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thinking about putting a Darkstar in the bridge position on my EB-0...

MarshallLaw

MarshallLaw

Feb 21, 2010
508
578
thieveland ohio
#1
i got this '69 Gibson EB-0 last year for dirt cheap. i've been thinking about modding it a bit since i bought it... the "vintage collectable" aspect of it is pretty much gone. there have been two hack-job tuner replacements, the bridge is not original, and there are definitely drilled/filled holes where at least two other bridges have been, plus a few other drilled/filled holed in other places. so i figure why not have some fun with it?

i love the mudbucker, its fat, smooth, and thumpy. but i'd like to pair it with something with more clarity and punch, but still fat and powerful. i was considering putting a P pickup in the bridge position, but now im thinking a Darkstar. i'd turn the tone knob into a volume for the Darkstar and add a 3-way switch. i think it would be sick, what do you guys think?
 
#3
Yeah, go for it. The collector value on the Gibby is gone anyways. Might as well enjoy it as much as you can.

I've got Dark Star GAS too. I'm thinking about putting one in an SX and calling it my "Lipstick on a Pig" project...
 
#4
The only downside is that if you don't like the Darkstar you will be left with a "grand canyon" in your bass. It might be worth a call to Jason Lollar or Lindy Fralin or Aero about customizing a hotter version of an EB0 pickup or even something radical like an EB0 sized pickup with 1/4" poles like Delano uses. Don't get me wrong, Darkstars are very cool but that's an irreversible mod. Just food for thought.
 
#5
Do it! It sounds awesome. My mudbucker is a Dimarzio Model One... which sounds a bit different than the old Gibson versions and my dark star (special order single-magnet version) is in the middle position, but the mudbucker/darkstar combo is fantastic! You can hear it here:
DSC01895.jpg
 
#6
i'd try that first if i were to do anything like this.

forever ago i put a dimarzio model one in the bridge of an EBO. sounded like absolute ass.

something in the middle might have at least a snowball's chance of sounding OK.
 
#7
walterw said:
i'd try that first if i were to do anything like this.

forever ago i put a dimarzio model one in the bridge of an EBO. sounded like absolute ass.

something in the middle might have at least a snowball's chance of sounding OK.
Click to expand...

well the OP is talking about a dark star in the bridge position, which is something a lot of people do and love. sounds pretty great!
also, sort of related, the CF Martin solid body basses from the 70's had a dimarzio pickup (very similar to the model 1) in the middle position, which sounded really cool. a local band's bassist uses one and I love the tone he gets!
but i certainly can't speak for a model 1 in the bridge position.... i'd imagine you'd need really tight string spacing too to make it work way back there
 

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