Underneath the pick guard in a Axis Sport

[GetTheFunkOut]

So I am interested in finding an Axis Sport to buy and as they are discontinued (anyone know since when?) I am finding it hard to find one with everything I want. You could say that I am after an Axis Strat. I love the Axis neck and struggle to get on with much else, of course every player wants a Strat type guitar at some point. Not interested however at trying to adapt to something like an Albert Lee and certainly not a Silhouette (too flat for me).

At first I would quite like a three single coil model. I have rarely even seen examples of this on Google Images or when browsing the forums. I'm guessing these are rarest of the rare?

Second, a HSS config could work for me, perhaps finding a way to just make do with the neck and middle pickups to do the out of phase thing. I don't even really like the 1 and 2 out of phase sound anyway, so it doesn't really matter about lacking the S bridge P/up.

However, I see more HH config's popping up on ebay and for sale. My question is, if I were to buy this config and wanted to change out the pick ups to three single coils, regardless of having to get a new pick guard, what are the cavities like inside the sport?

Is there just two hum bucker sized cavities like the regular Axis? Or am I going to find a strat type routing where I'd have room to install the middle possition pickup (thats the biggest concern)

Many thanks for anyone with experience of better still some pics of under the guard.

And any interesting looking or rare Axis Sport pics as well, to give me some ideas would also be most welcome!

 

[GWDavis28]

You mean one like this?

Used In Store Used USED ERNIE BALL AXIS SPORT ELECTRIC GUITAR | GuitarCenter

The Axis Sports where discontinued around 2001-2002'ish time frame. The are excellent guitars for the $$, I've owned 3 and loved them all, but had to let them go for other reasons.

Hope this helps, Glenn |B)

 

[GetTheFunkOut]

Yep, just like that. Although, now on further inspection, I have realised the HH model of the Sport's doesn't have the silent circuit unlike the SSS and HSS, so might just be best off to keep as a HH and I'll keep my eyes out in the UK for an HSS or SSS model in future too.

It also looks like (even single coils) are mounted to the body? Unlike a pick guard mount on a traditional Strat. Might make my idea of upgrading an HSS to SSS a little bit more difficult perhaps.

 

[beej]

You can, occasionally, find SSS and SSH Sports out there (and HH), though it's easier to find one with MM90s.

As you noticed, the pickups are body-mounted. So if you wanted to route for a single, you'd have to to do some stellar work or, better, mount a pickguard. (At least one person here has converted an HH Axis to HSH with the same approach.)

With regards to the Silent Circuit- they can be had second hand (I have a few in various guitars). Or you can use noisefree pickups, there are lots of great ones to be had these days (I prefer Bill Lawrence, but Dimarzio, SD, etc. all make them).