Help! Axis pickup replacment

[metal]

Hi there!
I am thinking to put some hi gain pickups into my Axis, such as active EMG 81/85 combination... to gert some more agressive distortion. Has anyone tried these with axis, or could someone give me advice for any other active or pasive high output pickup for metal tone? Thanks! !

 

[hbucker]

If you end up wanting to sell your Axis pickups, make sure you post it here. Lots of us LOVE those pickups!

 

[bbake1]

I think the Axis PUs are hot and tight enough for metal. I would look at the amp. What amp are you using?

 

[Larry]

i think the axis pus are hot and tight enough for metal. I would look at the amp. What amp are you using?

+1

They really are great pickups!

 

[Jason2112]

I think the Axis PUs are hot and tight enough for metal. I would look at the amp. What amp are you using?

For hard rock, maybe. For metal, the stock pickups can't keep up with an EMG 81.

METAL: the only thing I can think of that would be an issue would be trimming the mounting tabs on the EMGs to fit the V-shape pickup routes in the Axis body. You should also check the required mounting depth of the EMGs since they would be mounted direct to the body rather than using a pickup mounting ring. Other than that, if you can make it work, go for it. I'd love to see/hear the end result!

 

[metal]

Thanks for advices! I leave the idea to install EMG`s...because I`am not so shure they will match with basswood, these pickups work fine with mahagony...I couldn`t find on internet any basswood guitar with EMG`s... on the other hand people from Ernie Ball told me that the Axis pickups are mounted to the guitar and cannot be easily removed. The pickups were engineered specifically to suit the Axis guitar. EMG pickups require a battery which would require additional routing and cutting into the body of the guitar (i knew that before-of course ) in order to install a battery box...and they think - that would be a seriously risky for guitar , so they do not recommend that...
So, maybe if I even install some other pickups-wich I now doubt, I look for DiMarzzio models : Super3, Tone Zone, X2N etc. wich are hotter then Axis`s DM custom...
@ bbake1: I am using Hughes and Kettner Switchblade 100 combo, 2x12, high gain amp, with four channels, all tube...

 

[rayg1952]

I have a set of seymour duncan blackout's in my Gibson LP Double Cutaway they are very high output maybe to high for you.

I'm playing it straight into a Peavey Valveking 212 and it sounds great.

 

[whitestrat]

I am thinking to put some hi gain pickups into my Axis, such as active EMG 81/85 combination... to gert some more agressive distortion. Has anyone tried these with axis, or could someone give me advice for any other active or pasive high output pickup for metal tone? Thanks! !

The stock pups aren't high output enough??? It's a personal preference, I guess.

OT: I find it strange that many people insist on going actives with regards to high gain. Remember many of the original HEAVY tones were recorded with simple stock or overwound PAFs? It was the gain stages in the amps that did the trick. Much of the heaviest tones I've heard today are recorded with passives. For me, Ceramics would be the farthest I'd go with high gain pups.

And yes, I do play metal when needed.

 

[beej]

I tend to agree, some of the best metal tones are lower output pickups with a hotter amp. But YMMV.

Best high-output passive I've played is the Bill Lawrence L-500-XL (the actual BLs, not the fakes). It's easier to deal with passives than to install a preamp, etc., so I'd think it's worth a shot. Also very inexpensive, not much of a gamble.

 

[lenny]

I tend to agree, some of the best metal tones are lower output pickups with a hotter amp. But YMMV.

Best high-output passive I've played is the Bill Lawrence L-500-XL (the actual BLs, not the fakes). It's easier to deal with passives than to install a preamp, etc., so I'd think it's worth a shot. Also very inexpensive, not much of a gamble.

I just installed that pUP in a lespaul and he loved it ...and he plays hard /death metal ...it was the PUP they used in the original Dimebag darryl Sig guitar!

so yah + 1 on the L-500-xl