Suggested bass for darkstars?

[Toronto Bassist]

Hello all,

Ever since I've heard about dark star pickups, I've been fascinated by them and have tried to learn as much about them as I could. The soundclips I've heard so far are tremendously cool. So I figured that I'd give them a try. This is something that I'm intending more as a "for fun" kind of project, so I don't mind if I have to save a few pennies (within reason) or wait a while before it becomes a reality. Especially given that I'm new to the whole idea of dropping custom pickups into a bass (I'm planning on having a technician do it for me).

Anyways, at first I was thinking of just grabbing a cheapie Rondo bass and using it for that. But someone suggested that an el-cheapo bass isn't going to be made that much better by dropping nifty pickups in it. Makes sense to me, but on the other end, I'm not sure if I want to butcher a higher end bass like a Stingray or a G & L for an experimental project either. I mean, why mess with them?

So I'm wondering about suggestions. I was thinking maybe something in-between like this would be a good idea. Well-known design, comfy fingerboard...most of the main gripes seem to be about the pickups, which this would address. Or maybe a Gibson/Epiphone. I mean, if plopping some darkstars in a Stingray sounds like a really cool idea, I'll go for it, but I'm just trying to narrow down the options. So if you could grab any bass up to ~$1300 or so and put custom pickups in it, which would it be?

Thanks for any help.

[cybersnyder]

If you're looking at doing this to see if you would like to do it to a more expensive bass down the road, just keep string spacing in mind.

[Toronto Bassist]

In what sense? Do you mean that I should avoid basses with wide string spacing?

[Atoz]

P + Darkstar = THUNDER.

[Phalex]

The Darkstars come with a few options for string spacing. Kenny will be by any moment to post photo's of his darkstarred Precision.

Personally, I want to put a Darkstar in a Mark Hoppus signiture precision. That model has the PUP placed a little closer to the neck than a standard P, and I think it would be the cats meow.

[glimmerofdope]

I don't know if Fred Hammon (DS creator) lurks in these parts, but his website is basspickup.com. He started copying the Guild Bisonics and a lot of people use those type of semi-hollw bodies. The Jazz Bass will get you the sound of Juan Aldrete of the Mars Volta. They are supposed to be really great on short and med scale basses too. He makes different models with different spacing between the poles, that spacing must be matched with whatever bass you pick. Email Fred, I have always found him to very helpful and seems like a real cool guy. I am anxiously, (dying really) awaiting him to get his 5 banger into production...

[lug]

Peavey T-40. Cheap, good Ash body plus one of the only basses that the pups will fit without modifying the bass.

[Bardley]

Glad to see that edit, lug...

[DaveDeVille]

here's mine ...

[Nick Kay]

Lakland Decade.

On a more serious note, I'm a big fan of that new Juan Alderete Dark Star'd Jazz sound, so if I was going to DS something, it would be some sort of Jazz clone.

[Toronto Bassist]

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of using one of these:



1) It has a thick, resonant body
2) The necks are nice, have a good "grip" to them
3) They're inexpensive without being shoddy
4) I think one could fit two DS's between the neck and the bridge, although I'd have to check.
5) Looks neat-o

Of course, I could go with the Gibson equivalent too.

edit: thanks for all the tips, guys

[lug]

Originally Posted by Bardley

Glad to see that edit, lug...

I almost made a bass of myself.

[ryano]

Originally Posted by glimmerofdope

I am anxiously, (dying really) awaiting him to get his 5 banger into production...

I've also been looking forward to the 5 string version. I received an email from Fred today. He said they should be available in about 3 months.

[bassrique]

G&L ASAT:

[Thangfish]

I like this Squier VM Precision TB that Daveman50 did up:



Here's the thread:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...06#post4596906

I think I'll try this too, because the bass plays great, great neck, feels good, nice and light, etc... but my example of that Fender bucker just sounds like crap.

Really, I don't know what Fender was thinking. The pickup is way too hot, and when lowered way down, flush with pickguard, it sounds all weird and harmonic-y or chorusy kind of. Absolutely lost in the mix too.

[Rvl]

I have 4 basses with DarkStars and my current favorite is the EB-2 copy
my 2nd favorite was a Guild JS-1

The single Dark Star fits in the EB-2 and no routing was required
I think you can order slightly shorter adjustment screws and that would make the pickup fit perfectly
I didnt get around to it yet , but I will have to fit a cork or foam pickup surround because the EB2 is arched around the hole

We recorded our last concert and the bass really shone
With everything set flat the bottom end was really big , but clean

Thanks

Robert VanLane

[Linkert]

Is that the Epiphone EB-2?

[lambro]

http://s116.photobucket.com/albums/o...1177034697.pbw

[Thangfish]

Originally Posted by Rvl

I have 4 basses with DarkStars and my current favorite is the EB-2 copy

Nice job!

What are the other two pickups in the picture?

[Thangfish]

Originally Posted by lambro

http://s116.photobucket.com/albums/o...1177034697.pbw

Wow!