New guy - Reflex or Axis with mm90's

[caballero59]

Hello, I'm new here. I've been playing a Hotrod Tele for a few years and was interested in something a little more versatile. My first choice was an Axis Super Sport with MM90's and piezo bridge, but then I discovered the Reflex Game Changer. I patrolled the forum pretty heavily but I still have questions. Was hoping that some one could offer an opinion on tones between the Reflex Game Changer and Axis with MM90's. I like both single coil and humbucker sounds but if I had to choose, I find the single coil a bit more versatile for what I do.

Also wanted to mention, I've never been that crazy over the mini neck humbucker in the hotrod tele. It always seemed a little muddy to me.

Regards

 

[caballero59]

Perhaps I can ask the question this way. Even thought the reflex provides more versatility, does the single coil tones from the coil split sound anemic compared to the Tele or the MM90 Axis?

 

[jones4tone]

I can't answer your question from first-hand experience, as I've not (yet!) played a Game Changer. But I don't think the single coil tones would be anemic in any sense.

If you watch at least the first 3:00 or so of this video, you can see that Blues Saraceno has his bank 2 set up in what he describes as a strat-like configuration.

I'm sure some others can weigh in with personal experience.

 

[DrKev]

The MM90s are stunningly delicious sounding pickups. If you are used to a Tele and want something not a million miles away, Axis with MM90s would be an excellent choice. But it won't be a tele.

If I recall correctly the HH Gamechanger guitar has two DiMarzio humbuckers, the same ones used in the Axis/EVH guitars, and they sound amazing. When I tested the HH Game Changer a few years back, I lied all the tones I heard, but I did not compare against a single coil guitar. The HSH version has custom humbuckers voiced for optimum single coil and humbucking tones (whatever that means). On that basis, I would suggest you get the HSH Game Changer if you decide against the MM90 path.

 

[dalto]

I don't have a game changer but the ASS MM90 was my first EBMM guitar and it is fantastic. I spent 6 months waiting for a nice Albert Lee MM90 to come up because I liked those MM90s so much.

That being said, if I wanted something like a Tele but more versatile I would definitely recommend taking a look at the Valentine.

 

[caballero59]

It almost sounds like the preference here is for the mm90's. From reading comments, it looks like the Reflex also has some nice sounds from the chambered body but I don't know if I could hear the difference in a A/B test in a band mix. The Versatility of the Reflex is nice but is far far more than I need. I need several different basic sounds but not thousands of sounds, and in which many sound virtually the same. I have a traditional bent also which makes me suspicious of the electronics in the Reflex . The Reflex Game Changer is a couple of hundred cheaper and money is an issue. I plan to sell the Fender and just have one electric to play so I need to have the "right" one. This is mainly for open mic stuff and I'm only taking one guitar and going direct into the PA with a Tech 21 Blonde Deluxe and British Character pedal to keep things as simple as possible.

 

[beej]

IMO, they're different animals. I have an Axis Sport MM90 and a 25th (basically the HH Reflex, without the Gamechanger switching). I love them both, but they feel and play differently. Since I have the HH version (not the HSH which you can get), I'd favour the Axis Sport. With the HSH it'd be a tougher call.

For pure single coil tones, I'd go with the Axis MM90. You get a meaty, overwound kind of single coil sound, but with the glassy, chimey DNA of a single coil. Sounds great clean, with a bit of dirt, and fully gained out (though that's where you get hum, even with the Silent Circuit). With only two pickups, the parallel position gets you more of a tele in-between sound than strat 'quack'.

If you prefer humbucker tones but with the option to get better clean tones, I'd go with the Reflex. The humbuckers are great and sound excellent in parallel, and the chambering gives it a really lively feel that makes it a joy to play. With the HSH Gamechanger, you can get stratty/quacky sounds from the in-between combination of single coils. For pure single coil sounds, I always find split humbuckers lack something compared to single coils, so that's the only potential negative.

You're probably going to be happy either way, but I'd definitely suggest playing them if you can to see how you like the neck, size, etc. Also keep in mind the MM90s have been discontinued so it might be harder to find what you want (new or used).

 

[jones4tone]

The piezo was also mentioned. You might find some NOS models with piezo pickups, but many of those were discontinued about 9 months ago. (The Axis SS and semi-hollow specifically are ones that no longer have that option.) I believe the only models with piezo today are Game Changer, Majesty, and many of the JP series. I play 3 EBMMs with piezo, and for things like the open mic night you mentioned, they offer a completely different tone, and are especially great blended with the magnetic pickups, in my experience.

But if true single coil sound is your chief desire, there are several other options in the EBMM lineup. Maybe you've already ruled them out, but the Albert Lee, Cutlass, Luke3 HSS, and Silhouette Special all have true singles. The Luke and Silo Special also have a humbucker in the bridge position, which would offer some versatility you say you're missing with the tele. (I believe that the Luke3 was one of the models that formerly offered a piezo, so perhaps you could track down a NOS or used L3 with that?)

So many great options; deciding is the hard part.

 

[caballero59]

This some great feedback. Going to go re-read and ponder before I make my final decision. I think either guitar will be ultimate. My idea is to run the magnetics through the Tech 21 Sansamp stuff and and then mix the Sansmp and the piezo outputs with the two-channel Dtar Solstice and then into the DI.

 

[Vincet68]

No one has mentioned it yet, but you might want check out the non-gamechanger Reflex. It's discontinued now, but they are still out on the market. Mine is my number one and gives me all the versatility I need - my backup is a PRS S2 Vela, another amazing guitar and between them, I get everything I need for the majority of my playing.


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[caballero59]

I think the standard Reflex would have plenty of versatility, but on the other hand, you won't pay much premium for the Game Changer if you buy it used.

One of the posters above mentioned that the Axis hollow body piezo is discontinued. Were they discontinued because of issues? The axis I was drooling over was a hollow body/mm90/piezo.

 

[dalto]

One of the posters above mentioned that the Axis hollow body piezo is discontinued. Were they discontinued because of issues? The axis I was drooling over was a hollow body/mm90/piezo.

No, it was a business decision to limit the number of different configurations produced. It had nothing to do with quality or reliability.

 

[jones4tone]

EBMM simplified their product matrix considerably last fall. My understanding is that many of the guitars had their available feature combinations and colors/finishes reduced as part of that. I don't think it was a matter of issues at all, just trying to simplify and improve their business performance, which I completely respect, even though many options were eliminated that I wish had been in my collection before they went away.

 

[beej]

Anything discontinued is due to lack of sales.

 

[Vincet68]

I think the standard Reflex would have plenty of versatility, but on the other hand, you won't pay much premium for the Game Changer if you buy it used.

If you can get similar price, then the Gamechanger would seem worth it - I always had the feeling I'd pretty much dial in what's on the standard's wiring - except for position 4 (inner coils series/parallel), which would be swapped out for out-of-phase options (Peter Green).

I can see a future where I take a Gamechanger on, but I really don't want another black guitar!


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[DrKev]

I can see a future where I take a Gamechanger on, but I really don't want another black guitar!

I hear you but isn't there a current thread about refnishing?

 

[caballero59]

If you can get similar price, then the Gamechanger would seem worth it - I always had the feeling I'd pretty much dial in what's on the standard's wiring - except for position 4 (inner coils series/parallel), which would be swapped out for out-of-phase options (Peter Green).

I can see a future where I take a Gamechanger on, but I really don't want another black guitar!


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For the same price, would you consider an HSH Game Changer or a super sport hollow body (natural finish) with MM90's to be the best value? Both have piezo bridges. Thanks

 

[caballero59]

No one has mentioned it yet, but you might want check out the non-gamechanger Reflex. It's discontinued now, but they are still out on the market. Mine is my number one and gives me all the versatility I need - my backup is a PRS S2 Vela, another amazing guitar and between them, I get everything I need for the majority of my playing.


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The more I think about this comment, the more I think I prefer a straight Reflex to the Game Changer. Trouble is I want a piezo and I'm not sure they made a piezo Reflex without the GC.

 

[jones4tone]

I have not seen a non-Game Changer Reflex with piezo, but can't say there never was one. You can find some Axis models (perhaps even NOS) with piezo on an HH configuration - similar body shape, but not chambered. There is the semi-hollow Axis Super Sport, though.

 

[caballero59]

I made a decision today. I appreciate all the input. I'm not a heavy player, country to songs like Green River (CCR) or Gimme Three Steps (Lynrd Skynrd) are about as distorted as it gets so I thought the MM90's would cover this ground pretty good. Even my Hotrod Tele does and if it would have had piezo bridge, I would have been pretty happy with it.

Used Ernie Ball Music Man Axis MMP90 Hollow Body Electric Guitar | Guitar Center