Axis SS 5-way

[steveh]

Been lurking here for quite a while (great site) but need some help now!

I bought an EVH many years ago on the basis of the good things I’d heard about the sound, expecting to have it for a while and then sell it on. What I didn’t expect was how much I’d love the feel of the thing. While the narrowish neck put me off initially, I soon found I preferred it to everything else I had, and I love the wood feel of the neck and the compact nature of the guitar…and it sounds killer! As a result, I used to have 7 PRS – I now have one…

However, the EVH is not the most versatile instrument in the world – I’d like something with a standard trem (for those subtle rather than rock-god moments) and some single coil sounds. I bought DaveBs Axis Sport a few months ago (hi Dave!) but came around to thinking I prefer the slightly brighter sound of the basswood-maple combo found on the EVH/Axis. The upshot is that I scored a fantastic Axis SS last week, intending to take out the neck humbucker and put in a single coil (I know this will look a bit frankenstein, but I’m more interested in how it will sound – I’ve always preferred a single coil in the neck position to a humbucker).

I took the backplate off yesterday and it was immediately apparent that the EBMM 5-way switch is a long, long way removed from the standard Fender version in terms of complexity. Do any of you guys have a schematic for this thing, otherwise I guess I’ll have to remove the whole shebang to figure out how it’s configured? While I’m on the subject, does anyone have experience of fitting single coils into an Axis SS? Why EBMM don’t make a HSS version of the Axis SS is beyond me. It would be a cool sounding and very versatile guitar, and the maple top would look great.

Thanks in advance.

 

[songman]

Did you check out the Silo Special? It's H.S.S. pup config.

 

[DaveB]

Hi Steve,

(we must do that beer thing one night!)

Have you thought about putting a "Humbucker from Hell" in the neck pos. I know it sounds like a death metal pickup but is actually the most single coil sounding humbucker you can get. Check out the DiMarzio site (once you have got past the dodgy Petrucci pic )

Dave

 

[Jimi D]

Hi Steve,

I imagine you've got your work cut out for you putting a single coil into an Axis Super Sport. Don't forget that the "ears" on the pickup have to be rounded to fit in the small, rounded routes in the top of the guitar - most pickups have square mounting tabs and don't fit.

EBMM did make an Axis Sport in the H/S/S pickup configuration (and there were some with the S/S/S config too!)... I've added a picturer of mine, below. These still pop up on Ebay from time to time, and I know that Royal Music has some NOS ones if you want one new, so you might want to consider keeping your Axis SS stock and look at one of these...

Whatever you choose, good luck!

 

[steveh]

Thanks Jimi - The Axis Sport I got from DaveB is a HSS model, like the one you kindly posted. It's a very versatile and super guitar but a touch softer sounding than the EVH/AxisSS. I think some of this comes from the basswood/maple body of the ASS? I'm looking for a little more edge, like my EVH, but equally versatile. That's one reason why I haven't investigated the Silo - its not basswood and I really like the simple, tele-like feel of the Axis body. In complete contrast, the guy who sold me my AxisSS got rid of it because he found the shape very uncomfortable; he got a Luke subsequently and is delighted with that. Horses for courses I guess.

...your comments about fitting a single coil are very pertinent: there's a bit more to this story than I posted. I had a Seymour Duncan Alnico pro 2 hanging around and tried to fit this yesterday. I tried it out in my OLP first (a seafoam green model - I can't resist seafoam/surf green) and it worked a treat in the neck position. So onto the AxisSS - as you say the tabs need filing down. The upshot is that I slipped with the file and caught the outer windings, completely severing them....£££ down the drain in a split second....groan...

Consequently, I like Dave's idea of the 'humbucker from hell'. Anyone elase tried this (and anyone have a schematic for the 5-way?).

Ta, Steve

 

[Spudmurphy]

Hi Steve
Welcome to the forum.
I think we'll have to have a UK EB meeting at some time.

I can't help you but there are some "Electrical wizards" on the forum - sit tight and you'll get an answer.
Cheers
Spud

 

[DaveB]

A mate of mine has a HfH fitted in the neck of an Ibanez - it does single coil sounds very well.

As for the schematic you need to send an email to

[email protected]

I included the serial number of the guitar - they were very efficient in replying.

Dave

P.S. Beej is meant to be over here in March - I think the first UK meet should coincide......

 

[DaveB]

....I forgot.

If you are replacing one DiMarzio humbucker with another then the colour coding and wiring should be identical.

Dave

 

[beej]

P.S. Beej is meant to be over here in March - I think the first UK meet should coincide......

Thanks Dave - Guess I'll show up with my soldering iron in Hand

Dave's right on the money- contact customer support and they'll send you a wiring diagram of the Axis SS 5-way switch.

However- if you're fitting a single coil in the neck, I'm not sure you're going to wire this up with a 5 way switch. The '2' and '4' positions on the switch normally select the inner / outer coils of the humbuckers. Did you want to try and wire this up as the inner / outer coil of the bridge humbucker plus the neck single coil?

Last thing to consider- with just a single coil you're going to get some hum. You could get a noise-free single coil (Lawrence, Kinman, etc.), but then if you combine it with a split coil from the neck HB that coil will hum.

If it were me, I'd go back to the three-way wiring (S, S+H, H) but put a noise-free single coil in the neck. Then the wiring is easy and there's no noise.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Hi Steve
Welcome to the forum.
I think we'll have to have a UK EB meeting at some time.

Now there is a good idea...

 

[Dakine]

Maybe try contacting Tim at Bareknucklepickups (www.bareknucklepickups.com). He hand makes AWESOME pups and has an Axis
Really nice guy and certain he can help, if only with wiring suggestions.

 

[DaveB]

Maybe try contacting Tim at Bareknucklepickups (www.bareknucklepickups.com). He hand makes AWESOME pups and has an Axis
Really nice guy and certain he can help, if only with wiring suggestions.

I'll second that - I bought an S/S/H set for my Silo - awesome pickups and nice guy to boot.

Dave

 

[steveh]

Thanks for all the positive help guys - in fact I emailed Tim at BareKnuckle at the weekend following my unrestrained file tragedy, asking how much a rewind would be!

Beej - I'm really after only 3 sounds - single coil alone, HB alone, and the two out of phase. I'll experiment with the latter to see if I get the best results with both coils on the HB or just one of them (whichever one sounds best). Noise isn't an issue - its just for recording at home. When I play out, I play drums, not guitar. The idea of a three way really appeals.

cheers, Steve