My Axis is stuck in 4th gear

[veniculum]

Hey guys...i'm writing because I have a question....and I'm going to try and word this as carefully as possible. i don't feel that this is something customer service is prepared to answer (or can answer). Basically, I've been frustrated with my Axis since day one in terms of its overall tone. Let me preface this by saying, it's one of my favorite guitars of all time...I love the way it feels, looks, plays...every time I pick it up, I get a smile on my face. I certainly don't want to get rid of this thing. AT the same time, since I first got it, it's never sounded completely right. Please let me try to explain as simply as possible. (and i should add...I play through headphones more than any other way...so hear the differences in my (11) guitars very clearly...I'm certain of this)...Anyway..when I play this guitar, it always feels/sounds like it's turned up to 'five' (volume-wise). It's almost like it would be perfect if I could turn the volume knob another half a turn....but no dice...it's at 10, and the signal is a bit weak. Now I've tried quite a bit to rectify this...I put a hotter (than stock) pickup in...Barekuckle Rebel Yell...which isn't a super hot pickup...but I believe it was a bit hotter than the stock (chrome covered) Dimarzios. I've also done other little things to try and get a little more juice...move the pickup closer to the strings is one thing that stands out.

I'm not a guitar tech by any stretch...but because I have so many guitars at this point, I do hear different tones in different guitars very clearly. I also can hear, very clearly, when the volume is turned all the way up, half way up, or down on '1'. Something is going on here, and I'm wondering if it's a simple fix...perhaps a volume pot replacement? I mean, I've done a few other things (mentioned above) to try and fix this...I'm not sure what else is left.

I would certainly appreciate any suggestions. ONce again, i understand that I could call CS about this...but while I definitely hear this, I don't know if this is something that warrants a call...technically, there isn't anything wrong with the guitar. I just hear it very clearly because I play through the headphones so much....and because I play 2 or 3 different guitars every night...depending on what I'm in the mood to play.

I appreciate any suggestions. Like I said...I have't changed out the volume pot...I was thinking that might be the next step.

BTW...can't wait for the Cobalt strings...just ordered 5 sets last night!

Thanks guys

Todd

 

[SouthernILL]

Without having your guitar here in front of me,I gotta say its somewhere in the wiring,grounding loop,maybe.Maybe some loose solder drip into Pot(s).........If it was mine,I'd strip her down and re-wire and ground it.Pots,caps,output jack are fairly cheap..........

 

[straycat113]

Todd why don't you just give CS a quick call and explain the problem, then just take it to a good tech and have him take a look at it. You could very well have a faulty pot or wiring and you state you are not a tech by any stretch, though if you swapped the pups you have an idea of what you are doing but learning on the fly can sometimes lead to other problems. A good tech will check your wires and pots and know in a few minutes what the issue is. It honestly does not sound like anything drastic, but by your description that kind of volume output is not normal.I seriously advise against you trying to repair it yourself! Take it to a qualified tech so you can enjoy the guitar.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

It could be any number of things and without someone physically having the guitar in front of them it will all be internet guesswork.

Give EB a call tomorrow toll free at 866-823-2255

If you don't want to send it in for them to look over then I would first make sure you don't have any cold solder joints

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Where are you located?

 

[veniculum]

Todd why don't you just give CS a quick call and explain the problem, then just take it to a good tech and have him take a look at it. You could very well have a faulty pot or wiring and you state you are not a tech by any stretch, though if you swapped the pups you have an idea of what you are doing but learning on the fly can sometimes lead to other problems. A good tech will check your wires and pots and know in a few minutes what the issue is. It honestly does not sound like anything drastic, but by your description that kind of volume output is not normal.I seriously advise against you trying to repair it yourself! Take it to a qualified tech so you can enjoy the guitar.

You assume I did the work myself...I should've been more clear. I do have a tech...a very good one. He's done all the work so far (and does all the work on all my guitars)... And I'm going to go back to him again...I just wanted to get some ideas before I brought it back to him for the third time....because as good as he is, he's gotta make a living...and I pay for it every time I bring it to him.

So that's where I'm at. My tech has replaced the pickup, and has done a setup for me...having to redo all the wiring may not be all that pricey parts-wise...but labor is a different story..most of the time. Maybe I will call CS...I guess it couldn't hurt. At this point, I was just trying to get some suggestions before I go back to the local shop. If all it is is a volume pot, I'm fine with replacing that (or should I say...having that replaced

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm in central Jersey BTW...

Todd

 

[Slav123]

Volume pot and input jack would be my guess, there could be solder issue too, like Pete mentioned. I'm surprised that your tech didn't check the the pickup output level and the electronics/wiring in general. How old is the guitar? and are you the original owner? if not, maybe the previous owner made some changes to it. The stock custom DiMarzio Axis pickups are one of my favorites. Although, the Bare Knuckle Rebel Yell is suppose to be amazing.

 

[cm_17]

What kind of amp/setup do you use and what pickups do your other guitars have? I'd like to get a feel for what your reference of 5th gear is before chipping in.

 

[Rufedges]

My Axis SS is kind of the same way,....always wondered how EVH was able to have all that power available for "tapping" and still maintain a pretty clear tone........try an EQ (I am using an Analogman GE7, basically a modded BOSS GE-7) and put it directly after the guitar.......boost the output of the pickups with the EQ pedal,...essentially makes the pickups hotter, and provides the power you are probably looking for without sacrificing tone.......I'm actually only boosting the output on my EQ a little bit, but that is all it needed. Good luck.

 

[Big Poppa]

kids there is only a jack a pot switch and wires to connect....if its the same with different pickups then you have eliminated pickups...It is not a super high gain guitar ...thats why the tone is so good.

 

[Rufedges]

because I play through the headphones so much....Todd

I made the mistake and changed out my pups, took the guitar back to the shop the next day to have it reversed. Also, listening through headphones is not exactly the preferred way to judge / listen to the sound, but like I said, try the EQ to boost the signal a little bit.

 

[TNT]

BP hit it right on the nose!! You put in the BRY pickup with no problems. However, I would just like to add one thing (not to refute BP); it IS a super high gain guitar, not a super high gain pickup.

Put in a Tone Zone and you can "re-arrange your furniture" while sitting down.