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Darkstar v Chi-sonic

gm2_in_co

gm2_in_co

Sep 6, 2007
660
25
70
Fort Collins, Colorado USA
#1
So I've been gassing for a Darkstar equipped bass forever but today started thinking maybe I should give up all the questing and get a Lakland Skyline Decade with Chi-sonics and be done with it.

My questions: Will my GAS be quenched or will I still have that "itch?" How much difference is there REALLY between the two? I wish Lakland still had a page with Darkstar equipped sound samples up.
 
#2
gm2_in_co said:
So I've been gassing for a Darkstar equipped bass forever but today started thinking maybe I should give up all the questing and get a Lakland Skyline Decade with Chi-sonics and be done with it.

My questions: Will my GAS be quenched or will I still have that "itch?" How much difference is there REALLY between the two? I wish Lakland still had a page with Darkstar equipped sound samples up.
Click to expand...

You dont like these:
Link Removed
 
#3
OK gm2... let me put a couple of things out there for you...
I'm an old guy & an old school guy. I have had both Dark Stars and the Decade with the chisonics, AND LOVED THEM BOTH!! That said, what tone are you going for?
1. The Dark Star is a true "old school" thick, dark, rich, full sound ( I have one right now in an all-parts bass that is to die for!!~)
2. The decade has chisonics which are the same full sound but a good deal more "modern". A very clean, crisp sound.

If you slap or pop I would definitely do the chi's.
R&B, classic rock, etc... Dark Stars...
If you do the Decade and run just the front pick up it is similar, but not really the same.... I loved the Decade sound, just couldnt do the ergonomics of the body...
Hope that helps!!
 
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#6
buffordbass said:
OK gm2... let me put a couple of things out there for you...
I'm an old guy & an old school guy. I have had both Dark Stars and the Decade with the chisonics, AND LOVED THEM BOTH!! That said, what tone are you going for?
1. The Dark Star is a true "old school" thick, dark, rich, full sound ( I have one right now in an all-parts bass that is to die for!!~)
2. The decade has chisonics which are the same full sound but a good deal more "modern". A very clean, crisp sound.

If you slap or pop I would definitely do the chi's.
R&B, classic rock, etc... Dark Stars...
If you do the Decade and run just the front pick up it is similar, but not really the same.... I loved the Decade sound, just couldnt do the ergonomics of the body...
Hope that helps!!
Click to expand...

What my friend Terry said. I own a Glaub with a single Dark Star in the P position, a Lakland Hollowbody with 2 DS's and a JO with single-coil Chis. (I also own a Skyline Decade with humbucking Chis, but that's a different animal.) Both DS's and Chis are great pickups, IMO (obviously :D), but only the Dark Star is really the Dark Star.
 
#9
GregC said:
What my friend Terry said. I own a Glaub with a single Dark Star in the P position, a Lakland Hollowbody with 2 DS's and a JO with single-coil Chis. (I also own a Skyline Decade with humbucking Chis, but that's a different animal.) Both DS's and Chis are great pickups, IMO (obviously :D), but only the Dark Star is really the Dark Star.
Click to expand...

So the Decade Chi's are nothing like Darkstars in sound? (Didn't realize they weren't single coils. It doesn't come with a tap like on the hollow bodies, huh?)
 
#11
mellowgerman said:
Why not pick up a bass that you like and "Dark Star it"?
Click to expand...

I'm considering doing exactly that! Here would be the victim/donor: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=656735&highlight=tbc

But that brings up ANOTHER issue with this whole thing. I've heard from several sources that the Darkstar guy is swamped. My experience with him thus far would confirm that as I've emailed him a couple times without ever getting a response. In fact, until I got active in these forums, I had my doubts whether he was even still in business. So, I don't exactly get "warm fuzzies" that procuring a Darkstar is necessarily all that easy.

It was kinda funny because I wrote the Landings guy today and he immediately wrote back a very friendly and thorough reply. But in part he suggested that I get the Darkstar pickups as though he thought I might have better luck... or maybe he just didn't want me blaming him for any delay?
 
#13
Codger said:
Try [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. (let me know if no joy)
Click to expand...

MUCH joy! Thanks so much.

So my conclusions based on these samples is that Darkstars have more "guts" and can also "sing" more than the Chi-sonics. I guess in their favor, the Chi-sonics could be said to sound "tighter" or more "articulate." Do my ears kinda line up with everyone elses? They obviously do fall in the same general ball park regardless.
 
#14
gm2_in_co said:
So the Decade Chi's are nothing like Darkstars in sound? (Didn't realize they weren't single coils. It doesn't come with a tap like on the hollow bodies, huh?)
Click to expand...
Well, let me be clear. The Decades normally come with single-coil Chi-sonics. I chose to get one with humbuckers. I do have a push-pull on the tone knob that puts them sort of in single-coil mode, but in that mode it lacks some of the low end and grit of a true single-coil Chi.

gm2_in_co said:
MUCH joy! Thanks so much.

So my conclusions based on these samples is that Darkstars have more "guts" and can also "sing" more than the Chi-sonics. I guess in their favor, the Chi-sonics could be said to sound "tighter" or more "articulate." Do my ears kinda line up with everyone elses? They obviously do fall in the same general ball park regardless.
Click to expand...
That's interesting. To my ears, the single-coil Chi has more growl than a DS. The DS sounds fatter and smoother, and the low end really blooms when you dig in.
 
#15
I like it! This bass causes minor earthquakes on the opposite end of the planet, but it's totally worth it!

DsChiP.gif
 
#20
evhest said:
The Chisonic was sourced direct from Hanson, no problems there. Just shoot them an email, I'd say.

Dimensions are 49mm x 102mm.

It's not my only Chi equipped bass. Here's 'Chibanez'!:D

Chibanez.gif
Click to expand...
Sweet! I knew about the other one, but this one's really cool, too. Single-coil or humbuckers?

For those who don't know, those are the larger Chi-sonic covers. The single-coil Chis can also go in these smaller ones.

Link Removed
 

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