AXIS Pickups

[jem5150]

I love pretty much everything about my Axis guitars but the standouts are the pickups. By far they are the best sounding pickups I've ever played for a variety of styles..blues, hard rock, metal... They are clear, crisp, non distorted with tight bass and good harmonics. I'd like to equip some of my other guitars with similar sounding replacement pickups but I'm finding it very difficult. I've tried the Dimarzio Tone Zone at their suggestion but found it's not really that close. Has anyone else had a similar experience? I'd even consider having custom wound pickups made. Does anyone know more details about the specs of the Axis pickups? Magnet type, DC resistance...? Thanks.

 

[candid_x]

Tight bass is also what I like about the Silo Special's Virtual PAF bucker. There's nothing spongy about it, but neither is it sterile sounding. This is especially noticeable in a band setting, because I don't have to crank it up loud at all to come through in the mix.

I think the Axis pup's are brighter on top and deeper on the bass over all, not as midrange focused as the Virtual PAF. Pup choices are obviously well thought out on MM guitars.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Axis pickups pop up on ebay every now and again. Keep an eye out. I have bought 2 complete sets on ebay over the years.

 

[hbucker]

I agree with the comment about the Tone Zone. Not even in the same ball park IMO.

To me the EVH/Axis pickups have a distinct PAF quality to their tone. Like a hot vintage tone. Sometimes I think people look at products that are too modern when trying too match the performance of the Axis pickups.

Sorry I can't recommend specific models. But I would start in the area of a hot vintage style tone.

 

[Butch Snyder]

I asked this same question of the EBMM CS dept. The answer wasn't exactly "Tone Zone". Basically, when EBMM and EVH were designing his guitar, they asked DiMarzio for some pickups. The ones he liked are in the Axis. The ones he didn't like becamse the Tone Zone.

I use an Air Zone/Air Norton combo in my Axis and it is very nice indeed...

 

[azazael]

I asked this same question of the EBMM CS dept. The answer wasn't exactly "Tone Zone". Basically, when EBMM and EVH were designing his guitar, they asked DiMarzio for some pickups. The ones he liked are in the Axis. The ones he didn't like becamse the Tone Zone.

I use an Air Zone/Air Norton combo in my Axis and it is very nice indeed...

Why did you replace your axis pickups??

 

[Butch Snyder]

Why did you replace your axis pickups??

There was a particular tone I was looking for. I wanted something with a little less output and smoother. The Axis pickups are fantastic; however, in my amp setup they can be a little strident. Besides, I have changed pickups since I began playing guitar. I first replaced them with a Fred/PAF Pro combo. They were way too bright...

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I asked this same question of the EBMM CS dept. The answer wasn't exactly "Tone Zone". Basically, when EBMM and EVH were designing his guitar, they asked DiMarzio for some pickups. The ones he liked are in the Axis. The ones he didn't like becamse the Tone Zone
I use an Air Zone/Air Norton combo in my Axis and it is very nice indeed...

It was actually Luke that decided what bridge pickup was finally used!

 

[Butch Snyder]

It was actually Luke that decided what bridge pickup was finally used!

I do believe you're right...

 

[MN246]

I love my Axis pickups. It would be nice if they were available from EBMM or Dimarzio. When I get my new JP I'm going to do an analysis of it's pickups vs. the Axis. I haven't heard both guitar back to back through my rig so I'm a bit unsure how the JP is going to sound. If I feel a pickup change is in order, I'll be installing a set of Tom Andersons(I know which ones they are, but I don't have the model number off the top of my head). They're the only pickups that I've heard that I think sound as good as the Axis.

 

[danel59]

I asked this same question of the EBMM CS dept. The answer wasn't exactly "Tone Zone". Basically, when EBMM and EVH were designing his guitar, they asked DiMarzio for some pickups. The ones he liked are in the Axis. The ones he didn't like becamse the Tone Zone.

I use an Air Zone/Air Norton combo in my Axis and it is very nice indeed...

What amp are you using (if you have that posted with your signature forgive me)
I am looking at replacing pickups in my Rosewood Axis SS and was thinking of the Virtual PAF for the neck and either a Virtual Hot PAF or Air Zone for the bridge. I play mainly classic rock/blues and a little country thrown in for good measure. I mainly use Koch and Fuchs amps.

Thanks for the input, or if anyone else has input I would appreciate it

Thanks

Dan

 

[Butch Snyder]

What amp are you using (if you have that posted with your signature forgive me)
I am looking at replacing pickups in my Rosewood Axis SS and was thinking of the Virtual PAF for the neck and either a Virtual Hot PAF or Air Zone for the bridge. I play mainly classic rock/blues and a little country thrown in for good measure. I mainly use Koch and Fuchs amps.

Thanks for the input, or if anyone else has input I would appreciate it

Thanks

Dan

Hi Dan,

I use a Line 6 Flextone III Plus....

 

[jazzbo jim]

As far as a great sounding bridge pup is concerned, I love the Duncan "Custom Custom". A nice hot PAF sound like early Eddie Van Whatsizname. Does anyone have a neck recommendation?

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

A Duncan '59 is a great neck match for a Custom Custom.

 

[JeffreyB]

Guys..I think you all may be overlooking something here...what type of guitar are you looking to put these pickups in?...EB does a great job of matching pickups to the individual guitar models...but it doesn't mean that axis pickups are going to sound like an axis in say a fender strat or an ibanez jem, or whatever...you really need to consider things such as body wood and thickness, bridge type, neck wood, etc. I have played around with pickup combinations for years, and trust me...pickups sound a lot different in different guitars.
Just something else to rack your brain on the never ending quest for tone.

 

[jazzbo jim]

Guys..I think you all may be overlooking something here...what type of guitar are you looking to put these pickups in?...EB does a great job of matching pickups to the individual guitar models...but it doesn't mean that axis pickups are going to sound like an axis in say a fender strat or an ibanez jem, or whatever...you really need to consider things such as body wood and thickness, bridge type, neck wood, etc. I have played around with pickup combinations for years, and trust me...pickups sound a lot different in different guitars.
Just something else to rack your brain on the never ending quest for tone.

TRUE DAT!

 

[danel59]

Guys..I think you all may be overlooking something here...what type of guitar are you looking to put these pickups in?...EB does a great job of matching pickups to the individual guitar models...but it doesn't mean that axis pickups are going to sound like an axis in say a fender strat or an ibanez jem, or whatever...you really need to consider things such as body wood and thickness, bridge type, neck wood, etc. I have played around with pickup combinations for years, and trust me...pickups sound a lot different in different guitars.
Just something else to rack your brain on the never ending quest for tone.

I as stated was looking to put into my Rosewood Axis Super Sport

 

[sim]

I love my Axis pickups. It would be nice if they were available from EBMM or Dimarzio. When I get my new JP I'm going to do an analysis of it's pickups vs. the Axis. I haven't heard both guitar back to back through my rig so I'm a bit unsure how the JP is going to sound. If I feel a pickup change is in order, I'll be installing a set of Tom Andersons(I know which ones they are, but I don't have the model number off the top of my head). They're the only pickups that I've heard that I think sound as good as the Axis.

I put Tom Anderson pups in my 'other' guitar. Same as you I can't recall the exact type but they're very nice indeed. Worth checking out

 

[dwells]

sell all others and buy more axis s

 

[JeffreyB]

I thought the thread started out with someone trying to find axis sounding pickups for another guitar...then I think it switched gears into some people looking to replace the pickups in their axis. To me, that's 2 completely different directions....

Either way, you should certainly take into consideration what guitar you're putting them in as well as amps, pedals, etc.

When I was touring full time, I had a friend who is a luthier who let me try pretty much every type of pickup they sold in the music store he did repairs for. (duncans, dimarzios, lollar, emgs,fralin, joe barden, etc.) You can drive yourself crazy. In my opinion, one of the closest sounding pickup to the axis was the duncan custom custom (but this was in a strat style guitar....the pickup was mounted to a pickguard which will yield a different sound than a pickup mounted directly to a basswood body)