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Dark Star in EB-0

JimmyM

JimmyM

Apr 11, 2005
127,257
125,180
Plymouth NC
Disclosures
Endorsing: Yamaha, Ampeg, Line 6, EMG
#1
I have a broken 1960 Gibson EB-0 that's been sitting in its case for years waiting for me to restore it. I think I'm about ready to do so, but I don't like the DiMarzio pickup that's in it a whole lot, and I'm going to replace it with a vintage Gibson pickup or possibly a Dark Star if the price comes down to something reasonable. Would a Dark Star fit in the standard Gibson humbucker rout without extra routing? Do you really think a Dark Star would make much of a difference in tone to where it's worth it to pay so much for one?
 
#2
Jimmy, there;s a guy of the DS forum at the Dudepit whom also posts here that put a pair of them in an EB0. Moniker is bassman10096 iirc. Maybe he has clips that'll help you decide.
I'm about to order a pair for my T40.
 
#3
"Do you really think a Dark Star would make much of a difference in tone to where it's worth it to pay so much for one?"

YES! ... http://www.talkbass.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/1035/cat/16

In this post http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3948996&postcount=12 you can see the EB-1 that came out before the EB-0 the original had a single coil similar to the DS and in many opinions (mine included) has a superior sound to the later hum-bucker ...

Jack Bruce used a 68 EB-1 retro fitted with the old style Gibson version of the single coil to good effect at the 2005 Cream reunion http://www.cream2005.com/photogallery/concert_40.lasso

:smug: ... And I like the idea so much that not only did I buy the pickup but had a bass built around it! ... http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3854325&postcount=309
 
#4
It would only be worth it (to you) if you like the bass a lot.

If I were you, I'd get it strung up and see how it feels before buying the DS. Since you're into P-basses, you might not be that crazy about the EB-0.

Those old GIbsons bring a lot on ebay, and the big route required for the DS will effect resale value.

If you're set on the DS, I'd suggest putting the Gibson back together, sell it, get a Hagstrom HIIB and DS that. The Hag has a pretty big route below the pickguard, and is a fine bass. You might like the results. I don't know if the DS will fit w/o extra work though...just an idea. You might need another pickguard.
 
#5
GlennW said:
If you're set on the DS, I'd suggest putting the Gibson back together, sell it, get a Hagstrom HIIB and DS that. The Hag has a pretty big route below the pickguard, and is a fine bass. You might like the results. I don't know if the DS will fit w/o extra work though...just an idea. You might need another pickguard.
Click to expand...

Hey Glenn, I just so happen to have a HII B in transit to me at the moment.
Won it last week on ebay.
If I did not already have two Dark Star basses, I would have
gone that route. No Pun intended.
Right now I am thinking, if I dont like the tone, a couple of
TV Jones Thundertrons.
There about the same size, I think, as those small Hagstrom
pickups.
 
#6
Would a Dark Star fit in the standard Gibson humbucker rout without extra routing? Do you really think a Dark Star would make much of a difference in tone to where it's worth it to pay so much for one?
Click to expand...
No. You will need to route slightly to increase the radius of the cavity you already have, and a bit to add depth. But it does work out fine. I've got a '68 EBO with twin DS's. Great bass. Well worth the cost of the pickups. If the DiMarzio you have is a Model One (I'm guessing it is, since that was the popular mudbucker replacement for years.). Dark Stars will bring your bass to life, literally.

I get that you don't want to spend what Dark Stars cost, and I certainly don't tell people what to spend their hard-earned on, but you get what you pay for. Building and selling DS's doesn't seem to be making anybody rich, either. The tooling and design time alone to put something like that into production is deadly.

You should do whatever makes you happy. Restoring the bass to its Gibson, mudbucking glory will give you, IMHO, a ho-hum bass with limited vintage value (EBOs ain't vintage Fenders when it comes to investment value). But they are cool in their own way. Also depends on how broken the bass is. Is the headstock/neck/neck set OK? Well, have fun.
 
#7
Bill, you just might like the Hagstrom as it is. The weirdest thing with those is no tone knob, but they still give a lot of good sounds. I hate to say it, but I like those better than the EB-O/3 style basses, especially considering the price and sound difference. I played an EB-3 for about 10 years and used two tone positions just about all the time.
 
#8
Thanks Glenn, except for a 5 min. try once with a H II B
several years ago, I really don't have any other experiences with them.
What really struck me, and what stands out in my memory,
is the that super, fast neck.
I am hopeing the PUPs sound as good as you say.
I never had a EB-3.
I had a 1973 EBO for a few years though.
Great player ergonamically.
Tone, just so-so.
Will do a post on the Hagstrom sometime next week after it arrives,
and give my humble impressions.............
 
#9
You'll probably be hard pressed to find anything that is an exact fit for that rout. There isn't much of a gibson bass pickup aftermarket selection. You could also look at a riogrange pitbull. They fit in a standard guitar HB rout. SOmebody posted a clip last week, and they sounded good (and would look great) on an EB
 

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