Hollowbody rerplacements - Ric or Darkstar?

Ripper75 · #1 02-28-2007, 03:40 PM

Any suggestions? I am replacing pickups in a hollowbody, looking for warm vintage growl with deep lows. I love the Ric sound but cant afford one, so thinking of getting a couple ric pups, also considering a Darkstar pup too.

Ripper75 · #2 02-28-2007, 04:10 PM

seymour duncan ric replacements are what i am considering.

XansNiceSweater · #3 02-28-2007, 06:37 PM

What kind of hollowbody?

Ripper75 · #4 02-28-2007, 08:20 PM

vox cougar

Metropolis_488 · #5 02-28-2007, 11:10 PM

Darkstars can't be beat. Clear, defined with a big bottom- the ONLY pickups I have ever played through that sounded like that. I have a CB bass with Darkstars that I love...but every now and then tell myself that I don't need a $2,600 bass and that money would be better served somewhere else, so I try and sell it...HOWEVER, if I ever did sell the CB, I would probably buy something cheap like a used Jazz and ABSOLUTLEY put Darkstars in it. They are amazing.

Eilif · #6 03-01-2007, 09:30 AM

Darkstars all the way. I played a Lakland hollowbody w/DS's at the Lakland factory, and it was amazing. My uncle had SD Ric replacements in his 4001, and they are nice, but Darkstars are nicer, and in a hollowbody they can't be beat.

Ripper75 · #7 03-01-2007, 09:39 AM

would 1 be enough, there are so pricey...and would my 100 watt amp be enough to handle?

Eilif · #8 03-01-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripper75

would 1 be enough, there are so pricey...and would my 100 watt amp be enough to handle?

The amp is really no concern. The only issue with DS's and any amp (regadless of wattage) is that the DS's have a high output, so you may keep your gain down a bit.

If you only put in one, I would suggest replacing the neck pickup first. This modification would require routing to the body of the bass.

Note: That would kill any vintage value. If that worries you, I would suggest having the existing pickups rewound or selling the vox, as you could probably get enough $ to finance a single pickup Ibanez artcore and a DS, which is known to be a winning combination.

Espidog · #9 03-01-2007, 11:03 AM

Don't want to throw this thread completely off track here, but...

Darkstars are indeed lovely, but as Eilif has said, they would require a bigger hole - so big that not many other pickups would fit it if you ever changed your mind.

Have you considered TV Jones Thunder'trons? They're much closer in size to the Vox's original p'ups, completely height-adjustable and famously good for an archtop/hollowbody. Many Gretsch Bass owners are ripping out their Filtertrons and fitting these instead.

Ripper75 · #10 03-01-2007, 11:14 AM

those look nice and not as expensive as DS. thanks!

Ripper75 · #11 03-01-2007, 04:06 PM

The TV Jones pckups are not wide enough and there would be empty space on either side, just spoke with tech there about dimensions and could not help me. so i guess is whether i want to cut into the body for darkstars or have a gap, maybe fill it with some kind of pup ring. there is also the possibilty of rewinding these vox pups but not even sure this is an option....?

Ripper75 · #12 03-01-2007, 04:08 PM

rewinding is not an option: "they are hard to get apart looking at $120 each and about 12 weeks out."

Fred Hammon · #13 03-01-2007, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripper75

The TV Jones pckups are not wide enough and there would be empty space on either side, just spoke with tech there about dimensions and could not help me. so i guess is whether i want to cut into the body for darkstars or have a gap, maybe fill it with some kind of pup ring. there is also the possibilty of rewinding these vox pups but not even sure this is an option....?

Rewinding your pickup is indeed an option! Look into it.
As long as the bobbin is accessible and isn't encapsulated in resin (I doubt it) then it can easily be rewound by a good repair tech/luthier (not me) who is equipped.

luknfur · #14 03-01-2007, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Hammon

Rewinding your pickup is indeed an option! Look into it.
As long as the bobbin is accessible and isn't encapsulated in resin (I doubt it) then it can easily be rewound by a good repair tech/luthier (not me) who is equipped.

Fred you must still have some backlog to be turning potential buyers away. Or do you do rewinds too?

Frailin I'm told is doing rewinds for $50 these days but I've never look into it personally so I don't know what caveats may be attached if any. For kicks and grins ask how much he wants to make 'em sound like Dark Stars

Never had TV Jones pups but I've heard good things about them from reliable sources. I don't know how they mount but a trim ring is probably quite doable. Actually, I got a trim ring (in addition to Fred's) with my Dark Star, a bit on crude side so I'm guessing the guy made it up himself so I guess he wanted a black trim ring instead of chrome the pup came with.

Fred Hammon · #15 03-03-2007, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luknfur

Actually, I got a trim ring (in addition to Fred's) with my Dark Star, a bit on crude side so I'm guessing the guy made it up himself so I guess he wanted a black trim ring instead of chrome the pup came with.

I gotta see that!
Have a photo?

BTW I had about 10 surrounds done in black chrome last time I visited the platers. Very evil looking.

luknfur · #16 03-04-2007, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Hammon

I gotta see that!
Have a photo?

BTW I had about 10 surrounds done in black chrome last time I visited the platers. Very evil looking.

Fred,

took a couple shots. I'll email it to you.

Didn't pay any attention to it and tossed it in the tackle box cause I wasn't going to use it anyway. In looking closer I'd say it's probably a manfucturer cover that the guy carved the interior to meet the dimensions of the Dark Star. The face is radiused, the perimeter contoured with clean cuts so that's some refined worked. It's a thick plastic. Maybe a Gibson for some archtop.

**MAJOR METAL** · #17 03-04-2007, 11:53 AM

Darkstars !