Potential Gibson EB-0 mod: Am I crazy?

[sonicblue62]

This may be totally unnecessary, but I am struck with the urge to modify my newly-acquired (and already heavily modified) EB-0. I preface this by saying I'm not ready to dig under the hood myself, and would want to have any work done by a competent professional. Whoever did the previous work, they sure made it look pretty.

I'm new to Darkstars. These particular ones don't seem to have quite as much "oomph" as I imagined, and I have nothing to compare them with to know if that's normal or not.
I have read that the design is drastically different from your typical, run-of-the mill single coil or humbucking pickup, but my knowledge ends there. They look freaking cool, but I guess I imagined they would be closer to G&L MFD's in sound?

The controls on this bass are volume, blend, and 2 ten-position passive Tonestyler controls; 1 for each for each pickup.

Would the installation of a series/parallel switch work with these pickups? I am hoping for the similar effect of what the G&L "OMG" mode does for my L1K.

I also had the crazy idea of just sticking a G&L or a P-bass pickup in the sweet spot between the two Darkstars. is it even possible? Sacrilegious and totally superfluous? Perhaps. What crazy mods could or should be attempted with this bass, or should I leave well enough alone? Thanks for your suggestions, or warnings against any extreme and foolish course of action.

 

[ajkula66]

Congrats on your "new" bass. May it serve you well.

They look freaking cool, but I guess I imagined they would be closer to G&L MFD's in sound?

Not really. They were "inspired" by old BiSonic pickups that Guild used in the late '60s/early '70. That's a whole different universe from MFDs.

The controls on this bass are volume, blend, and 2 ten-position passive Tonestyler controls; 1 for each for each pickup.

I'd love to know what these 10 positions are for...read on

Would the installation of a series/parallel switch work with these pickups?

I'm fairly certain that S/P is one of the options among those 10 if these pickups are internally capable of it in the first place.

I am hoping for the similar effect of what the G&L "OMG" mode does for my L1K.

Once again, nothing that you do with these pickups will be comparable to what you're used to hearing from your G&L.

I also had the crazy idea of just sticking a G&L or a P-bass pickup in the sweet spot between the two Darkstars. is it even possible? Sacrilegious and totally superfluous?

That bass has already had quite a few mods, so nothing inherently wrong with taking it one step further to fit your needs IMO.

What crazy mods could or should be attempted with this bass, or should I leave well enough alone? Thanks for your suggestions, or warnings against any extreme and foolish course of action.

Well, I'd try to figure out what options the current wiring actually offers and take it from there. Two Darkstars should provide an array of sounds to work with.

Good luck.

 

[Michael Jewels]

I would leave that bass the way it is.

It looks very nice.

Just my opinion.

Mike

 

[Kenan]

Those Darkstar pickups are single coils, so you can't put the individual pickups in series or parallel mode, like you can on a L2000. If the pickups are reverse wound from each other, like on a J bass, you could have them together in series or parallel when they are both fully on. Check out the series/parallel mod for J bass for more info. Super cool bass!

 

[elgranluis]

I like what I see in your pictures, the bass looks fantastic.

the easiest route would be to take the g&L to your tech , and tell him that you want a switch that makes your EBO sound like the OMG LK1. He’ll be able to figure it out.


However, what I would do is change the wiring to something like a jazz bass (VVT) or maybe something like a ric (VVTT and pickup selector). I’d play the bass like that for a couple of weeks, and then visit the tech again , and explain what you want the bass to do.

 

[Kenan]

The BiSonic pickups are supposed to be hotter with more oomph, and would fit the same routes. Also check out Curtis Novak, who makes a pickup that can do both with a different kind of "coil tap" switch.

 

[lug]

Those Darkstar pickups are single coils, so you can't put the individual pickups in series or parallel mode, like you can on a L2000. If the pickups are reverse wound from each other, like on a J bass, you could have them together in series or parallel when they are both fully on. Check out the series/parallel mod for J bass for more info. Super cool bass!

This. Here is a guy going between series and parallel on a Jazz. Won't sound the same as yours, but gives an idea of what difference a series/parallel switch can do.



My Jag has a series/parallel switch, I find it quite useful.

 

[Cave Puppy]

I just finished an SG bass kit on which I put TWO Guild Bisonics in it along with a Babicz three point bridge, and Hipshot tuners. I also needed a spot for my Warwick/Sadowsky on board preamp (long story) and it fit perfectly! Yes, you can blend the pickups all day long with that set up. It has flats now so it is a total tone beast! IMO -

Keep the bass how it is.

 

[Tali33]

Maybe install a Noll 2 or 3 band eq, it should work nicely with the darkstars. For wiring options you should take out the pickups and check if they have a coil tap installed. At least the Novak Remakes have that as an option.

 

[blacktocomm]

That bass is awesome as is in my opinion.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

It's nice looking now and cool as is. IMO, 3 pups would mess it up. 2 Tone Stylers seem like overkill. If you have the cash and will power, start another bass from scratch, or using a batwing style pickgard to cover up the old cavities, re route for MFD's. String spacing may limit your pick-up options. Nordy Big Blades are worth looking into. I'm not sure that a EB0 has a sweet spot but I'd pick that bass up real fast and give it a run thru.

 

[ThudThudThud]

Link Removed
Perhaps go full "Wal-like" on it?

 

[CaptainLeisure]

That's a super nice looking bass, and I'm sure it sounds great too. (I have an EB-0 with a single Novak Dark Star). I wouldn't mess with it. I'm sure it would easy to sell if it doesn't float your boat.

As posted above, Dark Stars are single coils. The big poles stick through the coil. The screws just adjust the pole height via little levers, and aren't part of a second coil, as they are in a Gibson humbucker.

You could certainly wire a series/parallel option for the two pickups. If they aren't reverse wind/reverse polarity, the series option might be noisy. However, from your photo it appears that the pole spacing is wider on the bridge pickup. If the two pickups were designed as a bridge/neck set, they're probably rwrp.

 

[bylar13]

I can trade you this:

AllParts Licensed Fender Jazz Neck (MIJ) shaped to Geddy Lee Jazz Specs
Schaller Tuners
Lollar Thunderbird pickups
Babicz bridge
Custom Wiring harness and Swictcraft jack.

It has the low end you seek. Too much for me!

 

[jazzman64]

Congrats on the new bass! I would leave it the way it is, Darkstars are magic! I did that once with my Epiphone EB-0 and put a Guild BS-1 on the neck pickup. Keep it the way it is, the natural finish and the bisonics!

 

[deepestend]

I'd give it some time and play it to really get used to it. Beautiful bass. Don't get the urge to tear it apart right away. Maybe just add a preamp. I added one to my G&L with a darkstar and it made a huge difference.

 

[Ric5]

This may be totally unnecessary, but I am struck with the urge to modify my newly-acquired (and already heavily modified) EB-0. I preface this by saying I'm not ready to dig under the hood myself, and would want to have any work done by a competent professional. Whoever did the previous work, they sure made it look pretty.

I'm new to Darkstars. These particular ones don't seem to have quite as much "oomph" as I imagined, and I have nothing to compare them with to know if that's normal or not.
I have read that the design is drastically different from your typical, run-of-the mill single coil or humbucking pickup, but my knowledge ends there. They look freaking cool, but I guess I imagined they would be closer to G&L MFD's in sound?

The controls on this bass are volume, blend, and 2 ten-position passive Tonestyler controls; 1 for each for each pickup.

Would the installation of a series/parallel switch work with these pickups? I am hoping for the similar effect of what the G&L "OMG" mode does for my L1K.

I also had the crazy idea of just sticking a G&L or a P-bass pickup in the sweet spot between the two Darkstars. is it even possible? Sacrilegious and totally superfluous? Perhaps. What crazy mods could or should be attempted with this bass, or should I leave well enough alone? Thanks for your suggestions, or warnings against any extreme and foolish course of action.

that is a pretty bass and darkstars are well liked pickups.

I would be tempted to rewire it toggle, I like to wire my SG basses like a Rickenbacker 4003, but without the .0047 cap

 

[JRA]

beautiful ax, @sonicblue62, congrats! all i got!

 

[Chickenwheels]

I reckon you should only have one tone styler and a toggle (or normal tone) all pre-volume knobs.
Check out the tone styler website to see how they work and the wiring recommendations.
P.S. that’s the nicest looking EB I’ve ever seen!

 

[Gaolee]

This may be totally unnecessary, but I am struck with the urge to modify my newly-acquired (and already heavily modified) EB-0. I preface this by saying I'm not ready to dig under the hood myself, and would want to have any work done by a competent professional. Whoever did the previous work, they sure made it look pretty.

I'm new to Darkstars. These particular ones don't seem to have quite as much "oomph" as I imagined, and I have nothing to compare them with to know if that's normal or not.
I have read that the design is drastically different from your typical, run-of-the mill single coil or humbucking pickup, but my knowledge ends there. They look freaking cool, but I guess I imagined they would be closer to G&L MFD's in sound?

The controls on this bass are volume, blend, and 2 ten-position passive Tonestyler controls; 1 for each for each pickup.

Would the installation of a series/parallel switch work with these pickups? I am hoping for the similar effect of what the G&L "OMG" mode does for my L1K.

I also had the crazy idea of just sticking a G&L or a P-bass pickup in the sweet spot between the two Darkstars. is it even possible? Sacrilegious and totally superfluous? Perhaps. What crazy mods could or should be attempted with this bass, or should I leave well enough alone? Thanks for your suggestions, or warnings against any extreme and foolish course of action.

You are crazy and it would be foolish. So of course it has to be done.