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Show your Dark Starred Basses
- Thread starter DigthemLows
- Start date
This bass was just built by Pierre Antoine of France for a customer of his by special order:
Amazing!
Here's mine- surprised I hadn't posted it here yet.
It is a '75 Ibanez Lawsuit Jazz bass. The pickup routing/ install/ pickguard/ bridge pickup surround/ truss rod cover were all done by Rodent about 2 years ago now. He also custom made me an ebony thumbrest, but I've found I no longer need one. I added a black control plate to match the guard, put on a BAII bridge and spiced up the electronics quite a bit- The controls are now volume, volume, tone, passive bass cut (ala G&L L1000/L2000), bass cut switch for bridge pickup (ala 70s Rick 4001), series/ parallel switch, and a switch that cuts the highs from the neck pickup in the series mode (taken from the old G&L "single coil with bass boost" as used on L1000s).
This thing is huge sounding! The bass cut is a recent addition, and has really opened up new doors for it! I had an Audere JZ3 pre in it for a while, but really prefer the passive character...
Karl
It is a '75 Ibanez Lawsuit Jazz bass. The pickup routing/ install/ pickguard/ bridge pickup surround/ truss rod cover were all done by Rodent about 2 years ago now. He also custom made me an ebony thumbrest, but I've found I no longer need one. I added a black control plate to match the guard, put on a BAII bridge and spiced up the electronics quite a bit- The controls are now volume, volume, tone, passive bass cut (ala G&L L1000/L2000), bass cut switch for bridge pickup (ala 70s Rick 4001), series/ parallel switch, and a switch that cuts the highs from the neck pickup in the series mode (taken from the old G&L "single coil with bass boost" as used on L1000s).
This thing is huge sounding! The bass cut is a recent addition, and has really opened up new doors for it! I had an Audere JZ3 pre in it for a while, but really prefer the passive character...
Karl
Here's me on Halloween with my dual Darkstar G4:
Its an alder Warmoth G4 body with a quilted maple top, dual darkstar pickups, Status J carbon fiber neck (attached with threaded inserts), Hipshot monorail bridge saddles, Sadowsky knobs, Gotoh tuners and a Hipshot 3-way string retainer. It's my current main bass.
Its an alder Warmoth G4 body with a quilted maple top, dual darkstar pickups, Status J carbon fiber neck (attached with threaded inserts), Hipshot monorail bridge saddles, Sadowsky knobs, Gotoh tuners and a Hipshot 3-way string retainer. It's my current main bass.
Chef
In Memoriam
Sure the Gorilla Outfit will keep the Parole Officers off you for a while, but it was a mistake posting such an easily recognisable bass.
Here's me on Halloween with my dual Darkstar G4:
Its an alder Warmoth G4 body with a quilted maple top, dual darkstar pickups, Status J carbon fiber neck (attached with threaded inserts), Hipshot monorail bridge saddles, Sadowsky knobs, Gotoh tuners and a Hipshot 3-way string retainer. It's my current main bass.
My Christmas present
I think my cosmetic issues are caused by the Jeanies thumb rest on one of the pickups I'm fairly certain it could be removed and I could get the other black surrounds on but I think playability is over taking cosmetics and you guys can't see any gap around the pickup right?
I think my cosmetic issues are caused by the Jeanies thumb rest on one of the pickups I'm fairly certain it could be removed and I could get the other black surrounds on but I think playability is over taking cosmetics and you guys can't see any gap around the pickup right?
My Christmas present
I think my cosmetic issues are caused by the Jeanies thumb rest on one of the pickups I'm fairly certain it could be removed and I could get the other black surrounds on but I think playability is over taking cosmetics and you guys can't see any gap around the pickup right?
Now that's a nice Christmas present! Enjoy.
A number of questions regarding Darkstars on Ps:
Where is the "Sweet Spot" for a Darkstar on a P? I see any number of pickup positions. Would measuring from bridge to pole piece be an indicator?
Do stock P pick guards leave any residual pickup cutouts that can be seen after the DS is put in?
I'm hoping to put together a DSed P with a Modulus neck that I have (Photoshop mockup here)
Where is the "Sweet Spot" for a Darkstar on a P? I see any number of pickup positions. Would measuring from bridge to pole piece be an indicator?
Do stock P pick guards leave any residual pickup cutouts that can be seen after the DS is put in?
I'm hoping to put together a DSed P with a Modulus neck that I have (Photoshop mockup here)
Attachments
- Dec 20, 2004
- 4,267
- 2,481
- Disclosures
- Player-Builder-Founder: Honey Badger Pickups & Regenerate Guitar Works
you will need a new pickguard unless you want to see the mounting ear holes from the original P-style pickups.
if you're looking for a sweetspot ... it's hard to beat what you get when you mount a DS with the trim ring about 1/8" towards the neck from the original P-bass pickguard mounting screw location. then again, this is just my personal preference (note that I really dislike a muddy sounding bass in the house mix, and therefore detest mounting a DS tight against the neck)
YMMV of course
all the best,
R
if you're looking for a sweetspot ... it's hard to beat what you get when you mount a DS with the trim ring about 1/8" towards the neck from the original P-bass pickguard mounting screw location. then again, this is just my personal preference (note that I really dislike a muddy sounding bass in the house mix, and therefore detest mounting a DS tight against the neck)
YMMV of course
all the best,
R
Chef
In Memoriam
I wouldn't call a DS mounted in the neck position muddy; it's a very clean, clear pickup by nature.
I would call it deep though!
Hey Rodent! Hope all's well with you...I did finally get around to flipping the DS in that Tele so the poles are further away from the end of the fingerboard...
alan
I would call it deep though!
Hey Rodent! Hope all's well with you...I did finally get around to flipping the DS in that Tele so the poles are further away from the end of the fingerboard...
alan
- Dec 20, 2004
- 4,267
- 2,481
- Disclosures
- Player-Builder-Founder: Honey Badger Pickups & Regenerate Guitar Works
hey Chef!
I just got myself moved into an apartment with a private garage (where I can actually keep and use powertools!) and hope to have something cooking that I'd like you to take a test spin on for a couple weeks when it's completed
I don't remember off-hand - what's your poison in a 4-string 1-1/2" or 1-5/8" nut width?
all the best,
R
I just got myself moved into an apartment with a private garage (where I can actually keep and use powertools!) and hope to have something cooking that I'd like you to take a test spin on for a couple weeks when it's completed
I don't remember off-hand - what's your poison in a 4-string 1-1/2" or 1-5/8" nut width?
all the best,
R
Thanks, Rodent. That gives me a good starting point. I imagine I'd start with a Warmoth P body in alder, routed for the split P pickup, then route for the Darkstar.
And I'll have to go for a custom guard to avoid those cavities showing.
- Dec 20, 2004
- 4,267
- 2,481
- Disclosures
- Player-Builder-Founder: Honey Badger Pickups & Regenerate Guitar Works
that route should leave you with a body that's something like this
you can see where the split P is shallower and also wider, eh?
Warmoth will cut you a pickguard without the split P hole for no added charge. if you're good with a router you can easily add the DS hole yourself by first drilling a 1/2" hole to poke a router bit thru and then using a long 3/8" pattern (aka flush trim) bit against the deeper DS body route with the pickguard fixed in place.
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end result will be a perfect match
for reference this body is a CIJ RI, just in case you're curious
all the best,
R
you can see where the split P is shallower and also wider, eh?
Warmoth will cut you a pickguard without the split P hole for no added charge. if you're good with a router you can easily add the DS hole yourself by first drilling a 1/2" hole to poke a router bit thru and then using a long 3/8" pattern (aka flush trim) bit against the deeper DS body route with the pickguard fixed in place.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
end result will be a perfect match
for reference this body is a CIJ RI, just in case you're curious
all the best,
R
Chef
In Memoriam
If you're going to go with a new warmoth body, just have them route for the darkstar for you. They will do it for an upcharge. (either 25 or 40 IIRC).
As for the guard, DIY is a fine way to go, and it might save a few bucks, but Jeanie's Pickguards (maybe Warmoth also) will cut you a guard with the DS route already in place.
If you go that way, just make sure that everyone you order from knows exactly how many inches you want the DS route from the neck.
No problems doing the DS rout. Warmoth does them by hand so we can change the pickup placement if you want.
Silky - Good to see that bass put together!
