Design Issue with the EBMM Axis

[Fiesta Red]

I bought a couple of EBMM 30th Anniversary models. Wanted to keep one with stock pickups and put different ones in the second guitar. It's turning out that's not as easy as it sounds. This is a mount pickup directly to body setup , but unfortunately the cavity for the pickup is incredibly shallow -- a fraction over 1/2 inch. Short legs pickups are a little too close to the strings. In addition, the wiring from the neck pickup travels though the pickup bridge cavity allowing for even less space below the bridge pickup. I installed a DiMarzio Super Distortion but the pickup was too close to the strings with no way of lowering it. The SD is a bit of a thicker pickup than most.

It would seem there should be a "canyon" routed at the bottom of the bridge cavity to let the neck wire settle into so it doesn't interfere with the mounting of the bridge pickup. It also seems the bridge cavity should be deeper. I hate to get in there and do surgery.

Here are some pics.

 

[Alpha Stryke]

Time to breakout a pin router or Dremel if you want it to work. Not trerribly complicated but you'll void any warranty if one.
Ole hammer n chisel dat bish.
Never seen the neck pup wire under the bridge pup like that. Cheese-O-matic.

 

[Geo]

Can you just shop a pickup with the same dimensions as the one you took out?

 

[napalmdeath]

This is why I hate Wolfgangs. Especially if you need to shim a neck.

 

[itsme]

I think the stock pickups are perfect in those guitars. Obviously Ernie Ball does too?

 

[SoooRad]

yes this is a common complaint of the EVH/Axis models.