What's not to like about Balls?

[Big Jazzer]

This should hopefully just scrape under the radar

The question is what, if anything - please leap in if it is all good for you - would you like to see changed, or added to the Music Man experience?

I am 99.9% delighted with how it is all done.
What little I would change are the Axis logo, as I prefer the subtlety of the signature on the superseded EVH, the Axis being a bit dominant for my liking.
And the BFR 12th fret logo I would prefer to be on the rear, or anywhere but on the fretboard.
that's it.

An addition I would like to see is a version of the Axis with a direct mount stacked coil at the front for a narrower sound than the full blown bucker - such as the Fast Track 1 that previous roster user Vinnie Moore prefers.

not too painful, hence why I love them Balls.

 

[TNT]

Not sure if this ok or not, however, I think this thread "may" have a chance of survival, if the responders simply stay away from any form of negative criticism, and just state a "preferential" liking.

Man, that's a tough question!! Honestly, I really don't think there is anything that I would change on the Axis - the guitar is like perfect!!

Now in general (all guitars), I would like pickups to be "quick release" (yeah, just like the bicycle tires). This way we can pop different pickups in/out in a matter of seconds.

 

[brasco68]

Honestly, I really don't think there is anything that I would change on the Axis - the guitar is like perfect!!

This says it all for me.

To complain that the Axis logo is too dominant for your liking is (no offense)...quite silly.

 

[Slingy]

I can't think of anything. Really.

 

[Colin]

I'm happy to swap a standard Axis neck for the BFR neck?

 

[lukather101]

I wish they were alot cheaper so i could buy more

 

[Colin]

I wish they were alot cheaper so i could buy more

we all do, but you get what you pay for. Believe me these are worth every penny

 

[Smellybum]

we all do, but you get what you pay for. Believe me these are worth every penny

+100000000000

I've never spent so much money on any brand of guitars since I started playing but I don't grudge paying it as I knowthe quality and feel as well as tone will be consistantly high.

I don't have anything I don't like - I suppose they don't have a factory outlet next to my house?? - but that's pretty damn picky!

 

[Big Jazzer]

'silly' is not a word you can use without causing offence
I am happy to debate the reasons for my preference if you care to elaborate.

speaking of pick-up options, I have been looking longingly at these Seymour Duncan P-Rails for quite some time. they promise the ultimate in flexibility. switchable between full humbucker, P90, and a single rail. Put these in an Axis, with the base heights adjusted for balance, individual 3ways for each pick-up, and I'd be onto the dealer in a flash.

 

[browndog]

Love the Axis “as is”. Not a single change for me.

Being a graphic artist I like the Axis logo and would love to have the BFR inlay on my 12th fret.

 

[Stu-Pendus]

Would be nice if i had a coil tap switch on my Ass but guess i could do that myself realy.

 

[MetroGnome]

I would make it so I could fold it up and put it in my suitcase. Therefor I could play it when I'm in a hotel 4 days a week.

 

[mb99zz]

Agreed with another post -- just wish I could afford more

 

[Dante]

hey, i love guitars with set necks, and if EBMM made them, i'd probably buy them. of course, other brands have been making them for ages and therefore i have more than just EBMMs in my collection, which is good, because the variety allows me to focus on what a guitar does great instead of what it doesn't.

it's like... a les paul with a floyd rose: someone out there loves them but the consensus is that it's not very LP like.

i just love my EBMMs like they are. and just because we like something a little different doesn't mean BP has to start a whole new production line: my SM Y2D has emgs and is tuned to C, and it's the cat's *****.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

it's like... a les paul with a floyd rose: someone out there loves them but the consensus is that it's not very LP like.

Slav has (or had) a white one of these from another California guitar maker....

I was just in a guitar store today, playing a used Les Paul that had been somebody's project......sandblasted the quilt maple top, replaced the neck pu with a p-90 and bridge with what looked like a DiMarzio on a trim ring. Nice wood knobs with rubber O rings......pickup switch was an on/off switch and the volume/tone knobs were all changed around in location. Played pretty well, but was way overpriced for a project guitar. No floyd on that one. As BP has said many times.....don't mess with the guitar or you just throw it's value out the window.

 

[paranoid70]

24 Fret Silhouette with HSS. Not that I use those last two frets much any way, but there you go.

 

[straycat113]

Well if you start changing everything up it would not be the same company. First off there was a maker who made a guitar that had interchangeable pick ups, and to my recollection it did not set the guitar world on fire. The Axis I would have to say falls into the modern day classic category so I will not even go there, and as far as the BFR on the 12th fret I personally think it adds a touch of class, though I can understand if you do not like it as everyone has different taste in cosmetics. Personally I hate guitars that do not have fret markers, so I do not by them. Also I like my controls as simple as possible and do not need 40 tones coming from one guitar, though I may be on the short end of the stick here as if you took a poll more guys would probably like as many as they could get.

In todays world of about 100 guitar makers there is probably nothing you could want that could not be found. As I have stated before though I believe EBMM is doing the best job of turning out top shelf instruments and constantly offering new features that always keep things interesting which cannot be easy. Look at the last 7 new guitars issued by Gib### every one of them were a major dud and even guitar magazines which usually go easy on reviews, were seriously harsh. I must of said this 10 times but it seriously looked like they were designed by guys who saw one to many Grateful Dead concerts. So there are a lot of makers who are living solely on there past achievements. I guess the proof is in the pudding as you can see todays top players in just about every genre of music playing EBMM guitars, how many other companies can say the same.

 

[paranoid70]

Actually there really isn't anything I don't like. I wouldn't have 5 EBMM guitars/basses if they had a fatal flaw. There are some models I like more than others (Silhouette), but I still think they are all great instruments. I could have bought another brand, but EBMM guitars have exactly what *I* want, so that's why I play them.

BTW, straycat...... how many Grateful Dead concerts are too many?

 

[sambarugh]

I was just looking at some Morse's recently and thinking that I'm not sold on the look of the tailpieces...an insignificant detail I know but personally it's the only thing that bugs me on an otherwise great looking guitar.
As for the JP's....perfection...

 

[mojomkr]

"Paint it Pink" Music Man is the only guitar company that can

make me buy a Pink guitar. Logo & Branding, Well that's a company

decission and would not influence me when playing a quality guitar.

To me, a standard Music Man guitar off the shelf is = to a custom

shop from the big two. My BFR is so off the charts that I dont think

I could ever part with it or modify it in any way. If you didn't get "it"

the BFR logo is a wine label, meaning as to be like a fine bottle of wine.

I'm just upset because I'm addicted now and the withdrawl between

Namm shows and new Music Man guitar releases are hell like.