Considering modding my Axis - opinions needed.

[GuitaRasmus]

Hi guys. I am sort of thinking about modding my Axis, and I could use you guys opinions.

I have this Pacific Blue Burst Axis, which is my number one - I own a Prs Ce24, a McCarty, several great partsocasters, and this guitar is my number one - It plays like nothing else, the neck is perfect for my hand, stays in tune forever, and the bridge pickup is probably the greatest pickup I've ever tried. Let's just say I'm a fan.

Anyway, the "problem" is that I am not really a fan of neck humbuckers. I've installed a push/pull volume pot, to split the humbuckers for cleans. I never use neck humbuckers, however, I love HSS strats, using the singlecoils primarily for cleans, and the humbucker for distortion. This got me to thinking. I really like Suhrs Fletcher Landau singlecoils, and I started planning how to make a singlecoil look like a neck humbucker, so I wouldn't change the look too much, and I figured out how to do it (it's a bit of an operation, including mounting the singlecoil on a humbucker -tab-bracket, next to a dummy coil, and making them look like a humbucker - I've built quite a few guitars, and I'm sure I can pull it off), and then adding a middle singlecoil. I just can't decide if it messes with the look too much, and that's why I wanted your opinions:

(Edit: This is just a photoshop mockup, using a picture of my guitar)

Like I said, I am absolutely sure I can pull this off (including the routing) with a professional result, I'm just not sure if it looks wrong, or if I should just go ahead, and get the full potential from my number one guitar.

Buying another guitar is not really an option. I can afford it, but I already have a few HSS guitars - the reason for this project would be to get my best playing guitar to be my most versatile as well.

Looking forward to your opinions.

 

[Stevie]

Don't do it. Find another guitar to get your sound or do some other tweak that does not destroy the Axis' characteristics.

 

[luv]

Don't do it. Find another guitar to get your sound or do some other tweak that does not destroy the Axis' characteristics.

+1

It's also the perfect reason to have other guitars. Maybe sell some stuff and get a Silo too.....

 

[1evh2nv]

don't do it. Find another guitar to get your sound or do some other tweak that does not destroy the axis' characteristics.

++1

 

[agt]

Have you considered a Dimarzio Humbucker from Hell? Or a Bluesbucker as suggested above? Less permanent than what you suggested.

Personally, I wouldn't do anything that might affect the tone (i.e. routing) and I don't think it looks right with a single coil in there, but that's just my opinion.

Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[Smellybum]

Leave it alone!!

That's a pretty top -would you go to an art gallery and start chainsawing paintings!?!?!?!


How about an electronics only option, perhaps mm90's instead of the humbuckers, - or better yet - leave that one be get a used super sport and experiment on that ??

 

[RobW]

don't do it, that thing is beautiful!

 

[Eilif]

It looks strange with that middle single coil in there, but that's most likely because we are not used to seeing an H-S-H configuration outside of a Silhouette. There are Axis Sports that are configured H-S-S, but that's different from what you are proposing.

But in response to your comment ("I just can't decide if it messes with the look too much"), I'd say that it does mess with the look and that it does look "wrong". That's not necessarily a bad thing, but the Axis has been around in one form or another for 18 years now, as primarily an HH guitar, and adding the middle single coil does take it too far.

If keeping the iconic look is not an issue for you, then go for it. Otherwise, I suggest you change out the neck pickup so you at least have a single coil there (albeit disguised as a humbucker) but leave the middle alone.

 

[threeminutesboy]

Just do it !!!!

I have changed my ASS with seymour duncan Phat cat and a profestional guitar player did the mod you want on a pink EVH. You have to do what you feel is right for you !

So in you case maybe a Phat cat in the neck add the middle pickup and keep the bridge pickup

See pictures below

 

[banjoplayer]

My first thought was a P90 in Humbucker-size.
Or an other HSS-guitar with an Axis-Humbucker, which seems not a good solution as you like the neck and the playability of the Axis.

To be honest I don´t like the look of a middle-Singlecoil on an Axis

How about waiting for the new Sterlingline and modding one of the Sterling-Axis´?

 

[DrGonzo5150]

+1 threeminutesboy

While history is rife with epic design failures, it's also rife with experiments gone right!! Without people having a crack at stuff like this we would never have ended up with the morse model... Even when he had the morse model, what did he do when he broke his fretting arm? - shaved the corner off the guitar’s neck heel with a bench grinder!!!

No point worrying about how it looks, just worry about how you think it will sound and feel.

A few years ago someone cannibalised either an ASS or Axis, can't remember, anyway, he poached the neck off the full rosewood model and put it on the standard model... at the time it received some jeers but fast forward a few years and it's available as a special offer straight out of the factory.

This kind of thing is a bit of a gamble and the work is irreversible... But in acknowledging all of that, if you think it really will work for you, Do it.

haha who knows, might get famous and be selling replicas in 20 years

 

[silverburst]

If you realy plan on keepng it and are not worried about resale value, I say go for it. It is not an unusual configuration, and if it makes it a more perfect guitar for you, all the better.

Post pics if you go ahead with the project. I'd like to see how it turns out.

 

[Phazer]

I think it looks cool!!

 

[marantz1300]

no no NO.There wil;l be tears. If you dont like it theres no going back.Your guitar is beautiful . Rio Grande make pickups that are two true l single coils wired like humbuckers and splitable. Or buy a Ax20 and experiment on that.

 

[beej]

I'm a fan of the FL singles- they are great pickups. I'm all for putting one at the neck.

On the middle- that's a tough call. Nothing wrong with doing it, you'll kill your resale value, though. People often say "I'm not worried ... I'll never sell that one ..." but usually ending trying to sell a modded guitar and taking a bath.

Why not look for an older HSS Axis Sport you can mess with? They can be had cheap.

 

[Astrofreq]

Have you considered a Dimarzio Humbucker from Hell?

+1. I have swapped out the neck humbucker for a Humbucker from Hell. It makes a HUGE difference. You will get the single coil sound from it and still have the output of the humbucker. Trust me.

 

[V_S]

and I started planning how to make a singlecoil look like a neck humbucker

There's that Seymour Duncan Humbucker that's supposed to sound like a single coil when split. It's not built like a normal humbucker which can be split because of thw for wires, but the approach is that it's like two single coils put together to a humbucker.

Here's a link:
Progressive - Stag Mag™ SH-3 - Seymour Duncan/Basslines

 

[RocketRalf]

If you realy plan on keepng it and are not worried about resale value, I say go for it. It is not an unusual configuration, and if it makes it a more perfect guitar for you, all the better.

Post pics if you go ahead with the project. I'd like to see how it turns out.

+1. It's your guitar in the end. People here obviously admire the original Axis design and wouldn't like it changed like that, but if you're happy with it go for it. I personally wouldn't do it, but I've never played an Axis neck so I don't know how hard you need that. Now talking about the neck pup, I'd try a Dimarzio Bluesbucker or a EJ Custom Neck before building a Frankestein single coil

 

[Jimmyb]

I'd say it would be a shame to cut into such a good looking top. Having said that, it's your guitar and it's for you to decide what to do with it.

Maybe try it on one of the Sterling Axis' first, or like Beej says, try a Sport in HSS.

 

[Jason2112]

Call me a radical non-traditionalist, but I like the idea. It sounds like you know the risks, but you also anticipate the reward, which is all that really matters. The middle single coil sounds like a nice option to have, but I'm not so sure I'd go the route of a sc+dummy coil in the neck. I haven't yet heard a dual-coil pickup that could exactly emulate a good quality single coil pickup, but your idea may end up being more work than you may want to tackle. Some good suggestions in this thread on a replacement neck pickup.....

Good on ya and keep us up to date on this project.