Coil tapping an axis

[marqczy]

I would like to coil tap my axis's pick ups, and wire them like this:http://www.dimarzio.com/media/diagrams/TwoHumbuckers5WayMultipole_1118787633.pdf
but I don't really know if I could coil tap the pickups in the axis.
Can I do this?

Thanks, Mark

 

[Norrin Radd]

Yes.

 

[beej]

Hi Mark,

You can split the pickups (technically tapping is when you add a wire to the coils that's not previously there) because each pickup has 4 leads (start/finish for each coil).

What you're suggesting is exactly the way that the Axis Super Sport is wired up. The problem doing this on an Axis is that you don't have room for the strat-style 5 way switch - there is only a round hole for the 3-way switch. So in order to do this you'd need to rout a slot in the top of your Axis - that's kinda major surgery.

If you really want to split the pickups, you could add a push-pull pot - then when you are in the middle position (HH) you'd get one coil from each PU (though the neck and bridge split will be noisy).

Other option is to replace the switch with the 4PDT that's in the JP - it would give you HB / single coil from each HB in parallel / HB. But then you'd lose the HH sound.

Or ... get a Super Sport

 

[marqczy]

But on the dimarzio website, they wrote that I need a four conductor pick up for this diagram, and axis pick ups has only two conductor plus ground.

 

[beej]

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe the Axis pickups have 4 leads, not 2 (somebody correct me if I'm wrong).

They are exactly the same pickups that are in the Axis Super Sport, and those definitely have 4 leads.

 

[marqczy]

I checked the number of the leads. I can see a white, and a black, and silver cabel.

 

[beej]

Wow, sorry about that one- I was sure they had a lead for each coil. Are you sure that there aren't two leads that are soldered together close to the pickups?

If not, well, then you're outta luck my friend

 

[marqczy]

I can see only these, but who knows...
Hopefully somebody can tell us how many leads the pickups has.
Thanks for your help.

 

[mhorse]

I remember Jonguitars saying that pickups on Axis and Axis SS are exactly the same, so you should have 4 leads.

If I remember DiMarzio wiring diagrams correctly, in Axis-like configuration two of the four leads are soldered together, so it may be that the 4th lead was cut short and soldered to the ground in the way that you can't see it.

Just my 2 cent, I've never had an Axis myself so can't speak authoratively. I think it's time Jonguitars pays this thread a visit.

 

[Norrin Radd]

They do have 4 leads. I know becasue I split mine. Look hard. They should be there. Unless they have PUs from the EVH guitars, which were not splittable.

 

[marqczy]

So it has enough leads.
Thanks for the help!

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

My Amber axis has coil taps at the moment. The tapped coils dont sound that great if we are being honest. I am getting it taken out and taking it back to 'stock'

 

[beej]

So it has enough leads.
Thanks for the help!

No worries. But we're still back to the problem with your original idea- there's no spot for the 5-way switch unless you rout the top for it.

 

[marqczy]

I really don't want to modify my guitar. If I can't get a 5 way switch which fit, I think I have to use a push pull pot to have some fender tones, or maybe a rotary switch?

 

[beej]

Rotary switch would probably work. Might have to enlarge the hole (not sure), but that would be minor surgery.

Again, if you don't use the Floyd all the time, you could always swap for an Axis Super Sport as it has the 5 way config.

 

[marqczy]

I use the floyd always.
I can't play so good so I have to use the floyd to make something interesting

 

[jongitarz]

If we are talking about an older Axis, it could only have 2 wires. The 4 wire p/ups were made when the Sports and Super Sports came out so the 5 way switch could be used.

 

[marqczy]

My asix's dob is 1996.

 

[Norrin Radd]

My asix's dob is 1996.

Oh oh......ummm....Houston......we may have a problem.

Seriously though, someone before said it doesn't sound that great split anyways, and they were kind of right. It's very weak compared to regular SCs, at least, that's the wya mine is.