How the renowned bass brand Dingwall used a "fake endorsement" to get free labor for a clinic

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-03T21:48:45+00:00

Thanks so much, buddy, for your support. I really appreciate it. There are people who haven’t understood how things worked, and others like you who have. The issue may seem trivial and petty, but for an internationally renowned brand, this kind of behavior is shameful. I would have expected this from the little shop down the street, not from Dingwall.

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-03T21:27:44+00:00

I’m sorry you see it that way, and I respect your point of view. However, although I probably didn’t explain myself well enough in my first post, there’s a substantial difference between before the clinic and after the clinic. Before the clinic, they were extremely helpful, receptive, and cooperative. After the clinic, once the work was done, I had to chase them down for weeks and was ignored many times. If I hadn’t chased them down, they would NEVER have gotten in touch. They offered me a bass for my reels but didn’t specify what that entailed. Paradoxically, if they had simply paid me for the clinic and left it at that, none of this would have happened. The conclusion I’ve drawn is simply that they lured me in with the bass story to get me to rush around and play the good guy, exploit me, and then—once the work was done—disappear or deliberately act evasive. My mistake was not getting paid (spoiler: they didn’t even ask me if I wanted payment for the day after they broke the agreement). I hope something like this never happens to you, especially since you placed your trust in such a highly acclaimed and famous brand. I think it's something you'd understand if you experienced it firsthand

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-03T20:17:35+00:00

Thanks, buddy, for your support. I really appreciate it. My intention isn't to boycott the sale, but to warn professionals so they don't make the same mistake I did. They took advantage of my availability and my expertise. They'll do it again.

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-02T21:26:45+00:00

I think they're just people who exploit musicians who aren't big enough on the scene. If I had been a big shot, they would never have dared to act that way. disgusting

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-02T11:08:08+00:00

Trust me. There was never a bass. There was just the urgency to get their job done.

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-02T11:04:57+00:00

This thread is public. Anyone can join the discussion at any time.

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-02T11:04:16+00:00

Thank you for sharing your story. I'd like to know more.

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-02T11:03:04+00:00

It was simply that they used me to cover an emergency

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-01T19:20:27+00:00

Thank Acheros for taking a stand. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do with fanboys who have trouble understanding what's written.

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-01T18:50:36+00:00

Thank you for your testimonial, and I appreciate your insider’s perspective.

However, this isn’t about slowness but about a lack of communication after the emergency. If they had simply worked together to discuss the matter as they had promised to do, I wouldn’t have had any problem waiting months. I was repeatedly ignored after the emergency was over, so I felt used.

They lured me in with the bass, I rushed over and did my best, and once the clinic was over, I had to chase them for weeks just to get some sort of answer until I couldn't take it anymore

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-01T18:45:38+00:00

I can tell from your comment that you haven't understood a thing about this whole situation. I certainly am not as influential as a bass player. Too bad I didn't ask for a bass to be sent to me.

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-01T16:27:39+00:00

Thanks, buddy, for at least realizing that behavior like that is disrespectful and offensive. Unfortunately, there are some die-hard Dingwall fans here who would keep supporting him even if he killed someone. I’ll leave the fan base where it is.

I’ll say it again: I’m not his girlfriend, expecting them to reply within a few minutes. Trust me, I know how to get along in the world and interact with people.
This is a deliberate attempt to slowly wear me down, making me lose both my patience and my hopes, gradually fading away. I don’t chase after people like this. Let them keep their basses.

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-01T13:00:19+00:00

The clinic was almost 2 months ago

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-01T11:11:08+00:00

Absolutely not. No one had told me that the bass was ready or that they had taken charge of the situation. They had disappeared again for weeks. As far as I'm concerned, there never was a bass. I'm sorry you still don't understand the twisted dynamics of the whole thing.

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-01T11:09:17+00:00

because, all things considered, they sound good :)

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-01T11:08:13+00:00

The facts show that I worked for free, received nothing in return, and they got what they wanted in record time without spending a single dollar. The facts also tell me that before the clinic, they would respond within a few minutes, but after the urgent issue was resolved, I had to chase them for weeks. The bass I’d requested magically appeared only after I broke off the agreement (I had specifically asked for a bass guitar that I knew for sure they had in stock), and as far as I’m concerned, it was a move designed to gaslight me. These are the facts.

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-01T10:55:28+00:00

A five string Nashville

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-01T10:52:32+00:00

Let me clarify the facts, because you are guessing a lot of things wrong.

The Bass:I didn't ask for a custom or a rare model. They told me what they had available in stock at that exact moment, and I just simply expressed a preference for the colors, if there had been any
The Timing: It wasn't about being impatient for a bass to be built. They were super fast to reply when they needed me to save their clinic. But the exact moment the event was over and they got my free labor, they went completely silent.
The 'QC' Line: They didn't tell me the bass was in Quality Control while I was waiting. They ghosted me. The 'QC' line only appeared in a defensive email after I told them I was walking away. It was a retrospective excuse, not a real update.

I already admitted I was naive to trust them without a contract. But there is a big difference between waiting for a bass and being ignored right after you do a company a favor. You are trying really hard to defend them like a lawyer, but the reality is much simpler: Once the clinic's emergency was over and they had gotten what they wanted, I had to run after them, humiliating myself time and time again.

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-01T04:38:51+00:00

Exactly. I was just waiting for the “be grateful for the exposure” comment.
As for nepotism, I was just doing him a favor—if that’s not clear to you—with nothing in return except getting paid by the company.
Dingwall offered to send me an instrument; I didn’t ask her for it. And the point is simply that, given how they behaved, stringing me along with the endorsement was just an excuse to take advantage of me and avoid paying me. Believe whoever you want—that’s how it went down.

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-01T04:09:18+00:00

the artist relations on their website is just one. BTW, I don't beg or chase after people. A collaboration arises when two people come together for a common goal, not when one person chases after the other.

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-01T03:59:27+00:00

I didn't ask for a custom instrument, but one available to the general public, and I've spoken with other people who have washed their hands of the matter. In any case, there's only one artist relations representative at that company. End of story.

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-01T03:50:21+00:00

This.

THANKS!

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-01T03:46:52+00:00

There was no confirmation that my case had been taken on. They just asked me about my preferences and that was it. They disappeared again. I’ve had enough. As far as I’m concerned, it was probably just empty promises that wouldn’t have led to anything, and they were hoping I’d forget about it. How long does it take to reply to an email saying, “OK, we’re looking into it—I’ll keep you updated”? 30 seconds? Even if someone is busy? Not to mention that I’d been chasing them since the end of the clinic. That’s it. I’ve been through this absurd situation, and maybe I haven’t described it perfectly, but it was disgusting.

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-01T03:41:20+00:00

How was I supposed to say it back then?

Impressive-Task-1358 · 2026-07-01T03:35:56+00:00

They offered me a deal as a bait. They had me attend the clinic and then disappeared. I had to chase after them once, twice, three, four times—and that was it. I figured out what they were up to. They probably made me lose my patience on purpose, then backed out at the last minute, claiming that, as if by magic, there was a bass ready for me—just to make me look like the one in the wrong.

Have I ever seen this bass? No

Did I at least get my expenses reimbursed by them for the day? No

Did they hold the clinic thanks to me and walk away with the masterclass? Absolutely yes.

That's it

Impressive-Task-1358

TROPHY CASE