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Has anybody ordered a darkstar recently?

#41
sunbeast said:
They will put out sound either way, but the lug that the ground wire is attached to also has a ground wire that attaches to the metal chassis of the pickup- if you were to make that the "hot" connection, then you would lose the shielding benefits, and might also get some nasty popping and buzzing anytime you touched either the metal casing or the polepieces!

I'm surprised he doesn't sell them with leads attached, because I recall specific posts from him before (on the Dudepit) warning to use care when soldering these pickups lest you inadvertantly overheat/damage the more sensitive coil windings. Seems like installing the leads himself would make this much less likely to happen via a novice solderer!

FWIW- I had my Darkstars sent to a luthier that was doing the routing for me years ago and they came nearly 2 weeks after the estimated delivery then as well. A 2 week or so buffer just seems to be Fred's thing- definitely well worth the wait though...
Click to expand...


I did ask him if he could solder the wires himself, i didnt want to take the risk of damaging them.
He never answered the email and didnt do it...
Guess he doesnt check his email that often!
 
#42
sunbeast said:
They will put out sound either way, but the lug that the ground wire is attached to also has a ground wire that attaches to the metal chassis of the pickup- if you were to make that the "hot" connection, then you would lose the shielding benefits, and might also get some nasty popping and buzzing anytime you touched either the metal casing or the polepieces!
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's true.

I was just speaking from memory before, but I just took mine out of the p bass it was in and it's just sitting around my music room so I'll check it to make sure I told you the right info.
 
#47
Add me to the list of THINKING about ordering. My deal isn't the wait or even the missed deadlines. I could weather either with hardly a ruffle. But its the lack of communication that has me nervous to even place an order. To date, I've sent Mr. Hammon two emails and gotten zero replies. I have a tough time envisioning sending $400+ out into the ether without any feedback of whether it got to where I intended. /heavy sigh

Reading through this thread does give me some comfort that if I take the plunge, I'll eventually get SOMETHING. But I've seriously debated getting the Decade with Chi-sonics advertised here and now apparently sold as an AVAILABLE and COMMUNICATIVE alternative.
 
#48
gm2_in_co said:
Add me to the list of THINKING about ordering. My deal isn't the wait or even the missed deadlines. I could weather either with hardly a ruffle. But its the lack of communication that has me nervous to even place an order. To date, I've sent Mr. Hammon two emails and gotten zero replies. I have a tough time envisioning sending $400+ out into the ether without any feedback of whether it got to where I intended. /heavy sigh

Reading through this thread does give me some comfort that if I take the plunge, I'll eventually get SOMETHING. But I've seriously debated getting the Decade with Chi-sonics advertised here and now apparently sold as an AVAILABLE and COMMUNICATIVE alternative.
Click to expand...

I'm with you. I can not count all of the e mails I have sent with no reply and don't even think of calling. I gave up on them. If he doesnt want to sell me some pick up's I guess I will do something else. Very bad business man.
 
#52
hdracer said:
I'm with you. I can not count all of the e mails I have sent with no reply and don't even think of calling. I gave up on them. If he doesnt want to sell me some pick up's I guess I will do something else. Very bad business man.
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Hey bud! I grew up in Brooklyn Center! My grandma is buried in a cemetary near Palmer Lake as I recall. Is the Lynndale Bowling Center still in existence? :)
 
#56
marcwcarroll said:
Fred is cool and the pickups rock, he is just swamped...
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+1 Fred was definitely cool about the whole thing when I could reach him, and honestly I think this happens with a lot of small shop builders (especially effects).

When something is good, builders feel a lot of pressure, and since there isn't a whole stockroom of the items in question, sometimes that gets a little overwhelming.
 
#58
Got mine last night. took a bit for my remedial butt to figure out the wiring. but then dropped right in to my Squier Vintage Modified TB (which I have blacked out... Project complete!
So from when i tired to start contacting Fred to when i gotem, about 4 months. Good things come to those who wait!
 
#59
marcwcarroll said:
Got mine last night. took a bit for my remedial butt to figure out the wiring. but then dropped right in to my Squier Vintage Modified TB (which I have blacked out... Project complete!
So from when i tired to start contacting Fred to when i gotem, about 4 months. Good things come to those who wait!
Click to expand...

Just noticed you're a fellow Durham resident. Glad to see there's plenty of Darkstar love in the triangle.
 

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