Axis Super Sport wiring mods please

[Danydad]

Hi All, I have an MM ASS which I am really enjoying playing.
However, I have 2 questions if any of you knuckle heads out there can be of any assistance:

1. What is the intended effect of pup position 2 and 4? They seem to have quite a strong tele/strat vibe; is that the general idea? These sounds are radically different to the more conventional LP type 1, 3, 5 positions (so much so that some degree re-EQing is required) almost Parker Fly type sterile dare I say
   
2. Are there any reversible wiring mods that any of you guys know of that are tried and tested? Perhaps allowing the neck pup (and bridge pup) to be coil tapped but used individually? I am open to any sensible suggestions really although ideally, I would like to keep the ASS standard options intact but add some other options to my palette! Descriptions of the sonic effects of any suggested mods would obviously be very helpful and most welcome

I am currently using the guitar to play in the orchestra for a theater production and am looking for the greatest possible range of sonic possibilities. Basically, I would like to be able to cover all the classic Gibson and Fender tones as far as reasonably possible! Don't want much huh

[beej]

On the Super Sport, 2 & 4 give you a single coil-ish vibe, as you've described. They're similar, though inside vs outside coils gives you different sounds. Just something to complement the humbucker tones.

As far as mods go, you've got all the standard things you can do to two buckers. You can use either p'up with just one coil (though you'll get some hum), wire the 'buckers in parallel (sounds great with those), out of phase stuff, etc. So it really depends what you're going for.

In addition to what's already there, it's not uncommon to add a coil split for either bucker. You could wire it up to a push/pull pot, or if you don't use one of the other switch positions you could put it there. Lots of options.

That said, it's a great guitar as is. So if you like it and it ain't broke ...

[sixtyfour]

I found the 2 and 4 positions to be too similar so I kept the 4th position as-is while the 2nd position is the neck pickup split. In fact, beej here was the one who help me out with a diagram. It's a very simple mod that involves desoldering a single connection so it's good for iron-challenged people like me.

beej - how much rewiring would be involved in keeping every position original but get the neck HB coils in parallel in position 4? If it's a major re-wire, I won't touch it since my soldering sucks big time.

[beej]

Originally Posted by sixtyfour

beej - how much rewiring would be involved in keeping every position original but get the neck HB coils in parallel in position 4? If it's a major re-wire, I won't touch it since my soldering sucks big time.

If it's just the neck HB in parallel in #4 and the bridge isn't connected at all, it's doable.

It's not major surgery, but you'd have to move a few wires around, so a bit messy.

[sixtyfour]

thanks, beej.

If I ever feel the need to screw up my guitar, I'll drop you a line, if you don't mind.

I like the split neck by itself but there is some noise. Since I mostly use that position when playing clean or low-gain, it's not that big an issue.

[beej]

Another option is to find a used Silent Circuit and wire it in for the split coil positions. I do that on my Morse & Y2D, works pretty well.

[Danydad]

Originally Posted by beej

As far as mods go, you've got all the standard things you can do to two buckers. You can use either p'up with just one coil (though you'll get some hum), wire the 'buckers in parallel (sounds great with those), out of phase stuff, etc. So it really depends what you're going for.

In addition to what's already there, it's not uncommon to add a coil split for either bucker. You could wire it up to a push/pull pot, or if you don't use one of the other switch positions you could put it there.

Thanks beej. Quite interested in the above options although I must confess I am a complete novice when it comes to the jargon. I wonder if you could possibly help by explaining the whole series/parallel thing please.
Also, you mention using "just one coil" in one of your scenarios and then, in another, you mention adding a "coil split"; is that not the same thing

....and, what sort of sound does wiring the 'bukers in parallel produce? I am interested as you say that this option sounds great with these particular p'ups.

[beej]

Ah, sorry. Yes, using one coil is the same as a coil split. Basically you can select either coil from either humbucker, and use them on their own. The downside is hum, which is why EBMM has them wired up in parallel with another single coil in those 2 & 4 positions.

HBs in parallel usually sound close to split coils, except it's a humbucking configuration. Not exactly, but close. The differences are less noticeable as soon as you start playing with a bit of gain.

If you can find a 25th Anniversary guitar to try, it has a series/parallel switch. Should sound very close to your Axis SSPT.

[Danydad]

Hi again beej
I've been spending time with the guitar and reviewing my options and I think what I'd like to do is to be able to have both the neck and bridge p'ups function in parallel and also be able to coil tap the neck p'up. I still want to keep the normal options that the Axis SS has as standard but I am prepared to lose position 2 or 4 if this makes it logistically more possible to do the mods without the need to mod the guitar other than modify the wiring and add a push-pull pot.
Beej, would you be able to offer me specific guidance in how the work should be done. I would be very grateful!
Regards
Danydad

[Jack FFR1846]

I'm not sure how the supersport 5 way switch is wired (my ASS has MM90's), but push-pull pots can help out quite a bit.

[Danydad]

Thanks Jack. Anybody else able to help out? Anyone done these mods (or something like) and is able to comment on the results and give me some pointers?

Beej comments that the ASS humbuckers work particularly well when wired in parallel; does anyone have any testimonies.

Did some background reading and learnt that coil taps don't sound quite like a true single coil p'up as the individual single coils that make up most humbuckers are not the same as true single coils; may have less windings etc. Anyone know more?

Jeepers, sorry for all the questions!

[beej]

Best bet to hear the series/parallel wiring in action is to try the EBMM 25th Anniversary guitar. They're readily available now, there are also quite a few youtube vids showing the various sounds. Same p'ups so you're going to get a similar sound. (Though the body construction and bridge saddles are different.)

Yep, the individual coils in a humbucker are generally different than your standard single coil. There are a lot of variables to play with- bobbin size, wire diameter, magnet types, etc. Everybody does things a bit differently. In general, a best-of-breed single is always going to sound better than a split humbucker. They're just designed for a different purpose. They also usually sit at a different along the length of the guitar, so they're sensing something slightly different.

The bottom line is there's no perfect way to get single coil and humbucking tones from one guitar. You can put a zillion p'ups in there (like the Steve Morse), wire up coil splits or try series/parallel. Each approach is a bit different.

As to your wiring question- it's complicated. The best way to add series/parallel switching to that configuration would be to use the wiring diagram from the 25th. Essentially you add a 2-way toggle that puts the 5-way switch in either a series or parallel combination of coils that the 5-way selects. But there are certainly other ways to do it. I used to have a 3-way toggle for series/split/parallel in my Morse. You could do that, but the 5-way lever isn't going to work right, makes more sense with a 3-way lever, etc.

If you can live without a tone control, you could put the switch in the hole. If not, you can try push/pulls but you would need two of them- one for each humbucker. (They don't have any many lugs as the toggle switch you would use would.)

[threeminutesboy]

Originally Posted by beej

If you can live without a tone control, you could put the switch in the hole. If not, you can try push/pulls but you would need two of them- one for each humbucker. (They don't have any many lugs as the toggle switch you would use would.)

was thinking about the same thing on a regular ASS (non Piezo) remove the tone knob and put a 25th switch there and use a cocentric pot for volume and tone.

I'm still in 2 minds about butching mine (Piezo) especially since I have the RW neck that sounded killer at the last rehearshal (thanks again Jason for that)