Darkstar vs/plus MM style hum?

[wdinc01]

Well, I was day dreaming recently of maybe building myself a bass. And I thought of just putting a humbucker or a Dark Star in the neck. But then I got to thinking: What about a Dark Star AND a hum?

So here's my question, mostly for curiosity: Is there a huge difference between Dark Stars and MM style humbuckers? From what I garnered, a Dark Star is like a fatter P-style pick up, and a MM style humbucker...is an MM style humbucker...

Is there an advantage of one over the other? And could they actually work well together? Possibly the hum in the bridge and the Dark Star in the neck?

Thanks in advance.

[Kenny Allyn]

Yeah well there is a vast difference in the MM and a DS ...

The DS is big and open, a very clear extended sound with lots of clarity and dynamics ... If it's like any P bass pickup it would be more like the 51 style single coil P bass.

The MM is Phat and compressed ... more mids


... I guess they would work with each other ... personally I'll take two Dark Stars

[wdinc01]

Yeah, I was thinking two Dark Stars might be better. But then, if I have two different tones from two different pick ups on the same bass, then it'd be pretty versatile...

...in theory...

[SherpaKahn]

A Jazz Bass has two identical relatively clear pickups, and they get very different tones. A bridge DS and a neck DS will sound very different simply owing to their position. If you can afford the extra $180 the second one will cost instead of a MM pickup, I highly doubt you'll regret it. And if you do, you can always sell the bass to me.

There are a few people around here with dual DS basses. You could ask them what a bridge and neck DS sound like.

[wdinc01]

I'm kinda bumping this because I wanna hear someone tell me to do it.

But seriously, from what I see is that a Darkstar is like a P-pick up except bigger sounding. Am I wrong? Is there more to it?

And if I'm right, then wouldn't a bass with these in it be something like a Fender Deluxe P, except with a bigger sound pick up in the neck? I know I'm just throwing words around here, but I really gotta know.

I'm thinking about maybe getting a SUB when I can and dropping a Darkstar in it. Otherwise I'd try my hand at building a bass.

[RD]

I've had two basses with DS's, both single pickup Laklands. The first was an active 4-76 with a Bartolini preamp, and the DS in the bridge position. A lovely bass, but I never liked the sound of it, passive or active. I sold it.
I later got a passive DPLE II with the DS in the P position. I love it. The DS is very position sensitive in my limited experience.
Both positions are good, I guess. The guy who bought the 4-76 apparently loves it. I've heard others say that DS's are best in passive basses. Check out the Dudepit for more opinions on the DS.
My vote is for passive in the P position.
RD