Curtis Novak Hagstrom Bisonic Replica Pups

[PXLated]

Just got my new pup from Curtis today and I must say his Hagstrom Bisonic replica is unbelievable - It's virtually identical to my original - I know others make replacements but I haven't seen any that are an exact match. Amazing engineering on Curtis's part.
http://curtisnovak.com/pickups/BS-DS.shtml

I also had Curtis refurb (new poles) my original pup from my 66 Starfire-I and he did a great job on that too.

Can't wait to get everything put back together and try it out.

 

[gilded]

This sounds interesting. Didn't see a sound clip for the Bisonic pickup on Curtis Novak's website.

Tell me, does anyone remember if there was a difference between the neck and bridge magnet spacings on the the Bisonics in Starfire II pickups?
In Fred Hammon's pickups?

Harry

 

[The Hangman]

Curtis is refurbishing 2 of my Bisonics. I'm glad to know he did a great job on yours. I have his Charlie Christian P pup in my Lakland Glaub, and it sounds really good.
Can I ask, what was the turnaround time on your Bisonic?

 

[mgod]

I've used the originals interchangeably for decades. Fred's might not be the same. I don't remember.

 

[PXLated]

Can I ask, what was the turnaround time on your Bisonic?

Don't know what his normal turn is - He had a family emergency and had to be out of town for a few days right after he got my pups - He got them to me the week he got back.

 

[PXLated]

I've used the originals interchangeably for decades.

Do you have some kind of connectors so they are easily swapped? My original was hard wired so not easily swapped without cutting wires and desoldering. Would like to be able to swap.

 

[Yggdrasil]

Do you have some kind of connectors so they are easily swapped? My original was hard wired so not easily swapped without cutting wires and desoldering. Would like to be able to swap.

One of my previous 67 Starfires came from the seller with the original bisonic (which had been rebuilt) + a DarkStar. The previous owner had set the pups up with a quick release plug.
Don't know what it was, but any such connector available at your local electronics store should work.

It was interesting to hear the 2 pups in the same bass. The DS was more aggressive & clear, the bisonic more mellow, blooming & fat.
My preference went to the bisonic, but both are great pups. Too bad Fred is MIA.

 

[gilded]

.... The DS was more aggressive & clear, the bisonic more mellow, blooming & fat. My preference went to the bisonic, but both are great pups....

I agree with Ygg's assessment. I always thought the DarkStar sounded best with my modern amps (SWR Super Redhead, Kustom slam bass 3x10 combo) and the Bisonics sounded best with vintage amps (various Ampegs & Fenders). I probably like the Bisonics better, too, but it would be fun to have them both again!

harry

 

[mgod]

Again, I use them interchangeably - not in the same bass, but for the same applications. I probably have more Bisonics than anyone on the planet, since I've been gravitationally attracting them to myself for 40 years, but overall I prefer Dark Stars. Then again, these geezerly pickups are like great old mics; they all age different. A DS is a more reliable experience when I change basses a lot.

Even the earliest DS are a little different from each other since Fred was experimenting in that first year. My 73 solid M85 has the first pair made and they're still my faves.

And by using front and back Bisonics interchangeably, I meant someone else soldering them, not me just swapping them around. At my level of competence, that would be an atrocity.

 

[Happy Face]

Funny, I found the Bisonics on the hollowbody M-85 I bought to be a revelation. But perhaps it was the bass itself.

But who's to quibble?

 

[mgod]

But who's to quibble?

You?

 

[Happy Face]

You?

"13 Guild basses
3 Guild guitars
6 Guild bass amps
3 Guild guitar amps"

Versus my experience with one JS-II and one M-85. Often as not heard through horrible stage monitoring through which I can barely hear myself playing. So sure, I have a great basis of experience to quibble with you!

Hold on, that's right, I had the non-JBL version of the Guild Thunderbass for a while in high school. Back in the 60s!

Oh yeah, I forgot! I had one of the first Dark Starred D'A Starfires that Fred personally modded and sold on the Dude Pit when he offered three at once. But I found it too bulky.

So yeah, with all of that experience, I'll quibble...

(Written with tongue firmly in cheek.)

 

[alpep]

I had CN build me pickups for an old fender XII they are great

 

[gilded]

Not that I don't enjoy the veer, but if someone is able to record the CN Bisonic with a good mic, through a good board, etc., I would like to hear it.

Any body in a position to do that? I emailed Curtis and he doesn't have any clips of this model.

gilded

 

[Mungi]

I probably have more Bisonics than anyone on the planet, since I've been gravitationally attracting them to myself for 40 years, but overall I prefer Dark Stars.

Did you ever get around to measure the impedance on your bisonics? I have measured six. All were between 14 to 16 kOhm except one which was around 5 kOhm. That's a bit odd, I think. Also, how about the magnets. On the three basses (one SF and two Hagström Coronado IV) that I have checked, all had one magnet for the neck and two for the bridge. All were alnico magnets.

 

[mgod]

I have never done that, but Fred probably has.