Triple Darkstar P Bass Mod

[Max Roberts]

I've just been reading the Darkstarred bass thread and I'm now GASing for one a lot. I came across the bass that had 3 DS pickups installed in it and thought it would be amazing to have. So my question is, will it be possible to fit 3 darkstar pickups on it? Also, if it is, do I have to get different ones to fit with the string spacing on the bass? And my 3rd and final question, Will there be much difference (sound wise) in having 3 of the DS pups or just the 2?

Thanks in advance.

[Max Roberts]

Sorry! I should have put this in pickups and electronics!

[nalapit13]

is this the darkstarred monster in which you make reference too?

there is definetely a difference. just in the placement of the pickups alone. i get harmonics from the bridge pickup that i didn't even know existed.

i bought all 3 of mine second hand so i never got to select the string spacing. it is a little bit off but doesn't affect anything.

[SirCanealot]

Seriously, what on earth does that sound like? 0_o

[nalapit13]

it is insane. the 5 way switch is for neck pickup, bridge and middle, middle, middle and bridge, and bridge.

i just had another switch added that lets me use all 3, and the bridge and neck.

and just in case anyone was wondering it was a 1978 Guild B-301

[Max Roberts]

Yep that's the one :P. I love the look of 3 Darkstars!

I think I've worked out I need the The DS-3N for the mid body position of a P Bass, then the The DS-3B for the bridge part, and then the DS-3ND for the extreme neck position.

Can anyone confirm this?

[invader3k]

How's the playability? Personally, I don't like to play right over a pickup, but it could work depending the bass.

[GobBass]

that's a Guild b-301 isn't it.Must sound like a monster on acid whil skateboarding over a cliff a la Homer Simpson.

[Max Roberts]

What's the length of all 3 pickups together? I need to make sure it'll fit.

[nalapit13]

i have no idea which pickups mine are. i bought 1 from someone and the other 2 from someone else.

the length of all 3 is 8 inches. i have all three of them butted right up to one another.

[Fred Hammon]

It looks to me that the middle pickup should change places with the bridge pickup. The E and G strings miss the pole pieces entirely on the middle. (Dark Star model DS-3B (bridge)
What are the magnet polarities? "N" or "S"?


[/quote]

[moomoocajoo]

I agree with fred, I think if you swapped those two youd be in business!

[eeyorebass]

Originally Posted by nalapit13

This is all well and good, and I love looking at basses with DS pickups, but what I want to know is where did you get control knobs with paw prints on them?

jeremy

[nalapit13]

petillo guitars in nj. he saw the paw print tattoos on my arm and made them for me. they are gibson speed knobs and he made the paw prints from scratch for me out of some metal and then rubbed some charcoal in them and then put some sort of protective layer over it.

they represent the 3 dogs i have.


as far as N or S. i have no idea???? i questioned him when i received it with the middle and bridge pickup cause it looked off to me. he explained to me why he did it that way i just dont remember what he said. i just went with it.

[eeyorebass]

Originally Posted by nalapit13

petillo guitars in nj. he saw the paw print tattoos on my arm and made them for me. they are gibson speed knobs and he made the paw prints from scratch for me out of some metal and then rubbed some charcoal in them and then put some sort of protective layer over it.

they represent the 3 dogs i have.

Very cool. Great looking bass, too.

jeremy

[mellowgerman]

you will be able to fit 3 darkstars on pretty much any bass. just email fred and he'll set you up with the right models. enjoy. they're amazing

[Fred Hammon]

as far as N or S. i have no idea???? i questioned him when i received it with the middle and bridge pickup cause it looked off to me. he explained to me why he did it that way i just dont remember what he said. i just went with it.

This is as I suspected. You tech was wise enough to couple the DS-1 neck pickup with the reverse polarity of the DS-3N (used as a bridge pickup here) for hum-canceling purposes. - rw/rp.
The middle DS-3B is probably opposite to the bridge pickup so when the middle and bridge pickups are selected, they are also hum-canceling.

A better arrangement, had you stared from scratch, might have been a DS-3ND (N) for the neck, a DS-3N (S) with a DS-3B (S) at the bridge. This (I think?) is similar to a Stratocaster arrangement.

For the record:
Dark Stars are very quiet for single coil pickups. When I use two DSs together on a bass it's not for hum-canceling purposes necessarily (although that can be extra insurance). I do it for the sound of two pickups together or the ability to use either one separately when desired.

[ZombiCrow]

That is honestly the coolest bass I've seen on here to date. My goodness is that awesome... Just, jeez!

[SirCanealot]

I would like to discuss an EXCESSIVE fail point in this thread: the lack of sound clips!!!!

C'mon, what the hell is going on here? Sort it out!

[nalapit13]

i would love to add some sound clips i am trying to find someone who can record it for me. i dont have the technology to do such things.