AL HH or Axis?

[cosmic]

Greetings. A couple of days ago I asked what about trade in value on my Trans Orange Axis. Seeing that the Axis is only a few months old, I am able to get a very good trade in value for it.

My dilemma:

Should I trade my Axis in for a Albert Lee HH model?

I play lots of blues. Clapton, Tinsley Ellis (great blues guitarist...check him out!), BB, Robert Cray, Stevie Ray... etc...

I do get great somkin' bluesy sounds outa my Axis, but would I be better off w/the AL HH? This is the tough question I am having trouble with atm.

My Axis has the tremolo, but I find myself preferring the hard-tail guitars.

Sound off on your advice and thanks!

Cheers!

 

[andynpeters]

Hmmm lots of Strat users on that list....so why go for the HH?
Nothing wrong with your guitar, & you say it's a great tone so I guess you really need to A/B them & decide which you prefer & whether it's worth the cost to swap.




I always feel like Frasier on these type of threads "What do YOU think you should do?"

 

[Stratty316]

I think of it this way... play what feels and sounds right to you. Don't let your mind trick yourself into believing that you must have X guitar to play X music... the Axis (super sport in your case) will play any type of music you want... 50% of the tone is still in your fingers...

rant over, if I were you I would save up and get an HH AL at a later date. It will really compliment your ASS with the different tone woods. I find that I like to play certain things on the Axis and others on the AL...

 

[Spudmurphy]

I'd recommend the SSS AL!

 

[fogman]

You're obviously getting by playing what you play with the Axis.
I don't think your tone will change that much going to an AL HH.

I'm with Spud. If you're going to swap guitars, maybe you should be heading ino the AL SSS territory.

 

[LawDaddy]

Cosmic, I checked your earlier post and it looks like you have a regular Axis, not a Super Sport? If so, you might dig the split coil sounds from the HH, they'll definitely get you a little closer to some of the sounds you dig. I prefer hardtails myself. Ohhhhh, and that rosewood neck on my Axis SS is to die for.

I played on a bill with Tinsley Ellis once (yes, with my rosewood Axis SS ), he definitely shreds. Didn't get to spend any time with him, seemed like a nice guy.

 

[Ripper]

Reflex, or a 25th. You retain the Axis sound, get the AL HH sound, and whats more - parallel switch with single coil tone.

Hradtail and trem are available.

 

[Colin]

My two favourite guitars to play atm is an Axis Super Sport and a HH AL. both are great sounding. The Axis is brighter while the Al is more comfortable to play. Tough decision you won't be disappointed with the HH Al

 

[cosmic]

My guitar is a regular Axis, not the Super Sport. LawDaddy and Ripper bring very valid points to table about the versatility of the AL HH and the single coil sounds you can get. I love the African mahogany/all rosewood neck combo as well. It's a tough call.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

One option to give yourself more sounds for little extra cost would be to coil split with a push-pull. I did it to my Axis and it did bring more sound options in.

If I had the choice right now of the Axis or the Al HH for what you're playing, I'd take an Al SSS. (see how that fit right in?). I would probably go Al HH as a second choice.

 

[Spudmurphy]

All valid point above - but the third pickup in the SSS config will give you sounds the split buckers won't give and IMO are the best settings (switch positions 2 and 4) on the Al SSS.
Now if you got the HH and the SSS you'd have all bases covered

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Spud makes a great point. I do use pos 2 and 4 quite a bit on my SSS Al. Another option if you really want the mahogany body/rosewood neck is to just buy an HH Al and then buy a loaded SSS pickguard. 2 guitars for little more than the price of one!

 

[Norrin Radd]

Spud makes a great point. I do use pos 2 and 4 quite a bit on my SSS Al. Another option if you really want the mahogany body/rosewood neck is to just buy an HH Al and then buy a loaded SSS pickguard. 2 guitars for little more than the price of one!

Great idea - and I've been toying with doing that myself. You should know, however, that that will require having your HH AL routed to accommodate the middle pickup.

 

[Astrofreq]

... 50% of the tone is still in your fingers...

So right! And the other 50% comes from the Van Halen pickups in the Axis. Get the Axis!

 

[cosmic]

Wow, I had no inclination that this thread/topic would generate so much interest. BTW, this a great forum and the guys/gals are very helpful.

Lots of people have weighed in on this thread, and the ALL the advice is solid indeed. I just find myself torn even more so than ever. On one hand I have a great and beautiful sounding guitar... and I play sweet, sweet blues on it. If I was to describe my style/influences I'd say Heavy amounts of Robert Cray, Eric Clapton and even some David Gilmore (as stated above).

To be honest my first choice was going to be a Fender Strat (American made), but a good buddy of mine told me bout this trans orange axis @ my local shop. The rest is history. If I was ever to sell/trade my trans orange axis, I would NOT go back and get a Strat. It would be a AL HH (love the white)...or as others have stated a AL SSS in Trans Gold!

Cheers!

 

[Coffeemug]

...or as others have stated a AL SSS in Trans Gold!

I'm with Spud on this...a SSS Albert would be best suited IMO!
Go for the trans gold, it looks awesome on the AL!

 

[paranoid70]

I am more of a rock player than blues player, but... when I do want to play blues, I reach for my SSS Albert Lee!

 

[Jack FFR1846]

If I was to describe my style/influences I'd say Heavy amounts of Robert Cray, Eric Clapton and even some David Gilmore (as stated above).!

Bring your Axis into the guitar store where they have an Al HH and hopefully an Al SSS (if you're lucky enough to find a store like that) and try them all one after the other. It's the best way to highlight the differences.

 

[cosmic]

Couple of pics of my trans orange Axis.

 

[Sweat]

Very nice Axis but only you can decide what you need, perfect world keep the Axis and buy an HH AL, or SSS AL or MM-90 AL, you would like the MM-90