What's under the covered Reflex pickups?!?

[jlf599]

Hiya all! I'm getting really close to pulling the trigger on getting my Reflex refinished in this sparkle green.

I saw Dean's sparkle Reflex on Ebay at @GWDavis28 had posted and saw his still had the covered pickups. An Axis showed up today on Reverb in sparkle Emerald and had uncovered zebra pickups.

I'm curious if anyone knows what I'll find if I pop off the covers on the Reflex? Black coils or zebra? I know I can do it and find out for myself but just curious if anyone knows before I go that route.

Thanks!

 

[GWDavis28]

I believe they are Dimazio's. I'd assume black.

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Ernie Ball Music Man Reflex HH - Rosewood top, All Rosewood Neck

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Dean could have had Axis pups, did you find his thread?

Glenn |B)

 

[jlf599]

I believe the Reflex had the Axis/EVH pickups...just curious if they were black bobbins or zebras. I figured they're black but I'm not sure I've ever seen all black Axis/EVH pickups!

 

[beej]

Under the 25th anniversary guitar (same guitar) they’re black coils. So I’m assuming the reflex would be the same.

 

[jlf599]

Under the 25th anniversary guitar (same guitar) they’re black coils. So I’m assuming the reflex would be the same.

I figured that might be the case. Thanks!

Now the decision of leaving them covered or not.

 

[nervous]

I'm not sure I've ever seen all black Axis/EVH pickups!

The do exist.

 

[beej]

They do indeed! I also have a set of all-black ones.

Here's a pic of a 25th (belonging to Hamilton Loomis) w/o the covers-

 

[jlf599]

The do exist.

View attachment 42696

Have I mentioned just how much I love that re-fin? Because, man, I love that re-fin.

 

[Iperfungus]

The do exist.

View attachment 42696

WOW!!! That's fucking gorgeous!!!

 

[Astrofreq]

I’ve actually pondered getting my Reflex refinished too. Who would you suggest do the job?

 

[GWDavis28]

I’ve actually pondered getting my Reflex refinished too. Who would you suggest do the job?

Color choices?

You need to post the pic to get them all fired up.

Glenn |B)

 

[jlf599]

I’ve actually pondered getting my Reflex refinished too. Who would you suggest do the job?

I think @nervous had GuitarPaintGuys - Custom Guitar Finishing do his. I'm likely taking mine to RS Guitarworks as they aren't far from me.

RS is NOT cheap...and definitely way more than Guitar Paint Guys -- but a little less wait and they are doing the disassembly and reassembly as I outright hate doing that stuff. Plus I don't have to ship anything and that's worth some peace of mind to me.

 

[nervous]

I’ve actually pondered getting my Reflex refinished too. Who would you suggest do the job?

First, my apologies as I do not mean to hijack this thread.

Well, who did the work vs. who I would recommend is a good question, It was Guitar Paint Guys that did this one. Kandy Lime is the color and it's my homage to the 1st gen Dargie color for which no Axis were ever made. That was my first one with them and was about 4 months, if I recall correctly, a few years ago. But the work was great and I loved the end result. So shortly I sent them off a beat up Spector body for a Candy Tangerine treatment and that took 6 months because it was a special deal/price so they fit it in where they can. Fast forward to my current Axis that I sent to them 11 months ago and I JUST got that back. a couple weeks ago, when it was honestly expected in May. I really like the folks, and I really like their work. But because they're a small shop with limited personnel that seems to take on far more work than that can handle and manage with their customers there are very long periods where you won't know what's going on, status of the work, or even get anything but the standard automated response. So they wore me out on this one. Not that they will ever miss me as they have more work then they can handle but it's unfortunate. So, if you had asked me a year ago if I would recommend them it would have been an easy yes. Today I would have to think twice and just say if you can sacrifice the payment and guitar for a year or possibly longer then you take your chances.

So, if not them, who

I had conversations with "Stike" at the well respected Rowyco Kustoms, ROWYCO KUSTOMS - Home Page and almost went with him. In hindsight I wish I had. But he too is a busy guy so make sure you have your details sorted in advance.

I also just learned that Marty Bell is still at it and his finishes are legendary as well. Marty Bell and I assume he's also a very busy guy.

That's my experience and really all I can offer.

 

[jlf599]

First, my apologies as I do not mean to hijack this thread.


I had conversations with "Stike" at the well respected Rowyco Kustoms, ROWYCO KUSTOMS - Home Page and almost went with him. In hindsight I wish I had. But he too is a busy guy so make sure you have your details sorted in advance.

I also just learned that Marty Bell is still at it and his finishes are legendary as well. Marty Bell and I assume he's also a very busy guy.

That's my experience and really all I can offer.

No, no...these comments are certainly welcome here...especially as I think I have my answer to the coil question! I wouldn't have tagged you in otherwise!

I looked at Rowyco just now and damn that seems cheap, especially with disassembly/reassembly included. But if you have him disassemble and reassemble, it's going to be $100+ each way on top of that, I guess.

RS is over double his charge. But then again, I don't have to ship it, either...and that's worth something to me. RS is saying 3-4 months right now, though. I'm hoping that's a very conservative estimate, but hard to say, really. I guess I'll let you all know in a few months if I get my guitar there soon.

J

 

[nervous]

You mention something I forgot to cover. Every repainted guitar body that I received back required considerable time to prep for reassembly. I may be overly fussy but one mistake can cause real headaches with a beautiful finish. Just running a screw into a painted over hole can cause unintended chip out of a pretty brittle finish so I ease the edges of every screw hole manually with a countersink burr then seal with some thin CA glue. In the case of a heavy flake finish it's even trickier and required additional efforts in the control cavity and string through ferrule holes. So a slight added cost for reassembly can be well worth it.

 

[nervous]

I just found this company as well. No experience.

Home - BloomDoom Guitar Co.

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[GoKart Mozart]

I also just learned that Marty Bell is still at it and his finishes are legendary as well. Marty Bell and I assume he's also a very busy guy.

That's good to hear; I read a couple years back that he had stopped taking on work due to some eyesight issues.

He refinished my Sub1 several years back; I think he turned it around in like 2 weeks!

 

[nervous]

And another legendary refinisher I forgot:

Pat Wilkins

Wilkins Custom Finishes & Guitars | RoadTested Guitars | Los Angeles

Creative Custom Designs, We will work with you to achieve a beautiful result that is uniquely you. If the color, finish, or concept is imaginable, we can capture it using the appropriate blend of techniques from basic finishes through intense mural-type air brushing or exotic materials such as...

www.wilkinsguitars.com

 

[Johnny Alien]

Just a heads up, I had a LOT of problems with Pat Wilkins on a recent refinish. High on my do not recommend list.

 

[DrKev]

Marty Bell's website states that he is losing his sight due to glaucoma (which has no cure, only treatments that can slow progression). He is already semi-retired and moving towards total retirement in due course. But do contact him and through his website and he can recommend another place to do the job for you.