Just couldn't resist, since I was somehow missing a (real) Axis, especially after having sold my transparent gold ASS last year. And I always liked the more straightforward concept and looks of a AS. So a few weeks ago I was really lucky and purchased this beatiful AS HSS in transparent red. Look at the neck/fretboard: it it's almost a flame maple, although they never came with flame maple afaik.
It came with a black pickguard and Bill Lawrence Pickups (L500L, L280) with the silent circuit removed by its pre-owner. Maybe this is why it was rather cheap. Its DOB is December 17th 1997 and it looks and feels like new.
The Bill Lawrence pickups were good in their own way, with the L500L being very tight in bass, and very, very clear throughout the spectrum. The highs were prominent, but not shrill at all, there was some kind of twang going on. And it was actually louder than I wanted the guitar to be. The L280s sound really vintage, almost thin, with no hum.
But - you know - an Axis needs some meaty humbucker sounds. I had a Dimarzio AT-1 (which I happen to like even more than the Dimarzio Axis Customs) from my AX-20 project lying around, and an Air Norton S, which is what I put in, leaving the humfree L280 in the middle position.
So now I have three classic AXIS-like sounds plus the bridge quack in between sound and plus the middle L280 solo.
Finally, on its 17th birthday, I got the white pearloid pickguard I ordered from pickguardheaven.
Just so fantastic
The pics show the before and after of the pick guard.
It came with a black pickguard and Bill Lawrence Pickups (L500L, L280) with the silent circuit removed by its pre-owner. Maybe this is why it was rather cheap. Its DOB is December 17th 1997 and it looks and feels like new.
The Bill Lawrence pickups were good in their own way, with the L500L being very tight in bass, and very, very clear throughout the spectrum. The highs were prominent, but not shrill at all, there was some kind of twang going on. And it was actually louder than I wanted the guitar to be. The L280s sound really vintage, almost thin, with no hum.
But - you know - an Axis needs some meaty humbucker sounds. I had a Dimarzio AT-1 (which I happen to like even more than the Dimarzio Axis Customs) from my AX-20 project lying around, and an Air Norton S, which is what I put in, leaving the humfree L280 in the middle position.
So now I have three classic AXIS-like sounds plus the bridge quack in between sound and plus the middle L280 solo.
Finally, on its 17th birthday, I got the white pearloid pickguard I ordered from pickguardheaven.
Just so fantastic
The pics show the before and after of the pick guard.
