What's going to be the big difference Tone wise- Axis Super Sport vs. JP6?

**Bkilla39** · 03-17-2011, 03:53 PM

So I have been scouring this forum for quite some time, and doing a lot of research, and I have decided to purchase a Music Man guitar. My boss at work turned me onto them when he let me use his JP6 (Im a guitar teacher) for a day. Awesome play, love the piezo, a ton of room to get way up past the 12th fret and solo... all together I made my decision that day that I was going to get a JP6... or Music Man guitar.

That being said I know the obvious differences between the 2 guitars, JP6 has 24 frets, slightly thinner neck, both Dimarzio humbuckers but I think the JP6 has different ones.

My main question is what is the big difference tone-wise? or are there any other differences I am missing? I play a lot of styles of music, a little bit of metal, but mostly Rock. a little bit of blues, alternative, funk, you name it. So would one guitar fit my needs better than the other? I got them priced out and Im going to spend about the same, only difference being I dig the finish options I have on the Axis SS. Any help would be appreciated, I plan on putting in the order some time this upcoming week.

Thanks,
Brennan

p.s. judging by the styles I listed above, Im better off going with humbuckers over the mm90 pickups for the Axis SS yea?

**fbecir** · 03-17-2011, 04:00 PM

Hello Brennan and welcome aboard

I do not own a JP so it's hard for me to tell you the differences between a JP and an ASS. But don't rule out the ASS with MM90 ! The MM90 are really great and you can play metal with them !

**Bluplirst** · 03-17-2011, 04:27 PM

If you liked the spacing of the jp6, the axis neck might be too narrow for you. Try before you buy. The pickups in the jp are more midrangey and hotter than the Axis', which are more balanced. The middle position of the jp6 would give you a better clean funk tone, but in my opinion the axis has better blues (neck pickup) and rock tones (not metal).

**radrock** · 03-17-2011, 06:23 PM

I'd have to say the Axis has KILLER metal tones.

**ScoobySteve** · 03-17-2011, 06:41 PM

The answer to your question is Reflex. Try one!!

**Slingy** · 03-17-2011, 11:35 PM

For your needs for mainly rock and variety I would go for the Axis Super Sport over the JP. The 5 way lever gives you some diverse tones that will work well for funk and blues and rock up to heavy metal.

**Bkilla39** · 03-18-2011, 03:29 AM

well there's some diverse answers here, but thanks for all the input guys... still not positive what Im going to get, but I think Im leaning towards the Axis SS at this point. I have played both the JP6 and the Axis, haven't played a Reflex before.

**beej** · 03-18-2011, 06:28 AM

Tone-wise, they're both great. The Axis SS has a few more parallel tones, but that's not the biggest deal. The big difference is really the necks ... they are very different. Personally I'd make the decision based on what feels the best to play.

Btw, the Reflex is also a HH guitar, but it's chambered, with a 5-way switch, and also has a series/parallel toggle (and you can order them with the "Gamechanger" wiring so you can get any combination of any coils on the fly). It's arguably the most versatile of the bunch, though it can get very close to a lot of those Axis SS tones. But again, a slightly different neck profile, so you'd want to play it first. (Similar to a Silhouette Special.)

**Jack FFR1846** · 03-18-2011, 06:42 AM

Keep in mind that if you need a 24 fret guitar, your choices are a JP or a Silhouette.

**Bkilla39** · 03-18-2011, 05:30 PM

Im going to try and check out some youtube videos with the different pick-ups and see if I can make a better assessment on the mm90's. The only youtube video I saw this guy was playing some really "twangy" sounding stuff with them. Thanks for the input Fbecir

**Bkilla39** · 03-18-2011, 05:34 PM

Im not opposed to going with a reflex, but I am located in Southern California and the GC in my area doesn't have any of those unfortunately... I don't know of any smaller shops that carry high end guitars around here, all the smaller shops carry extremely cheap stuff unfortunately. I played an Axis at the guitar center, but not an axis super sport. and like I said I played my boss' JP6.... I will let you guys know what I end up going with, and post some pics when it gets here in 3-4 months... ohhhh the waiting game begins.

**KoreyD** · 03-19-2011, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by Bkilla39

p.s. judging by the styles I listed above, Im better off going with humbuckers over the mm90 pickups for the Axis SS yea?

I have an axis ss mm90. From your comments, I think you're on the right path going humbuckers if you go the axis route. I love my ss, and I dig the variety the mm90's bring vs. my other guitars, but I think you'll get more versatility out of the humbuckers. Setup (amps, effects, etc.,) variations seem almost endless these days, but for my 2 cents, the mm90s are not my choice for metal type tones. That said, I love them for LOTS of other styles/tones. Happy hunting!

**ScoobySteve** · 03-19-2011, 03:34 AM

Originally Posted by Bkilla39

Im not opposed to going with a reflex, but I am located in Southern California and the GC in my area doesn't have any of those unfortunately... I don't know of any smaller shops that carry high end guitars around here, all the smaller shops carry extremely cheap stuff unfortunately. I played an Axis at the guitar center, but not an axis super sport. and like I said I played my boss' JP6.... I will let you guys know what I end up going with, and post some pics when it gets here in 3-4 months... ohhhh the waiting game begins.

I see you're in Temecula, so you're a bit far from the well stocked Guitar Centers. I lived in Tustin, Downey and L.A. Your best shots are the Fountain Valley GC and the Hollywood GC if you can manage the hour or 1.5 hour drive. If you're investing over 1.5k in a guitar you might as well make the 30 dollar investment in gas and time.

I've played a ASS at the FV GC and the Hollywood GC is very well stocked in EBMM's. For the versatility I can't endorse the Reflex/25th Anniversary enough. It's so versatile and has such wide range. I understand your situation very well. My first EBMM was a JP6 because I got to play a buddie's and it was amazing. After having it for 6 months, I ended up trading it in for a 25th because I needed more tones and more versatility. Again, the JP6 is a stud of a guitar, especially with Piezo, but it can't get more HH versatility than a Reflex.

The series/parallel switch is very deceptive in the way people perceive it. Yes it is 10 distinct tones off a 5 way switch in Series/Parallel but in Parallel mode (a lot in itself), but the guitar also becomes more sensitive to pick attack and is easier to shape with the tone knob. There's a lot of tones in this beast. If you're willing to wait for a Gamechanger, more power to you. Which is only available so far in the Reflex model.

I know I'm pushin' the hard sale, but I love my 25th. Never let's me down, and I always find something more to keep liking about it. Like a great book.

**Bkilla39** · 03-19-2011, 11:59 PM

thanks for all the great posts guys. Yea our GC here isn't all that great... Maybe I'll see if the San Marcos one has any Reflex's, not as bad a drive and that one is usually pretty well stocked. Thanks again for the all the input guys, its very appreciated!

**Bkilla39** · 03-28-2011, 12:27 AM

Ordered up my music-man on Thursday! Decided to stick with the Axis Super Sport, thanks again for all the advice guys.
Got it in Translucent Gold, with the HH pickups, with piezo and tremolo... Now I just have to wait 3-4 months for the thing to get here haha