10 Reasons Why I Don't Like The Evh / Axis

[FatCat]

I love my MM guitars so much that just to keep it fair I decided to start this thread about things I don't like about them. Let's see...


1. Sometimes the neck is a little too small for me. Being a rough player, sometimes I knock the low E off the fretboard (or, maybe I just stink ).

2. I don't like the cheapo plastic pot and spring covers on the back.

3. The finish is so damn nice (and I paid alot for it) that I'm afraid to toss it around like I do my Strat.

4. It doesn't really look like a jazz guitar. (when I'm in the mood to play some jazz, the MM just doesn't look cool) Can you imagine Joe Pass with this thing around his neck?

5. It's too light. Sometimes I forget I have it on and slam the headstock into the wall. (I also often fall asleep with it still on my back).

6. The tuners are way too nice. What's the use for them if you have a Floyd Rose?

7. The nice raw wood neck needs too much attention. It's sorta like having a high maintenance girl friend (or wife).

8. The EVH's just keep going up and up in price. This is not good because I want another one!

9. It stays in tune so well that I now have to throw away my tuners.

10. Everybody thinks you like Van Halen (okay, so I do...)

 

[Jimi D]

uh, lessee...

1. One is not enough...

2. Actually, two are not enough...

3. um... Three's better, but still not enough...

4... well, you get the picture...

(EB/MM Axis Guitars - Collect the Whole Set! )

 

[dwf1004]

OK, so a little point/counterpoint for you here...just my take on your points, and not trying to offend, p*ss ya off, etc. -- just my take:

1. Sometimes the neck is a little too small for me. Being a rough player, sometimes I knock the low E off the fretboard (or, maybe I just stink ).

- I do the same thing from time to time...it seems that we both stink.

2. I don't like the cheapo plastic pot and spring covers on the back.

- Not too concerned about the pot covers, they don't get in the way too much, but the spring covers always annoyed me...YANK!

3. The finish is so damn nice (and I paid alot for it) that I'm afraid to toss it around like I do my Strat.

- I treat mine like glass, and when I find/cause a scratch, I fall into a deep depression, and don't eat for days.

4. It doesn't really look like a jazz guitar. (when I'm in the mood to play some jazz, the MM just doesn't look cool) Can you imagine Joe Pass with this thing around his neck?

- You'd have to wonder why he's wearing it around his neck, and not on his shoulder? (Sorrry, stupid one, but I had to! ) No matter the look, can you get a good jazz SOUND out of it? I get some pretty decent sounds with it for that type of music with the neck pickup. It's not designed for that, but you can tinker with it a bit.

5. It's too light. Sometimes I forget I have it on and slam the headstock into the wall. (I also often fall asleep with it still on my back).

- Light = GOOD, bursitis from heavy guitar = BAD. It also seems that you're just as klutzy as me.

6. The tuners are way too nice. What's the use for them if you have a Floyd Rose?

- They're the standard non-locking "on every EBMM" tuners, don't think there's too much play in the decision there. I like them, though.

7. The nice raw wood neck needs too much attention. It's sorta like having a high maintenance girl friend (or wife).

- All I can say is: you take care of it, it'll take care of you!

8. The EVH's just keep going up and up in price. This is not good because I want another one!

- Watch eBay like a hawk...a used purple flame top, probably 9 of 10 condition w/original G&G hardshell case (with no reserve) went earlier this week for $1038.00!

9. It stays in tune so well that I now have to throw away my tuners.

- That's bad!?!?!?

10. Everybody thinks you like Van Halen (okay, so I do...)

- Yeah, but that message gets conveyed more when you plug into a Peavey 5150 as well (like me), moreover, the message is conveyed that you're trying to BE EVH. I play the two together because I love the kinds of tone that I can get from them. I rarely do any of the obvious Van Halen-isms in the attempt to do MY style.

Liking VH isn't a bad thing; if it is, then I'm doing a VERY bad thing by having them as my faves.

 

[FatCat]

Watch eBay like a hawk...a used purple flame top, probably 9 of 10 condition w/original G&G hardshell case (with no reserve) went earlier this week for $1038.00!

Wow, a fire sale! I would've bought that in a heartbeat and flipped it for a quick profit. Purple's not my thing.


I used to have a 5150, but it always sounded sterile and contrived to me (kind of like solid state). My favorite amp now is a Marshall 2210. It really nails the EVH Van Roth tone (for me) with no effects whatsoever. Add a phaser or flanger and it's really scary how close it sounds.

I could never get a good sound out of the 5150, but now that my friend has one, I wish I wouldn't have sold it. It's a different kind of sound.

Of course we all know that Eddie's got a bunch of Marshall's underneath the stage under the 5150 faux amps.

 

[dwf1004]

"I could never get a good sound out of the 5150, but now that my friend has one, I wish I wouldn't have sold it. It's a different kind of sound."

I always found that the tubes that were in it factory were part of the issue. I retubed with JJ tubes at the beginning of Jan, and man, it has really opened 'er up a lot!

But again, to each their own...

 

[FatCat]

I always found that the tubes that were in it factory were part of the issue. I retubed with JJ tubes at the beginning of Jan, and man, it has really opened 'er up a lot!

But again, to each their own...

Yes, I use JJ's in all of my amps. I put them in the 5150 head too but still couldn't dial what I was looking for. I don't know which 5150 you have, but they are all kind of different also.

I had a 5150 combo which I loved but sold it because I couldn't afford to keep it at the time. The combo was much warmer sounding than the head. I had them both at the same time so it was easy to compare. Big difference in tone.

 

[dwf1004]

Well, we share a common interest in tubes, so that's good.

I have a block letter 5150; directly from the knowledgeable Peavey folks, the only difference with the 5150's, block or signature, is just that -- the screened lettering on the front.

Seems that E(lectro) V(oice) had an EVH product line out at the same time, and they filed suit against them for trademark infringement. (Why Eddie didn't turn around an nail THEM for trying to patent HIS initials is beyond me! ) The 5150 II is a whole different monster, and then obviously the combo, which is based off of the original.

It's appreciated of you mentioning your affinity about the warmth of the combo, as I've been contemplating selling my 1/2 stack and getting one of those, but have never played through one. I can tell you that it'd be a lot easier for an out of shape old guy like me to carry that around instead of the cab/head. That input about the combo helps a lot, man. Seriously...thanks.

I resolved my "dialing" issue with a 31-band rackmount EQ (a little overkill, I know, but I'm a control freak!), and using that as the main EQ, with the 3-band on the head, plus the resonance and presence to help put it "over the top"...pure sweetness.

 

[FatCat]

It's appreciated of you mentioning your affinity about the warmth of the combo, as I've been contemplating selling my 1/2 stack and getting one of those, but have never played through one. I can tell you that it'd be a lot easier for an out of shape old guy like me to carry that around instead of the cab/head. That input about the combo helps a lot, man. Seriously...thanks.

Don't kid yourself. The combo is a monster. At roughly 98 lbs, I had to put casters on mine. It's every bit as bulky and cumbersome as lugging around a 4 x 12 (of course, without the head).

I used to plug mine into a Marshall 2 x12 and had, in effect a, stereo half stack.

Go try one out, you won't be disappointed. I purchased mine used and sold it for more than I paid for it.