Sticky1973
Well-known member
I have always had a real affinity with the Axis in all its guises over the years. I love seeing its many variants in pics and in a live setting. Landmark sightings go back to a Guitarist magazine review of a purple hardtail EVH model when it was introduced, seeing the Van Halen Poundcake and Runaround videos, watching Jerry Cantrell on Jools Holland back in 1993 with a trans blue EVH, right on through to the epic Jamie Humphries on the Musicians Channel series and beyond.
I came close to a purchase some time back, but Floyd and I just didn’t see eye to eye. I sourced an Axis Sport from a fellow forum member a while ago; a Pearl Blue beauty, MM90s, maple neck with rosewood ‘board, and vintage trem. Lovely guitar; a perfect mix of things for me to try, and the deal was done. The result was along these lines:
Whilst contemplating a plan to source another Axis to suit me better, I managed to snag a great maple neck from all round top bloke Pete Dubaldo. Pete had embraced the lure of the rosewood neck for his Blue Dawn Axis Sport, so international relations were strengthened as his original neck was put back in play on my Pearl Blue Axis Sport. That worked well for some time, but I still hankered after humbucker brutality with hardtail assurance.
Now that I knew what I really really liked, an evil plan was hatched………………………
As mentioned, I have always been a huge fan of the great Jamie Humphries. Jamie’s go-to Super Sport, or as he calls it “Old Faithful” is probably one of my favourite guitars. It looks “right”, and sounds fantastic live, filling Glasgow Royal Concert Hall with memorable magnetic and piezo goodness last year. Old Faithful looks killer with the non-zebra DiMarzio 36th anniversary pickups, the brushed stainless piezo saddles, and the clean lines of the maple neck.
And so the evil plan was named…………. Project Humphries Tribute Super Sport!
I managed to source a Super Sport that had a fair few issues, but nothing some replacement parts couldn’t make new again. Huge thanks to Alex at Strings and Things for the patience of a saint, sourcing the necessary parts (i'm a little fussy) to make this thing look and feel great.
I opted out of using lower output pickups and went for a Tone Zone (bridge) and Air Norton (neck) combo as a non-zebra set. I masked off the pickups and sprayed the pickup bases satin black. Switching is a little changed up from standard:
I added in the ex-Pete DuBaldo neck, threw in some tasty stainless Graph Tech saddles, and restrung this baby with Hybrid Slinky goodness, and we are now good to go. Big thanks to Ian at the Guitar Repair Shop for some great work with the electrics and nut work, outstanding as ever.
Basically, I think I now have a hybrid Axis variant that suits me very well. Only one thing was missing: Jamie Humphries approval. Next stop, EBMM clinic in Glasgow, and the big fella happily signed the control plate for me - project complete. What a gent.
Bonus points for eagle eyed trivia monsters....
I came close to a purchase some time back, but Floyd and I just didn’t see eye to eye. I sourced an Axis Sport from a fellow forum member a while ago; a Pearl Blue beauty, MM90s, maple neck with rosewood ‘board, and vintage trem. Lovely guitar; a perfect mix of things for me to try, and the deal was done. The result was along these lines:
- Trem: Never gonna work for me. Apparently I can make any guitar sound like my first with a trem.
- MM90s: Lovely subtleness……… but a little lost in my hands.
- Neck: Stunning, though I really wanted to try a maple fingerboard.
- Body shape: Oh hell yes!
Whilst contemplating a plan to source another Axis to suit me better, I managed to snag a great maple neck from all round top bloke Pete Dubaldo. Pete had embraced the lure of the rosewood neck for his Blue Dawn Axis Sport, so international relations were strengthened as his original neck was put back in play on my Pearl Blue Axis Sport. That worked well for some time, but I still hankered after humbucker brutality with hardtail assurance.
Now that I knew what I really really liked, an evil plan was hatched………………………
As mentioned, I have always been a huge fan of the great Jamie Humphries. Jamie’s go-to Super Sport, or as he calls it “Old Faithful” is probably one of my favourite guitars. It looks “right”, and sounds fantastic live, filling Glasgow Royal Concert Hall with memorable magnetic and piezo goodness last year. Old Faithful looks killer with the non-zebra DiMarzio 36th anniversary pickups, the brushed stainless piezo saddles, and the clean lines of the maple neck.
And so the evil plan was named…………. Project Humphries Tribute Super Sport!
I managed to source a Super Sport that had a fair few issues, but nothing some replacement parts couldn’t make new again. Huge thanks to Alex at Strings and Things for the patience of a saint, sourcing the necessary parts (i'm a little fussy) to make this thing look and feel great.
I opted out of using lower output pickups and went for a Tone Zone (bridge) and Air Norton (neck) combo as a non-zebra set. I masked off the pickups and sprayed the pickup bases satin black. Switching is a little changed up from standard:
- Position 1: Tone Zone coils in series
- Position 2: Tone Zone coils in parallel
- Position 3: Tone Zone & Air Norton in series
- Position 4: Air Norton coils in parallel
- Position 5: Air Norton coils in series
I added in the ex-Pete DuBaldo neck, threw in some tasty stainless Graph Tech saddles, and restrung this baby with Hybrid Slinky goodness, and we are now good to go. Big thanks to Ian at the Guitar Repair Shop for some great work with the electrics and nut work, outstanding as ever.
Basically, I think I now have a hybrid Axis variant that suits me very well. Only one thing was missing: Jamie Humphries approval. Next stop, EBMM clinic in Glasgow, and the big fella happily signed the control plate for me - project complete. What a gent.
Bonus points for eagle eyed trivia monsters....
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