Couple questions about the Silent Circuit system!

[AxSport4me]

I have an Axis Sport with the MM90`s and Silent Circuit system. As you know the Silent Circuit eliminates the 60 cycle hum caused by the pickups but if i were to change the pickups for ones that are hum cancelling,there`s no use for the Silent Circuit system correct? So when you install the pickups you totally bypass the system? Also,if i change only one pickup,say the bridge,with a pickup thats hum cancelling,does the Silent Circuit still work for the neck pickup? Thanks!

 

[Jimi D]

You are correct that you don't need the Silent Circuit with humbucking pickups. As to changing just one pickup to a humbucker, this is a wiring issue. Of course the Silent Circuit can be wired into just one of the two pickups (the Silent Circuit on the Silhouette Special is only active when the neck pickup is engaged, for instance), but you will probably have to re-wire accordingly.

You can look at this circuit diagram for the Axis Sport MM90 to get an idea of how the current wiring is run, but you'll have to sit down and plan your re-wire job carefully to do what you want... If you're not handy with a soldering iron, you'll probably want to get a pro to do it.

If you want to hear what your MM90s sound like without the Silent Circuit, just pull the battery. Be sure to stand under a florescent light or near a computer monitor or something to hear the full effect of removing the Silent Circuit from the system...

 

[AxSport4me]

Thanks Jimi D.........Yeah,i would definitly have a pro do it for me if in fact i go ahead with the idea. Dimarzio offers their Super Distortion and Tone Zone in a P-90 shape besides the usual humbucker so there wouldn`t be any routing issues for my Sport! I really like the MM90`s sound especially the neck pickup,but i might wanna try something a little hotter in the bridge! I`m not sure though,i might just keep it stock but its good to know. Thanks again!

 

[Jimi D]

You have to be careful about the size of replacement pickups... As tvanveen can attest, the EBMM P90 routes are very tight, very exact, and often too small (not wide enough or not deep enough) to fit replacement pickups... You have to test fit everything in the existing routes before you can know that they'll fit without removing further wood.

 

[tvanveen]

That, and the MM-90 is a totally unique pickup. Very few people have a sound like you, you should stick with it. We're all trying to be unique, aren't we?

If you want humbuckers, I think you should just get a guitar with humbuckers. For about the same price as 2 decent pickups and a pro routing/install you can have a whole 'nother guitar. And you won't mess up the resale value of your current one.

 

[ebb soul]

You might find you wish to split coil the humbucker, in which case the silent circuit will still have a use.
It must be isolated from all other positions, confusing on a five way 'super switch'.

 

[AxSport4me]

Thanks guys!!!!!! Yeah it was just a thought,and like i said i really like the MM90`s alot anyway so i`m just gonna keep it stock. Especially if there would be routing of any kind....i definitly don`t want that! I didn`t realize that the MM90`s were a unique size and replacements would be a problem. I was just toying with the idea anyway but i`m definitly keeping it as is. The guitar rules anyway!