• 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.

Club Dark Star

#61
Ahem.

I was at a rehearsal last night, using my at-long-last-together Epiphone Jack Casady with a Dark Star. Plugged in, as usual, to the bandleader's aging Peavey combo bass amp (it's there, means I don't have to lug my rig, but a tone monster this amp ain't).

Tuned up, did some of my normal warm-up things, and the bandleader looked at me and said "What have you done to my amp?" I looked at him, and he said "You've made it sound good! What did you do?"

At the end of rehearsal, he said "Keep that one, okay?" I told him it was pretty likely.

Just thought you might like to know. I have no involvement with Dark Star pickups except as a happy customer, etc..

5452605670_07623339ce.jpg

bass 002sm by o'bunny, on Flickr

The scoop -- Epiphone Jack Casady body and neck bought on eBay without any hardware or electronics. Tuners out of my junk box. Bridge and bridge saddles out of the junk box at the local used music store; you can't really tell, but there are scrap pieces of merado holding up the bridge saddles because they're narrower than the slots in the bridge :hmm:. 500K CTS pots for volume and tone, Big D bass varitone in place of impedance switch. Switchcraft jack, Schaller straplocks. Chunk of old piano key for nut.

Now I have to get another strap. Because of the location of one pin at the heel and the bridge spaced away from the tailblock, it sits really high and away out to the left. I kept having to watch, 'cause I kept trying to play a whole tone sharp. :spit:
 
  • Like
Reactions: MAJOR METAL
#65
I'd love a darkstar for my epiphone casady bass, but as of yet fred hammond hasnt got back to me despite many email's. People rave about the standard epi pick up, but its just to weedy and lack's clarity for me. Has oneone else had trouble contacting Fred ?
 
#66
buff said:
I'd love a darkstar for my epiphone casady bass, but as of yet fred hammond hasnt got back to me despite many email's. People rave about the standard epi pick up, but its just to weedy and lack's clarity for me. Has oneone else had trouble contacting Fred ?
Click to expand...

Deja vu...My order was placed mid June, last year...I've been trying to reach, (both email & phone) him in vain for months now. Interestingly, his mail box message was full for months, until about a week ago...Of course, I left a message, which hasn't been returned, as of yet? I even tried Lakland, asking if they knew anything, but haven't heard from them, either. Two other possibilities in that vein, could be his mentor, Rick Turner or Landing Basses, who feature his Darkstars...
Speaking of Jack Casady, I've got a pair of DS's in my Starfire...they're worth every penny, (I got mine used, too!).
 
#67
I exchanged a few emails with Jimmy Wilson, of Landing Guitars...As a builder who features Darkstars on some of his great short scales, he told me he hasn't rec'd. a shipment since last November. Further more, he emails & calls him every day! Let's hope he's well and will be back to work soon...
 
#70
Hello ,
I am a french luthier, not really specialized on bass guitar but I did some and most of them with Fred pickups. I was probably one of the first , if not the first european to use his pickups. last time I've send an order to him he answered 4 month too late, he explain that his wife was in charge of the mail and trashed mines... I didn't get any news since... I had a very nice article in a french Bass magazine last month, I told how Fred's reissues are great, and tried several times to contact him again, like everyone, without success... I really hope he's fine and back to the bench soon... here's pictures of some of my Basses for the pleasure, hope you like them
daguetguitars.com
Link Removed
IMGP0741.jpg

Link Removed
I really hate to get pickups from another supplier but if in case Fred really stop his great work and if someone will be able to do the job I'll buy them... simply because its my job too
have a nice day
Roger.
 
#75
I had previously posted that I was investigating the possibility of producing a Hagstrom Bi-Sonic / Darkstar type pickup since Fred Hammon seems to have discontinued production and there is definitely a demand for a product of this nature. I am in the process of research to specify vendors for parts and fabrication of parts. That's all the information I have at this point, I'm not ready to start a waiting list or take orders at this time as that would be premature. I am targeting 6-12 months to first customer ship. I'd encourage you not to email me with questions at this point, because I'll probably just direct you back to this post. Stay tuned for news in the October 2011 to March 2012 timeframe.
 
#76
Smokin' Toaster said:
I had previously posted that I was investigating the possibility of producing a Hagstrom Bi-Sonic / Darkstar type pickup since Fred Hammon seems to have discontinued production and there is definitely a demand for a product of this nature. I am in the process of research to specify vendors for parts and fabrication of parts. That's all the information I have at this point, I'm not ready to start a waiting list or take orders at this time as that would be premature. I am targeting 6-12 months to first customer ship. I'd encourage you not to email me with questions at this point, because I'll probably just direct you back to this post. Stay tuned for news in the October 2011 to March 2012 timeframe.
Click to expand...

Not placing an order but I thought I'd help identify one more segment for this potential product.... 5 string players. I've been sitting on the sideline for the last couple of years drooling over a Darkstar option for a 5 string bass. There's a lot of us out here and probably an additional 30% to 50% bump in your target market. PM me if you ever decide to go down that route and I'm in for at least 3 sets of 2 (neck/bridge) at just about any reasonable cost.
 
#77
Smokin' Toaster said:
I had previously posted that I was investigating the possibility of producing a Hagstrom Bi-Sonic / Darkstar type pickup since Fred Hammon seems to have discontinued production and there is definitely a demand for a product of this nature. I am in the process of research to specify vendors for parts and fabrication of parts. That's all the information I have at this point, I'm not ready to start a waiting list or take orders at this time as that would be premature. I am targeting 6-12 months to first customer ship. I'd encourage you not to email me with questions at this point, because I'll probably just direct you back to this post. Stay tuned for news in the October 2011 to March 2012 timeframe.
Click to expand...

Sounds great! I had the luck of getting interested in Darkstars right as they became unavailable. I'll be keeping up with your progress with interest.
 
#78
Smokin' Toaster said:
I had previously posted that I was investigating the possibility of producing a Hagstrom Bi-Sonic / Darkstar type pickup since Fred Hammon seems to have discontinued production and there is definitely a demand for a product of this nature. I am in the process of research to specify vendors for parts and fabrication of parts. That's all the information I have at this point, I'm not ready to start a waiting list or take orders at this time as that would be premature. I am targeting 6-12 months to first customer ship. I'd encourage you not to email me with questions at this point, because I'll probably just direct you back to this post. Stay tuned for news in the October 2011 to March 2012 timeframe.
Click to expand...

I'd be interested in the price of a finished pickup once you've got an idea of production costs.

I hope Fred is ok.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back