Getting ready to hack into my Axis...

[dan desy]

I need moral support

I'm about to pull a beej, and route my Axis RW. I'm installing a GHOST piezo system in it. The restrained control cavity is forcing me to route it out for a battery compartment. After that, I'll have to drill the bridge to wire the saddles and route those through the trem cavity.

All in all, it's a bit of scary project, but the results should be pretty cool. My friend Doug is helping me with the woodworking - he has some knowledge and all the tools.

I've installed GHOSTs in other guitars before, but this is the first time I'm actually going to route the guitar. I'm thinking the Axis RW will be a killer piezo guitar.

Wish me luck. I'll try and have a few pictures to share.

 

[Norrin Radd]

Dan -

You are either a very brave or very foolish man. Let us know which it turns out to be!

 

[dan desy]

I will definitely let you know.

But right now, the way I see it, I think I'm very brave... until I do something really foolish

 

[mbgreene]

Wish me luck.

Good Luck

 

[beej]

I'm about to pull a beej

Did somebody same my name?

Dan, buddy, you can do it! It's going to turn out perfectly. It's just a piece of wood.

Just go slow, check your depth periodically so you don't go through the top and try first on a piece of scrap wood. The back doesn't have to be perfect, and even if you nick it there no one will ever notice.

Good luck!

 

[J-Nick]

Hey Dan do you think this light modification will void your warantee

Just out of curiosity, why don't you sell this one and buy a new RW axis that comes with a piezo from the factory?

Personnally I would rather spend an few hundred dollars more than risking ruining a perfectly good guitar... but then again I'm a public danger with any kind of power tools

 

[brentrocks]

i think i can....i think i can....i think i can....i think i can....i think i can....i think i can....i think i can....i think i can....i think i can....

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

Good luck!

 

[Colin]

Dan the ripper

 

[nocluejimbo]

Hey Dan.

Is there anything on your proposed GHOST setup that is different than the standard Axis piezo setup?

 

[dan desy]

Well, the hard work's done and there was no damage!

We routed out the battery compartment, things went well. Then I drilled a hole for the battery wires to the control cavity. Then we drilled the bridge for the saddle wires - I went with a single hole where all the wired will go through. Finally, a hole between the trem cavity and the control cavity for the saddle conductors.

After all that, came the piezo/mag switch. That proved to be the pain in the ass... In addition to drilling a hole in the top for it, we had to remove the cavity shielding (a rther thick piece of metal) and cut a hole through it in order for the switch threaded shaft to come out of the top.

Doug Lewis (a member here) provided the tools and the skills, making the whole thing much less scary - even if it was his first time working on a guitar as well.

I still need to put in the preamp and wire everything, but that's the easy part. It'll be done this weekend.

I thought this was cheaper (since I had all the GHOST hardware) and easier than selling it and getting an Axis with piezo. I know this is a great Axis and I don't have to worry about finding another one just as sweet.

I don't think the GHOST has anything the stock piezo system has to offer. Except that it's available aftermarket. Also, the gHOSt does sound amazing - I
m not sure it's much better than the EBMM system, butlike I said, at least I could get it install it on my guitar.

I forgot my camera, so I don't have any action shots... But I'll be sure to take pictures of the completed work.

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes!

 

[Colin]

Looking forward to seeing that when it's finished.

 

[beej]

Congrats! Glad to hear it went well. Nothing like the satisfaction of putting your own stamp on a guitar. This one will be much sweeter to you than any bought with a factory installed piezo

 

[nocluejimbo]

Ah, but you have a switch! That is a key ingredient not available on the Axis/Silo.

Can't wait to see this thing loaded. Do the GraphTech saddles look anything like the originals?

 

[dan desy]

Here are the picutres. Nothing terribly detailed, but it gives you a good idea.

First, here's the back. Note the battery compartment

Then, a look into the trem cavity. You can see the saddles wires going through - I taped them to the wall.

Now a few shots of the front - the piezo/mag switch is in a funny location, but I had no room to work with. And it's nicely functional.

Finally, a closeup of the bridge - you can see the wires going under the back of the saddles.

 

[Colin]

Nice job Dan, how does it sound?

 

[DaveB]

Ah, but you have a switch! That is a key ingredient not available on the Axis/Silo.

Axis piezo guitars definitely have a switch (I have two )

Silo's dont.

Dave

 

[Sub1 Zero]

i love that top!

 

[Doug]

Looking good!

 

[nocluejimbo]

Axis piezo guitars definitely have a switch (I have two )

Silo's dont.

Dave

Well, don't I look stupid.