Pickup change for Axis

[Fiesta Red]

Has anyone ever removed their stock pickups from their EBMM Axis and replaced them with Duncans? If so, which model? Any clips? Did you keep the Duncans or put back the originals? Thanks in advance!

-Mark

 

[koogie2k]

I do not have an Axis (not yet anyway) but I do have some Petrucci models. I did change out the pups on one of them. Certainly a different sound. I put a Dimebucker at the bridge and an SH-58 at the neck. Runs hot and I happen to like it for what I play with that particular guitar. The other Pets are stock for now.

 

[lock-ny]

I played an axis that had a duncan distortion in the bridge and I really liked it, it had a bit more growl, but then I got home and I was playing my axis with the stock dimarzios and I was like wow, these pups rock too and they are a bit cleaner sounding, so its really apples and oranges, but those pups were made for that guitar. A duncan will change the sound but your better off keeping it stock and accepting it for what it is and buying a silouette and changing the pups in that, which is what I did, plus I was told by the guy that he had to do some modding to get the duncan to fit in the cavity of his axis which is what turned me off totally -

 

[OrangeChannel]

I think the SD's are more organic sounding generally where as the DiMarzio's are a little more HiFi for passive pups.

 

[ex3.8]

My 2 cents here. When you get a guitar in that category. I don't think the pick ups should be changed. Unless you are absolutely sure about what you are doing, leave it alone.

 

[d-bone]

I've just loaded my Axis with a Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge position and I love it!
The JB is "wet" and tight and has that duncan quality sound that I appreciate, it's more versatile than the stock pup.

 

[zak]

ex3.8
I totally disagree (in the politest way of course!)
I bought an axis sport for its build quality, shape, weight, piezo system and above all that neck, but i knew that the pickups in them were way too high output for me - i tend to prefer PAF type pickups. I now have a seymour duncan alnico 2 pro in the neck and a seymour duncan EVH 78 in the bridge and couldnt be happier.

One thing to bear in mind if you do change pups is that duncans need modifiying to fit in an axis - the base plate screws need to be cut much shorter, and the side mounts need to be cut to a different shape. Dimarzios on the other hand tend to fit without modifiying.

I would say if you are thinking of changing them then first decide exactly what is lacking from the stock ones. ie do you want more power, less power, more warmth, more clarity etc.

 

[d-bone]

I used regular sized Duncan and the only modification I needed to do was on the pups legs, and I use springs between the pup and the wood so I can adjust the height (That is very important and I can recomed to use springs with the original pups too, its great to be able to tweak the height)

It's when you use a Trembucker sized pup that you need to do some heavy modifications.

I used a regular sized JB (reverse zebra) in mine and you can't tell it's been modified exept for the SD logo which looks good.