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Curtis Novak's Darkstar bisonic pickup...

Muziekschuur

Muziekschuur

May 25, 2009
1,770
593
Stavenisse
#1
Curtis Novak has created his take on the Guild Bisonic. Another take on the Fred Hammon Darkstar pickup...

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BS-DS-1.jpg


I'm saving up for a pair. Just wanted to share the news.
 
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#10
ctmullins said:
If you buy cheap pickups, you get cheap pickups. If you want good pickups (which you should), then you shouldn't balk at paying for them. Curtis makes a quality product.
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$275 represents, to some degree, the hassle of tooling up and making a clone of an ancient pickup that featured many non-standard parts. it does seem a lot for what is basically a bass P90 with some idiosyncratic features and some impressive ex-users. He could make them cheaper if he didn't adhere to the shape of the originals so closely as well probably.
 
#13
ctmullins said:
If you buy cheap pickups, you get cheap pickups. If you want good pickups (which you should), then you shouldn't balk at paying for them. Curtis makes a quality product.
Click to expand...

That's a pretty inaccurate statement, and an unfair one at that. There are plenty of very experienced players whose opinions I respect who have raved about some excellent bargains out there. Also, as has been pointed out, much of this cost is due to the odd production/parts, not directly towards "quality, per se (though of course Novak's reputation is extremely high).
 
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#14
Mine came today!!! Whoohoo!!!! They look absolutely beautiful! But I'm not sure I'll be able to install them until I have my shop back up and running later next month. I need to make a small block for the bridge PU to A: Elevate it a little, and B: cover the J pickup rout. The DS is about 3/16" narrower than the bridge rout.
 
#16
Beautiful bass! Will it hum cancel (completely) with a J pickup like you have it? I was thinking that a matched set of oppositely wound darkstars would have to be used to totally kill the hum (like on a J bass).

Your setup would save almost $200 vs using two of the bisonics.

bassmanhamilton said:
Good Lawd these pickups are sick!!!View attachment 343686
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#18
Teacher said:
That's a pretty inaccurate statement, and an unfair one at that. There are plenty of very experienced players whose opinions I respect who have raved about some excellent bargains out there. Also, as has been pointed out, much of this cost is due to the odd production/parts, not directly towards "quality, per se (though of course Novak's reputation is extremely high).
Click to expand...

If you want to recreate something do it right no short cuts and all of those little things are directed toward quality that's why they sound so good but once again it's your wallet your choice.
 
#19
For anyone complaining about a $275 list price on a set of pickups, try winding one yourself. It's a lot of work, and that doesn't even get into the absolutely beautiful job he's done with the tooling on these... absolutely gorgeous.
Curtis Novak is making great tones from the past available today and should be commended. He should do an Ovation Magnum neck pickup next!
 
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