Best Humbucker for HSS Axis Sport?

[Steve T]

I just purchased a used Hum/Single/Single Musicman Axis Sport. An aftermarket PRS zebra nickel humbucker was put into the bridge. As usual, the single coils throw a lot of treble (which I like). But when I go to my humbucker, it's a little muddy. If the humbucker had just a little more treble to it, it would be perfect - and I could EQ my Marshall DSL50 accordingly. Now I need 2 different EQ settings to get the most of the HB and the single coils.

Any recommnedations for a humbucker that has some girth, but also can come close to the treble of my stock single coils?

I mostly play rock (Van Halen to Linkin Park to Hendrix).

Thanks

 

[Astrofreq]

Find an EVH bridge. That's the pickup of all times.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Try Bareknuckles pickups, they do a MM clone type pickup.

 

[ned911]

Steve-

Is it red? did you get it from GC? Does the tone pot pull to automatically jump to the humbucker?

Asked because there was a red Sport at the Austin GC with a PRS pup in the bridge and just wondering if it's the same guitar.

 

[beej]

In my short experience with a HSS sport, I found the singles to be too bright to match the stock HB.

This is out there, but I'd read about it on another board and it makes sense. Rather than brighten up the bridge p'up, you can remove some treble from the singles by using less resistance, making them more even.

Normally HBs see 500k pots (need brightening, 250k total resistance) and singles see 250k (don't need as much brightening, 125k total resistance). To get this same arrangement but with the stock 500k pots you can add in another resistor for all the single coil positions (connect to the 1-4 switch positions and ground). A 250k resistor there would make the 500k+500k pots equal to 125k total resistance, or what you'd have with two 250k pots.

I haven't tried this, but shouldn't be too tough to wire up. Just throwing out there for what it's worth. Or yeah, get a brighter bridge p'up ...

 

[candid_x]

Beej,

I was right there with you up until "A 250k resistor there would make the 500k+500k pots equal to 125k total resistance, or what you'd have with two 250k pots."

But, I agree with your observations. I dug the Sport, but I knew I'd have to minor mod it to get it to where I'd need it to be, and that would include switching the 500 pots. I'd turn it down a tad and the volume drops out. That does a lot to limit the tone you can get out of the guitar. I understand (sorta) that part has to to with whether they're linear. I thought the bucker rocked. As far as the balance with the single coils, other than the natural volume jump, I thought they were very compatible, but bright, partly due to the ash body and maple board.

 

[phatduckk]

beej is a nerd

 

[Axilla]

beej is a nerd

...and one of the nicest around !

 

[Steve T]

Beej & Candid X - great idea! I didn't even think of that. Thanks.

Ned911 - yes...I purchased that Axis out of Austin. $830 dlvd to my front door. Not too bad. I love my Axis Sports, and I was dying to try an HSS version.

Was this your guitar? Know anything about it?

I'm not sure what the push/pull tone knob is trying to accomplish. When I pull it, it seems to revert to the humbucker...no matter what toggle position I'm on. However, isn't it just easier to toggle to position 1? Maybe I'm missing something.

Thanks

 

[ned911]

It was there for a long time, I went in to try and get it for a low price early last week and it was gone.

That's the intent of the push/pull to take you to the HB at any time. I guess the original owner thought that was easier than using the 5 way.

 

[beej]

Hey- you're welcome! (Yeah, I'm a nerd ...)

The "aways on" thing isn't a bad idea, but it's more useful on a toggle than a push pull- then it's easy to go from a hard-to-find switch position to the bridge.

Easy to re-wire it if you like. The guys at customer service will email you the factory wiring diagram if you ask nicely