Turning an Axis into a Tele...

[TimSz]

Hey guys.

I had a genius idea, and was looking for some input. I want to take an Axis Super Sport and replace the pickups and bridge with Tele style accoutrements.

Has anyone attempted this? Any ideas? Words of wisdom? I figured the Axis would be the best, as it has a very thick body, similar to the Tele. The Silhouette is more curvy like a Strat.

It seems that with some kind of filler surrounding the pickups, the tele pickups would fit into the humbucker slots nicely. Can anyone tell me the current length of an Axis from the bridge to the headstock? I think that's the measurement I want, as to compare it with a Tele.

Essentially, I don't want to deviate from my EBMM, but want a sexy Tele sound a la Paisley. I think throwing in some handwound custom hot Tele pickups would do this nicely.

So, thought?

 

[Sweat]

Thought buy a tele leave your balls alone

 

[mbgreene]

ASS w/90's

Tele on Steroids

(remember the ASS body w/90's is ash rather than basswood - another factor contributing to the sound)

 

[glockaxis]

I wouldn't mess w/ it. Maybe do it to an OLP if you're going to mess w/ that body style or like Fingbeagles said buy a tele.

 

[Colin]

I say go for it....

 

[Larry]

I wouldn't do it.

 

[Astrofreq]

Do It!! Guitars should be personalized somehow. Definitely have some fun with it.

 

[robelinda2]

the MM90 ASS is tele like for sure.

 

[TimSz]

Hmmm.

See, I don't want to buy a Tele. I don't particularly like the necks on them. Also, being left handed, all the Fender products are ****. I'd much rather start a thorough search for a used Axis, and then gut it from there. I mean, worse comes to worse I don't go through with it, and end up with another Axis.

 

[TimSz]

Duh.

Another good question is how strat/tele-like do the the split pickups on a Rosewood ASS sound? I have one on order, and if I can achieve a tele growl with it, then I won't even bother with this idea...

 

[robelinda2]

the split tones on the ASS are fabulous, best ive heard on a HH axe. full of body and bite.

 

[threeminutesboy]

I can only confirm what rob said about the single sound of the ASS it's a killing single coil sound

in case you want to have a tele configuation I can only recommend the following. Get a Axis sport custom pickguard and attach it with tape like on of the dude did on in Orange ASS. The best way to try without damaging

 

[andynpeters]

I realise Fender have to have a bad press on here, but not every L/H Tele is "****". After all they produce the sound you're after.
Finding L/H EBMMs isn't easy ( believe me I know!) and it rarely seems as if changing one guitar to give the sound of another works.
So now you've had my opinion....let us know what you do.

 

[Rossie]

Someone on the board attempted this quite awhile back... I've seen one picture of it... I'm sure foggy has some in his vault

 

[Astrofreq]

I'd say that the split sound on my Humbuckered axis's sound almost nothing like my strat. Totally different tonal wise. That's why I have both. If you're looking for that sound, the MM90 is WAY closer than the EVH pickups split.

my 2 Cents.

 

[Eilif]

I'd get an MM90 Axis SS and start from there. If I didn't like the MM90s, then I'd consider putting in Tele pickups.

The split humbuckers on the Axis SS do have a nice single coil sound, but I think it's not the same as having a real single coil pickup. It will do nicely in a "pinch"--say you're playing a set that requires humbuckers except for just a song or two, and you don't want to lug a 2nd guitar just for that. But if you're looking for genuine single coil bliss, I don't believe you'll find it in the dual humbucker version of the Axis SS.

 

[58super]

To me the only thing that sounds like a tele is a tele.

That being said if you wanted to check out a similar sound without messing with the body it could be done by replacing the back humbucker with one of the humbucker sized P90 type pickups that are around.

 

[greenwizard]

Hmm...
Sounds like a bad idea to me. If you find a way to turn a tele into an axis that would be worth something!!

 

[mbgreene]

Other option is an older Sport (not the Super Sport). That will get you the plank style ash body with no maple cap and would be the closest body wood to the sound you are looking for .

Plus you would probably find them a bit cheaper particularly if it's dinged or an off color and you wouldn't mind experimenting a bit.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I say go for it!