Advice needed for adding single coil to MM90s

[Ninemile]

HI all,

I'm considering installing a middle single coil to my Axis Sport with MM90's. I'm hoping to get a couple more tones by doing it as well as pickup up a hint of the 2 and 4 position sounds that you get from a traditional 3 single coil setup.

Any recommendations for a pickup to use? Anything I need to be aware of or consider regarding output or anything?

I love my guitar but for years have also wanted an old Sport with 3 single coils. Now I'm thinking instead of searching for that, why don't I just add a middle single coil between my MM90's.

Any thoughts on this? Thanks!

 

[alf cockle]

personally,I,d ditch the bridge pickup,and install a humbucker,add a coil split to your tone knob,and faggetabout the middle single...with any luck,maybe just a drop out/drop in.....these guitars were made to be simple..i love em.got other geetars for those other sounds..just sayin.

 

[Ninemile]

personally,I,d ditch the bridge pickup,and install a humbucker,add a coil split to your tone knob,and faggetabout the middle single...with any luck,maybe just a drop out/drop in.....these guitars were made to be simple..i love em.got other geetars for those other sounds..just sayin.

Thank you, this is the kind of advice I'm looking for! I'd be curious what the tone of a split bridge humbucker would be. Would it be close to a straight up bride single coil and significantly different from my current bridge MM90? I also have a Super Sport with two humbuckers and my split 2 & 4 positions sound nothing like a 2 & 4 position on my Strat-but I'm not sure if they're even supposed to. And now when I type this, I'm wondering- are the 2 and 4 positions on my Super Sport just the two singles from the neck and bridge humbuckers or are they combining anything? Those two positions really don't sound like anything else that I'm familiar with. They're very unique and strange tones to me and I hardly ever play in the 2nd and 4th switch position on my Super Sport.

All that being said, are there humbuckers out there that would be a drop in fit for the MM90? If so, any recommendations on one? Thanks!

 

[alf cockle]

i bumbled onto a used guitar..not ebmm..but actually very similar to the sport hb/hb...the bridge coil splits,and i do get some phenomenal tones..very useable..from it..this was a mod the previous owner did..so,I,m thinking it should work ok on the sport......that,s the mod I always wanted to do..but never did.good luck..

 

[GWDavis28]

Honestly, since the Axis Sports with MM90's are pretty tough to find, I'd just score another Axis Sport SSH and mod that. There is one on Reverb right now.

Music Man Axis Sport Hh Trem Trans Purple Maple 06/21 | | Reverb

Glenn |B)

 

[beej]

Imo, you really need the middle pickup to nail the typical Strat in-between sounds. The HH switching with the inner/outer coils is great, but doesn't exactly get there.

I'd echo what Glenn said. Find a HSS Axis Sport, or an HH Axis/Sport and add a middle pickup to that. Save the MM90.

 

[Ninemile]

Thank you all. I've seen the Axis HSS that's been on Reverb for a bit. It's cool, I don't prefer colored guitars and prefer wood but I'd still get a colored one. Being that it's from Russia scares me a bit and I'd need to buy it for a lot less. From my experience, the MM90 Sport and Super Sports are plentiful and fairly easy to find, it's the SSS and HSS Sports that are hard to find. It's also my number 1 guitar that I don't plan to ever get rid of, so my thinking is why not make it the best and most versatile I can. Great advice everyone. Thanks!

 

[wesman11483]

personally,I,d ditch the bridge pickup,and install a humbucker,add a coil split to your tone knob,and faggetabout the middle single...with any luck,maybe just a drop out/drop in.....these guitars were made to be simple..i love em.got other geetars for those other sounds..just sayin.

I have a Super Distortion in the bridge pickup of mine and absolutely love it. Dimarzio makes several Soapbar sized humbuckers that are essentially a direct drop in (my tech had to rout a little more depth in the pickup cavity)
Soap Bar | DiMarzio

 

[alf cockle]

Any pics?..the sports are such good guitars!maybe,i,ll do one o mine..with some inspiration from one who did.

 

[tbonesullivan]

See if you can hunt down another MM90 and put that in the middle. Having similar specs really helps with the quack positions.