Axis - pickup (more advice please)

[ZeeW]

Sorry if this has been covered many times before.

I have two EBMM Axis and I swapped out the standard pickups in one for a pair 36th Anniversary Dimarzio to give me a more 'vintage' tone and good cleans when I back off the volume.

However, I'm now looking for a pair of pickups that will take me well into the realms of tight high gain metal rhythm with a 'darker' tone whilst maintaining rich harmonics. I'm not too bothered on how the pickups clean up.

The Axis has a maple neck.

I was thinking Evo-2? Or what would you guys recommend.

 

[TNT]

Super Distortion will take you into the "cave" where light cannot escape; A Norton (not air)will give you a colorfull NASCAR painting; A Tone Zone will crush the walls and cave in the roof, without getting emotionally involved;

I hope this helps a little.

 

[ZeeW]

Super Distortion will take you into the "cave" where light cannot escape; A Norton (not air)will give you a colorfull NASCAR painting; A Tone Zone will crush the walls and cave in the roof, without getting emotionally involved;

I hope this helps a little.

Very poetic LOL

I'm not that familiar with NASCAR or the reference as does not translate too well in the UK. But "crush the walls and cave in the roof" sounds just right for my needs.

 

[Sticky1973]

I have a Tone Zone in my Axis Super Sport. I love it.

I toyed with moving my D Sonic in there, but you would have to mod the body or the pickup as it is a taller DiMarzio pickup.

Hope that helps.

 

[ZeeW]

Thanks for the post. No way I'm modding the body of my Axis.

 

[Sticky1973]

You could alternatively mod the a D Sonic or Crunch Lab mounting legs, but that will ruin the resale if you choose not to keep them.

I think TNT's Tone Zone suggestion is a good one, it has a nice thick low end. Might not be for everyone, I like it.

 

[ZeeW]

TNT do you have the Tone Zone in bridge and neck?

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Duncan Invaders? I had some on a Jackson that I took in trade for some Subaru wheels. I'm not a metal guy, but when I played that thing, Ozzy called me crying. It penetrated the earth and extinguished the sun. Oh....I also played it in church for 2 weeks in a row....then sold it..........to satan.

 

[shredderbetter]

Tone zones rock!!!! you wont be let down AND they actually clean up pretty well,put a push pull coil tap into the volume pot it's a great easy mod!

 

[beej]

I'd put the originals back in.

Also consider a Bill Lawrence L500XL. Loud and tight.

 

[cm_17]

+1 on the originals, the bridge pickup is really close to a Tonezone. Funny, your description of what you want as tone is exactly how my Axis sounds like under high gain. With the stock pickups.

 

[ozzyrules]

Very poetic LOL

I'm not that familiar with NASCAR or the reference as does not translate too well in the UK. But "crush the walls and cave in the roof" sounds just right for my needs.

NASCAR is our version of your favorite pastime;soccer. It equates to you guys sitting around drinking Stella Artoir watching your favorite European team kicking the little white ball around.

 

[ZeeW]

I hate soccer lol - I play Rugby! But thanks for the explanation.

 

[luv]

NASCAR is our version of your favorite pastime;soccer.

PBR and left hand turns. God help us.

 

[Astrofreq]

Put the originals back in. Personally, I don't see the similarities between the axis bridge pickup and the tone zone. The tone zone has WAY more midrange, which wouldn't be my first choice for metal at all. I love the the tone zone, but the original axis pickups are awesome for metal.

 

[ozzyrules]

I hate soccer lol - I play Rugby! But thanks for the explanation.

Rugby? Is that where all those guys huddle closely together? No wonder Stella Artoir is called the "wife beater". Kidding !!!! I have a very close friend from the UK & we rib each other about it all of the time.

 

[ZeeW]

Rugby? Is that where all those guys huddle closely together? No wonder Stella Artoir is called the "wife beater". Kidding !!!! I have a very close friend from the UK & we rib each other about it all of the time.

Its even worse as we all get in a large bath together after the match!

Back on subject - I'm going to stick with stock pickups for the moment and look out for some used TZs.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

+1 on the original pickups. The Axis/EVH guitars are the only guitars I have ever had that I did not feel the need to swap the pickups out.

 

[Chaka5150]

truthfully, I should have kept my stock pups. I swapped them out when i was looking for a different sound...the problem wasn't the pickups it was my other equipment. Lesson learned but I'm going to try the suhr doug aldrich pups in my axis next.

 

[OU812]

chaka, Please write a review and outline any modifications (if necessary). Sound clips would be amazing!