Serek Basses - BiSonic Bass Pickup Comparison: Guild BS-1 vs Curtis Novak BS-DS (w/ Coil Tap)

[@johnspokus]

Would love to hear this with actual flatwounds

[@billiejoe9037]

Both of these are incredible but personally I would go with the Guild if I had to choose.

[@Cap683]

Billie Joe I have two Serek Basses and I chose the Guild Bisonics mostly because I wanted the little bit of that single coil treble extension. To me the Guild’s sat in just the right place.

[@subschool5]

These comparisons are such a treat. Such gorgeous craftsmanship. Thank you!!!

[@hapijoel7569]

Really liking the Guild with the tone rolled off, finger style...but the Dark Star sounds fantastic with the big muff! Seems to have a wider range that really rings there.

[@McDoinky]

Props for playing a UMO line. Great looking guitar, too.

[@limyten6413]

yo dope riff from radioheads "national anthem" at the begining. Love that riff

[@subschool5]

*Fingerstyle* Guild BS 2:22 CNBS 2:42 CNDS 3:02 *Pick* Guild BS 4:25 CNBS 4:38 CNDS 4:51

[@serekbasses]

subschool5 thanks for this, I'll add it to the description!

[@markbrown1]

Beautiful! The Guild pickup is the one.

[@michaelb.42112]

That bass sounds incredible. When you played Ramble On it really shined through and showed what it can do. I believe JPJ used and Alembic Series 1 on that, and the Guild was the first Alembic, so makes sense that there's some common DNA there.

[@casetanner]

Thanks for posting this! They're both great sounding pickups!

[@TheWhollySmoked]

I heard the sneaky Unknown Mortal Orchestra, you cheeky bugger. I already want one of these god damn Midwestern basses.

[@onderwijs4865]

The break thru for this flopped pickup was in the Tractor Bass. By Berry Oakley. I can confirm the two jazz pickups will enhance the DS-1 in an amazing way. The Novak pickup may be too bitey for that particular application.

[@FederinzC]

Very interesting, nice basses and tone! I just can't find a technical explanation of what is a "Bi-Sonic"-style pickup and how it works to do what it does. As of now I only understand that it was designed by Hagstrom and largely used by Guild, and that it is a single big coil pickup with one pole per string, an unusual big casing to allow space for the poie's height mechanism. And for some reason it ends up having a wide range and very dynamic response, also somehow allowing since its inception to separate treble and bass frequencies (hence the Bi-sonic term). I suppose part of its "magic" is being a powerful single coil with only one pole per string and the way this system transduces the string vibration. I don't understand the "bi-sonic" part of it. I had maybe a hint with the Novak coil-tap but that'd be peculiar of that model and not of the pickup style I suppose. Could somebody kindly explain what I'm missing? Cordially, Federinz

[@serekbasses]

You are pretty much spot on with all of this. I think the name was maybe just more of a marketing gimmick. I couldn't tell you where that came from! Perhaps someone else here knows more?

[@cornfriedbooyah]

Man, which ever what ever, these are beautiful and i may be super biased as I'm a midwesterner from South Bend. great design and i like the Novak but both sound great. Really solid!

[@Herfinnur]

Fingerstyle tone up G 2:22 NB 2:42 ND 3:02 Tone down G 3:28 NB 3:46 ND 4:05

[@EricRunquistBass]

Wow both pickups sound so good. Just when I thought I didnt want more basses

[@NLBassist]

What a great vid, Jake!

[@McDoinky]

YO JAKE Can you make a demo with flats? Purdy please?

[@gwawd]

Hi! This is very useful video, thank you! Two questions if you don't mind: 1. What wiring do you use with DS pickups on your short-scale basses? (i.e. pots and caps values) 2. What is the string spacing at the bridge on this particular bass? How does it line up with Guild pickup pole pieces? Cheers!

[@aaront100r]

Granted the Novak has the Darkstar option, but I don't hear 3x the cost in the difference in straight bisonic mode

[@fostercatnicky]

These are really cool. How were the clean signals (without fuzz) recorded? Direct in to an interface? Is there any preamp, compression or eq? I guess I'm just curious if we're hearing the sound affected in any way. Thanks!

[@conky7819]

Both sound stunning in my opinion. Not to mention the bass looks stunning just the same! And the Unknown Mortal Orchestra riff to boot, great demo all around!

[@mottfanbass]

That bass sounds amazing Jake - Brad Dance

[@JS_bass]

I prefer the Guild BS-1, it sound more fat and full and it has really nice treble too...

[@mdmarkle]

I like them both. I would say for soul stuff, I would go with the Guild BS-1. For rock, definitely the Novak.

[@harrisonjr98]

Would a bisonic or something like the b90/lzn be better for mostly picked playing, often overdriven tones, chords, and fuzz? Or are neither of them the right fit. Thinking it’s gotta be the bisonic right?

[@jdjk7]

hey, that happens to be my favorite Clash song.

[@SoleTownDuo]

Great video, thx for showing me. Got darkstars in my Starfire.

[@SoleTownDuo]

Oh, also.. Can I switch my darkstars between darkstar/bi-sonic?

[@eddieselph7817]

How much does the Bisonic pickup weigh? Thanks

[@squidpeanut]

What cap and pots do you recommend for bs-1?

[@RootsBassCanada]

Sounds good. Wish I could try one.

[@JamesLoudon]

I think I like the Guild one the best. I am not hearing that the Novak is three times better sounding certainly. But if I bought one I would convince my ears that it was :/ I guess though that you would get a lot more consistency with the handbuilt pickups as oppossed to those mass produced ones.

[@Rick-pi9zn]

UUUUUUUH he played unknown mortal orchestra! now I want one.

[@77clem]

I use an Ampeg bass amp as well. They sound great! Wish I could afford one of your basses. Maybe someday...

[@williamhenshaw8650]

Look again, the cabinet is Ampeg but the head is an Acoustic. It's covered up so I can't make out the model but I think it's a 450. Acoustic solid state heads are amazing, very powerful and built to last. This head is not to be confused with the crap that is sold under the Acoustic amps of today, this model has been out of production for at least 40 years, maybe longer. I have four Acoustic amps, 3 for bass and 1 for acoustic guitar.

[@markkarwan9360]

@@williamhenshaw8650 True, but he's actually plugged into the tiny GK MB-Fusion sitting on top of the big Acoustic head!

[@TheUcfgoldenknights]

Good eye lol I think those acoustic amps are famous for their hum too

[@bb.6969]

HOLY F*CK thank you after hearing a recording of the guild bisonic on the drive and later the fuzz you convinced me that my next build is gonna be a P with one of those!

[@Terrible_Peril]

I have a Guild Starfire II bass with the bisonics in it, but I bought the pickup several years before they released the basses and put it into what amounts to a 32” P bass and it was glorious. I’ve since moved things around but I may snag another and do a dual-dark jazz or something. It’s a great pickup. Surprising amount of highs, but very tamable.

[@larsetom1]

The Novak pickups seem to a little more clarity even with overdrive or fuzz.

[@alexbreyer6921]

Looking at your bass on Reverb.com brought me here. While the Novak was very nice, I prefered the Guild in each sampling. Just seemed, to me, to hold more command and defined sound.

[@Cap683]

Me too. I bought a Sacramento from Jake about a year and a half ago and after much thought I chose the Guild Bisonics. They just seem to be in the right place as far as frequency response. I would have paid the extra money for the Curtis Novaks but the Guilds really produce the sound I want.

[@bluntzera8238]

What pot values on this guild? 250 or 500k?

[@mottfanbass]

I can't find any fault with the Guild Bi-Sonic whatsoever. It is perfect. That being said, the Novack (which I have a set) in Dark Star position sounds very close. And beefier and less articulate in the Bi-Sonic position. Which the BS is where I play mine.

[@serekbasses]

mottfanbass i concur!

[@losangulos]

mottfanbass all sound great, but that dark star position has all the flavor i like.

[@mottfanbass]

After giving all this another listen, I think I like the Curtis Novak better in the Bi-Sonic position. It's got the beef. I will try to enjoy them more. :)

[@lungimsam]

IS THE GUILD BS-1 THE NECK OR THE BRIDGE VERSION?

[@serekbasses]

Bridge

[@OddTimesAtmospheres]

What string brand do you reccomend for short scale basses?

[@juanjan__]

is the Guild BS-1 you are using the neck or the bridge one? Thanks!

[@serekbasses]

Bridge!

[@juanjan__]

@@serekbasses thank you! I hope I'm not too annoying here but I just can't find this information anywhere... what is the difference between them? Is it tone-wise?

[@serekbasses]

@@juanjan__ neck position has a lower resistance to balance output with the bridge position

[@juanjan__]

@@serekbasses thank you very much for your answer!

[@physiciansassist1]

fred Hammon still makes the best dark star pickup

[@davidkeller2832]

Somebody else makes Dark Star pickups? I thought that was his own brand. PS - He no longer makes the Dark Stars.

[@bassnut57]

Thank you.

[@physiciansassist1]

@@bassnut57 welcome Fred see you this weekend hopefully.

[@abouc]

I preferred the Guild clean and the Novak dirty

[@plinkbottle]

Its got a very likeable sound, either pickup

[@johnniecameron8829]

Cool bases

[@ChrisHopkinsBass]

That’s the way Schecter used to implement coil taps “back in the day”

[@jackbaradog]

what i wouldn't do for one of these basses.....

[@enzolana1415]

Bisonic !!! I lovin

[@Rick-pi9zn]

very proper demo as well, love it.

[@williamgwillam3908]

Tame Impala

[@tscardinal]

2:44 🥴

[@lakingscup]

Guild BS-1 👈🏼

[@jeremyjenks]

I used to have that same acoustic head....kick myself for letting it go!

[@asagoldsmith3328]

Ramble on :D

[@meathdetal4042]

novak wins

[@MTLeadSlanger]

Novak ALWAYS wins.

[@serdiezv]

Funny, to me it's either the Guild or the Novak BS-DS. At that point I'd be more inclined to get the Guild just because of the price difference.

[@ericeastman2427]

Turn it up your playing to soft to manhandle that thing for Christ sake