Steve Morse, Axis, or Silouhette

[Suneo]

Hi guys,

i'm thinking about getting another MM, in addition to my JP.
personally, i like to have the SM, but also not sure if i should consider the axis and silouhette.

i've never tried any of those (checked out guitarcenter around my area, and they only carry few axis). so if any of u can elaborate wot each of these sounds like, it'd be really appreciated.

btw, i love the JP neck. Does any of those mentioned above come any close, for playability?

Thank you much!

 

[azazael]

No none of them are like the JP neck.
Get an Axis.

 

[GWDavis28]

Suneo, where are you located, maybe there are forum member near by that can let you try out what they, to see if it works for you. Or maybe they know of other sellers, other than GC, that has other models.

You really need to try them for yourself to make sure it's gonna work for you in the end.

Azazael is right none of the other models necks are like the JP. I personally couldn't bond with the JP neck, too wide for me. But I love my AL, Silo Specials and Axis Sport.

Good luck, Glenn |B)

 

[fbecir]

It depends really on the expectations you have.
With a Morse, you have humbuckers like on a JP but you have also single coils. It will give you new sounds (country for instance).
On the other hand, if you take an Axis with humbuckers, you will not change a lot your perspective. But you can also try something different : an Axis with P90.
In this case, you will have really a different feel / sound.

In term of playability, all the EBMM are great guitars so you cannot go wrong with them.

Happy shopping !

 

[Trent]

The JP neck is like an Ibanez neck.
Wide, Flat and Thin.
You need to check out the Morse and Axis necks for yourself to see if you like them as they are VERY Different.

 

[paranoid70]

I love the Silhouette guitar. The neck is different, but I think you would really love it. If a body contour matters to you, the Silhouette has one, but the Morse and Axis do not.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

The answer is that nobody can tell you.

I've played every EBMM model and each is so different from the next it's like saying "I have a Corvette and really want something else that I'd like. Should I next get a motor boat, an airplane or a cucumber?".

 

[bbake1]

Why not a Reflex? Versatile, forearm contour, & great neck.

 

[Stratty316]

buy all three! you are going to eventually...

 

[Astrofreq]

Axis

 

[threeminutesboy]

try them that's the only way, a lot of us have been through that path.

Get them second hand try them. Sell them if you don't like them that's the only way you can really try a guitar

That being said, the Axis is close in term of PUPs configuration I would go with a Silhouette personally to get that strat sound that is always useful

now if I may, and if You stick to the Axis try an AL HH I guess you wont be disappointed either

 

[Chaka5150]

allright..first i'll get the fact that i'm clearly biased right out there... I have always been ultra picky with the feel/action of guitar necks since day one. my first guitar was a kramer niteswan that had a very slender neck and extremely easy to play. even though i have pretty big hands,I don't like to play guitars that have baseball bats for necks...i remember reading online somewhere a review of the axis and compared it to a jp6. i have both and i wanted the jp6bfr specifically for a wider neck that had a different feel altogether. the quote i remember (not exact wording-more what i took from it)with regards to the axis was if you want a straight rock n' roll guitar that you can pick up and just play effortlessly without any thought to playing around with pickup selector/knobs etc...and just get an all around great tone... get the axis. the birds eye maple neck is narrow with a less pronounced radius compared to the jp6. with my big mits i virtually choke the neck it is so narrow. but it is so incredibly easy to play...action IMHO is unparalleled. i love the gunstock rubbed oil on the maple neck...wish my jp6 bfr was similar in that respect.

 

[Suneo]

Many thanks for you feedback!

i like SM for its versatility, as well as he's one of my guitar hero (although having played his guitar wont make me play like him).
i didnt consider the axis at the beginning since i first thought that its sound wouldn't be much different from my JP. i look at it again when i've seen a guy in youtube playing it. the tone is super great, it can rock as well as can do sth quite funky and a bit jazzy.
lastly since i'v heard that the silouhette is also as versatile as SM, that's y i think i should not leave it out of the choices.

having read all the replies, i get an impression that i'll have to find the way to try them all...
I'm located in Troy, Michigan and i think the nearby GC only has a few axis. i have no idea if other places would have other MM guitar. if anyone knows, let me know.

 

[Slingy]

The Morse plays better for me than the Axis hardtail, because of the way my hand can lay slightly behind the tuneomatic bridge, it rules for fast picked palm mutes. I also like the neck better. The Axis has tone for days and is a real rocker too. Either is a good score.

 

[shredhed]

buy all three! you are going to eventually...

......nik,nik,nik

 

[NewLukeGuy]

The answer is that nobody can tell you.

I've played every EBMM model and each is so different from the next it's like saying "I have a Corvette and really want something else that I'd like. Should I next get a motor boat, an airplane or a cucumber?".

That's a classic quote bro! Totally understand what you are talking about here.

I love my Morse. But you won't know yourself until you try one.

 

[CHill]

I'm not sure what you should do...

 

[Colin]

I highly recommend the Y2D Morse

 

[browndog]

You’ll love them all but the Axis get all my love.

I picked up a new Axis last Thursday. I went 6 months without one.

I was instantly reminded of what I had been missing. Loving it!

 

[Suneo]

Guys,

just to let you guys know that i finally got a chance to try these axes. the silo is just as expected, very stratty sound and comfortable, and i almost bought it.....i didnt though coz i wanted to try other ones.
i couldn't find the Steve Morse, but got a chance to try the 25th anniversary; great gear, but maybe a bit too complicated for me for 10 different sounds+a little too pricey...the last one i tried is the axis super sport bfr in tobacco burst (its look already got me before putting my hands on), the neck is great, fast, and i luv it...i also just know today that the finish on the neck feels a bit different from other MM guitar (maybe just for me). The only thing i wanna know more about this axe (i didnt take it home yet) is the string gauge; i found 9p a bit too thin and the sound didnt sustain as i'd like to, so i wonder if i wanna change to 10p string, is there anything needed to be changed (spring??)?

side question, is the bfr still in production these days? in other words, if i didnt buy this one today, but wait for another year let say, will i still be able to find it?

Cheers!