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Curtis Novak's Darkstar bisonic pickup...
- Thread starter Muziekschuur
- Start date
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
Fantastic bass. Does winding the J hotter to match the bisonic output also make them match up for full hum cancellation?
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
I'm definitely a fan and the form factor of these pickups obviously contributes to the high cost. For what you get they are probably priced fairly but will discourage many would-be buyers. By the way, the $275 is for one pickup, not a set. For a matched pair, which is what I would want, we are talking $550. Nonetheless, I think it is awesome that Curtis is making these things available.
bassmanhamilton
Commercial User
Steve, I had him wind the J hotter to better balance the level from one pickup to the other. The J is a split coil, so it is hum canceling. The bisonic does have a little hum, but when blended with the J, it definitely decreases. I cant say how much the over winding helps with this, in comparison to a standard wound J.
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
Thanks! Interesting choice. If the J was a single coil I would think it would hum cancel (at least partly) with the bisonic. Another option might be to use to J pickups side by side (tractor style) one single coil to hum cancel the bisonic and one split which could be played by itself.
bassmanhamilton
Commercial User
That's true and a good point about the second J.
He wanted a clean, minimalist look..... Stacked knobs, two pickups, no guard.... But wanted to be able to tool off the Bisonic and solo on the J. Thus, the split coil. When both pickups are at a decent volume level, there is very little hum from the Bisonic.
I had the opportunity to hear it live, in a pretty large room and it sounded great in the mix. With both pickups on, there was very good clarity throughout the entire register. It never got lost in the mix. Very pleased with the pickups.
He wanted a clean, minimalist look..... Stacked knobs, two pickups, no guard.... But wanted to be able to tool off the Bisonic and solo on the J. Thus, the split coil. When both pickups are at a decent volume level, there is very little hum from the Bisonic.
I had the opportunity to hear it live, in a pretty large room and it sounded great in the mix. With both pickups on, there was very good clarity throughout the entire register. It never got lost in the mix. Very pleased with the pickups.
scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
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I have a tractor i built with only one hotter j as i never really liked the look of the 2 . the DS is much quieter than a normal j pup regarding 60 cycle hum. not sure why technically speaking.
need to change the PG color one of these days
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
Cool. When you play them together do the pickups hum cancel like a normal J?
I have a tractor i built with only one hotter j as i never really liked the look of the 2 . the DS is much quieter than a normal j pup regarding 60 cycle hum. not sure why technically speaking.
need to change the PG color one of these days
Just got my Novak Bisonic today and what a beauty! Curtis certainly does nice work. I also had Curtis refurb my original Hagstrom (new poles mainly) and he did an excellent job on that also.
About the only difference I can see between my original and Curtis's replica is the adjustment screws - The originals screw heads rest above the bobbin plate where Curtis's are recessed. Other than that it's a direct drop-in replacement.
About the only difference I can see between my original and Curtis's replica is the adjustment screws - The originals screw heads rest above the bobbin plate where Curtis's are recessed. Other than that it's a direct drop-in replacement.
Tell us more!
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have not officially announced by Curtis himself. a coil tap that will allow you to get both the Darkstar (6.8k) and the Starfire (13.5k) options in a single pickup!
scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
- 6,944
- 2,081
- 51
- Disclosures
- Please see Profile for Endorsement disclosures
Must simply have a tap at the end of the coil (more resistance) and a tap in the middle for less.
I got a Novak Darkstar waiting to be installed. Need to finish another bass project with two Bisonics first.
Reading on the net, seemed Hammond wound them to about 6k and used Alnico and Novak's measures about 12.6k and looks like ceramic magnets.
My Bisonics are 13.2k and has ceramic. At least it's a step in the right direction to recreating the legendary pickup.
Here's something that might blow your mind...
The two magnets in the single coil are facing both polarities.
At first I thought Novak had an off day and put a magnet in upside down. But get the same readings from the Bisonic. My guess is it was to cut hum, or part of the magic sauce.
Reading on the net, seemed Hammond wound them to about 6k and used Alnico and Novak's measures about 12.6k and looks like ceramic magnets.
My Bisonics are 13.2k and has ceramic. At least it's a step in the right direction to recreating the legendary pickup.
Here's something that might blow your mind...
The two magnets in the single coil are facing both polarities.
At first I thought Novak had an off day and put a magnet in upside down. But get the same readings from the Bisonic. My guess is it was to cut hum, or part of the magic sauce.
- Aug 19, 2012
- 47
- 24
- Disclosures
- Pickup Artist at Curtis Novak Classic Pickups
Yes I can wind them in a multitude of ways from the Darkstar (6k range, and the Bisonic/Starfire +12k. You needed Bisonics so I wound it to that.
Ans as some are posting I have started making them with a coil tap so you get both the Darkstar, and the Starfire resistances.
As for the magnets I keep hearing of Bisonics being ceramic. I have examined and/or repaired almost 100 of these and I have NEVER seen one with a ceramic magnet they are all AlNiCo.
The easiest way to test is to scratch 2 spots on the magnet to get past any coatings such as wax, glue, oxidation, or grime. Then use a multi meter and check for continuity. A ceramic will not have any. the Alnico will have continuity.
Secondly the Ceramic alloy was not invented until the mid 70 and really did not take off as a viable magnet until the 80's
As for polarity I am a little confused on what you are saying on the placement of magnets. If you have 2 bar magnets you need to have the same polarity on both magnets facing the rods. This does not create a humbucker. A humbucker actually requires 2 coils with opposite polarities.
Thanks,
curtis
Ans as some are posting I have started making them with a coil tap so you get both the Darkstar, and the Starfire resistances.
As for the magnets I keep hearing of Bisonics being ceramic. I have examined and/or repaired almost 100 of these and I have NEVER seen one with a ceramic magnet they are all AlNiCo.
The easiest way to test is to scratch 2 spots on the magnet to get past any coatings such as wax, glue, oxidation, or grime. Then use a multi meter and check for continuity. A ceramic will not have any. the Alnico will have continuity.
Secondly the Ceramic alloy was not invented until the mid 70 and really did not take off as a viable magnet until the 80's
As for polarity I am a little confused on what you are saying on the placement of magnets. If you have 2 bar magnets you need to have the same polarity on both magnets facing the rods. This does not create a humbucker. A humbucker actually requires 2 coils with opposite polarities.
Thanks,
curtis
thanks Curtis for the clarity.. I didn't realize that Fred's version was running that different a strength? from the original bisonics. that's very interesting . The tap is great idea. time for me to order a pickup as the hotter version sounds like a perfect match for a p bass looking for a pickup. I was leaning towards a lull Tbird pup i had laying around but the bisonic/darkstar sounds even better and certainly looks better in a one pup setup.
