Low-output humbuckers for Axis SS?

[scelerat]

I'm looking for low-output humbucking pickup recommendations for an Axis Super Sport...

I'm a Tele guy who stumbled across the Axis SS/HH (rosewood body+fretboard) while shopping for a new Tele. I love everything about the guitar except the pickups. Don't get me wrong -- I think it's a great sound; just a little too dark for what I need.

I typically run clean or into a fuzz, overdrive, and a small handful of effects: wah, phase shifter, delay. Most of the distortion is either coming from a 6L6-equipped deluxe reverb or a Route 66. I'm already set up for Tele twang and growl, and I'd like the Axis to fit in a little better. I do like the sound of humbuckers, I just need them to be a bit brighter.

DiMarzio has some options that look like they might be right, either the EJ's or the PAF 36th anniversary. I'm also intrigued by the description of Humbucker from Hell.

Any one had experience with these? Or lower-output humbuckers from others (Duncan, Lollar, Fralin, etc.)?

Things I'm concerned about:

- Getting the pickup to fit: will the ears fit in the triangle-shaped ear slot in the Axis body?

- Getting the sweet 2 & 4 positions: how do the new pups deal with these? I really like the sound of the tapped/in-between sounds of the stock pickups.

That's it. Any other Tele/Axis crossover players out there?

 

[TonyEVH5150]

Any of the Dimarzio humbuckers will fit. They all have the triangular shaped mounting brackets. Duncans would require some modification. All of theirs are square.

If you wire the new pickups the same way as the existing, they should replicate the same switching and ideally the same sound combos. You can e-mail customer service for a wiring diagram.

Make sure when you do order your new pickups, that the bridge pickup needs to be F-spaced or trem-spaced. The neck pickup can be a standard size humbucker.

A combo that might be interesting would be the Duncan Phat Cats. They're P-90 pickups made to fit a humbucker guitar. One of our forum members tried it, and really liked it.

I bet the EJ's or the 36th Anniversary's would be great. Vintage voiced, not as hot.

 

[threeminutesboy]

That was me with the phat cat mod. They fit the ASS with minor adjustement and you will get a sound similar to a tele. You will have to change the 5 way switch to a 3 way one.

I sold the gtr to purchase the bongo and the new onwer is really enjoying my mod

 

[scelerat]

Hey, threeminutesboy. How did you get the Duncans to fit? It looks like they have square tabs. Did you bend or cut them, or special order... do tell..

 

[threeminutesboy]

Just time and patience

Received them square and Had them cut to fit the guitar without any mod to the wood

Click on one of the link in my signature you will have some pics in my photobucket album

 

[JeffreyB]

Update?

I'm not sure how this turned out for you...but the Humbucker from Hell sounded a LOT like a single coil pickup in a les paul that I used to own.

Have you considered getting an AL?

 

[whitestrat]

Try the DiMarzio 36th Anniversary PAF. Would work fine with the tone you'd want.

 

[Abraxas]

I use to say that my 25th Anniversary is the best... Tele guitar I've ever played!

Seriously, I think you should consider doing a mod that replicates the 25th wiring scheme.

Getting those parallel wiring sounds may be all you need to satiate your Tele cravings!

 

[Spudmurphy]

If you decide to go down the "swapping the pickups route" I would suggest you contact Spence who owns Shed pickups in the UK - he will make you whatever you want - even using the existing bobins so you wouldn't have to mod the guitar in any way. He is VERY good and knows pickups inside out. Put it this way - if anybody has a very old Fender / Gibson with a knackered pickup Spence fixes 'em.