Bi Sonic / Darkstar

[henry norton]

I've been hankering after some Darkstars to put into my short scale semi but right now it's impossible to find them except at unobtanium prices on fleabay. I know there's a Swedish guy who's looking into remakes and Curt Novak is working on some too but I want mine NOW!!! or at least soon. So, I'm putting my prototype engineering skills to use and will make some myself. I haven't had one to copy directly (Darkstar or Bi Sonic) but there's so much information out there I haven't really had to guess anything yet. The main reason nobody's taken it on 'til now has probably been the tooling to make the bobbin and the polished mounting ring, which could easily run into thousands, but luckily that's the sort of thing I can do.

Here's the first model of the bobbin. Next up is the mounting ring.

I'll be trying a 5 string version if this one works out

[rubis]

Cool project, best of luck sir

[steve-soar]

Watching with much interest. Very cool.

[untune]

If this works out well you could end up with a few orders from the BC community

[untune]

In addition - do you have the facility to make pickup rings perchance, from metal? Drop me a PM if so

[Mr. Foxen]

I might be able to help with production of metal stuff.

[umph]

do us one ;D

[henry norton]

Here's the first stamping of the polished ring using a temporary tool. It's not been cleaned up as I wanted to test the basic shape and form so will now make a permanent, hard tool set using this as a pattern.
I've set it on the bobbin pattern just to show how it'll look. Very excited now

[BassBod]

Also very interested........

[untune]

Ooooh looking good!

[henry norton]

Here's a picture of the adjustable pole pieces and the laminated core. Getting there now...

[Sibob]

I've always quite fancied a Precision with a single Dark Star, and so.......

......Colour me interested fo sho!!

Si

[buff]

Any idea on prices yet, sound clip's ?

[henry norton]

PM'd

Sound clips in a few weeks.

[henry norton]

Here's the latest instalment of the NuSonic Saga. I've drilled out the 4 string bobbin to check for final fit etc. before I embark on a run of them. I've also made a start on a NuSonic 5 - I don't have the rings made yet but I've made a bobbin. Here they both are loaded with the polepiece mechanisms.
[attachment=125464:P1010033.JPG]
the 4
[attachment=125465:P1010035.JPG]
the 5

The 4's mounted in my original unpolished pickup ring but I'm in the process of making up hard tools for both the 4s and 5s so hopefully I'll have some finished prototypes within the next few weeks.

[umph]

oh very nice, drop us a pm about prices

[untune]

Looking fantastic! BTW I've still not replied to your email re: the pickup rings, I'll get on that tonight if I remember. Anything to be chromed on the horizon yet?

[henry norton]

[quote name='untune' timestamp='1355923134' post='1904506']
Looking fantastic! BTW I've still not replied to your email re: the pickup rings, I'll get on that tonight if I remember. Anything to be chromed on the horizon yet?
[/quote]
Could be early in the New Year

[henry norton]

[quote name='umph' timestamp='1355919722' post='1904425']
oh very nice, drop us a pm about prices
[/quote]
PM'd

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='henry norton' timestamp='1355949632' post='1904997']
PM'd
[/quote] be tentatively interested too... great work btw

[henry norton]

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1356468673' post='1910424']
be tentatively interested too... great work btw
[/quote]

Thanks Luke - If you end up buying one I'll route a BiSonic sized hole in your JV for free!

Just kidding by the way

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='henry norton' timestamp='1356791854' post='1913652']
Thanks Luke - If you end up buying one I'll route a BiSonic sized hole in your JV for free!

Just kidding by the way
[/quote]


hahha ! no ive a bitsa jazz..... Out of interest... could you PM me with how much you think they will be?

[henry norton]

Right, next stage. Here's the 4 and 5 in pre production form with (almost) sorted pickup rings but still with trial bobbins. Once I've sorted out winding the coils I'll finish the bobbin moulds.

Well, as soon as the bloody uploader decides to start working I'll post a picture

[Dave Vader]

Oh I think I need to know about prices on these as well...

[henry norton]

Well I still can't upload any pictures although I see one or two posters have managed this weekend. Maybe it's just me or my crap laptop. Anyway, I've stuck some up to date pictures in my blog if anyone's interested.