Any news on DS production? I'm considering buying an old guild in need of replacement pickups...
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.
I've heard nothing from/of Fred Hammon.
I've heard nothing of anyone else pursuing an alternative.
If anyone were serious about this, I, personally, think the first step would be to physically locate Fred or his family or lawyers. There's no need to recreate the wheel here. There should be mechanical drawings, specs, leftover inventory and parts stock, all sitting somewhere. If Fred is done with this, it would be much better for the business, parts, stock, patents, etc to transfer to a partty capable of moving the product forward.
I've heard nothing of anyone else pursuing an alternative.
If anyone were serious about this, I, personally, think the first step would be to physically locate Fred or his family or lawyers. There's no need to recreate the wheel here. There should be mechanical drawings, specs, leftover inventory and parts stock, all sitting somewhere. If Fred is done with this, it would be much better for the business, parts, stock, patents, etc to transfer to a partty capable of moving the product forward.
Perhaps Fred passed away. You would think that someone in L.A. that knew him would make it public. Very weird. I'm glad I got my D.S. when I got it. I also think that Carey Nordstrand should run with this.
I would be interested in these pickups if Fred really can't make them anymore.
Here's my Tractor:
that thing is insane. hows it wired?
I searched LA area obituaries over the last year and found nobody named Hammon.
That said, he doesn't have to be dead to be out of commission. Incapacitated, etc would do the same thing and not be in the papers.
Sadly I think it's safe to call him done, which is a shame. So now if you want a darkstar, it's $400 per pickup on ebay. I'm kicking myself for not buying the pair that went for $325 about six months ago.
budman
Commercial User
- Oct 7, 2004
- 1,785
- 106
- 62
- Disclosures
- Owner/Builder of LeCompte Electric Bass
Well that answers that. He used to interact avidly in boards. What a mystery.....
D
Die costs (for stamping out the chrome ring) were a bit high for me to Justify entering the market. It looked like I was going to have to lay out $15K-$20K in tooling to get started. At $200 a pickup it's a long way to break-even with that kind of investment. Too bad.
This is (one of many reasons) why the only thing that likely makes sense is for someone, somehow, to buy Fred out and move an existing business forward.
This is deja vu all over again. The same kinda thing thing happened a few years back with Joe Barden. When I primarily played guitar I loved his pickups and needed a set for a tele. no response on website or phone. Local distributer had no clue-they couldn't re-order. Even Jimmy Thackery, who was an early supporter and tester for his designs didn't know his whereabouts.
Out of nowhere his website returned with a new partner and company name and they are available again and even have a jazz bass set (and now a p bass set) available. I've yet to try either, but I intend to try both. Don't want to change any of my current pickups, i see 2 new basses on the horizon.
Hope all is well with Fred.
Out of nowhere his website returned with a new partner and company name and they are available again and even have a jazz bass set (and now a p bass set) available. I've yet to try either, but I intend to try both. Don't want to change any of my current pickups, i see 2 new basses on the horizon.
Hope all is well with Fred.
That'd be nice, but I suppose you'd have to find him first.
I was bummed to hear that production stopped. I was hoping to snag some, but I missed that train by a bit and will have to settle for other pickups.
D
I'd love to ask him the question, if I could find a way to communicate with him.
True, but you can't buy a guy out who's not responding to any communications and can't be found.
Whomever wishes to run him down and take over the biz will need a little more gumption than trying to reach him by phone or email.
Thanks, this is a real tonemonster. This is the wiring I borrowed from BigDave.
Since then I added a push-pull pot on the Jazzpickups for series/parallel.
Thanks
As posted above, it's a replica of Berry Oakley's Tractor.
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
