad-Tone and multi-pickup options cover everything from vintage warmth to modern punch. Funk, gospel, R&B, pop, session work, prog, the even tension and clear low B help in all of them. The fanned frets don't have a genre, they just make the instrument play better.

What's the difference between the SP1 and the NG3?
Different voices. The SP1 is the passive, P-bass side of Dingwall: one volume, one tone, a pickup selector and no battery. The NG3 is the modern Nolly voice, more output and more refinement. Both are fanned-fret, both are Ready-to-Play. Pick the SP1 for classic P attitude with an even low B, the NG3 for the modern, metal-friendly tone.

What's the difference between the D-Roc Standard and the D-Roc Custom?
Same rock-monster DNA, two different ranges. The D-Roc Standard is Ready-to-Play, off the shelf, triple-pickup and ready to go. The D-Roc Custom is a Canadian Custom Shop build with hand-wound FD-V pickups, premium woods and your choice of specs. Standard if you want it now, Custom if you want it yours.

Combustion, SP1, NG3 or Custom Shop, where do I start?
Combustion if it's your first fanned-fret bass and you want to test the water. SP1 if you want classic passive P-bass tone with the fan. NG3 if you know you want Nolly's voice and you're keeping it for good. Custom Shop if you already know exactly what you want and you're done compromising. We'll talk you through it either way.

How long does a Canadian Custom Shop order take?
It depends on the spec and Dingwall's current queue, so we won't quote you a number we can't keep. We run the biggest custom list in Europe, which means we know the real lead times and the options that actually matter. Ask us and we'll give you a straight answer for your build.

Is multiscale hard to play?
No. Your hand adjusts faster than your brain expects. A couple of minutes to feel at home in the lower register, about five before the upper frets stop looking weird. After a week you stop noticing the fan entirely.

What scale length is a Dingwall?
It depends on the model. The multiscale basses fan the frets so each string gets its own length: the SP1 runs 32" to 34.25" on the 4-string and 32" to 35" on the 5-string, while the Custom Shop and NG multiscale models run longer still on the low side (often around 37") down to 34" up top. The point is always the same, the low strings get the extra length they need to stay tight while the high strings stay comfortable.

Want to see what's currently available? Browse below. Looking for something specific or ready to start a Custom Shop order? Get in touch - we respond fast.