Finally joined the cult of Bisonic pickups. Blown away by the sensitivity of these pickups in response to subtle dynamic changes. They sound HUGE even with passive electronics. I thought I’d be chasing a Phil Lesh tone on this but it wants to do the Chris Squire Rickenbacker growl so I’m letting it carry me that direction too. Push pull volume pots allow for each coil to be tapped independently but I’ve been a fan of the full coil tone the most so far. Custom built and finished by Bob Logan in Wisconsin.
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NBD: Logan J with Curtis Novak BS-DS pair
- Thread starter jpdoyle92
- Start date
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,600
- 222,020
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I've used Novak Darkstars in a few of my custom basses - I'm a big fan of the way they sound. The Guild RI's are also very good but only for narrow-spacing necks/bridges. Much cheaper also.
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- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,600
- 222,020
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I've used the Guild BS-1 (16mm pole spacing) on a P-Bass with regular 19mm string spacing – without any sound issues. The Guild BS-1 sounds nice!
Attachments
I was planning to throw flats on right away for exactly that since I’ve been on flats exclusively for the past 7 years but the rounds it came set up with have been pleasantly surprising. Digging in with a pick too after years of finger style. Variety is nice to have in the arsenal!
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Fairly positive they are 250k. These pups can really drive an amp when you open them up and dig in
You have some interesting stuff going on there, I like it!
The DarkStar is a hell of a pickup, I got one in a P bass and it’s phenomenal! No doubt that’s a killer J!
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,600
- 222,020
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I've not A/B'd them (Novak vs Guild RI)- but I play basses with both and they both sound & record great. Novak also makes a narrow spacing version.
Guild RI Darkstar using an Epi Goth T-bird neck & Hipshot KA bridge. Note how the side-to-side adjustable saddles on the KA are 'pinched in' for the E & G strings to align over the pu poles. The Hipshot KA's are my go-to bridges for BA style bridges.
Novak's - J neck/Hipshot KA bridge - neck & bridge pu's have different pole spacing much like J pu's. It's what makes Novak's BSDS pu's valuable. I have the pole positions of the Darkstars on this bass to mimic my '64 T-bird.
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- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,600
- 222,020
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Do you mean in the neck-hugger/mud-bucker position? The Novak N-pu Darkstar would work and if what Hans on Bass sez - the Guild RI Darkstar should also work. E to G, 1" under the heal on my '66 P is 2-1/8" - pretty much the same as the N-Novak Darkstar E-G pole pieces. I don't have my Teiscobird here to compare the Guild RI.
The thing about the Darkstar is the poles are not centered on the pu. So one (top in pic) orientation is roughly 1" from the edge and the other is 1-1/4" if you flip it. Screws as illustrated are for raising & lowering the pole pieces. I love how straight-forward the design is.
Guild on left - Novak on right. Note how wires exit on opposite sides.
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