I just looked at a thread full of basses with Dark Stars, and I'm in love with the look and sound of the things. Especially on a Gibson bass. I'm thinking about picking up an Epiphone bass, because the pickups are the weakest parts of the Epiphones, and Darkstarrin' them. Which Epiphone model do you all think would take to Darkstarrin' the best, as far as cavity routing (if any?) and sound goes?
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Darkstarrin'
- Thread starter Oric
- Start date
Jack Casady put one in an Epi EBO.
Not sure if that helps any, but I figure its more or less relevant.
Not sure if that helps any, but I figure its more or less relevant.
Both are probably good. But you'll have to rout either one, as the cavities aren't quite deep or long enough for a DS. The EB-3's a little more substantial bass based on others' opinions - set neck rather than bolt on. I had an old EBO (set neck) that I routed for twin DS's. Great bass - sold it to fund an Alembic. Just got a Guild JS2 (the SG shaped short scale). It's already at the luthier getting a pair or Dark Stars and an Alembic-inspired brass bridge installed. I hope it's as good as the EB was. 
IMO, the stock pickup in the Jack Casady Sig is so good that I wouldn't want to replace it. I'd love to have a bass with DarkStars, but it won't be my JC!
What about a Thunderbird, that would look awesome with Darkstars, sound great too(because of the 'stars of course!), be a bit of work though.
A few folks have put in Dark Stars in a Tele bass. Squier makes one that you can get for a couple hundred bucks. Here's a thread to a report on such a conversion by Chef:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=275848
The pics are gone from the thread, but it will still give you some ideas. I'm tempted to try this myself some day.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=275848
The pics are gone from the thread, but it will still give you some ideas. I'm tempted to try this myself some day.
That's what I'm leaning towards right now. The Goth T-bird would look especially cool with Darkstars.
All depends on what sound you are going for, and what style you like best.
eb0- IIRC, this may be a direct drop in, drilling only for screws.
eb3- Direct drop in at the neck, and some routing done at the body. Routing shouldn't be more than 100 bucks, even cheaper if you find a beginning luthier, or non-luthier woodworker to do the work for you.
-T-Bird Routing would be required, as well as likley some pickup rings, but there's a couple of DS T-Birds around and they reportedly sound great.
-Jack Cassady. Great bass for a darkstar conversion, probably the highest quality bass of the bunch. The arched top requires a bit more finese, and skill, so a qualified luther or talented woodworker would be required. Rodent of the temporarily closed RGB guitar works did a fantastic JC goldtop DS conversion. The process and results are somewhere on TB.
Other basses that work well.
-Any of the old Guild basses with humbuckers are great DS candidates. Asside from the es335 shaped Starfire basses I don't know the exact names, but there's some LP and SG styled basses that are near direct drop in. Probably cheaper than Gibson, and much higher quality than most Epi. Mostly short scale, IIRC.
-Dearmond (Name fender put on Guild styled import guitars when they bought the GUild and Dearmond names). Dearmond Starfire bass is a great candidate
-peavey T-40's and T-45's are direct drop in candidates. All you have to add is a small pickup ring (you can make one out of any thin plastic) to hide the gaps on the sides of the pickup routes.
-"Mudbucker" telebasses are a direct drop-in replacement.
If you have neck you like you could always have a body made for the DS pickups. If requested, Warmoth will route a body for DS's. Darkstars work in any wood, but many folks have reported that Darkstars in Mahogany bodies sound particularly nice.
Damn! Thats what I'm talkin' about! That would be awesome!
In other news, I picked up one of those Telebasses mentioned above, might just be a Darkstarin' right there too.
Thanks, Eilif, that's really helpful!
Also, I noticed there are serveral different types of Dark Stars- which would fit a Tbird the best?
Also, I noticed there are serveral different types of Dark Stars- which would fit a Tbird the best?
The Darkstars are all the exact same size physically, sonically, and require the same size route. They just have different string spacing. Don't order the Darkstars until after you get the bass you will be putting them in. Then measure the string spacing for each pup. Even with two pickups close together, you will probably end up with two different darkstar models.
When you order them from Fred, be sure to request a Reverse Wound pair so they will be hum canceling when you recieve them. He also has a diagram showing the exact size of the routes the darkstars will require, that he will email you.
There are two different sizes for the routes you can go with. If you go with the smaller size routes, you can route less, or perhaps not at all, but you will not be able to switch the orientation of the pickup with out drilling another set of holes. If you go with the larger routes, the hole in the bass will have to be bigger, but you can switch the orientation of the pickup at will.
One more thing, if you are getting a Goth T-bird, I would definatley contact Fred and see if he still has some of the Black Chrome surrounds (the metal "ring" that the darkstar sits in). He probably does, and they would look much better with black hardware than the regular chrome Darkstar surrounds. There's a picture somewhere on TB of a LeCompte with the Black chrome surrounds, and it looks great.
When you order them from Fred, be sure to request a Reverse Wound pair so they will be hum canceling when you recieve them. He also has a diagram showing the exact size of the routes the darkstars will require, that he will email you.
There are two different sizes for the routes you can go with. If you go with the smaller size routes, you can route less, or perhaps not at all, but you will not be able to switch the orientation of the pickup with out drilling another set of holes. If you go with the larger routes, the hole in the bass will have to be bigger, but you can switch the orientation of the pickup at will.
One more thing, if you are getting a Goth T-bird, I would definatley contact Fred and see if he still has some of the Black Chrome surrounds (the metal "ring" that the darkstar sits in). He probably does, and they would look much better with black hardware than the regular chrome Darkstar surrounds. There's a picture somewhere on TB of a LeCompte with the Black chrome surrounds, and it looks great.
Here are some photos in response to the basses mentioned as well as Jack Casady's testimonial which in all honesty only extends so far as the Epi EB-0 - not his signature bass.
"Fred:
I installed the Dark Star in a new EBO Epiphone. It sounded just dandy. Good deep tone....and that is with the existing volume and tone pots of this rather inexpensive instrument.
I would like a couple more to try out in some other instruments I have.
You certainly did a fine job of putting out a super pickup. Great work!
Originally I got this bass, to carry over to England and Germany during personal visits believing that if I lost it or it was crushed I would feel no pain - as it were..........however a dilemma has developed now that it sounds so good!
Best regards.
Jack Casady"
Fred
"Fred:
I installed the Dark Star in a new EBO Epiphone. It sounded just dandy. Good deep tone....and that is with the existing volume and tone pots of this rather inexpensive instrument.
I would like a couple more to try out in some other instruments I have.
You certainly did a fine job of putting out a super pickup. Great work!
Originally I got this bass, to carry over to England and Germany during personal visits believing that if I lost it or it was crushed I would feel no pain - as it were..........however a dilemma has developed now that it sounds so good!
Best regards.
Jack Casady"
Fred
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
I ran into Jack at a Moonalice gig (which we opened for) and showed him my DS equipped Starfire. He told me this very story as he had just done the mod. Didn't get to hear him play it, though.
Edwin
