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Well, look what I picked up from my luthier today:
But this is the Darkstar Club, you might ask, and I see no darkstar! Oh, well then, peek-a-boo!
Finally had my Dagstar installed! I picked it up at noon, and haven't really put it down since. My luthier could not stop going on about how huge and wide open the pickup sounded and what a work of art the build quality was. The bridge pup gets a little over powered now, and sounds pretty wimpy in comparison, but it actually complements the Dagstar really well when both pickups are run wide open. Helps tame it a bit. With the dagstar solo'd, it's actually been starting my Sunn to breakup at 4, but rolled off just a bit, I can keep the sound clean a lot louder. It's just an amazingly broad sound, and with the Sunn on low volumes, it's just a beautiful, crisp sound. After band practice (jazz fusion project), I can't say enough good things about it. It sits great in the mix, and has a great clear tone when taking solos. It really suits melodic playing as well. Anyways, thought I'd just post this quick little review and my love for the Dagstars. Thanks so much Roger, they're fantastic!
But this is the Darkstar Club, you might ask, and I see no darkstar! Oh, well then, peek-a-boo!
Finally had my Dagstar installed! I picked it up at noon, and haven't really put it down since. My luthier could not stop going on about how huge and wide open the pickup sounded and what a work of art the build quality was. The bridge pup gets a little over powered now, and sounds pretty wimpy in comparison, but it actually complements the Dagstar really well when both pickups are run wide open. Helps tame it a bit. With the dagstar solo'd, it's actually been starting my Sunn to breakup at 4, but rolled off just a bit, I can keep the sound clean a lot louder. It's just an amazingly broad sound, and with the Sunn on low volumes, it's just a beautiful, crisp sound. After band practice (jazz fusion project), I can't say enough good things about it. It sits great in the mix, and has a great clear tone when taking solos. It really suits melodic playing as well. Anyways, thought I'd just post this quick little review and my love for the Dagstars. Thanks so much Roger, they're fantastic!
henry norton
Guest
The one or two magnets used in the original Bi Sonics and presumably Dark Stars too are a bit of an odd size (even here in Europe where you'd think you could get them everywhere). They're 5.5mm x 55mm x 15mm according to my ruler - that's .25 x .625 x 2.2 inches. I remember reading Fred Hammon had both Alnico V and ceramic versions so presumably they could be bought off the shelf.
Does anyone know where I can get hold of some?
Does anyone know where I can get hold of some?
D
What strings do you use on your Darkstar bass?
I've got Chromes on my DPLEII and TI Jazz Flats on my Mexi-P. I think I like the TI's better, the chromes are a bit stiff for my liking. I'm thinking about moving the TI's to the DPLEII and putting some rounds on the Mexi-P so I'll have a DS bass with flats and a DS bass with rounds.
What are you using and what do you like about them?
I've got Chromes on my DPLEII and TI Jazz Flats on my Mexi-P. I think I like the TI's better, the chromes are a bit stiff for my liking. I'm thinking about moving the TI's to the DPLEII and putting some rounds on the Mexi-P so I'll have a DS bass with flats and a DS bass with rounds.
What are you using and what do you like about them?
I have LaBella Black tapes on my '72 Tele; bright, fat, articulate.
and
DA XL170 on my '74P, Rock City Grind.
and
DA XL170 on my '74P, Rock City Grind.
After several Darkstar-Precisions, I've finally arrived at the last station: this is my ultimate DS-Precision:
Warmoth slab 51 alder body in Sonic Blue, fattest neck I could find (1 7/8 nut, full inch thick all over) in nitro, Fender hardware and that trusty Darkstar. Completed with TI flats.
Warmoth slab 51 alder body in Sonic Blue, fattest neck I could find (1 7/8 nut, full inch thick all over) in nitro, Fender hardware and that trusty Darkstar. Completed with TI flats.
Currently on mine are the factory installed Fender Rounds, which have been alright but are going pretty dead. I'm about to put on some new Nickel Roto 66s, which are still my all time favorite string, and I assume will just sound raunchy and gnarly with the Dagstar. I may try out the Fender 9050 flats soon as well, just to see what they're like. I've never had the urge to put flats on a bass until this one, and I have no explanation why, I think it might just sounds massive with them.
Sorry for the stupid question, but where can you buy one of these pickups? I'm currently putting together a bass, and would like one of these.
you can't, unfortunately. They've been out of production for quite a while now. Either you get very lucky and pick one up on the used marker, or wait with the rest of us for the workalikes in development
henry norton
Guest
Thanks for the reply Roger. Did you get them from a supplier or did you have to have them cut to your sizes??
Just posted my Guild M85 with Dark Stars and Alembic inspired brass bridge for sale on TB: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/guild-m85-dark-star-pus-alembic-inspired-bridge-one-kind-920448/. Kills me to sell it but somebody should enjoy this bass.
Attachments
Sadowsky stainless steels on my DS equipped Tribute JB-2. I like them because they're round wound and sound excellent!
Can any of you with experience mention the differences between the stock Guild buckers and the darkstars? So far, I know the darkstars are single-coil and wider frequency response.
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
I see you've made the rounds with this question. I hope you aren't confusing the original Hagstrom/Guild pickups with humbuckers. Those are the ones that really deserve a comparison with the Darkstars.
As Edwin said. Guild started using their own humbuckers in the early '70s.
Think of them as the mudbucker Gibson used in their EB basses, but Guilds are clearer and not as muddy as the mudbuckers.
Dark Stars are a whole different beast (and a beast they are indeed). Exactly as you said, very open sounding and very responsive to your attack and dynamics. Both have a high output.
Think of them as the mudbucker Gibson used in their EB basses, but Guilds are clearer and not as muddy as the mudbuckers.
Dark Stars are a whole different beast (and a beast they are indeed). Exactly as you said, very open sounding and very responsive to your attack and dynamics. Both have a high output.
Darkstars should not be confused with the original Hagström bisonics either. They too are different beasts, albeit closer related to each other than either one of them are to the Guild humbucker.
