Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Has anybody heard anything from the company lately? Emails go unanswered. Seems there is nothing going on at all. Want two pickups badly.
MarkusBass said:
I started out highlighting the engraving on the bridge and control plate with Satin Gold paint. I liked the look so much I moved on to all the screws throughout the bass, the tuner bushing washers and string windings to continue the theme on the headstock, and finally the Darkstar insert (super carefully masked off the trim and pole pieces).
Sounds as good as it looks......
Unanswered mails... this has been going on for many many months. Fred made a short comeback, shipped a couple pickups and disappeared again.
I't sure seems he won't be producing DarksStars anymore, that is why a single Dark Star goes for over $300 at the evilBay.
I hope Fred is ok, IMHO he should at least post an update on his page commenting on the situation.
Too bad, I'd like a pair of DS pickups myself...
I't sure seems he won't be producing DarksStars anymore, that is why a single Dark Star goes for over $300 at the evilBay.
I hope Fred is ok, IMHO he should at least post an update on his page commenting on the situation.
Too bad, I'd like a pair of DS pickups myself...
it was mentioned earlier in this forum that a swedish company is undertaking the production of Bi-Sonic type pickups. other than that, i would suggest checking out laklands chi-sonics, apparently they sound similar to dark stars, though ive never heard them
It was me who mentioned the Swedish company. They are in the process of starting up production. From what I have heard so far, it looks very promising. The guy who is making them is studying the DS, the chi-sonics as well as several versions of the original Hagström bisonics, all of which are very different creatures, soundwise and in terms of gauge, turns of the coil, magnets, and of course kOhm. His idea is to allow custom orders so you can chose wiring, gauge and perhaps even magnets. He also got help from people associated with the original Hagström company in the village of Älvdalen in Sweden.
For those thinking of trying the chi-sonics you should go for single coil version as those apparently are closer to the DS than the humbucker version. This according to Hanson Pickups who makes them.
I have Chisonics in quite a few of my basses and a Darkstar in one of my P basses. ChiSonics are nice and open like the Darkstar with a great frequency range. They have a little more midrange bump compared to Darkstars to my ears.
Here are some clips below:
Decade with them:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Jazz with them:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Played by fellow TBer Ian Allison..killer killer job!
I have a darkstar pickup (DS-3N) and plenty of P bass bodies. Where can I get a pickguard routed for the DS? Would I be able to use that as the router template to resize the pickup holes? I really need to get this pickup in a bass!
Any luthier or good repair tech can do this including cutting a pickguard. Landing has a Youtube vid on DS installation.
I did mine myself, just drilled four holes in the corners of the square to be cut out, used a coping saw to get rid of it and then a stanley knife and a file to smooth things out...
Took around 15 min to do and the saw cost me less than £5.
Took around 15 min to do and the saw cost me less than £5.
i just got the routing template for the dark star (its floating around this forum), took the measurement of the route, applied them to the pickguard, taped off the section, and cut the pickguard and the body at the same time. it wasnt perfect, but i wasnt concerned as the pickup overlaps the route anyway. i used the smaller route measurement btw, not the reversable route
http://www.flickr.com/photos/65768151@N02/6173939725/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/65768151@N02/6173939725/
Hello,
I'm French bass player.
On June 25 I have ordered the pickups and I have paid the amount : 460 dollars for this. After several months of waiting and several unanswered emails, I began to worry.
On September 15, 2-1/2 months later, I finally received a response from him, in wich he say he have make a mistake. For this, I can understand and is not dramatic.
In the same mail, he said he send me the pickups quickly.
But, Now, November 4, I still have not news from him or pickups...No emails, no pickups received, but my 460 dollars are collected since June 25 !
Is not serious and I'm starting to be disappointed by the credibility of his business.
Is anyone in contact with him on this board ?
I'm French bass player.
On June 25 I have ordered the pickups and I have paid the amount : 460 dollars for this. After several months of waiting and several unanswered emails, I began to worry.
On September 15, 2-1/2 months later, I finally received a response from him, in wich he say he have make a mistake. For this, I can understand and is not dramatic.
In the same mail, he said he send me the pickups quickly.
But, Now, November 4, I still have not news from him or pickups...No emails, no pickups received, but my 460 dollars are collected since June 25 !
Is not serious and I'm starting to be disappointed by the credibility of his business.
Is anyone in contact with him on this board ?
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f38/hammond-dark-star-pickups-209722/index4.html
Another gentleman in France JUST received his order, two days ago. So the mystery deepens. But all hope is not lost...
Whoa, I need to catch up and post some photos of my Dark Star love:
1. Guild Starfire II RI converted to Dark Star's in 2005, which is the "Blonde on a Beach Towel" pic on Fred's website. Sold this one to a well-known bassist in Nashville.
2. Lakland Decade #D06 with dual DS.
3. DS-P home built with mahogany body and Warmoth 'C' profile maple neck.
Pics to follow.
1. Guild Starfire II RI converted to Dark Star's in 2005, which is the "Blonde on a Beach Towel" pic on Fred's website. Sold this one to a well-known bassist in Nashville.
2. Lakland Decade #D06 with dual DS.
3. DS-P home built with mahogany body and Warmoth 'C' profile maple neck.
Pics to follow.
My order was paid for in June, 2010...I have dozens & dozens of substantiating emails, (nevermind ALL the unreturned ph. calls!) trying to reach the man...A builder of some repute, interviened at one point, managing to get Fred's response, (this was about a year later???). Due to his continued unprofessionalism, this classy gent, has since dropped Darkstars from his entire line. Fred claimed he was shipping them for the 2nd time, this past July...NOTHING, AGAIN! He never supplies tracking #'s, so there's no evidence.
henry norton
Guest
Forget the Darkstars, that's a monster quad J Starfire you got there. I'm sure the purists will be tooling up for war after seeing your picture but I think it looks brilliant! How does it sound???Count me in!
Thanks! It certainly is unique. With regards to Starfire "purists," such a concept doesn't really exist. Most of the Guild bass guys that I've met became obsessed with the basses via Jack Casady and Phil Lesh and the like buying them and then modifying them up the wazoo, so it's sort of standard fare for Starfires. I haven't seen another like mine, but there sure are some weird ones out there.
The '69 (wiht barts) sounds great--lots of mwah and nice, even tone. Now that I have the Darkstarred bass (the '64), however, I find the tone of the '69 to be lacking comparatively. If Fred ever gets his act together, I'll likely order a set of his pickups and put them in the '69. The J's sound good, but they aren't quite as clear, dynamic or loud as the Dark Star in my fretted Starfire.
The '69 (wiht barts) sounds great--lots of mwah and nice, even tone. Now that I have the Darkstarred bass (the '64), however, I find the tone of the '69 to be lacking comparatively. If Fred ever gets his act together, I'll likely order a set of his pickups and put them in the '69. The J's sound good, but they aren't quite as clear, dynamic or loud as the Dark Star in my fretted Starfire.
