Another Axis pick-up thread.

[MikeE]

Here’s my (long) story…

I ordered a guitar from a custom builder in the hopes I would be able to combine the neck feel and humbucker sound of an Axis with a super strat style guitar. My guitar is basswood with maple top and an all maple neck. I have a routed Floyd and a SSH pick-up configuration.

The builder did a good job of matching the Axis neck and the build quality is excellent. My issue is that I have found the bridge pick-up to be too bright. This is really my fault as the builder told me the pick-up was based on the Duncan JB. I have read a lot of positive comments regarding the JB so I though I was going to be OK. Now that I look at the tone chart on the Duncan website, I see it is EQ’d with a lot of highs.

The builder has offered to wind me a new pick-up at no cost and has asked me what I am looking for. He said it would be easiest if I compare it to a Seymour Duncan. What I’m looking for is a pick-up like the bridge humbucker in the Axis. I know this is a made for EB/MM by DiMarzio. I also know that DiMarzio says the Tone Zone is the closest pick-up they offer to the Axis bridge humbucker. I have a TZ in another guitar and find it darker and muddier than the Axis pick-up so I don’t want to put a TZ in my new guitar.

What all this is leading to is what Duncan pick-up would be most comparable to the Axis bridge humbucker? Also, what are the differences between these two pick-ups as I could try and get the builder to wind it differently based on these differences. Understand that the builder is not familiar with the TZ or Axis pick-ups.

I have done a lot of reading on the Duncan forums trying to get ideas based on comments from Duncan users. I'm still puzzled as to what pick-up would be best. My issue is I don’t know the specs on Axis bridge pick-up.

Sorry for the long post, but I figured it would be easier for people to recommend a pick-up based on the whole story.

Thanks in advance,

Mike E.

 

[OrangeChannel]

Well I doubt any of the fine gents at DiMarzio or EBMM will devulge the specs on the Axis pups....but here's my $.02... My question would be what is the differentiation of body woods on the two guitars? Meaning the other guitar you have a TZ in and the Axis. Realize that body wood can have a major effect on the tone being projected by the pups. I've used the TZ before and never had an ish with it being too muddy. More a case where it sounded amazing and I kick myself for getting rid of that guitar. A couple of guys on here had swapped the pups out to satisfaction with the TZ and never mentioned anything worse....so it might just be the wood type isn't so conducive to that pup. TZ loves basswood bodies, loves them! JP used to use them in an IBZ before the Steve's Special, PAul Gilbert uses them in IBZ basswood bodied guitars, heck the guitar in question n my case was an IBZ and it sounded phenominal...good luck.

 

[MikeE]

Thanks for the reply OrangeChannel.

The other guitar I have with a TZ is a MIJ Charvel superstrat. It has a poplar body, maple neck/rosewood fingerboard and a floyd. I know this combo is not as bright as my new guitar, but I have also heard other comments about the TZ being a little muddy in basswood/maple guitars.

Do you know what Duncan pick-up would most resemble a TZ?

Mike E.

 

[OrangeChannel]

To be honest, I can't really think of one...seemed a debate on the SD boards for awhile. That being said we sorta let it to....if you want the Duncan equivalent of a TZ, get a TZ....I think maybe a custom custom or custom 5 is a dece sounding SD tho. Pair that with a Jazz.

 

[chrisglancy]

AXIS pickups are defo one of my fave things about the AXIS!

have no idea what you could compare em to, maybe Dimarzio Super Distortions?

 

[beej]

Holy old thread, Batman!