Help! Replacement pickups for Axis Super Sport?

[Rivers]

Hi Guys, I have a EBMM Axis Super Sport Semi-hollow (that I love it's playability) that has a shallow cavity which I understand stock DiMarzio Custom pickups have short pole screws to 'compensate' for this. Would it be right to say that I would have limited options of changing pickups on this guitar?

I previously changed them out to the Suhr Thornbucker pickups and the guitar tech had to swop out the shorter pole screws from the Transition over to the Thornbuckers to have them fit into the cavity, which I'm wondering if that is Ok or might change how the pickup is meant to sound?

Bought a set of used Seymour Duncan P-rails to try but unfortunately upon installation sits way too high in the cavity. I guess there's not much I can do here aside from the deepening the cavity, which I probably won't do at this point of time. I asked the folks at the shop and they said the Seymour Duncan pickups they sell won't fit as well, which I don't quite understand why. Something about the mounting tabs or the pickups being too tall?

I'd greatly appreciate if someone can advise me on what type of humbucker pickups I can have them replaced to, as I am worried about purchasing them and then realizing that it won't fit into the Axis Super Sport.

 

[Astrofreq]

Hmm. . . I know from my experience that I changed out the Neck pickup for another Dimarzio and it worked great. I just screwed it straight into the body.

 

[tbonesullivan]

The pickup routing in the Axis Super Sport is designed to fit the standard Dimarzio pickup size, not the other way around. There is no special "EBMM" version of Dimarzio pickups, and in general the pole pieces do not extend very far at all below the base plate.

The problem you are having is most likely that the Axis super sport has directly mounted pickups, and they are routed to work with the Dimarzio base plate, which has triangular mounting tabs that have very short "legs". Seymour Duncan uses rectangular mounting tabs, and on many pickups, long "legs". This is a common problem with any guitar that uses directly mounted pickups.

The P-Rails pickup is I believe a bit taller overall than a standard pickup just due to how it is designed. They work great when in a pickup mounting ring, but not for direct mounting unless you custom route the guitar.

What sound are you looking for that the Axis SS pickups aren't giving you? They are very well-regarded pickups.

 

[Ventanaman]

I have a ton of experience in swapping out Axis/Axis SS pickups (although never in a semi-hallow), and there are many options depending on the tone you are seeking. My favorites are the Bareknuckle Polymath (modern -$$$), Suhr SSH (Vintage modern - $$), and the Bareknuckle Mule (Vintage - $$$). I have also had good experiences with the Suhr Thornbuckers, Suhr SSV, Suhr SSH+, and the BKP Abraxis. All of those can be made with the tri-tabs and BKP can even install short screws. As you pointed out, cutting or changing the screws is possible, but it can effect tone - maybe better, maybe worse.

I have been told, from folks in the know, that the DiMarzio Andy Timmons signature pickup (AT-1) is an excellent, near stock Axis replacement. YMMV. I would love to try some of the Satriani signature pickups such as the Mo Joe, but haven’t had a chance yet.

As for the Axis stock pickups, they were designed for a very specific guitar - and have a TON of high end rolled off. That’s great in a basswood/maple/maple neck/Floyd/no tone circuit guitar, but I find them muddy and undefined under high gain in the Axis SS (mine are mahogany bodies), and they maybe even more so in a semi-hollow. Good luck!

 

[Rivers]

Thanks guys, I'm trying to get a P90-type sound and was looking at getting these 2 P90 DiMarzio pickups (Vintage P90 in Neck, Fantom P90 in bridge).

Can anyone be so kind and let me know if these would fit into the Axis Super Sport without a need for modifications? I'm guessing all DiMarzio humbuckers have short polepieces and direct mount tabs and should theoretically fit.

Vintage P90™ with full-size humbucker cover | DiMarzio

P90 pickups are a different breed. DiMarzio’s Vintage P90™ is a recreation of the late 50s Gibson single-coil with all of the midrange grittiness that makes a P90 pickup special. DiMarzio’s Vintage P90™ starts with our calibrated dual Alnico 5 sandcast magnets and is wound on a specially-made...

www.dimarzio.com

Fantom P90™ with full-size humbucker cover | DiMarzio

We don’t have to convince you that vintage P90 pickups are special. You already love their thick mid-range grittiness and growl, their creamy single-notes, and their harmonic bloom.The only drawback has been that P90s are noisy.DiMarzio’s challenge was to create a hum-canceling pickup that fit...

www.dimarzio.com

 

[Ventanaman]

Thanks guys, I'm trying to get a P90-type sound and was looking at getting these 2 P90 DiMarzio pickups (Vintage P90 in Neck, Fantom P90 in bridge).

Can anyone be so kind and let me know if these would fit into the Axis Super Sport without a need for modifications? I'm guessing all DiMarzio humbuckers have short polepieces and direct mount tabs and should theoretically fit.

Vintage P90™ with full-size humbucker cover | DiMarzio

P90 pickups are a different breed. DiMarzio’s Vintage P90™ is a recreation of the late 50s Gibson single-coil with all of the midrange grittiness that makes a P90 pickup special. DiMarzio’s Vintage P90™ starts with our calibrated dual Alnico 5 sandcast magnets and is wound on a specially-made...

www.dimarzio.com

Fantom P90™ with full-size humbucker cover | DiMarzio

We don’t have to convince you that vintage P90 pickups are special. You already love their thick mid-range grittiness and growl, their creamy single-notes, and their harmonic bloom.The only drawback has been that P90s are noisy.DiMarzio’s challenge was to create a hum-canceling pickup that fit...

www.dimarzio.com

Those should fit well, but you can email customer support at DiMarzio - they are every helpful. P90s in a semi-hollow Axis SS - I can’t wait to see what you think. I have never tried that combo. Don’t be afraid to roll back the tone if it gets too bright!

 

[Astrofreq]

I swapped the neck out for a DiMarzio Humbucker From Hell once and loved it. It had a single coil flavor, but also pair with the Axis bridge really well. At least to my ears.

I’d love to hear those ones mentioned above too.

 

[tbonesullivan]

I have been told, from folks in the know, that the DiMarzio Andy Timmons signature pickup (AT-1) is an excellent, near stock Axis replacement. YMMV. I would love to try some of the Satriani signature pickups such as the Mo Joe, but haven’t had a chance yet.

As for the Axis stock pickups, they were designed for a very specific guitar - and have a TON of high end rolled off. That’s great in a basswood/maple/maple neck/Floyd/no tone circuit guitar, but I find them muddy and undefined under high gain in the Axis SS (mine are mahogany bodies), and they maybe even more so in a semi-hollow. Good luck!

The AT-1, as I have heard it, is the B pickup from the Axis, but an "airbucker" so the output is a bit lower and more airy. The A pickup with unbalanced coils from the Axis pickup development is the Tone Zone. Those are the two in the lineup most similar to the Axis bridge.

 

[Astrofreq]

I haven't heard the AT-1, but I love the Tone Zone. It is a fantastic pickup.

 

[tbonesullivan]

I haven't heard the AT-1, but I love the Tone Zone. It is a fantastic pickup.

It definitely is. I had one in a guitar I sold. I read the whole article on the pickup and guitar development, and many thought that EVH would choose the A pickup, which had the "dual resonance" slightly mismatched coils, but he went for the matched coil B pickup. The A became the Tone Zone, and was the first pickup to feature the dual resonance design. The neck pickup from the Axis was the first to feature the "airbucker" design, so there was a ton of great things that came out of that collaboration.

 

[Astrofreq]

Wow. I didn't know that history.

 

[tbonesullivan]

Wow. I didn't know that history.

There's an article on the Dimarzio website. In it are even pictures of the legendary purple EBMM EVH Doubleneck guitar.

 

[headcrash]

The AT-1 is agreat pickup for sure, but it isn't as punchy as the Dimarzio EvH/Axis Custom.
Seems to me that the Airbucker technology (maybe it uses Virtual Vintage technology, too..?) makes it softer in its attack, almost like a compression like feel. But it has outstanding harmonic content. To me, the Custom is better suited for rock/metal riffing, because it tracks better. Where as the AT-1 suits me better for singing leads.
I have heard/read that "half-airing" a Tonezone comes really close to the Custom. I also read that two screw coils of the Tonezone IS the Custom (or was it the slug ones? However, the coil with the smaller DC resistance of the two).
I'd like to at least try out the half-air mod to a Tonezone. This is also way better reversible, and you wouldn't destroy two pickups.

 

[Rivers]

DiMarzio got back to me saying that the P90 pickups may be a little too tall, and the cavity sides may be a little too tight to install a covered pickup like the P90 so I guess it's back to the drawing board.

Does anyone have recommendations as to what other pickup manufacturers would have P90 pickups in a humbucker-sized format that would fit a direct mount and have short pole pieces?

 

[Ventanaman]

DiMarzio got back to me saying that the P90 pickups may be a little too tall, and the cavity sides may be a little too tight to install a covered pickup like the P90 so I guess it's back to the drawing back.

Does anyone have recommendations as to what other pickup manufacturers would have P90 pickups in a humbucker-sized format that would fit a direct mount and have short pole pieces?

Tim and the team at Bare Knuckle Pickups will build a custom P90. Be prepared to pay for it though!

I am surprised the DiMarzios won’t fit. How much different is the pickup cavity dimensions in a semi-hollow vs a standard Axis SS?

 

[Rivers]

Tim and the team at Bare Knuckle Pickups will build a custom P90. Be prepared to pay for it though!

I am surprised the DiMarzios won’t fit. How much different is the pickup cavity dimensions in a semi-hollow vs a standard Axis SS?

I believe the cavity dimensions should be the same as everything should be similar to the standard Axis SS aside from the M-hole.

I'm wondering if the pickup cover can be removed so as to have it fit.

 

[wesman11483]

Thanks guys, I'm trying to get a P90-type sound and was looking at getting these 2 P90 DiMarzio pickups (Vintage P90 in Neck, Fantom P90 in bridge).

Can anyone be so kind and let me know if these would fit into the Axis Super Sport without a need for modifications? I'm guessing all DiMarzio humbuckers have short polepieces and direct mount tabs and should theoretically fit.

Vintage P90™ with full-size humbucker cover | DiMarzio

P90 pickups are a different breed. DiMarzio’s Vintage P90™ is a recreation of the late 50s Gibson single-coil with all of the midrange grittiness that makes a P90 pickup special. DiMarzio’s Vintage P90™ starts with our calibrated dual Alnico 5 sandcast magnets and is wound on a specially-made...

www.dimarzio.com

Fantom P90™ with full-size humbucker cover | DiMarzio

We don’t have to convince you that vintage P90 pickups are special. You already love their thick mid-range grittiness and growl, their creamy single-notes, and their harmonic bloom.The only drawback has been that P90s are noisy.DiMarzio’s challenge was to create a hum-canceling pickup that fit...

www.dimarzio.com

Try to track down a used EBMM M90. BY FAR the best P90 pickup I’ve played…probably not a lot of guys selling though :/

 

[wesman11483]

Try to track down a used EBMM M90. BY FAR the best P90 pickup I’ve played…probably not a lot of guys selling though :/

Also. I had to have the body cavity routed a little for the Dimarzio Super Distortion P90 in a Sport. It was a little too deep.

 

[Rivers]

Also. I had to have the body cavity routed a little for the Dimarzio Super Distortion P90 in a Sport. It was a little too deep.

Ahh so I guess this will probably be the same case for the DiMarzio Vintage P90s then, seeing that you had the same issue with the Super Distortion P90.

 

[wesman11483]

Ahh so I guess this will probably be the same case for the DiMarzio Vintage P90s then, seeing that you had the same issue with the Super Distortion P90.

Probably (though I am by far less knowledgeable than many on here)

But it was worth it sonically. And my local tech had very reasonable rates…and nothing a piece of foam can’t fix if you ever want to go back to stock.

Good luck!