Dark Stars on a Jazz

You won't sound like him, if that's what you're asking.

 

I have a dual-DS jazz and it is awesome. I did not build it myself (I bought it here: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=350112) . But after I got this one, I bought a Darkstar and put it in my old P-bass. If you do a search, there is a routing template graphic available (I found it on talkbass since I couldn't reach the Dude Pit either.)

Some advice I could offer would be: 1. plan to get the thumbrests from Jeannies (spelling?). 2. a preamp circuit is optional. I use a wiring harness from Bayou cables in the Precision and it is great (and is cheap!)

 

everything you need should be here if not just call Fred

http://www.basspickup.com/

 

You will need:

First off, measure your string spacing where you want to mount your new pickups and choose the correctly spaced Darkstar's according to Hammon's site. Then order the ones you want.

Once you have them, figure out where you want to place them and router out the body to match.

Take markings for the new pickguard you will need to cut out to match.

Decide on the electronics you want to go along with them and wire it up.

A couple of thoughts: probably not a good idea to do this to a bass that already has some value, even though the darkstars are awesome pickups, this process will not necessarily add any value to your bass. Also, Darkstars are pretty expensive, and if you are planning to pay for this work to be done, it will also be expensive. Lastly, the stock jazz pickup at the bridge position is longer than the width of a darkstar, so you will need to figure out what to do with the leftover area. You could cover the area with pickguard material, or backfill the holes and then refinish the entire body. There are a few options available, none of them cheap or simple...

 

as one who has retrofitted many a Darkstar pickup and also designed/built new instruments with them, I can offer you the following thoughts:

1) you need to order a DS set for 3/4" bridge spacing unless your J-bass has some other bridge configuration

2) unless you have issues with your current controls (i.e. you want a V/B/T instead of a V/V/T configuration) you are totally cool reusing the current electronics

3) you will need to do a significant amount of routing, and it will be slightly over 1" deep. you can get by without a template, but it's better to do a clean, professional job and utilize a router template. if you're not skilled with using a router to create deep cavities in a wooden body, find a competent tech and pay them to do the mod work for you

4) if you use really low action, adding the Jeannie thumbrest may cause you playing difficulties if you also have a heavy plucking hand touch

5) if you are not skilled at soldering, spend the extra $$$ and order your pickups with the leads already installed. the little bit of extra $ you spend is significantly less than the cost of overheating the connector pin on the pickup and needing to order a replacement

6) shield the new pickup cavities with either shielding paint or copper foil. if you use copper foil, solder the seams and connect each cavity to the control cavity with a grounding wire

7) even though the pickup mounting screws are tiny, you really need to pre-drill the holes. IIRC this requires drilling the holes with a 1/16" drill bit

8) it's best to order a new pickguard without the pickup hole installed. locate the new cavity position and drill a 1/2" or larger pilot hole in the center of the pickup location. now you will mount the new pickguard in position and use your router to install the opening with a 3/8" D x 1-1/2" long pattern bit

9) you will most likely need to order a trim ring for the rear pickup to cover the original pickup route that extends beyong the Darkstar trim ring


have fun with your project, but be sure to plan it well and draw it all out to scale before making any permanent kind of modifications. use your tools safely and within your range of experience and comfort. careful planning will identify if this is beyond the scope of your capabilities. don't start the job if you can't complete it - many techs won't take on somebody else's botched install job without also charging you dearly for it (this is called instilling a life lesson in the customer, while assuming the reputation cost of others seeing the hack job and identifying it with the tech)

all the best,

R

 

if you don't have the abilities to make your own from leftovers from making the pickguard, Roger at Jeannie Pickguards will gladly help you out. he sells these in every color that he offers pickguards in, and they're not too unreasonably priced

all the best,

R

 

here's what your routing should look like. you can clearly see the difference in width of the bridge cavity ... some, but not all, of this is covered by the Darkstar trim ring



and notice the trim ring on the bridge pickup



this set was made by Jeannie Pickguards - the pickguard was made from the original I sent to Roger, so the mounting holes were a perfect match

all the best,

R

 

How I long for dark stars in a jazz. But hopefully if i get a Skyline Decade the Chi-sonics will be superb

 

That's just flippin' awesome...

 

deeper deeper see it now go and route...

 

Rodent - You Rock

 

rodent how much would you charge for a job like that, if someone were to end you a body and Darkstars?

EDIT: Let me clarify...I'm not looking to commission you for the project, I'm just wondering what it would cost me to get this all done...