Question Axis SS pickup question.....

[tommyk]

Hi all.

are Axis SS Hbucker Pups different to standard Hbuckers as ive read that you cannot interchange them very easily....... can some please explain, as i know they mount direct to the body but am unsure as to what the restriction would be.....

im thinking of putting a Hbucker sized P90 in my SS when i get it incase the neck pickup is too dark for my clean sound (am waiting for delivery at the mo and have doubts if the Hbucker will sound right) so need to know any implications before buying one

Thanks,

Tommy.

 

[azazael]

You won't need to replace it.
Try position 4 when u get it.

 

[tommyk]

im not convinced the sound will be thick enough........ im currently using a strat with a mid booster on it at the mo...... do you think it will compare?

 

[azazael]

oh you want it thick?...
Neck pickup sounds great mate.
Just have to wait until it arrives i suppose...
give me example what sound your looking for??

 

[beej]

What's the rush? Guitar is en route, enjoy it for a while before you make any changes. You just might love it as is

 

[tommyk]

er difficult to describe as its our own sound really..... for clean rhythm i use a vox ac30 to get a gorgeous glassy clean sound, and want a twangy yet full sound..... basically something like a fuller sounding tele or strat. i have used a tele but found it did not cut through the mix enough for my rhythm sound. so got a strat and put a vilex booster jack socket on it which made all the difference. just hate playing the strat though and cant get the action anywhere near low enough to make the complex chord sequences i use actually playable without getting serious cramp half way through the set. (Note - Fender build quality is absolutely sh&t! what a waste of money that purchase was!) ive got a peavey wolfgang (cheap version although still better than the strat!) and love the way it plays but the sound is too muddy as it got the cheaper Pups etc so thought the Axis SS would be perfect. now just gettin worried the single coil sounds will be too thin.... if they are similar to a tele but with more midrange (which im guessing the guitar should have loads as my peavey does and the Axis SS i tried at the london music show did) then all will be good! its just like pre-wedding nerves at the mo as just dont wanna feel like i should have ordered the MM90's in hindsight!

 

[beej]

Tough to say, really. The Axis SSPT HH is a killer guitar, and it's got a ton of tones in there. You might find the single coil tones thin though- they're parallel combinations of one coil from each bucker. With the full buckers and the vol rolled back, you have some great tones though. The buckers on their own are fantastic, that is the sound this guitar is known for. Another option if you don't find what you need is to split the buckers, that can be wired up pretty easily.

I'd definitely play it a while and see what you think. But off-hand, it does sound like the MM90 would fit the bill well. Single coil-ish, but fuller, more midrange, twangy. Clean to mean with a roll of the volume pot. I know you hate to hear that. But keep an eye out in case you get a chance to play one.

Let us know how you like 'er once she arrives!

 

[douglasspears]

are Axis SS Hbucker Pups different to standard Hbuckers as ive read that you cannot interchange them very easily.......

I think what you have heard may have referred to the fact that the two buckers are a little different than each other. If you put the neck bucker in the bridge postition (or vice versa) it'd not be the same. I think the difference is that the neck bucker is wound differently so as to not get too muddy up there.

I use the neck bucker 90% of the time fwiw. I only go to the bridge if there's a very loud section that I need to really cut through on. I use the neck single coil fromt time to time too.

That said, I've never played the mm90's and would love to hear them. What beej says about them is exactly what I'd expect (and hope) to hear from them.

Have fun, you'll like the guitar.

 

[tommyk]

I think what you have heard may have referred to the fact that the two buckers are a little different than each other.QUOTE]

not exactly.... ive read that because of the way the Pups are mounted directly into the body and cant be adjusted for height, you cant, for example pop a seymore duncan in as a retrofit...... if ive read things correctly?

all i need to know, is whether a Pup like below can be fitted without too much hassle if i really struggled to get the clean sound i desire having tried the guitar for a while?

Mean 90 Gloss Black- TRUE Alnico P90- FAT and Loud!

Retail price: $79.95
Direct Guitarfetish Price: $37.95
Humbucker Sized Pickups

 

[Evan]

As far as I know they're standard humbuckers, you should be able to swap them easily. All you need is a little skill with soldering.

 

[douglasspears]

gotcha....I thought by "interchange them" you meant...well, "interchange them".

Not sure about the size and ability to replace them with other pups.

 

[beej]

You can definitely put something else in there, lots of guys have done that. In terms of restriction, you'll just want to make sure the new p'ups fit the cavity.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

You won't need to change them - believe me!

 

[Astrofreq]

I have put a Humbucker From Hell in the neck position on several ASS's and LOVE the change. Much cleaner sound.

 

[tommyk]

would it be comparable to a P90 sound?

 

[tommyk]

who makes the humbucker from Hell?

 

[Eilif]

Dimarzio

who makes the humbucker from Hell?

 

[Brian G]

If I recall this correctly, the problem is when you want to replace the uncovered humbuckers with a covered pickup. It's the cover that needs the extra space, and more rectangular shape.

For this, you probably need to route some, and I don't think most of us would do that, as it involves also routing the top finish.

Try the stock guitar, it may well work for you as is. Try rolling back the volume for cleaner sounds. If it gets too dark for you, with the volume rolled off, you could have a treble bleed cap installed, which will maintain highs more when the volume control is backed down.

I guess you didn't have a chance to try a P90 version?

Brian