Are older balls more desirable than newer balls? ... such as the Axis?

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

..... given the the condition is the same?


Older as in the 5 digit SN and older style case and that kind of thing?


.... or does it really matter?

 

[guitarp77]

One of the cool things about MM is that the quality of their products has never been low. From another manufacturers, most of the "overprice" you pay for older instruments is given by the fact they were built with much more better materials + QC.

MM has always been very careful about both, materials + QC, so I can say that new and old instruments have the same intrinsec value as far as playability and reliability goes.

Now, all the above is a useless point if what you´re looking for is an out of print guitar, or a special/ltd. edition, since those instruments hold theirselves a higher value given the fact that they were/are not available in the normal market anymore...

Hope it makes sense

 

[Lou]

There doesn't seem to be a 'vintage' MusicMan market like there is with other brands out there. Only the early Morse's and EVH's seem to have some collectability.

 

[OU812]

There doesn't seem to be a 'vintage' MusicMan market like there is with other brands out there. Only the early Morse's and EVH's seem to have some collectability.

The longer MM makes guitars, the more collectable the older ones will be. Collectors always find some ridiculous reasons to drive up prices. I think we just saw the first one recently when MM changed the Gotoh Floyd bridges and pivot screws and stopped using a neck through nut. There will be some who will find that more desirable and possibly those might be worth more in the future, for any number of reasons such as its a closer Axis to the original EVH for example, who knows.

 

[bsteff666]

I've bought several Axis' over the past year...some newer...some older. The quality is always top notch on all of them & they are really consistent.

But...I have found that I prefer the older ones...only because the older ones I've bought have been played more already & are broken in more. On those oil finished maple necks...I find that the dirtier they are...the better they feel to me.

 

[glockaxis]

I think you have a better chance of getting a quilted maple top on an older one as opposed to a newer one, as the newer ones seem to mostly come in a flame maple unless you go Tribute or Ball Family Reserve.