Pick up like EB Axis

[MikeE]

I posted this on the Ernie Ball forum and didn't get much feedback. So, I figured this would be the next best place for help.

Here’s my (long) story…

I ordered a guitar from a custom builder in the hopes I would be able to combine the neck feel and humbucker sound of an EB Axis with a super strat style guitar. My guitar is basswood with maple top and an all maple neck. I have a routed Floyd and a SSH pick-up configuration.

The builder did a good job of matching the Axis neck and the build quality is excellent. My issue is that I have found the bridge pick-up to be too bright. This is really my fault as the builder told me the pick-up was based on the Duncan JB. I have read a lot of positive comments regarding the JB so I though I was going to be OK. Now that I look at the tone chart on the Duncan website, I see it is EQ’d with a lot of highs.

The builder has offered to wind me a new pick-up at no cost and has asked me what I am looking for. He said it would be easiest if I compare it to a Seymour Duncan. What I’m looking for is a pick-up like the bridge humbucker in the Axis. I know this is a made for EB/MM by DiMarzio. I also know that DiMarzio says the Tone Zone is the closest pick-up they offer to the Axis bridge humbucker. I have a TZ in another guitar and find it darker and muddier than the Axis pick-up so I don’t want to put a TZ in my new guitar.

What all this is leading to is what Duncan pick-up would be most comparable to the Axis bridge humbucker? Also, what are the differences between these two pick-ups as I could try and get the builder to wind it differently based on these differences. Understand that the builder is not familiar with the TZ or Axis pick-ups.

I have done a lot of reading on the Duncan forums trying to get ideas based on comments from Duncan users. I'm still puzzled as to what pick-up would be best. My issue is I don’t know the specs on Axis bridge pick-up.

Sorry for the long post, but I figured it would be easier for people to recommend a pick-up based on the whole story.

Thanks in advance,

Mike E.

 

[RG 2570]

Re: Pick up like EB Axis

I posted this on the Ernie Ball forum and didn't get much feedback. So, I figured this would be the next best place for help.

Here’s my (long) story…

I ordered a guitar from a custom builder in the hopes I would be able to combine the neck feel and humbucker sound of an EB Axis with a super strat style guitar. My guitar is basswood with maple top and an all maple neck. I have a routed Floyd and a SSH pick-up configuration.

The builder did a good job of matching the Axis neck and the build quality is excellent. My issue is that I have found the bridge pick-up to be too bright. This is really my fault as the builder told me the pick-up was based on the Duncan JB. I have read a lot of positive comments regarding the JB so I though I was going to be OK. Now that I look at the tone chart on the Duncan website, I see it is EQ’d with a lot of highs.

The builder has offered to wind me a new pick-up at no cost and has asked me what I am looking for. He said it would be easiest if I compare it to a Seymour Duncan. What I’m looking for is a pick-up like the bridge humbucker in the Axis. I know this is a made for EB/MM by DiMarzio. I also know that DiMarzio says the Tone Zone is the closest pick-up they offer to the Axis bridge humbucker. I have a TZ in another guitar and find it darker and muddier than the Axis pick-up so I don’t want to put a TZ in my new guitar.

What all this is leading to is what Duncan pick-up would be most comparable to the Axis bridge humbucker? Also, what are the differences between these two pick-ups as I could try and get the builder to wind it differently based on these differences. Understand that the builder is not familiar with the TZ or Axis pick-ups.

I have done a lot of reading on the Duncan forums trying to get ideas based on comments from Duncan users. I'm still puzzled as to what pick-up would be best. My issue is I don’t know the specs on Axis bridge pick-up.

Sorry for the long post, but I figured it would be easier for people to recommend a pick-up based on the whole story.

Thanks in advance,

Mike E.

dimarzio told me that the axis bridge pup is almost exactly like the tone zone but is not dual resonance.
the tone zone which i use has one coil 8.3K and the other is 9K.
the axis one has two matched 8.5K coils.
both have a 5 magnet and the same wire.
that is the only difference between them
if you want the tz to sound like the axis bridge pup you have to make the slug coil a air coil(lowering the power and magnet pull)
if you are interested PM me and we will talk about it

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Pick up like EB Axis

dimarzio told me that the axis bridge pup is almost exactly like the tone zone but is not dual resonance.
the tone zone which i use has one coil 8.3K and the other is 9K.
the axis one has two matched 8.5K coils.
both have a 5 magnet and the same wire.
that is the only difference between them
if you want the tz to sound like the axis bridge pup you have to make the slug coil a air coil(lowering the power and magnet pull)
if you are interested PM me and we will talk about it

So...sounds like you're looking for an SD pickup with matched coils and alnico 5 magnet that measures 17.3K.

That's the JB...measures about 16.5K.

I can't think of anything closer...

Lew

 

[Farkus]

Re: Pick up like EB Axis

You know, just because your axe is built around the MM style, it doesn't necessarily sound the same. The point is that even if you put an actual AXIS pickup in there, it may not sound like an axis. That being said, you could try various SD pickups in your quest to find the right one...they do have the 21 day exchange policy. Of course, if the guy is winding you one for free...that's a pretty good deal. Without trying some other pickups though...it's all a crap shoot, dude. You could go by specs, but that tells you a baseline...there's all sorts of variation.

BTW, what value of pot do you have in there? You can change that a bit...if you're using 500K or something like that, a 250K should bleed more highs off. Just a thought.

Good luck
Farkus

 

[MikeE]

Re: Pick up like EB Axis

Thanks for the replies so far.

I understand this is not going to sound exactly like an Axis and that's OK. I was looking to get close. Because the builder is requesting that I use a SD pick-up as an example I was hoping someone could steer me in the right direction.

Although the TZ and JB have similar outputs, coils and magnets; they seem voiced quite different. The TZ is dark and emphasizes low and low-mid frequencies. The JB seems the opposite where the high and high mids are emphasized.

The guitar does have a 500k volume pot.

And thanks RG 2570 for the PM offer. I may take you up on that if I can't get a pick-up I'm looking for.

Mike E

 

[BornToShred]

Re: Pick up like EB Axis

DM Tone Zone should do the trick.
The JB has similar specs, but the voicing is completely different.

 

[MikeE]

Re: Pick up like EB Axis

DM Tone Zone should do the trick.
The JB has similar specs, but the voicing is completely different.

I know the TZ is closest but the builder is requesting that I compare it to a SD pick-up.

I would like something that has a little less bass and is more articulate than the TZ. Any ideas what SD what fit this description?

Mike E.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Re: Pick up like EB Axis

I swapped out the bridge pup in my EBMM Axis for a Rio Grande BBQ and haven't looked back! It's a much tighter with sweet mids and softer highs. Great for both rhythm and lead playing IMO. It really sounds great!

 

[MikeE]

Re: Pick up like EB Axis

I swapped out the bridge pup in my EBMM Axis for a Rio Grande BBQ and haven't looked back! It's a much tighter with sweet mids and softer highs. Great for both rhythm and lead playing IMO. It really sounds great!

That was something I was looking into if the custom pick-up didn't work out. I read a lot of positive comments on the BBQ and it sounds like a great pick-up. Are there any SD pick-ups that might compare to that one?

 

[kaknight]

Re: Pick up like EB Axis

It might be that your guitar's body is different enough in materials or weight that it is producing a different tone than the axis would.

If I get what you are saying, you found that your maker's "JB" was too dang bright and high focused for your taste, yet, the TZ is too dang dark. You want the same output level, but not the same tone?

that probably puts you into the category of the Custom "family" (custom, Custom 5, or Custom Custom). These all have more mids and bottom then the JB. The custom, IMHO is the most balanced of the three. It has a lot of output, and has plenty of bass, mids, and treble. the C5, sounds like a super powered PAF. It has scooped mids, and heaps of bass. there is quite a bit of treble to it too, but nothing like the JB. this might give you more bass response than an normal Axis pup. the CC is more mid focused. It has a lot of output, but is generally pretty warm. the treble and bass are reduced compared to the other two.

My intuition tells me that a JB, a REAL JB really is the closest thing to what you are looking for that SD sells. I own an axis, and while mine is the P90 version, I spent a lot of time trying the HB versions before I chose it. These guitars don't inherently have a lot of bass. the bridge seems to have a wide open airy feel with lots of output. I used to own a guitar with a JB in it, and that is exactly what I got out of it.

Maybe you could say something like "can you make this pup like what you already gave me, same output, same open feel, just less treble?" If not, perhaps you could think about him wind you an EVH custom wound model. then you can sell that and buy two or three used pickups and try them all out.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Pick up like EB Axis

Maybe you could have the builder replace the magnet with an Alnico II magnet and see if that solves anything before he rewinds it and you go on a pickup hunt.

 

[MikeE]

Re: Pick up like EB Axis

kaknight, your response was very helpful. I think you really understood my issue. I'm going to tell the builder to make it like a Custom or a cross between the custom and JB.

Jolly, I'll ask him what magnets he uses and see what his opinion is on what would work best for my "tone quest".

Thanks everyone for your help,

Mike E.

 

[zak]

Re: Pick up like EB Axis

I dont think any of the higher output SD pickups will do what you want, as they all tend to be quite bright. The only exception is the CC, which is much darker and more mid focused, though IMO not as well defined-sounding as most other higher output pups.
I understand that you are keen to get duncans, but in this case i would look at the BBQ (sounds like a good suggestion) and maybe a dimarzio Air Zone.

The JB has a high-mid peak which can feel quite harsh, and the custom is brighter than a JB. I really dont think either of those would work in that guitar.
good luck!

 

[RG 2570]

Re: Pick up like EB Axis

in this case i would look at the BBQ (sounds like a good suggestion) and maybe a dimarzio Air Zone.

dimarzio said the air zone is the closest production pup to the axis one

 

[MikeE]

Re: Pick up like EB Axis

and the custom is brighter than a JB

I have no expierence with the Cusom, but it looks like it should have more bass than a JB.


Mike E.