What's the big deal with DarkStars?

[GlennW]

I haven't read anything negative about them, but it seems like everytime someone gets one the threads get long, as in pages, in a hurry.

What other pickup do they sound close to?

[bearfoot]

check it out

www.basspickup.com

[DaveDeVille]

Originally Posted by bearfoot

check it out

www.basspickup.com

+ 1 ...

click on SOUND CLIPS , and scroll
down to "short and fat" for a pretty
accurate description of my P-Bass with
DarkStar installed ...

[GlennW]

Thanks, I'll take a listen when my son's around (if it isn't on youtube I don't know how to hear it).

[azzyrazzy]

Originally Posted by GlennW

What's the big deal with DarkStars?

It isn't magic or anything. It's just a big singlecoil pickup with a full sound, and it's nice and responsive to dynamics in your playing. I have one and I like it a lot.

[BuffaloBass]

I just emailed Fred to see about one for my Kingston MTD 5. I dig the sound.

They "slap" well do they?

[luknfur]

Originally Posted by GlennW

I haven't read anything negative about them, but it seems like everytime someone gets one the threads get long, as in pages, in a hurry.

What other pickup do they sound close to?

Here's a piece that may be of use.

Dr DIMENTO'S ONGOING "J" STYLE PUP EXPERIMENT

Can't edit the table of contents anymore so pups that came after the fact aren't listed there.

I basically found out what I wanted to know about pup tone so new pups and so reviews are rare critters anymore. In as much, it's been so long since I've had most of them I have to read my own reviews.

I recall no pup that had the mix of characteristics of a DS and I haven't had the Hagstrom that inspired them.

[GlennW]

Thanks, nice review. Here's a Coronado IV that was on ebay - don't know how long the pics will stay around.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1960s-HA...QQcmdZViewItem

I've done some research on the pickups and found where Fred (I think) said there were three variations, beginning with high DCR and going lower with bigger magnets.

I've never heard one. I liked Jack as a bassist, but never had any Jefferson Airplane albums.

If it was so great, it seems weird that Hagstrom didn't use it on more of their basses. I saw your comment about the route not being deep enough...maybe that's why, because the HIIB's were about SG thickness, but they would have had plenty of room on their Concorde hollow body.

[luknfur]

Originally Posted by GlennW

...
If it was so great, it seems weird that Hagstrom didn't use it on more of their basses. I saw your comment about the route not being deep enough...maybe that's why, because the HIIB's were about SG thickness, but they would have had plenty of room on their Concorde hollow body.

I don't know what the time frame was. A lot of music is afterthefact not current so could be the pup was no longer even available after it became popular.

In the 50's Les Paul had to beg Gibson not to discontinue that guitar.

[GlennW]

I don't know when Guild switched away from the Bi-Sonic on their Starfire..I'd guess early 70s. I also don't know if they switched because the Bi-Sonic was no longer available, or if they just decided to make their own. There was also smaller pickup used on some Strafires that the Guild people called the Mickey Mouse pickup - looks a exactly like the regular Hagstrom Concorde pickup.

[GlennW]

Originally Posted by luknfur

I don't know what the time frame was. A lot of music is afterthefact not current so could be the pup was no longer even available after it became popular.

In the 50's Les Paul had to beg Gibson not to discontinue that guitar.

Good thing they listened.

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by GlennW

I haven't read anything negative about them, but it seems like everytime someone gets one the threads get long, as in pages, in a hurry.

What other pickup do they sound close to?

IMO when installed in a Precision-style bass, they sound fairly close to the original '51 Fender Precision single coil pickup. Certainly much closer to the original P bass pickup than the split coil we are most used to. I think they sound like a million bucks, but I slightly prefer the original Fender design.

[spideyjg]

Originally Posted by GlennW

I haven't read anything negative about them, but it seems like everytime someone gets one the threads get long, as in pages, in a hurry.

What other pickup do they sound close to?

I tried one bass equipped and it had a similar dynamic and frequency response to my G&L L-1000 running in single coil mode. The MFD has a grittier sound though.

The Darkstar is the only pickup I have heard hold it's own against the MFD.

Jim

[Metropolis_488]

I am on my second Darkstar loaded bass.

All I can say is unparalleled clarity, evenness and tone.

They are thick and meaty sounding like the Dimarzio Model J (DP123) that everyone seems to love (I thought they were muddy sounding) but with way more clarity...it's very hard to describe. Humbucker thickness with single coil clarity and dynamics.

I agree with the Dr. Dimento review that they are only a little above average in terms of output (my L-2000 in passive was louder) however, he stated that the highs could be thin...I don't agree with that at all. I think the highs a big and pillowy and never shrill.

I do find them a little more sensitive to changes in plucking hand position and attack than your typical J-bass pickups.

Overall, they are my favorite pickups as they always find a way to sit in the mix perfectly while allowing you to be heard. Just great tone and a certain amount of character that no other pickup that I have played has.

[BuffaloBass]

Oh Mr,. Hammond PA=LEESE Sir, make a 5 string for us! My MTD is a begging for some clarity and definition!

[DavidRavenMoon]

Originally Posted by GlennW

Good thing they listened.

They DID discontinue it! In like 1960. They made a new guitar and called it a Les Paul. Les found out and pitched a fit! That guitar became the SG. As it is they also screwed up the original trapeze tail piece, and the Custom was supposed to have the maple top, while the gold top didn't.

You have to wonder what Gibson was thinking?

I'm surprised they didn't discontinue it back in the 80's. You couldn't give a Les Paul away it you tried! I bought an '81 Standard for $200 in '87.

[johnmark]

I got a dual-darkstarred bass a few weeks ago. The evenness from string-to-string is really remarkable. It is hard to describe... The closest I've had to this evenness is my old USA Steinberger from the late eighties--which is a very good thing!

My drummer noticed the difference in sound immediately and really surprised me by saying "wow, your bass is so clear and articulate now." To me, it did this, plus warmed up the sound.

I agree that the DarkStars are very sensitive to changes in right hand technique.

IMO, a fancy preamp is not needed with these pickups (I have an Audere with it now but it sounds great without active eq'ing engaged.)


With everything flat on both basses, the output level was a little hotter than my SR5 which I just sold, but I haven't compared it to anything else in a side-by-side yet.

[4Mal]

Originally Posted by GlennW

I haven't read anything negative about them, but it seems like everytime someone gets one the threads get long, as in pages, in a hurry.

What other pickup do they sound close to?

They really don't sound like any other pickup, ecept for the old Hagstrom they were modeled after. ... and that is a big part of the 'big deal'.

Your best bet is to troll the Darkstar forum and see if there is a bassist with one somewhere near you Go give it a listen. It might be for you, it might not be...

[FaithNoMan]

Originally Posted by spideyjg

I tried one bass equipped and it had a similar dynamic and frequency response to my G&L L-1000 running in single coil mode. The MFD has a grittier sound though.

That makes me think I might like the MFD better

I want to get a project P bass that I can swap out the pups, and I keep getting caught between wanting Fralins, or an MFD(or even how to get an MFD)

Looking for a 70's P bass sound, with tons of edge and grit on top..

(sorry to derail the thread, btw)

[luknfur]

Originally Posted by FaithNoMan

That makes me think I might like the MFD better

I want to get a project P bass that I can swap out the pups, and I keep getting caught between wanting Fralins, or an MFD(or even how to get an MFD)

Looking for a 70's P bass sound, with tons of edge and grit on top..

(sorry to derail the thread, btw)

FWIW:

it's my understanding an MFD pup is had by ordering through a G&L dealer. It's also my understanding it takes months but is reasonable in price.

I've got both an L2K and DS. I run the G&L in series. Don't think I've ever tried it single but my guess is it would be noisey. The DS is comparatively quiet for a single.