Questions about F-spaced pickups, knobs, and switch tip

[Lightningflash]

Ok, so the Axis that I bought already had a dimebucker installed in it and with your guy's advice I bought a Tone Zone to replace the dimebucker. I had it installed and found out that the pickup needed to be f-spaced.

Also, another Axis I bought was missing it's volume knob and switch tip. I thought, no biggie, I got some strat knobs and tips laying around....wrong. The knobs would not fit, so I called Ernie Ball customer service and the guy tells me that much of what they use you can only use Ernie Ball replacements due to size.


So my question is, are all Ernie Ball guitars built with F-spaced pickups? Are Ernie Ball pots especially made for Ernie Ball for a bigger diameter knob? Will a Fender switch tip fit on an Axis switch or will only a Ernie Ball tip fit on it.

I have to say that I'm not a big fan of all these special sizes that aren't interchangeable with most guitar parts.

 

[Lou]

There is no industry standard. Companies can source parts from whoever they would like. EBMM is very resonable for replacement parts. If you ask, perhaps a forum member might have an OEM replacement part they can sell to you

 

[vlnbow]

Switch tips need to have a 5mm opening - which is common, though may not be fenders choice. (i have black and chrome if you want to pm me) The pots are standard too- 1/4" knobs are needed if they are solid shaft -not 6mm which is the other "more common size". I have some black and silver dome knobs that would work for you as well..no strat.

F-space is not the only bridge pickup used by EBMM..the std morse has a normal spacing and the y2d has F space. Only because that is what I was told steve wanted. But technically the std should have an f spaced as well. Most modern bridges, floyd or hard tail are 51 - 52mm and would use F spaced pickups for the bridge and normal spaced for the neck position.

 

[Eric O'Reilly]

F spaced bridge, standard space neck, hope this helps, good luck!

 

[Lightningflash]

Thanks for the offer but I needed cream parts and already ordered them yesterday from EBMM, it was like $18 shipped for 2 knobs and a bag of 5 tips...not outrageous but not as cheap as spare parts laying around either.

Is there anywhere else you can get the parts from other than directly from EBMM?

Correct me if I'm wrong but how can you have an f-spaced bridge pickup and a standard spaced neck pickup together on the same guitar? From what I can tell, the F-spaced is narrower so the strings wouldn't line-up with the poles if the neck was not f-spaced.

Will the Tele style Ernie Ball knobs on Ebay work?

 

[vlnbow]

F spacing is 51mm center to center, E to E pole pieces - Standard spacing is 48mm center to center. Think about it..your strings are not the same distance apart all the way down the neck. Using an f-space bridge and normal neck keeps the string directly over the poles (or centered as much as can be..)

 

[Lightningflash]

F spacing is 51mm center to center, E to E pole pieces - Standard spacing is 48mm center to center. Think about it..your strings are not the same distance apart all the way down the neck. Using an f-space bridge and normal neck keeps the string directly over the poles (or centered as much as can be..)

Makes sense.

So, do you guys ever replace the EBMM pots with CTS pots or do you try to stick with only EBMM?

 

[DrKev]

Spacing is also not critical. If the strings don't line up with the pole pieces it's actually no big deal and makes little difference unless the pickup is very close to the strings.

Just like any other guitar on the planet, you can replace the pots with CTS or Alpha or whatever you like provided the physical dimensions work. Many people round here do. Other than resistance the pickups don't care.

 

[vlnbow]

I don't know if it is across the board with Ebmm, but they use cts pots. I have them in my morse and when I have done replacement parts orders with EBMM they have been CTS.

 

[beej]

Ditto. I've only ever seen CTS from MM.

 

[ozzyrules]

Are Ernie Ball pots especially made for Ernie Ball for a bigger diameter knob? Will a Fender switch tip fit on an Axis switch or will only a Ernie Ball tip fit on it.

I have to say that I'm not a big fan of all these special sizes that aren't interchangeable with most guitar parts.

Don't use Kia parts on a Mercedes. Lol