Time for another pickup swap on my Axis. thoughts?

[Chaka5150]

So feeling like I've walked into church after a long absence here. Can't remember the last time I"ve posted

Anyhoo, I have my Axis which has been through a few pickup swaps over the years. I always regret selling the original pups--experimented with some EMG then Seymour Duncan Actives and finally settled on what is currently on my guitar: Suhr Doug Aldrich. These are pretty great but hot hot hot! My tastes have been evolving with my age. Always lovin high gain but looking for a set that still suits my styles for classic rock/hard rock (not a djenter or thumper) yet offers me more clarity. Clarity especially between strings. I suspect just a lower output pickup will help. Right now when I do legato runs or string skipping the notes seem to bleed into eachother, more than my technique can accommodate for anyhow

I just picked up a 2014 Epiphone les paul custom pro and the probuckers in there are actually pretty close to what I like...who knew. They're not even that expensive. but the clarity is there more as they are lower output. Not bad pickup..can be a bit muddy in certain frequencies but its sort of in the ballpark for what I'm after..

Any recommendations for my Axis, fellow ballers?

 

[kimonostereo]

If you're not opposed to getting a replacement set of real Dimarzio Axis pickups, maybe look for a used Sterling with the EBMM/Dimarzio Axis pickups and do a swap?

 

[Slater]

I would take a hard look at Dimarzio Transitions.

 

[Manxmusicman]

Bareknuckle Crawlers sound right up your street, classic tones but can be driven hard and stay articulate.

 

[Ishmun]

You might also want to check out the range at David Allen pickups...his stuff mostly caters to the styles you're after.

Ive got a set of Dirty Cats in my 25th....great tone

 

[jptortor]

They aren't so easy to find, but the PRS Dragon II pickups are a pretty great vintage hot type of sound. Lots of clarity.

 

[Chaka5150]

Bareknuckle Crawlers sound right up your street, classic tones but can be driven hard and stay articulate.

Interesting. I just listened to some sound clips. Awesome. I had a pair of Rebel yells in my old JP and those were great. The Crawlers apparently would be suited for a brighter guitar as they are voiced a bit dark. Might be what I'm looking for

 

[Fro]

If you like the Suhr pickups, check out their Thornbuckers. If the Music Man pickups in my Stingray were made available for sale I'd suggest those. I'm really liking these pickups.

 

[Stratty316]

I have to 2nd the Thornbuckers for an Axis... I've been considering a pair in one of mine or the HHAL.

 

[headcrash]

Try Dimarzio AT-1 for the bridge position. That'll get you in the ballpark of the original Custom, but with a little more noble-ness and vintage-y-ness in feel. I love them and play them in all my Balls, like em even better than the customs.

For the neck positon, you might try Air Norton which ist about same to the Custom as is the AT-1 to the Custom bridge.
I also played a 36th anniversary bridge model in the neck for several years, which I hugely recommend. It is a little like the Air Norton, but does better in Crunch and Clean Tones because it is more balanced and not as dull.
At the moment I have an Air Classic in the neck, which is also really cool, but I cannot decide, if the 36th was better

 

[Chaka5150]

I'm beginning to see there might be no end to this rabbit hole... so many choices and permutations. Thanks for the ideas guys, I wasn't aware of some of these pickups. It's already giving me lots to research.

 

[Stratty316]

It's exactly why you keep the original Axis/EVH pickup. You can always go back to the original after experimenting with other pickups and not finding a better "holy grail" combo.

 

[Chaka5150]

I'm leaning towards the Thornbuckers or the Transitions. From the sound clips on the thornbuckers they seem to have a certain chimey /stratty quality to them. They seem quite versatile but I also want a fat warmth for some high gain playing. Maybe it's just the clips that I'm hearing...

 

[Tollywood]

I'm beginning to see there might be no end to this rabbit hole...

True; especially since pickups are very subjective. The choices are almost limitless.

I like the idea of buying a used Sterling, swapping the pickups, and reselling it. Someone looking for Aldrich pickups might jump at it. I'm confident that you'd get your money back when you resell it.

 

[George Homme]

I swapped the pickups in my Axis SS. Bare in mind that my Axis is a PDN and has Alder body with Maple top and no Basswood.

I Tried a Breed set there but didn t like the Neck pickup. Too Powerfull and i couldn t lower the neck pickup as you know the pickups are body mounted. I settled with a Dimarzio 36th in the nacke and a dimarzio Virtual Hot Paf in the bridge and i am very happy with the results.

 

[luiscesaripad]

Yes, Dimarzio Transitions all the way!

 

[stu42]

I love the original pickups in the Axis which I believe are the same as in the Al HH.
For something similar to the original pickups but with a little more detail (I realize you don't have the originals and are looking for more detail compared to what you have now but....) I also agree with the PRS Dragon II option.
However, another pickup I really love that sounds very sweet, kind of a slightly hotter P.A.F - type pickup, is the Seymour Duncan Screamin' Demon. It's also very touch sensitive (as is the Dragon II) and can get some great output but also cleans up nicely with a lighter touch.

Probably the same can be said for many pickups but these 2 are ones I have experience with and have compared directly to the original pickups in my Al HH.

 

[Chaka5150]

So I think I may go with Dimarzio AT-1 for the bridge and 36th Anniversary for the neck. I may end up getting the Thornbuckers at some point for my Epiphone LP

 

[Slater]

So I think I may go with Dimarzio AT-1 for the bridge and 36th Anniversary for the neck. I may end up getting the Thornbuckers at some point for my Epiphone LP

Nice, very versatile combo that sounds great. Those pickups work very well together. I had an AT-1/36th combo in a guitar for a couple of years, and I was very happy with them.

 

[Razzle]

Why don't u get a set of Axis PUs?