EBMM Axis (or other guitars) back...opinion

[franko5150]

Just curious, I was wondering why do they paint a lot of the back side of guitars a solid color instead of leaving them where we can see the grain of the wood? My personal preference is being able to see the grain, but I've noticed the guitars I'm interested in seem to have the back side painted a solid color.

 

[Stratty316]

On the Axis it is due to the basswood body. It isn't the prettiest wood and can sometimes have some discolorations that are not conducive to a high end guitar.

 

[franko5150]

On the Axis it is due to the basswood body. It isn't the prettiest wood and can sometimes have some discolorations that are not conducive to a high end guitar.

THanks. I wasn't aware of that. I just noticed that that was usually the case with the Axis guitars, which is what I'm interested in purchasing.

 

[banjoplayer]

I have a vintage gold reflex with a black back.
Often thought about how beautiful it could be with a transparent back, for example like a goldtop Les Paul, although it is not a mahogany body....

 

[franko5150]

I have a vintage gold reflex with a black back.
Often thought about how beautiful it could be with a transparent back, for example like a goldtop Les Paul, although it is not a mahogany body....

I've seen some of the roasted amber Axis guitars that have the transparent back. They look gorgeous.

 

[Sweat]

Plenty of examples of Axis and Axis Super Sports with transparent backs or backs painted a different color than black. The Axis tributes had a brown back, the hot rod red well had a red painted back, and others had stained, I have an Axis for sale that the back is quilted maple and stained.

 

[Stratty316]

Keith, most of the time when an Axis has a transparent back the body wood is not Basswood. Mahogany and Ash have been parts of limited edition runs and are often transparent finished. Additionally, basswood is apparently hard to stain and have it come out uniform.

 

[Sweat]

Yes basswood painted but other wood types not and plenty of examples out there

 

[franko5150]

Keith, most of the time when an Axis has a transparent back the body wood is not Basswood. Mahogany and Ash have been parts of limited edition runs and are often transparent finished. Additionally, basswood is apparently hard to stain and have it come out uniform.

Stratty316 I was unaware of that. Thanks for sharing. I was just curious because I love the grain on some guitars, but now that I think if that they're usually mahogany with maple top, NOT basswood with maple top. I learned something new today.

 

[tbonesullivan]

As others have said, it's due to the basswood body. Its a VERY popular tonewood, particularly for "shredder" type guitars. It's not really ugly, but it's really plain looking, and as others have said, often doesn't take colors / stains very well at all, requiring extra prep to make it look good. So, it's usually used under opaque finishes.

Another wood usually used with opaque finishes? Poplar, which has a greenish color and mineral streaks. The original Steve Morse guitars were opaque blueburst, but later they moved to a translucent one that looks great with the color of basswood.

 

[GoKart Mozart]

Another wood usually used with opaque finishes? Poplar, which has a greenish color and mineral streaks. The original Steve Morse guitars were opaque blueburst, but later they moved to a translucent one that looks great with the color of basswood.

Just to give a visual with tbone's explanation on the poplar...these are some drawer faces I put together for a desk a couple of years back; definite green hue and lots of streaks.

 

[Sweat]

Ernie Ball Music Man Axis Super Sport - Oxblood Quilt

This Axis Super Sport guitar is offered with a Figured Roasted Maple neck, 22 stainless steel frets, and Translucent Oxblood Burst top. The Super Sport retains all the classic features, including the ever-comfortable asymmetric neck shape, proprietary Ernie Ball Music Man vintage tremolo with...

shop.music-man.com

Ernie Ball Music Man Axis - Black Cherry Burst Double Trouble

This Vault Exclusive Axis guitar features a Basswood body with a beautiful Black Cherry Burst quilted Maple top and back double-bound with cream binding. The flame maple neck and fretboard is adorned with black dot inlays, 22 stainless steel frets, and DiMarzio humbuckers with gold pole pieces...

shop.music-man.com

Proof , many other options, many wood options on all EBMM

 

[fbecir]

The ASS MM90 has an ash body. But the back is black ...
But the most important is the figured maple top !

 

[tbonesullivan]

Just to give a visual with tbone's explanation on the poplar...these are some drawer faces I put together for a desk a couple of years back; definite green hue and lots of streaks.

Yep! Though on a Morse:

 

[Ventanaman]

I have a mahogany Axis SS (buckeye burl top) with a transparent back - looks great.