Adjusted Axis advice?? Help PLS!!!

[Schweineleber]

I'm about to buy a new axe and fancy the Music Man ofcourse very much (who wouldn't).....

In my search I stumbled uppon this one:

Here we have a beautiful Musicman Axis in the wonderful color Translucent Blue. This is what the insiders call the former Eddie Van Halen model. Serial number is G06767. This Axis is altered, it has the 2 super sounding EMG 85 black Humbuckers, which are active and has a volume and tone switch which also are push/pulls to get that single coil sound also. Very versatile in sound, also a 3 way mini toggle switch to choose between the pickups. Also it`s been re-fretted with Jumbo frets, the frets are brand new. The Floyd Rose Licensed tremelo is set the way it can move up and down,the neck plays really smooth, the action is OK. The guitar is in very good condition, one minor ding keeps it from being mint. These are highly appreciated handmade guitars and one of the most versatile guitars around. It comes including original good looking blond tolex case.

Price: €1350. See pics below!!

Could you advice me on this?

Is there any danger/ problems to be expected with the refretting of it?
Would any of you install EMG's?? (Maybe losing the whole EBMM sound)

And ofcourse...is the price ok??

She's a beauty isn't she?

Thnx all in advance!!

Regards,

Rob

 

[SuperSportNik]

This is just me throwing in my .02 worth...
I would stay away from something someone did all that extra work to. You have no idea who did it or what kind of job they did. Those aren't minor adjustments the PO did- he/she completely changed the character of the guitar. Personally, I'd buy a stock one and change it as you see fit- I doubt you would need to.

 

[Schweineleber]

Thnx!

That's what I was thinking....

but is this a normal/ standard top and colour??
I would like to know some more details on this guitar, is it a premium top or what?

 

[bluebullet]

does look good with the black and blue and that is a nice top. the action is going to be bad with the floyd raised up to float but a set up can take care of that just have them lower it flush with the body. if you cant see it in person its always a risk when someone does a lot of mods but it was a nice guitar to start with so i would say chances are they wouldnt have a hack job done on it.

 

[Snake]

Why oh why would someone put EMG's in that guitar??

 

[Schweineleber]

I can't think of a good reason for doing so
But I can't deny it looks rather cool!

by the way.... the flamed tops on the Axis; are they premium or also standard.
In other words, what do I have to order to get a flamed top?

 

[mbgreene]

If you order a premium top I believe you can specify flame or quilt and will get the best available of that pattern. Without the premium order, it's more luck of the draw with respect to pattern and you will get the next avaiable in your order in the production line.

 

[Norrin Radd]

Just curious - does it also come with all of the original parts as well? The stock Axis pickups? If I bought it, I'd want to install those in it and put the original toggle back where it belongs and put the tone pot in where that mini toggle is. Just my two cents.

 

[Norrin Radd]

Wow! I just did a monetary conversion, and for the price of that thing you could almost order a brand new Axis with a Premium top and get it exactly the color you want too. That's the road I would take if I were spending that amount of money.

 

[Jimi D]

They probably routed the original switch hole larger for the tone pot, and you'd definitely have to enlarge the mini-switch hole to install a tone pot there... Personally, if I played it and examined it in person, and I liked what I saw/heard, I would consider buying it, but I would never, ever pick up a guitar that's had a refret and been otherwise modded this widely from stock without going over it with a fine tooth comb first... No way I'd mail order this!

my 2¢

 

[Snake]

but I would never, ever pick up a guitar that's had a refret and been otherwise modded this widely from stock without going over it with a fine tooth comb first... No way I'd mail order this!

my 2¢

+1

Good advice

 

[Schweineleber]

Wowww no way! It's a 20 min drive to this guy, sure not going to buy without playing it!!

But if I take most of your advice I should not even touch the thing

No original parts included, not even sure if the case is an original....

and by the way.... we have list prices in the netherlands of € 2.195 for a no-extra's axis.....thats about $2.643

Plus €1.300 extra for a premium top!!

Anyone interested in seling me one ??

But I'm not giving up on EBMM, maybe import is an option to save a couple of bucks.
Don't know what normal prices are in the US (and don't tell me $2.643 Mama didn't raise no fool)

 

[Jimi D]

That's the original EBMM case - you don't have to remove the trem arm to put the guitar in there...

Anyway, if you can check it out in person, there's no reason not to go see it - you'll know pretty quick if there's a bad fret job if you can get it hands-on...

 

[Schweineleber]

Thanks for the help!!!

I guess I'm gonna take a look tommorow.
Anything specific I need to check?

By the way Jimi....

Would you mail-order a EBMM without playing it first?? maybe you maintain a high quality level, I don't know.

Anyway thnx alot for the tips!!!!

 

[Snake]

Thanks for the help!!!

I guess I'm gonna take a look tommorow.
Anything specific I need to check?

By the way Jimi....

Would you mail-order a EBMM without playing it first?? maybe you maintain a high quality level, I don't know.

Anyway thnx alot for the tips!!!!

I'd look in the control cavity to check wiring, and other modifications that were done. I'd look at the routing job they did on the battery compartment for the EMG's (if applicable). I'd make sure those EMGs aren't too high or low, as it'll be mildly difficult to change the height on those (especially to lower them). I'd check the intonation all of the way up and down the neck, as well as the edges and seating of all the frets for workmanship.

Anything else guys?

PS....I wouldn't think twice about ordering a guitar from EB without seeing it. The quality out the door is excellent.

 

[Jimi D]

By the way Jimi....

Would you mail-order a EBMM without playing it first??

I would not buy most guitar makes without first playing them, but I would buy a new EBMM without playing it first, sure... Used EBMMs are another issue - you have to consider their condition, age, etc. I've bought a couple used EBMMs on Ebay and been very pleased with them, but there's always a risk that you'll get one that's been screwed up... Eg: About two years ago I got a line on a sweet looking EVH from an Ebay auction... I bid on it, but the auction didn't reach the reserve... I emailed the seller after the auction and found out he lived about 200 kilometers away, so I offered him a little more than my final bid if he'd meet me half-way so I could see the guitar before buying it... When I saw the guitar in person, I was appalled at how completely beat it was, even though it had looked really, really good in the pictures from the auction... It needed a refret, one of the trem saddles was a replacement, there were all kinds of little dings and chips, and the neck was gouged in a couple places... needless to say, I passed on the buy (and seriously pissed off the seller) but I was very, very glad that I hadn't "won" that guitar in the auction, because then I would have been stuck with it, and it was a mess....

 

[Schweineleber]

Exactly my fear of buying an axe by mail order!
We all have photoshop don't we....

But the problem is availability in my surrounding for EBMM.
This means I'm almost forced to mail order or to have a guitarshop order one for me.

I think I'm going for option B, or does anyone have a good internetshop for a JP somewhere in the US??

 

[blackspy]

You're probably pretty safe ordering a Musicman guitar via mailorder if you need to. I would not say that about another company though. I would buy a new Musicman sight unseen.

 

[ernie1966]

Exactly my fear of buying an axe by mail order!
We all have photoshop don't we....

But the problem is availability in my surrounding for EBMM.
This means I'm almost forced to mail order or to have a guitarshop order one for me.

I think I'm going for option B, or does anyone have a good internetshop for a JP somewhere in the US??

US EBMM dealers are not allowed to sell outside the USA.

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