Sterling SUB AX3.. and direct mount pickups

[Jon82]

I've never had a direct mount pickup guitar before.. is adjusting the pickup height on these guitars ok??

Also.. I was thinking of changing the pickups, if I don't like the stock.. to a DiMarzio Norton in the bridge.. any ideas for a neck replacement? Was thinking SD Pearly Gates neck.. or maybe Dimarzio Air Norton?

These seem to be great guitars for the price.

 

[Jon82]

If you aren't familiar.. AX3 is basically just a budget version of the Musicman Axis guitars..

So both of these questions apply to the same thing, if it were a normal Axis guitar. The adjusting the pickup height of direct mount Axis and also neck pickup suggestions.....

 

[beej]

Not sure about the SBMM, but on the Axis you need to shim the pickups in order to raise them (piece of foam, wood, etc.). Works just fine and gives you a bit more output. Too much dampens string vibration.

On pickups- best best is to do a search. There have been tons of threads about Axis pickup replacements. People do seem to like the Air Norton, but so much is personal preference. What's wrong with the original pickups? They're pretty decent from what I hear.

 

[Jon82]

Thanks.

I guess I'll give the stock ones a try first.. it's just that I've always wanted to have a modern rock sort of guitar with a Norton in the bridge.. an EVH/Satriani sort of hybrid for lead work..etc A mix of Fred/Tone Zone is something I have to try.. and if your changing the bridge may as well try something new also in the neck. And also I wouldn't expect the Sterling stock ones to be as good as the proper EBMM stock ones.