Hey Dark Star Fans

First off, forgive my ignorance if this is not the right place for this. Since it involves a new build, I thought it should.

I know there's a Dark Star forum over on TheDudePit and I'm even able to log onto VintageBass.com. However, for some reason, the DS forum won't allow me to log on, nor can I re-register as a new member. So, knowing there's DS followers here on TB, I thought I'd ask here.

I've been lurking in TDP's DS forum for some time now, but I have a bit of a problem. For the most part, every posting I've come across describes their bass(es) with pics. Generally, that'd be the coolest, but since I'm blind, pics just don't do it for me. ;)
So, I was hoping someone here on TB might take the time to give me a bit of assistance via text. Here's the layout.

I have a custom PBass in the works with a clean parcel of real estate between bridge & board that's just waiting for a pair of Dark Stars. It has the standard nut width of 1.625" and I'm spreading the strings at the bridge to the maximum width allowed; that is, .75" / 19.05mm. I'll have one of my woodworking friends route for the PUs because the luthiers/builders putting this together don't have Dark Stars programmed into their CNC.

I'm thinking I want to use the DS3N & DS3B, but neither I nor my friends know how to calculatewhere these would be placed. The general PU placement I think I'm looking for is as follows:

Place the front PU forward of middle without being crammed against the board. I'd like a couple of fingers btwn PU & board.
Place the rear PU a bit behind middle; perhaps the MusicMan position? That's not absolute though.
I just don't want either PU right in the middle, nor to either extreme.

If I don't have to, I'd rather not put everything together (neck-to-body, machines, bridge, strings) to line up PUs with strings, then take it all apart again to do the routing. So, can someone answer the following?

Are there exact measurements on Fred Hammon's DS templates? (I could always get a sighted person to find one of these).
Generally, would the DS3N/DS3B combo fit my parameters stated above?
Also, in case you have an opinion...
Might my suggested PU placements give me fatter or snarlier tones?

Thanks folks and sorry about such a long post. BTW, I wish I could see all of your bass pics.


Brett

Hi Brett,

Just a check to make sure you're pointing to the correct DudePit location: http://thedudepit.com/simplemachinesforum/


For a two pickup set, I like to locate my neck pickup so that the pole pieces are aligned with a P-bass D/G string pickup, and I route the cavity for Fred's "swimming pool" so that the Dark Star can be rotated 180 degrees in case the user wishes for a little more bottom. This location really emphasizes that classic P-bass mid hump

For a bridge position I typically route the swimming pool cavity so that the pickup is about 1/2" forward of the bridge, and I set the pole pieces towards the neck so that there is a little more bottom.

Fred has exact dimension for the routing templates, but he does not include the location along the neck axis as this is rather subjective.

all the best,

R

[QUOTE=Rodent;4813881]Hi Brett,

Just a check to make sure you're pointing to the correct DudePit location: http://thedudepit.com/simplemachinesforum/

For a two pickup set, I like to locate my neck pickup so that the pole pieces are aligned with a P-bass D/G string pickup, and I route the cavity for Fred's "swimming pool" so that the Dark Star can be rotated 180 degrees in case the user wishes for a little more bottom. This location really emphasizes that classic P-bass mid hump

For a bridge position I typically route the swimming pool cavity so that the pickup is about 1/2" forward of the bridge, and I set the pole pieces towards the neck so that there is a little more bottom.


Hey Rodent

Thanks man but, yeah... That's the link I've tried; it keeps telling me that my user name doesn't exist (though it does), but it also won't let me register as a new member either.

Per the mid position:
I'm really looking for a fatter/heavier bottom rather than that 'mid hump'. Also, from what I understand of a DS, I will already have enough clairity throughout and my Raven Labs True Blue EQ should help me put in any mids I might be missing.

Per the bridge position:
I certainly am looking for a bit of "growl", 'cause I really dig that 70s rock sound, but again, with a fatter/heavier bottom.

So, do you think I should probably just move both PUs a bit forward?

Again, thanks

Brett