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Introducing Project DIY Darkray

#21
Gustopher said:
Great stuff, did the artec need it’s own battery in addition to the preamp battery? This is such a fun idea and I think you did a smooth ass job on it!
Click to expand...

Nope, same battery for both. Though I could have just soldered the two 9v wires (one for hte preamp and one for the QDD2) together, I ended up using one of those EMG little red thingies. That way I can easily disconnect things from the battery circuit for further tinkering.
 
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#23
LowEndLobster said:


Hey all! I wanted to share my latest exciting Stingray mod project! This is Project DIY Darkray. I was intrigued by the concept of the new Music Man Darkray with the Darkglass Alpha/Omega circuit and two band preamp, and I started doing some digging to see if it was possible to at least emulate this functionality in some way. My goal was to build something that would function similarly to the real thing, but be constructed using off the shelf parts so anyone could do it. I think the project was ultimately a success! Featuring the Artec QDD2 OD circuit ft. 4 different drive modes and a clean mode, and that is going into the Darkglass Tone Capsule 3 band preamp. So theoretically, we have more flexibility than the real Darkray but with only 50% of the Darkglass mojo. Anyhow, hope you all like it!

Here is the list of parts used:

SBMM Ray34 Ash Black:[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Artec QDD2: https://www.amazon.com/QDD2-Quadra-Distortion-Driver-Effects/dp/B007XIW07S

Artec Gain Pot: B10k

Darkglass Tone Capsule: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Noble Stacked B50k Pot: Noble - EQ Pot - 50K Stacked - Best Bass Gear

Volume Pot: 250k

Control plate is off of a Stingray Piezo. Can be sourced through music man, and I'll try and get a scan together for easy CNC. I will not be producing any replicas of the control plate.

(I'll be doing a more in depth follow up vid looking at all the different control combos.)

View attachment 4328873
Click to expand...

Very cool project, plus that model Ray34 is on my GAS list.

I wish I had the courage and on-screen presence to pull off some walkthroughs on my DIY bass project.

I just hit that Subscribe button, lots of cool content on your channel.
 
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#24
droo46 said:
The novelty of it is certainly entertaining. If you're the sort to just go straight from the bass into a tube amp, but want more overdrive/fuzz, then this would be for you. I don't think it's super practical, especially if you use pedals much, but I don't think practicality was the goal here.
Click to expand...

Thank you and 100% was not going for anything practical, just fun! You hit the nail on the head :)
 
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#25
73_Blazer said:
Are these going to be a new model and not limited run? I see Sweetwater has them for preorder now
Click to expand...

The REAL Darkray will be an actual model from EBMM. The Gray finish is limited, but the black one will be a standard model form what it looks like. My version however is a one-off for now ;P.
 
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#30
LowEndLobster said:
Nope, same battery for both. Though I could have just soldered the two 9v wires (one for hte preamp and one for the QDD2) together, I ended up using one of those EMG little red thingies. That way I can easily disconnect things from the battery circuit for further tinkering.
Click to expand...
Do you have a link to connectors you use? I might try some pickup swaps and would like to connectorize.
 
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#31
skycruiser said:
Do you have a link to connectors you use? I might try some pickup swaps and would like to connectorize.
Click to expand...

g-4.jpg


It's the little red thing. I hooked up one of the red plug connectors do my battery lead, and then used a black/white paired connector and ran one wire to each module (one to tone capsule, one to QDD2)
 
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#32
So here's what I mocked up for a vol/blend control utilizing a Noble stacked vol/blend pot (the ones used by Warwick and Glockenlag). I have the pot here, may attempt it at some point (though probably after NAMM). This will actually move the volume control after the QDD2, where it currently goes pickup->vol->qdd2->darkglass->out. New config would be pickup->blend->QDD2(or bypass)->volume->darkglass->out

We'd be using this pot: Noll 500K/220K Volume/Blend Stacked Control - Best Bass Gear

Thoughts?

YdwOCfs.png


We're reversing the functionality of the blend pot, so instead of the center lug being the 'out', it is instead the 'in' with the extremes being the relative 'outs' for each respective signal.... I'm not sure if this will work how I have it. Thoughts?
 
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#33
I've made sure that there's enough empty space in my ATK's chamber and ordered the QDD2. I plan to add an additional knob, but I'll use the internal gain pot, at least at the beginning.

Lobster, now I'll be waiting for the comparison of different placements of the module, before the volume pot vs after and before the preamp vs after.

I checked that my chain goes like this: pickup -> 3 wires + ground -> pickup selector -> 1 wire -> preamp, which sends the signal to treble, mid and bass knobs, and then to the volume knob at the end (3 wires) -> 1 wire -> jack. It would be easiest to add the overdrive between the pickup selector and the preamp, but I'm open to other options.
 
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#34
LowEndLobster said:
View attachment 4330311

It's the little red thing. I hooked up one of the red plug connectors do my battery lead, and then used a black/white paired connector and ran one wire to each module (one to tone capsule, one to QDD2)
Click to expand...

Thanks! Just curious, have you tried putting in a parallel/split/series switch in any of your Stingray videos? I'm thinking of swapping in an Seymour Duncan SMB-4A in my stock Ray4 and, since it sends out all 4 coil wires, thought I'd try this mod. If you've already tried that I will check out your results first.
 
#37
LowEndLobster said:


Hey all! I wanted to share my latest exciting Stingray mod project! This is Project DIY Darkray. I was intrigued by the concept of the new Music Man Darkray with the Darkglass Alpha/Omega circuit and two band preamp, and I started doing some digging to see if it was possible to at least emulate this functionality in some way. My goal was to build something that would function similarly to the real thing, but be constructed using off the shelf parts so anyone could do it. I think the project was ultimately a success! Featuring the Artec QDD2 OD circuit ft. 4 different drive modes and a clean mode, and that is going into the Darkglass Tone Capsule 3 band preamp. So theoretically, we have more flexibility than the real Darkray but with only 50% of the Darkglass mojo. Anyhow, hope you all like it!

Here is the list of parts used:

SBMM Ray34 Ash Black:[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Artec QDD2: https://www.amazon.com/QDD2-Quadra-Distortion-Driver-Effects/dp/B007XIW07S

Artec Gain Pot: B10k

Darkglass Tone Capsule: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Noble Stacked B50k Pot: Noble - EQ Pot - 50K Stacked - Best Bass Gear

Volume Pot: 250k

Control plate is off of a Stingray Piezo. Can be sourced through music man, and I'll try and get a scan together for easy CNC. I will not be producing any replicas of the control plate.

(I'll be doing a more in depth follow up vid looking at all the different control combos.)

View attachment 4328873
Click to expand...

I was thinking of putting 3 knob one (tone capsule) in my Harley Benton rb- -414 do you see any problem fitting in it's cavity?
 
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#39
Very cool DIY project! I don’t have the intestinal fortitude or the confidence in my soldering skills to just start snipping wires like that, but it was great to watch someone who does. One nitpicky point in the video, the Darkglass Tone Capsule controls are bass, low mid and high mid, there’s no treble control. I have one in my Dingwall NG2.
 

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