Need Dark Star pup

[lungimsam]

I emailed Hammond, but don't know if he is still in business.
Anyone got one for sale? Know where I can get one?
I am looking to replace my SG Bass neck pickup with it. My SG Bass sounds dead as a doornail. Muddy, no punch or presence. Pbass pup doesn't fit. Heard Dark Stars fix it right up.

Any help is appreciated. eBay ok to shop, or are there fakes around? Thanks guys.

 

[fronobulax]

See mgod's post in here.

Fred has been having trouble keeping up but a solution to that may be forthcoming.

Someone in France is making a Bisonic clone/replacement although no one has posted here with actual experience installing or playing one.

I've never heard of fake Dark Stars (or Bisonics, for that matter) being produced so I think eBay is safe. That said, I think it has been at least 6 months since I last saw a Dark Star on eBay.

Lakeland(?) made (makes?) a Chisonic that a few folks have suggested is a distant third if you cannot get a Bisonic or a Dark Star.

Since you are not happy with the Gibson Mudbucker, I present one of then saddest sights you will ever see.

This bass left the factory with a Bisonic and look what someone thought was an upgrade!

 

[Happy Face]

There are some "drop-in" replacement pickups for the Mudbucker (used on the EB basses) that are said to improve the sound greatly. But the neck pickup on the new SG basses are said to be different.

I've owned and played EB-3s with both Chisonics and Darkstars (emulating the Phil Lesh bass). As Frono suggested, the Darkstars were better sounding to my hears and look much better. But the Chisonics are cheaper and more readily available, for now.

 

[bassmanpatsfan18]

Lakland doesn't make the Chi-Sonics, but they do use them on many of their basses.

There have been several Dark Stars on ebay recently. One set went for $630 a few months ago and a single pickup went for north of $300 a month ago I believe. I've been looking for a set too, without much luck.

 

[mellowgerman]

Welcome to the forum.
Hanson pickups makes the chi sonics. See the very bottom of this page http://www.hansonpickups.com/products.htm
Don't know anything about the French clones...
While you're waiting for a Dark Star or bisonic to come along, I would HIGHLY recommend a Dimarzio Model One pickup. They can be wired with a mini toggle so you can run them as a single coil or humbucker. Killer tone either way; kills the mud and has some really awesome characteristics of its own.

 

[mgod]

Just wait a little bit. Change in progress.

 

[twocorgis]

Just wait a little bit. Change in progress.

Great news! I've been waiting patiently for a set for my DA Starfire. and I can wait a some more if necessary. As Jeff (bassmyf) says, the stock DA pups sound pretty good with rounds, but I'd still prefer a set of Dark Stars.

 

[fronobulax]

Lakland doesn't make the Chi-Sonics, but they do use them on many of their basses.

There have been several Dark Stars on ebay recently. One set went for $630 a few months ago and a single pickup went for north of $300 a month ago I believe. I've been looking for a set too, without much luck.

Thanks for the clarification. I gotta confess, unless or until I decide I want to spend more time with my JS, replacement pickups are just an intellectual exercise with me so long as I have the Starfire. I think the $300+ was mellowgerman's.

 

[mellowgerman]

I think the $300+ was mellowgerman's.

Yup, my single-magnet DS sold for a bit over 300 on ebay. Really wish I still had it, but at the time it was necessary for acute monetary imbalance compensation

Glad to hear that things are getting worked out in DS land!

 

[lungimsam]

.

Since you are not happy with the Gibson Mudbucker, I present one of then saddest sights you will ever see.

This bass left the factory with a Bisonic and look what someone thought was an upgrade!

Oh noooooooooo!!!

 

[lungimsam]

Thanks for all the great info, guys! I will see what develops with Mr. Hammond. I have also heard of the Dimarzio drop in. That is another one that I could try. Thanks for the tip. I had forgotten about that.

I really do not like stock the pups on my SG Bass. But I love the shortscale and looks and playability, so I am striving to get this thing alive and punchy. It is the easiest playing bass I have ever played with that shortscale and set neck.

I have not tried a Starfire yet, but hope to get one some day. I am now hooked on shorties, and will only get shorties from now on when I buy basses.

I have two Pbasses that have the perfect sound for me, but they are tough on the left hand.

 

[dlenaghan]

But I love the shortscale and looks and playability, so I am striving to get this thing alive and punchy. It is the easiest playing bass I have ever played with that shortscale and set neck.

I have not tried a Starfire yet, but hope to get one some day. I am now hooked on shorties, and will only get shorties from now on when I buy basses.

I imagine my constant praise of the JS series has everyone on the forum totally worn out, but you dig the SG/EB-0/3 basses, you might like the JS. You can get an old player for much less than a Gibson, but I've heard the necks are profiled a bit differently. I've only played recent Epi/Gibson reissues of the EB series (so, SGs only), and for various reasons I prefer my Guilds. The clips I've heard of even the Guild humbuckers (big bright chrome bricks that you'll find far, far more often than Darkstars or Bisonics) have better articulation than the Sidewinder (I believe that's what the mudbuckers are officially called), so if you fancy trying Guild's equal to the EB series, there are some for pretty cheap on eBay right now...

 

[Hangman]

If I were in your position, I'd seriously consider one of these:
http://curtisnovak.com/pickups/EB-AA.shtml

Curtis makes some really nice pickups and is repairing one of my Bi-sonics. You can talk to him about your ideas and what you want sonically in a pickup. A really friendly guy.
Good Luck.

 

[mellowgerman]

If you're at all interested in the Dimarzio Model One, check out this sound clip. I recorded it to display the tonal versatility of the Fender "mellostang" mustang bass I modded and used to own. It is strung with flatwound strings, so you'll get even more bite with rounds if that's what you're into. Anyway, the thing I love so much about the this pickup is that you can very easily wire up a 2way minitoggle switch that will allow you to go from humbucker to single coil mode; for two very different but equally usable tones. From the beginning to the 12 second mark is the Model One solo'd in humbucker mode. From 12 seconds to 23 seconds is the Model One solo'd in single coil mode. And you can't beat the value at only $80, sometimes as low as $50 if you catch a used one.
http://www.supload.com/listen?s=sX6fR6