16996
The Outpost Cafe / DC Snowlapse
« on: February 12, 2010, 09:50:04 AM »
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16997
Rickenbacker Basses / Re: Cool Rics on eBay
« on: February 12, 2010, 09:46:16 AM »Interesting analysis! I've never played a Dark Star equipped bass, but it seems like the whole point was to tap into the magic of the early bass sounds of Jack Casady and Phil Lesh, who were not only using Bisonic-equipped Guilds but heavily modifid proto-Alembic electronics, the whole point of which was to use filters to emphasize certain frequencies. So I don't think the point was the full-range sound by itself, it was to mold that full range sound with filters (whether lo-, band-, or high-pass). That seemed to fly over a lot of people's heads...
I wonder too (and this is just a thought) how much of the "magic" of Dark Stars is in the name - even if you aren't familiar with the Grateful Dead, it's kind of mysterious and magical sounding...
That made me wonder too. If Casady and Lesh weren't just interested in the full range sound, why emphasize that? Then there's the fact that neither of them used these for long.
Whatever. If you put these in a Rick, you lose the the Rick sound. And you make your bass look ugly.
16998
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Re: Guitar humbucker sized bass pickups, what to use?
« on: February 12, 2010, 09:34:26 AM »
Schaller 232 Bassbuckers haven't been made for years. Schaller has a number of things on their site that have been discontinued. I think they just keep the specs or diagrams up for reference.
16999
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Re: Guitar humbucker sized bass pickups, what to use?
« on: February 11, 2010, 06:41:27 PM »Rio Grande pickups are made here in Houston and they are associated with Rockin' Robin Guitars and Robin Guitars. I discussed the Pitbull with the owner and he told me that the Pitbull was two of their 51 P pickups under the chrome cover. Might be that they trim the bobbins to facilitate the cover.
I know that's his standard response but I'm not buying it. Similar, yes. Two 51 P bobbins, could be, but would require some noticeable trimming.
17000
Rickenbacker Basses / Re: Cool Rics on eBay
« on: February 11, 2010, 06:25:28 PM »
It doesn't bother me at all that some love the Dark Star, what irritated me is the fervor about it being the perfect replacement for just about anything. It was the perfect P replacement, the perfect Tele Bass humbucker replacement, the perfect Rick replacement et al. No matter that these pickups sounded very different from each other, the Dark Star was said to be everything they sounded like and more. 
I heard ad nauseam about how the DS is such a full range sound. That's why I don't like it. What makes various pickups interesting is that they're not full range, they each have their own distinctive frequency ranges, peaks, valleys, etc.
I heard ad nauseam about how the DS is such a full range sound. That's why I don't like it. What makes various pickups interesting is that they're not full range, they each have their own distinctive frequency ranges, peaks, valleys, etc.
17001
The Bass Zone / Re: Chromey Checkerboard 'Bird
« on: February 11, 2010, 11:02:22 AM »
Mark, the Lulls may be all that. I have no reason to doubt you. But if something is a POS, then it's not worth copying. The originals didn't get to be iconic by being bad.
It doesn't help Lull's reputation to have an endorser or quasi-official spokesman saying that the originals were real dogs. If I were in the market for a Lull, that would really put me off.
It doesn't help Lull's reputation to have an endorser or quasi-official spokesman saying that the originals were real dogs. If I were in the market for a Lull, that would really put me off.
17002
Gibson Basses / Re: LP on Basschat
« on: February 11, 2010, 10:49:16 AM »
The seller is correct, this is a Deluxe, not a Special. Enlarge the second pic, you can see that the top is maple, and you can see a line where it's glued to the mahogany back, there may be a thin veneer in between. Obviously not a premium plus top, and it wouldn't fetch that kind of price in the US even as a pre-production example. Still a nice bass if you're a fan of the Bart-equipped Deluxe.
17003
The Outpost Cafe / Behind the veil
« on: February 11, 2010, 10:37:02 AM »
The bride was bearded and crosseyed
but I bet she had a nice camel toe.
Comedians ought to have a field day with this.
but I bet she had a nice camel toe.
Comedians ought to have a field day with this.
17004
The Bass Zone / Re: Chromey Checkerboard 'Bird
« on: February 10, 2010, 09:03:45 PM »Too bad - whatever he is he's not a salesman. A true pro will never make such a negative comment about competitive equipment and then brag on their product - it's proven that this will hurt you.
It would have been just as easy to build up the Lull by saying something along the lines of... " The vintage Tbirds are very nice but this one does so much more............."
Agreed. We know the originals aren't perfect, but if they were such dogs, nobody would consider them worth copying.
What a turdhead. And an embarrassment to Lull, whether Lull knows it or not.
17005
The Outpost Cafe / Re: USAF Academy Band at my work today
« on: February 10, 2010, 08:59:24 PM »
Nice performance. Good tuneful song.
17006
Gibson Basses / Re: Fenderbird on Craigslist
« on: February 10, 2010, 08:38:10 PM »
Thanks for the explanation, Curt.
It's probably a fine bass. It's just that with something like this it's not likely you'll get your investment back even unless it's an actual Gibson body and Fender P neck, and probably not even then.
It's probably a fine bass. It's just that with something like this it's not likely you'll get your investment back even unless it's an actual Gibson body and Fender P neck, and probably not even then.
17007
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Re: Guitar humbucker sized bass pickups, what to use?
« on: February 10, 2010, 03:20:46 PM »
Look at this post from another thread for an uncovered Pitbull.
It's really not two '51 coils. They would be slightly too large to fit under a HB cover and as Tony noted in that message, the polepieces are smaller. May be wound to the same general specs but definitely not identical.
Also note the polepiece spacing, don't know if that will be an issue for you.
It's really not two '51 coils. They would be slightly too large to fit under a HB cover and as Tony noted in that message, the polepieces are smaller. May be wound to the same general specs but definitely not identical.
Also note the polepiece spacing, don't know if that will be an issue for you.
17008
Gibson Basses / Re: The Who At The Super Bowl - PinoBird?
« on: February 10, 2010, 03:10:55 PM »
I doubt if they care so long as it can fit their purpose.
Years ago I saw Paul Simon on a late night talk show saying he had turned down Midas who wanted to use "The Sounds Of Silence" for a muffler commercial.
"Hello Midas my old friend...."
Years ago I saw Paul Simon on a late night talk show saying he had turned down Midas who wanted to use "The Sounds Of Silence" for a muffler commercial.
"Hello Midas my old friend...."
17009
Gibson Basses / Re: Fenderbird on Craigslist
« on: February 10, 2010, 03:05:40 PM »
Fortunately we don't get to see his whole body shape. I would guess his ego is large though.
17010
Rickenbacker Basses / Re: Cool Rics on eBay
« on: February 10, 2010, 03:01:53 PM »
That must be it, then. People jumped on the Dark Star bandwagon, irreversibly modified their basses, then before you know it, they were selling them. Guess they weren't as amazing as they thought.
A modified bass should sell for well less than an unmodded one, but I guess there are still enough folks on the bandwagon to keep the prices up. Sooner or later that will change.
A modified bass should sell for well less than an unmodded one, but I guess there are still enough folks on the bandwagon to keep the prices up. Sooner or later that will change.