Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Show your Dark Starred Basses
- Thread starter DigthemLows
- Start date
Chef
In Memoriam
wow man that is one gorgeous bass, nice pickguard.
Sooo.. how much did it cost?
I bought it used for 1300. No sure what they cost new. Supposed to be only 30 made, but not positive.
When I was researching this project I kept reading that Dark Stars love mahagony. That sure seems to be the case here. I love the sound of this thing. LOTS of different tones available with the two PUPs and the Dark Stars' great sensitivty to playing position. I'm not much of a player, but if I feel like I need more of this or less of that in my tone for what I'm attempting to play, I can always find the sound I'm looking for.
Between the individual string height adjustments on the Supertone and the individual pole piece adjustment on the Dark Stars, PUP height is not a problem. Just make sure the hole routing is done to the correct depth. When you order the Dark Stars, Fred gives you detailed info on what needs to happen for installation. Fred suggested that I would need a mounting shim ring to bring the bridge PUP up to the correct height. Another SG/Dark Star owner told me that he didn't use one, but I took Fred's advice and I'm not having any height issues (that I know of
)Added bonus for me: When I first got the SG, I was having serious neck dive issues. I tried several different straps, I tried counter weights on my strap (a total kluge job, for sure), but the bass just never felt comfortable to play. When I installed the Supertone, I also put on a set of Ultralight tuners. The neck dive completely disapeared and the bass is a joy to play.
Also, I decided to go whole hog and get the custom Dark Star thumbrests from Jeannie Pickguards. They're a bit pricey but I'm really glad I got them. Those Dark Stars don't really give you a place to rest your thumb and the thumbrests are designed to look like part of the package. Of course, if you play floating thumb style, that's not an issue.
Finally, Dark Stars look GREAT in SGs. Cherry, black, or natural, the Dark Stars look like they were born in the bass.
Short answer: GO for it!
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,947
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
That LeCompte CBSC-4 has a mahogany body, and my experience would certainly back up your theory.
Never put this Squier VM P Tele Bass in this thread, so here it is, for ease of future searches.
I was thinking of doing this exact same thing. Did you have to do any body mods or anything or did the pickup just drop in?
Thangfish
...overly qualified for janitorical deployment...
Drops in.
Mounting holes have to be drilled.
I mounted it under the pickguard, so I had to modify that some.
Chef put his on top of the guard. It's a little close, but doesn't bother him any.
Chef
In Memoriam
I was looking at my stock pickguard yesterday.
It doesn't seem like you'd have to open it much, if at all, to get it to mount underneath...
Does one have to use the "varitone mounting plate," or could you just put a stock knob back there and have it be a "sleeper?"
It doesn't seem like you'd have to open it much, if at all, to get it to mount underneath...
Does one have to use the "varitone mounting plate," or could you just put a stock knob back there and have it be a "sleeper?"
Chef,
I don't have a ring on mine. The knob fits right on. My Sting looks just like it did before the mod. Now underneath the plate is another matter.
I don't have a ring on mine. The knob fits right on. My Sting looks just like it did before the mod. Now underneath the plate is another matter.
<snip>
This is an Ibanez Artcore I upgraded for a client in the Wash DC area. The Dark Star was loaded into the original pickup location, but the cavity required significant deepening so the DS would fit.
<snip>
all the best,
R
Inspired by this thread and in particular that picture, I just bought (eBay, haven't got it yet) the same Ibanez Artcore bass.
Rodent:
How did you like the original pickup?
How did you like the bass with the DS added?
How was the hum (after)? How much work is shielding one of these things, especially in the Ibanez?
I'm not sure when I'm going to go the distance with the DS, but the bass was bought with that in mind. I just have to let some dust settle to see what I have for cash before I take the plunge. I'm looking forward to doing it and I suspect it will be a monster.
TIA for any tips, info, advice, etc.
KO
- Dec 20, 2004
- 4,267
- 2,481
- Disclosures
- Player-Builder-Founder: Honey Badger Pickups & Regenerate Guitar Works
I wrote a detailed end-to-end on this project on the DudePit that covered all of the juicy details. Sadly, it was all lost when the forum was wiped one night without advance warning. There may be a thread on this here at TB in the Luthier's Forum, but I'm not certain I posted a duplicate thread here
I didn't like the original pickup, but I did like the Darkstar. There was no hum, and I did not make any special kind of shielding box for the controls - just good wiring practices and a shielded pickup cavity
all the best,
R
I didn't like the original pickup, but I did like the Darkstar. There was no hum, and I did not make any special kind of shielding box for the controls - just good wiring practices and a shielded pickup cavity
all the best,
R
Thanks - Just one follow up that anyone who's installed one can probably answer: 250 K Ohm or 500 K Ohm pots?
KO
- Dec 20, 2004
- 4,267
- 2,481
- Disclosures
- Player-Builder-Founder: Honey Badger Pickups & Regenerate Guitar Works
