Darkstar experiences?

Bassomatic

Bassomatic

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12,336
Anyone own or check out one of these pickups?

Just curious, as I've not had a chance to get my hands on a Darkstar-equipped bass.
 
R

roadbassdr

Silver Supporting Member
Messages
64
I've had several, and I absolutely loved them. They're just big all the way across the spectrum, it's addictive.
 
M

mainsale

Member
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1,695
I've got one in a Lakeland and I think it's just great. HUGE round tone, very deep and full. I'm saving my pennies to get another pair to put into my Guild Starfire II reissue..

Guitars005.jpg
 
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sleeplessknight

Member
Messages
42
I'm actually dealing with Fred Hammon right now to get a set for my Lakland hollowbody. I hang out on TB and the Dudepit quite a bit, I've only ever heard good things about these pickups, and Fred is awesome to deal with. Poke me in about 2-3 weeks, I should have the pickups delivered and installed by then, and I'll be able to give ya the lowdown on what had to be done, etc.

--Lee
 
Bassomatic

Bassomatic

Member
Messages
12,336
sleeplessknight said:
I'm actually dealing with Fred Hammon right now to get a set for my Lakland hollowbody. I hang out on TB and the Dudepit quite a bit, I've only ever heard good things about these pickups, and Fred is awesome to deal with. Poke me in about 2-3 weeks, I should have the pickups delivered and installed by then, and I'll be able to give ya the lowdown on what had to be done, etc.

--Lee
Click to expand...

Lee - what do these run a piece (you can PM me if u want).
 
Thor

Thor

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3,364
I'm Thor2 over at TB, and sadly I don't have any experience with Darkstars. I also have been currious about them since first hearing about them. In my research I have also heard a lot of great things about them.

Even though they are designed to be more of a P-bass upgrade, I think it would be cool to drop one in an EB-O. I like the basses, but the standard "mudbuckers" leave me flat. Not sure if they would be a simple swap, but seems like Fred would be easy to work with to help make it happen.

Cheers,

Edward
 
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mainsale

Member
Messages
1,695
Thor, I don't think they were designed to be a P-bass upgrade. The current Darkstars and a modern remake of the old Hagstroem pickups of the 60's & 70's. Guild Starfires were fitted with them for a while back then. These pickups were favorites of Jack Cassady and Phil Lesh at that time. Having said all this, they sure do work well in a P-bass!
 
jetagegreg

jetagegreg

Member
Messages
27
Thor said:
I'm Thor2 over at TB, and sadly I don't have any experience with Darkstars. I also have been currious about them since first hearing about them. In my research I have also heard a lot of great things about them.

Even though they are designed to be more of a P-bass upgrade, I think it would be cool to drop one in an EB-O. I like the basses, but the standard "mudbuckers" leave me flat. Not sure if they would be a simple swap, but seems like Fred would be easy to work with to help make it happen.
Click to expand...

Check out Fred's website--he can make you a shim ring for an EB-0, no problem.

-GB
 
R

roadbassdr

Silver Supporting Member
Messages
64
Bassomatic said:
In what basses, if you don't mind telling?
Click to expand...

I had a set in a lakland hollowbody, and then a single darkstar in a 44-02 (no neck pickup in that one at all, it was like the world's coolest stingray killer)

I've used them for all sorts of material, and I've never had a problem getting the right sound with those pickups. I'm really hoping that Fred cranks out a 5 string version sooner than later.
 
Thor

Thor

Member
Messages
3,364
mainsale said:
Thor, I don't think they were designed to be a P-bass upgrade. The current Darkstars and a modern remake of the old Hagstroem pickups of the 60's & 70's. Guild Starfires were fitted with them for a while back then. These pickups were favorites of Jack Cassady and Phil Lesh at that time. Having said all this, they sure do work well in a P-bass!
Click to expand...


Interesting - thanks for the info! I guess that I got the wrong imression since it seems that most folks are dropping them into their p-basses.

Well, since it seems easy to drop one in an EB-O, now I gotta find a good deal on a beater EB-O....

Cheers,

Edward
 
Jahn

Jahn

Listens to Johnny Marr, plays like John Denver
Silver Supporting Member
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29,237
Weren't these originally designed for the reissue Guild Starfire II basses from the 90's? I just put mine SFII bass up for consignment over at Umanov's, it has the stock PUs. I wonder how much a change over to Darkstars would make.
 
RickC

RickC

Member
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7,894
Berry Oakley was stuffing these into his Jazz basses, even then (the original Haggies of course):

220px-Berryo.jpg


/rick
 
jetagegreg

jetagegreg

Member
Messages
27
Jahn said:
Weren't these originally designed for the reissue Guild Starfire II basses from the 90's? I just put mine SFII bass up for consignment over at Umanov's, it has the stock PUs. I wonder how much a change over to Darkstars would make.
Click to expand...

Absolutely huge difference. There's a reason people stopped buying Guild basses when they stopped using the Hagstrom pickups. Not sure what Guild was thinking there....

-GB
 
Thor

Thor

Member
Messages
3,364
Enabling is our business (and business is good) ;)

Let us know when you finally pick one up!

Cheers,

Edward
 
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billbass1

Member
Messages
32
I have two basses with Dark Stars,
and a third is going to be dark starred tomorrow.
They are strong, punchy, definitive, and articulate.
Audiences enjoy their sound, and other musicians love their tone...:RoCkIn
 
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