Hi,

I am getting new pickups for my MIM Jazz bass, and really want Dark Star Pickups. I don't want to spend $400 (not including installation) and want to find an equivalent to in in single coil format. If you read this David, I'm probably gonna get the Low Z Ultra Wide pickups you make, but are those good for classic Rock?


thx


Koi

probably.

the Dark Star pickup is a single coil pickup, btw. And theres nothing made that's really similar to it AFAIK

+1
I've played alot of pickups and alot of basses, there are alot of good pickups out there, and alot of pickups with a wide and fairly even frequency range.

However...

Nothing sounds like a Dark Star. The nearest equivalent is the Lakland Chi-Sonics, a design very much based on the darkstar. I have played some of these at the Lakland factory and they are very nice. They are just barely availalable though, (only on USA models now) and if/when they are ever released separately from instalation on Lakland instruments a they will probably run you near as much as a set of darkstars.

My advice, would be to save your pennies and drop in a set of darkstars or one darkstar with the two jazz pups a'la Berry Oakley. A MIM jazz is a great starting point for some good Darkstar maddness, er I mean moddness. Darkstars are expensive, but still about the same price (perhaps cheaper) as dropping in a set of fralins and a preamp.

If you read this David, I'm probably gonna get the Low Z Ultra Wide pickups you make, but are those good for classic Rock?

They were in the last cover band I was in. ;) But I also have a new high Z model that has a Ric meets Jazz sort of tone to it.

I haven't used any of these pickups myself, but. The reviewers of darkstars and villex pickups seem to use the exact same words and phrases to describe them. You might want to give them a try if they make a j style pickup.

Hi,
I am getting new pickups for my MIM Jazz bass, and really want Dark Star Pickups. I don't want to spend $400 (not including installation) and want to find an equivalent to in in single coil format. If you read this David, I'm probably gonna get the Low Z Ultra Wide pickups you make, but are those good for classic Rock?

thx

Koi

Keep in mind that the published price is a "list" price.
There are luthiers/installers that I work with who are actual Dark Star dealers and buy at a substantial discount.
You might want to drop me an email (not Pmail please) if you're interested.