Dingwall John Taylor Rio Dream 4-String Bass 28 of 82 Limited Edition Rio Finish

DESCRIPTION

With a sleek custom finish that’s fashioned on Duran Duran’s seminal Rio album cover, this John Taylor limited edition model embodies the personality and stylistic range of the band’s 1982 platinum-selling record. 

Each bass is individually numbered and also includes a Hipshot Drop D Xtender key, an onboard Rupert Neve Designs preamp, a special string pack, spare cream pickguard, and a custom gig bag.

Limited to just 82 instruments, the Rio Dream Bass is modelled after the Dingwall NG3 that Taylor used on Duran’s 2022 studio album, Future Past, though with some design modifications to really hone in on his tone. As well as the ‘Rio Eye’ inlaid at the 12th fret of Dingwall’s customary multi-scale fingerboard, other specs include a Nyatoh body, a bolt-on maple neck and a Macassar ebony fingerboard.

The body also features a custom finish that takes its inspiration from Duran Duran’s Rio album cover. “John Taylor’s bass playing on Rio really imprinted on me how a bass should fit into a band mix,” said Sheldon Dingwall. “His basslines have always had a special combination of energy and elegance.”

“It all started when I was in Toronto about five years ago with a friend,” says Taylor “and he showed me a Dingwall bass on his phone. I loved how it looked and immediately said to Bernie Guerra, my tech, ‘You’ve got to reach out to these guys! Sheldon Dingwall is a real visionary.”

Along with the custom finish, top billing goes to three Neodymium pickups and an onboard preamp designed and configured in collaboration with Rupert Neve Designs, whose studio consoles have long represented the pinnacle of high-end audio engineering. With the Rio Dream Bass, the Rupert Neve Designs experience is available for bass guitar for the very first time.

The pickups are wired to a Quad-Tone pickup selector, a master volume, master tone and a 2-band active EQ that’s powered by the Rupert Neve Designs circuit.

The Rio Dream bass is fitted with an equally impressive accompaniment of hardware, including lightweight open-gear Hipshot tuners and Dingwall’s ‘Minimalist’ bridge.

The fanned-fret system facilitates the most appropriate scale length for each individual string. It’s a concept that’s applied across the whole of the Dingwall range. “I’m in love with this bass!” says John. “It felt so intuitive to me from the moment I picked it up, and immediately made me wonder why all bass guitars aren’t made like this. It just felt so good.”

SETUP & INSPECTED BY OUR TECH TEAM

All of our guitars come with a FREE professional setup to a comfortable action as specified by that instrument’s manufacturer. Our setups always include inspection of (and necessary adjustment to): action, intonation, tremolo angle, truss rod, frets, nut, bridge, and more. We can accommodate special setup requests - additional charges and/or shipping delays of 1-2 business days could occur.

INDIVIDUALLY PHOTOGRAPHED

After 15 years of innovation in our photography process, Ish Guitars has developed a way to get you the most accurate true-to-life color of every instrument we sell. We never embellish, oversaturate, or misrepresent our images, so that your buying experience can be as much like visiting our showroom as possible. Keep in mind that various computer screens can show colors a bit differently, so the color on your screen may not match the real thing perfectly no matter how hard we try. Also, unless otherwise noted, we individually list and photo every piece of gear that comes through our doors.

HEAR A LIVE DEMO

Experience our innovative Video Appointment service! Connect with
our Gear Experts to hear this instrument played live over Zoom and receive one-on-one guidance. Contact us to schedule your appointment!

Weight: 8.7lbs

Case: Custom Rio Dream Dingwall Padded Gigbag

Year: 2024

Scale Length: 4-String: 36.25” – 34” (920mm – 864mm)

Neck: 5-Piece Maple, bolt-on.

Fingerboard: Ebony

Radius: 9.45”  (240mm)

Frets: Novax Fanned-fret System, 24 “banjo-sized” frets, 0.040” tall x 0.080” wide

Pickups: Dingwall FD3n Pickups, Neodymium Magnets

Pickups Wired in Series/Parallel/Series

Preamp: Rupert Neve Designs 2-Band EQ - Bass: +/- 12db / 20Hz, Treble: +/- 12db / 4.4KHz

Bridge: "Minimalist" Custom Dingwall 1-Piece Recessed Bridge

Adjustable String Height and Intonation

String Spacing: 0.748” (19mm)

Tuners: Light-weight open-back, Additional Hipshot Extender, 20:1 Gear Ratio, Non-Reversible

Finishes: Limited Edition Rio Anniversary Finish

Pickguard: Matte Black, Cream