Axis, Axis SS, EVH - Compare and Contrast please

[edensdad]

OK here's one for the Axis/EVH contingent here.

I recently acquired a vintage Gretsch guitar that I think is cool, but I've been offered $3000 for it, and it isn't that cool to me to keep. (Plus that makes it almost 1000% ROI in one month).

I want another EBMM to keep my Petrucci company (It doesn't get along with my strats). I'm considering the new Morse Y2D - really cool, but I really like the Flamed and Quilt topped Axis/EVH models.

I played a used Axis Sport (????) in GC and I loved it - so . . .

Could you guys please explain the differences between the EVH, the Axis, & The Axis SS (or Sport?).

Thanks,

Dennis >^..^<

 

[fsmith]

I'll take a stab at this...

EVH - Hardtail or floyd, pickup switch on lower horn, thinner (width-wise) neck

Axis - Hardtail, Floyd, thicker neck, and pickup switch has been moved. (I don't think you can buy the hardtail new any more though...)

Axis SS - Vintage Trem, or hardtail, piezo available.

I'm sure that Jimi D can give you the definitive rundown though. There may be other subtle differences that I'm missing.

fred

 

[beej]

Fred's got it bang on Though, I think there's a miniscule difference in the neck width between the EVH and Axis.

The big difference between the EVH and Axis: price. Unless you're really into collecting things with EVH's sigs, I'd say and Axis is a better deal for the money.

To narrow it down between the Axis, Sport, or SS, figure out whether you really need a Floyd. If not, you're in Sport/Super Sport territory. Then decide between HBs or MM90s, with or without piezo and you're pretty much done

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I'll take a stab at this...

EVH - Hardtail or floyd, pickup switch on lower horn, thinner (width-wise) neck

Axis - Hardtail, Floyd, thicker neck, and pickup switch has been moved. (I don't think you can buy the hardtail new any more though...)

Axis SS - Vintage Trem, or hardtail, piezo available.

I'm sure that Jimi D can give you the definitive rundown though. There may be other subtle differences that I'm missing.

fred

+1, and yes the Axis Hardtail is no longer available, sadly.....

Plus the ASS is also available with MM90's

 

[fsmith]

Tim,
Thanks, I forgot about the MM 90's option...

I could have saved a lot of money and bought the Axis, but that era of Van Halen was my favorite and I just wanted to have the guitar from then. And hey the fact that it also happened to be an EBMM made it even better.

fred

 

[hbucker]

I've owned an EVH since '93 so I poured over the differences between EVH's and Axis' when the Axis came out.

-I think it's been said by the moderators on this board that the Axis neck is 1/16th of an inch wider at the base. That's the only neck difference but it is slightly noticable if you compare them side to side.

-The rear conrol cavity is routed much larger on the Axis to accomodate more pots and switches if the need should arise. The EVH only has room for the existing pot and switch unles you start routing wood.

-The Axis has a rear body contour which is specifically an improvement IMO. The other differences don't necessarily improve the Axis IMO.

Other than that they are the same. Especially the pickups which are wonderful.

I've played several Axis. A few of them I liked as much as my EVH. Several I didn't like as well. As with any guitar purchase, play as many as you can through a good clean amp. The differences between even "identical" guitars will start to become obvious to you.

FWIW: I would never trade my EVH for an Axis. But the point is well made that you can save $1k or more if you get the Axis and the differences won't change your life.

Maybe someone here could address the # of Axis' produced compared to the # of EVH's each year. If there are a lot more than 1,000 Axis produced each year it could probably be argued that the EVH's had more attention to detail in construction. But I doubt the average Axis shows any signs of neglect.

Good luck.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Even a super consistant manufacturer like EBMM, you will get differences on 'identical' guitars. All due to the fact that you are dealing with an inconsistant material - wood.

Of my Axi:

Red Axis - The cream of the crop. #1 Stage and studio guitar. Rich, fat and thick in tone. Loudest by far and most comfortable neck. Sustains for days.

Yellow Axis - Feels the same as Red but much more mids and treble, not so much bass. Neck is almost the same as Red

Sparkle ASS - Much more creamy sound than Red, probably too much to a degree. Neck feels a litle fatter than red.

Purple EVH - Neck is much narrower than any of the Axi fleet, plus no where near as deep in profile as the Axi. Has a very trebly sound, almost too cutting. Nowhere near as warm as Sparkle or Red, buy much more shrill than yellow.

Rosewood board Axis - Probably my least favourite, though it needs some serious playing in. Least sustain of all the fleet, and probably the least loud. Neck is almost the same as the EVH, in fact its slightly thinner.

 

[Roubster]

Hold on a second. Is there an Axis Sport AND and Axis Super Sport with some differences, or is it the same thing???? I thought there was only the Axis and the Axis Super Sport.

 

[beej]

The Sport is different than the Super Sport.

The Sport - discontinued - has an ash body and a variety of PU configs (singles, HBs, MM90s).

The Super Sport has a basswood body + maple top and has HBs or MM90s.

 

[Roubster]

ohhhhh okay, thanx man. So the A$$ it is than in Pacific Blue Burst !

 

[Jonny Dubai]

I have one of each. A purple EVH and my orange SS. For me having the 5 way selector and tone control on the SS makes it more versitile.

Hope this helps


Jonny

 

[fogman]

plus the Sport had an "optional pickguard" if I'm not mistaken.

 

[kbaim]

The Sport is different than the Super Sport.

The Sport - discontinued - has an ash body and a variety of PU configs (singles, HBs, MM90s).

The Super Sport has a basswood body + maple top and has HBs or MM90s.

I think the HB is basswood, the mm90 version is ash.

Also, on the ASS the pickup switch moves right to left (like a tele).
Don't know why, but I've always been partial to the strat/luke/albert slant

 

[Jimi D]

plus the Sport had an "optional pickguard" if I'm not mistaken.

The early Sports had pickguards, and I've even seen two regular Floyd-equipped Axes with pickguards... I've been told that some dealers asked that the pickguards not be installed prior to shipment so that the customer could choose to put the pickguard on or not. By the time the pickup options were limitted to a pair of humbuckers or MM90s, the pickguard was no longer a part of the package.