Got my eyes on a new (old) Axis - my new project?

[GuitaRasmus]

Hi guys, just wanted to show you an interesting Axis I found (a '97, according to the seller), which I am considering buying.

I already have a Pacific Blue Burst Axis, which I really love, but I long for a HSS Axis, and I am considering modding the black one, like this:

Also still considering routing out my PBB Axis for a middle single coil (I photoshopped it on my guitar):

Decisions, decisions.

Any and all comments welcome.

 

[emanon]

Not that this will help you or anything but I saw a trans-amber Axis SS on ebay a while ago that was routed for a middle single coil. It was definitely a pro job and it looked fantastic.

 

[luv]

seems to me that the black axis would be perfect for the mod. i typically don't like the look of the old axis with the pickguard, but the black on black actually looks really cool. DO IT! DO IT!

what kind of switch would put in it? do they make a 5 way toggle?

i still wouldn't touch the blue one.

 

[Slingy]

Black on black does look great to me. You can still find the HSS ones now and then. Like here.

Royal Music NY :: Guitars :: Ernie Ball Music Man Axis Sport

Also this HH one is on the bay at a nice price.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1996-Swamp-Ash-...5|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50

Oops one more in a HSS

http://cgi.ebay.com/Music-Man-Axis-...5|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50

 

[beej]

I'm keeping my eye on that last one. Looks like the neck is in rough shape. Luckily I happen to have a spare RW one lying around

Btw, I love the look of that black p/g on the Axis. Definitely makes it much easier to route for a SC.

 

[TonyEVH5150]

If I had to pick between modding the PBB or the black one, I'd say the black one. The pickguard makes it easier to hide any mistakes or slips of the router. Plus, I'd hate to mess up a trans finish guitar with a nice top.

 

[threeminutesboy]

I would go for the PBB mod. The black axis with pickguard are pretty rare and you may kill it's value.

that being said and whatever option you will choose, I'm also concern about the way you could manage the switching with a 3 way toggle switch

 

[josheyre]

That black Axis is sweet. It has a very classic look.

I wouldn't take the router to yours either with that top.

 

[azazael]

Dont ruin the axis!
Buy a sterling and mod that!

 

[spkirby]

I agree, that old Axis is too gorgeous to mod like that...pick up a Sport HSS where the works already done!

 

[TonyEVH5150]

that being said and whatever option you will choose, I'm also concern about the way you could manage the switching with a 3 way toggle switch

You could replace the 3-way with one of these.

Rotary Switches at Stewart-MacDonald

5 way rotary switch. You may have to enlarge the hole for it, but it'll work.

 

[agt]

... and I am considering modding the black one, like this:

The focus of this thread seems to be the pickups, but are you also considering a Morse neck on an Axis (maybe it's already on there?) or was that just a result of pasting a neck in Photoshop?

 

[threeminutesboy]

You could replace the 3-way with one of these.

Rotary Switches at Stewart-MacDonald

5 way rotary switch. You may have to enlarge the hole for it, but it'll work.

Brilliant Tony, did not think about this option ! Thanks

 

[RedRadRocker]

 

[GuitaRasmus]

Hi guys, thanks for the replies.

1) Value. I'm not too concerned about the value, since the resale value on these things are incredibly low here in Denmark/Scandinavia - you can barely give them away.

2) I will put in a miniswitch (3 way on-on-on) to switch between the two singlecoils, and then use the 3 way to switch between the output from the miniswitch and the bridge humbucker - a very nice switching scheme for me, since I use the neck+middle setting and the bridge humbucker setting 95% of the time.

3) There is no way I will mess up the routing - I'm very experienced in that kind of stuff, having built 10 or so guitars and basses, and modded twice as many - I have the correct templates, etc., so your advice should not take into regard that I might mess up.

4) No, I'm not considering a Morse neck - the Axis neck is one of the major selling points of the guitar for me. It's just the result of some quick photoshopping.

5) The reason that I'm not considering a Sport, is because of the lack of binding. Sorry, but I'm shallow that way. I just think the Axis looks cheap without binding.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Mod away and enjoy!

 

[GuitaRasmus]

Well, the deal is done, it's on its way with the mail now. Can't wait to get it. I've ordered a set of Suhr Fletcher Landaus (awesome singlecoils) to put into it. I'll let you know when I get it, and get to routing (and take pictures of the process as well.)

 

[beej]

Nice! Well good luck. The FLs are excellent p'ups ... I had a set and loved them.

 

[GuitaRasmus]

Well, I got it yesterday, and I really wanted to get it done for the band practice, so I didn't really get to taking photographs of the process, but basically I just traced the old pickguard shape onto a new sheet of material, traced the HSS cutouts, and cut it out. After that, I carefully routed out the singlecoil cavities, and put it all back together. It plays wonderfully, sounds great (the Fletcher Landaus are definitely the best singlecoils I've tried, and the Axis pickups... Well, that's just about the greatest bridge humbucker I've ever used.) and it looks so cool. It really rocked at band practice yesterday, as well as tonight. Here it is - I'll take better pics in a few days.

 

[josheyre]

Gotta say... That Axis definitely has a special character to it. Nice find, and good job on the mod!