Dark Matter Instruments - Official Thread

[JoeGuitar717]

I've been working on some headless designs, but they do not fit into the Balaguer line-up since they don't really fit the vibe. I decided to launch a separate company for my less traditional ideas.

http://www.darkmatterinstruments.com - The site will be up soon with all the pricing details, but I wanted to give you all a sneak peek into what I've been working on. I'll offer these as production models (built in South Korea) as well as Semi-Custom & USA Custom Shop models. I'll be sending these out next week for some proper video demos to showcase the tone and go over the specs in fine details.

Excited to finally get these designs out of my head!

This first model is called The Anomaly, AN6, AN7, and AN8 for short.

Some specs:
- The bridges are my own custom design and are machined out of solid bell brass (not ABM)
- Roasted Maple Necks
- Either Roasted Maple or Ebony Fingerboards
- 24 Stainless Steel Frets
- 25.5" scale for 6 string, 25.5" or 27" for 7 string, 28" for 8 string (Multi-scale will also be available)
- One volume, 5-way switch
- Tucked away output jack
- 20" Fingerboard Radius
- Neck shape is a thin tapered D shape with thickness of 0.790" at the 3rd fret and 0.890” at the 12th fret (universal for 6, 7, and 8)

I've put the pickups through multiple phases of R&D and prototyped them before putting them into production. Sourced the magnets from a supplier due to the thickness and size I wanted, and the bobbins are VFB not cheap plastic. All of the pickups are wax potted and built to my exact specifications. I'm very happy with how they turned out:

Bridge Humbucker for AN6 and AN7:
Output: 17.9K
Ceramic Magnet
Wax Potted
4 conductor
Black Bobbins with black screws


Neck Humbucker for AN6 and AN7:

Output: 8.9K
Ceramic Magnet
Wax Potted
4 conductor
Black Bobbins with black screws



Bridge Humbucker for AN8:
Output: 18.27K
Ceramic Magnet
Wax Potted
4 conductor
Black Bobbins with black screws


Neck Humbucker for AN8:

Output: 10.92K
Ceramic Magnet
Wax Potted
4 conductor
Black Bobbins with black screws


AN6

AN7

AN8

 

[jaxadam]

They look really awesome, man. There's no chance to get the finish on the AN8 on an AN6?

 

[marcwormjim]

I'm happy to see this 21st century-aesthetic becoming more prevalent in the market.

 

[Jeff]

They look really awesome, man. There's no chance to get the finish on the AN8 on an AN6?

I'm sure there will be.

 

[Hollowway]

Yeah, I remember Joe mentioning these months ago. The most exciting thing is that he’s making 8s. I’d love one of these (or even his more traditional designs) because I know he’s a solid dude. And these new ones look like they arrived on a space ship. Super cool.

 

[JoeGuitar717]

They look really awesome, man. There's no chance to get the finish on the AN8 on an AN6?

Yep, you'll be able to pick your finish/woods etc. through the Semi-Custom or USA Custom series.

Yeah, I remember Joe mentioning these months ago. The most exciting thing is that he’s making 8s. I’d love one of these (or even his more traditional designs) because I know he’s a solid dude. And these new ones look like they arrived on a space ship. Super cool.

Thanks man. I'm open to doing stuff beyond 8's, but I'll need some time to draft those up. Would love to get into 9 and 10's eventually.

 

[M3CHK1LLA]

these look really nice.

what do they weigh?

 

[JoeGuitar717]

these look really nice.

what do they weigh?

Thanks! The AN8 weighs approximately 6lbs, AN7 weighs 5lbs, and AN6 weighs 4.5lbs.

 

[gunch]

What kind of colors are we looking at being available (on the production models)?

 

[JoeGuitar717]

What kind of colors are we looking at being available (on the production models)?

I'll probably start a poll and you all can vote on a few. I think a Cosmic Black, like the AN6 pictured in this thread, would be cool. I'm open to ideas though, whether we use tops/trans finishes, solid metallic finishes, solid colors, natural, etc.

 

[gunch]

Ok, hear me out. Matte mettallics. Bronze, silver, gunmetal, etc.

 

[jephjacques]

These look extremely comfortable, nice design dude

 

[Paul Gilbert]

Damn that's very nice work man

 

[BigViolin]

I'm having crazy thoughts.

Like 24.5-25.5" on the 6 and 26-29" for the 8.

Cool design, I want one.

 

[JoeGuitar717]

These look extremely comfortable, nice design dude

Thanks man, they are very comfy. I should send you the proto 8 to demo on YouTube

Damn that's very nice work man

Thanks Paul!

I'm having crazy thoughts.

Like 24.5-25.5" on the 6 and 26-29" for the 8.

Cool design, I want one.

Thanks, I personally really dig 26.5" - 25.5" for a 6 and 28" - 26.5" for an 8 but I'm open to suggestions!

 

[Hollowway]

I guess you’re pretty much committed to black as a color option, because it appeals to the most people, but I, too, would like to see some cool options. I do like the appearance of wood, and if you were to do a trans stain of something that would be cool. I’m not sure how crazy you can get with the process, so you’ll have to throw us some choices.

 

[KnightBrolaire]

any chance you could do seafoam green or some fluorescent colors? I'd be down for those.

 

[Hollowway]

any chance you could do seafoam green or some fluorescent colors? I'd be down for those.

God dammit, if you're not my doppelganger. Not only do you like 8 strings, but you're down with sfg and fluorescents.

Joe, Knight and I will take an 8 in shocking pink and a birdseye board, please. We'll just wait right here while you finish them....

 

[KnightBrolaire]

God dammit, if you're not my doppelganger. Not only do you like 8 strings, but you're down with sfg and fluorescents.

Joe, Knight and I will take an 8 in shocking pink and a birdseye board, please. We'll just wait right here while you finish them....

I need an 8 in fluorescent orange

 

[JoeGuitar717]

God dammit, if you're not my doppelganger. Not only do you like 8 strings, but you're down with sfg and fluorescents.

Joe, Knight and I will take an 8 in shocking pink and a birdseye board, please. We'll just wait right here while you finish them....

Man, a Gloss Metallic Pink would be really cool. There will 100% be trans finishes to choose from, over veneers as well as tops.

I need an 8 in fluorescent orange

Well we will have quite a few finishes to choose from for the Semi-Custom builds. Guess you'll have to wait and see!