direct replacement pickups for Axis

[headcrash]

Have you thought about the DiMarzio Norton (F-Spaced) in bridge? It seems like the most underrated and overlooked pup on the market.
bout a year ago I got one pretty cheap on ebay. I put it in my ASS for test and it blew me away. It is not too far away from the stock pup, but sounds more open, less compressed and has more of that "aaawww" sounding mids. Bass is a tiny bit stronger. Plus on clean and crunch they are more lively. They sounded so good to my ear that I decided to do some routing to my Albert Lee and converted it to a AL 2H, without regret!
And I am about to replace the stock pups in my ASS as well, since I've recently felt like reanimating my ASS. It's been left alone at home, since I have been loving my AL 2H so much. Maybe in 2-3 weeks I can tell you more... Although I know I will love it
Btw. I have the Air Norton in the neck. This one plus the Norton F-Spaced at the bridge is a killir combo. Definetely worth the try.

 

[ily]

I've tried DI MARZIO PAF 36TH 2 days ago on my old Axis (1996)
1 DP223 bridge Fspaced and 1 DP 103 Standard
at start i would have the same combinaison than my recent super sport (split position)
i love them. On my old Axis the original pickups have only 2wires +bare and it's impossible to split them

first DI MARIO fit perfectly without changing anything , only the 2 holes were too little to use originals screws
it was a little difficult to install the wires trought the body because the channel diameter isn't enought to bigger wires and i don't want to modify the body

after install the push pull volume pot and soldering all the wires and my fingers so
many thanks to Jack FR1846 for his precious advice,patience and schematic

all works very fine but i come back to the original pickups and standard configuration
the PAF have very good sound but i prefer STOCK axis PU they have something that is magic....

i'll be patient and trying to find original pickup with 4 wires

 

[veniculum]

Have you thought about the DiMarzio Norton (F-Spaced) in bridge? It seems like the most underrated and overlooked pup on the market.
bout a year ago I got one pretty cheap on ebay. I put it in my ASS for test and it blew me away. It is not too far away from the stock pup, but sounds more open, less compressed and has more of that "aaawww" sounding mids. Bass is a tiny bit stronger. Plus on clean and crunch they are more lively. They sounded so good to my ear that I decided to do some routing to my Albert Lee and converted it to a AL 2H, without regret!
And I am about to replace the stock pups in my ASS as well, since I've recently felt like reanimating my ASS. It's been left alone at home, since I have been loving my AL 2H so much. Maybe in 2-3 weeks I can tell you more... Although I know I will love it
Btw. I have the Air Norton in the neck. This one plus the Norton F-Spaced at the bridge is a killir combo. Definetely worth the try.

Thanks for the reply man. I've looked at all the Dimarzios at this point...listened to all the clips on their site..looked at all the specs, read the liner notes, etc. They certainly do have just about everything covered. I even emailed tech support and got a reply. They recommended a Tone Zone, based on the description of what I'm looking for. And I've certainly considered that pickup. I have it in a Charvel, and it does sound good.

But at the end of the day, I'm looking at this guitar as a sort of project instrument. I've had all kinds of SD and Dimarzio pickups over the years...same with Strat and Gibson...I really think I want to try something different...something I've never heard or even would've considered not long ago. After doing a lot of research online, a lot of guys are suggesting the Bareknuckles...as I mentioned in my last post. The problem I have is that the design of this guitar doesn't really help me out in that I don't want to have to modify anything if I can help it. I'm fairly confident that if absolutely necessary, my tech could pretty easily make different model pickups fit...but then I don't really know what to order. After looking around some more..my guess is, the pickups that I need to buy for this particular guitar would be "short leg" pickups - 1/4" (as are pretty much all Dimarzios). At the same time, I like my pickups pretty high...I don't know if I'd be better off getting a 'long leg' pickup. Finding an answer to this question isn't as easy as it should be. I've even emailed Bareknuckle themselves....but who knows if they can answer a question about a MM Axis guitar.
So I'll ask again...does anyone know what I need to get??? 1/4 or 1/2" leg length?

Thanks again for the suggestion...I appreciate it. It may end up being something I consider if I just can't get more info about the Bareknuckles.

 

[Stevie]

For the Axis replacement you'll want the BN 1/4 inch. However they have the leg of a SD. If you have access to a metal grinder of some sort you will able to grind the unwanted part away an install them in your axis. I have the 1/4 inch BN VHII installed in a strat project direct mounted. Service from BN has been great with no complaints from me.

 

[veniculum]

For the Axis replacement you'll want the BN 1/4 inch. However they have the leg of a SD. If you have access to a metal grinder of some sort you will able to grind the unwanted part away an install them in your axis. I have the 1/4 inch BN VHII installed in a strat project direct mounted. Service from BN has been great with no complaints from me.

Awesome...thanks for the info...I really appreciate it. I think that I'm actually going to try the Bareknuckle 'Rebel Yells'. I know that the legs are squared off...however, I think the guy that works on my guitars can do what you're saying...although, he may tell me that he doesn't want to void any warranty..or something like that...which I'm sure filing these things down would do.

At the end of the day, if it's just too much work, there are a number of Dimarzio p'ups that I'm interested in...and I've gotten some great suggestions on this site. The AT-1 and Nortons look/sound great...but for this application, I really am trying to go a little hotter...there are so many high output pickups that it's hard to choose...although I know I'd be pretty happy with a Tone Zone...and the Breed sounds like a pretty good option. But the one I really wanna try...and it's a pickup that I've never had in any of my guitars...at least that I know of...is the old Super DP100. I think this would work very well for this guitar...Course, if it doesn't, I guess I could return it.

How's installation in Axis guitars?...to you guys who work on your own instruments. I've always been a player, but only recently have started to do my own setups...I have not challenged the pickup installation thing yet..but I would sure love to be able to do it.
First thing's first...I think I need a soldering iron that could actually melt solder before I try installing some pickups. Those little radio shack things don't work worth a s**t
Any tips would be appreciated.
Thanks again!

Todd

 

[veniculum]

Just an update...I got a reply from the folks at Bareknuckle...they told me to just specify "TRI-TAB" when I place the order, and they will send me pickups that are custom fit for this guitar (or any guitar with this cutout type), at no additional charge.

I'm definitely going to order a set...so I pay a little more...small price to pay if I can make this guitar perfect (or as close to perfect as possible)
I'll report back when I have them installed.

Thanks again for all the replies.