Help!!! Opinions needed...

[basslefty]

Just got my Dark Star pickup for installation into my Warmoth Tele-bass...

Which pickup position do you guys (and gals?) like better?

At this point I'm leaning toward Option 1, although Option 2 is more like what I've seen pictured on Fred Hammon's website...

Forgive the terrible Photoshopping (Gimping actually), but you get the idea.

Voting is open until I can track down my closest friend that owns a router...

Let me know...

[Lefty007]

I think Option 1 will give you a bit more bite and definition, more like a P-Bass. Option 2 would be mellower, and a bit deeper more like a SCPB or a Jazz-bass neck pickup.

Depending on what you are going for. I would def go for Option 1, and it also looks better with the pickguard shape, IMO.

[Jeroen]

I would try aligning the poles (not the screws!) exactly at the same height as the poles of the original singlecoil. Leo Fender had thought that position out very well, sonically. It's exactly at a harmonic knot in the open string length (as with the pickups on a Strat, Tele or Jazz). For example: Try playing a 5th fret flageolet on a Strat with just the neck pickup selected. You'll barely hear a thing through your amp, because the distance from bridge to polepieces is exactly the same as the distance from the nut to the 5th fret . Same story with the Telecaster Bass singlecoil.

[pjmuck]

I would try aligning the poles (not the screws!) exactly at the same height as the poles of the original singlecoil. Leo Fender had thought that position out very well, sonically. It's exactly at a harmonic knot in the open string length (as with the pickups on a Strat, Tele or Jazz). For example: Try playing a 5th fret flageolet on a Strat with just the neck pickup selected. You'll barely hear a thing through your amp, because the distance from bridge to polepieces is exactly the same as the distance from the nut to the 5th fret . Same story with the Telecaster Bass singlecoil.

+1. they don't call it the sweet spot for nuttin'.

FYI: I've seen several players install Darkstars upside down for a different tonal variety. I'd suggest routing for the proper placement as indicated by Jeroen but experiment with the PUP right side up and upside down to see what you prefer.