Axis Butterscotch Burst question

[chrismilne]

Does anyone have one of these limited edition models? Do you know if the neck is finished on the back, or the typical oil finish? The pics i've seen of them look extra shiny on the back, so i wondered if there is laquer on it?

Thanks.

Ernie Ball Music Man BFR Axis - Butterscotch Burst

Solidbody Electric Guitar with Basswood Body, Flamed Maple Top, Roasted Figured Maple Neck, Ebony Fingerboard, 2 Humbucking Pickups, and Double-locking Tremolo - Butterscotch Burst

www.sweetwater.com

 

[fogman]

I don't know for certain, but the back of that neck appears to be like my Yucatan Axis which is the typical finish.
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[Ted]

If there is binding on the neck-- which there is here-- then it will not have the gunstock oil/wax rub finish. It will be a poly finish. I have a Valentine with each of these types of necks. I like them each in their own way although I do still somewhat favor the oil/wax finish above anything else. But I've grown to really love the feeling and look of binding on a neck too.

That's a pretty BFR Axis.

 

[fogman]

No binding on this one. Just a regular model Axis.
I'd shoot Sweetwater an email to ask for sure. They are over the top awesome with their customer service.

 

[tbonesullivan]

The Butterscotch has binding, so it definitely will have a satin poly finish, just like every other bound model.

 

[nathanhny]

Customer service will give you a definite answer. Listings for that guitar from other retailers states it’s an Ultra-light satin polyurethane finish.

 

[Epiplatys]

I own one of these. An absolutely amazing Axis variant. I simply love it to death.

So to confirm what people said earlier: the neck is finished in satin poly. It is not glassy, it is statin. But it is poly. Personally I prefer the satin poly to the gun stock finish: it is more comfortably to play, looks similar but better than oil-finished, but much more durable and does not require any maintenance.

 

[chrismilne]

I own one of these. An absolutely amazing Axis variant. I simply love it to death.

So to confirm what people said earlier: the neck is finished in satin poly. It is not glassy, it is statin. But it is poly. Personally I prefer the satin poly to the gun stock finish: it is more comfortably to play, looks similar but better than oil-finished, but much more durable and does not require any maintenance.

Thanks! I presume the measurements are all the same as the regular/maple necks?

 

[Epiplatys]

Correct. The poly finish is thin. This is the regular/maple neck as well. The only less common feature is that it has plastic binding.

 

[Ted]

Thanks! I presume the measurements are all the same as the regular/maple necks?

Using my two Valentines as an A/B test between these two types of EBMM necks, there are some subtle differences.

With a bound neck, I find the binding makes the edges of the fretboard seem a little more squared and overall the neck feels a tiny bit fuller to me in the hand. My standard unbound oil/wax neck has more of a rounded "rolled edges" feeling at the sides of the fretboard-- and overall it has a bit more svelte feel.

Over time the poly satin finish on my BFR has become a bit shiny and glossy-- I've played it a lot since I got it. I wouldn't say it's sticky like some necks with gloss finishes. Still has a luxurious satiny feel but it's not as slick and speedy as the unfinished oil/wax neck.

I do think you have to be a bit more careful with the standard unfinished oil/wax necks of EBMM guitars in terms of avoiding micro-dents to the back of the necks if you set them up against something with any kind of edge or right angle-- like the edge of a table or something. I got my Trans Buttermilk Valentine used in mint condition and I treat it like a baby just like I treat my other one-- and I don't know if this happened before or after I got it-- but if I look really carefully at the back of the neck there are a few super-fine tiny ( and I mean almost imperceptibly TINY) notches here and there where maybe it was set up against the edge of something or whatever. I don't think it happened on my watch because I would never set it anywhere but on a guitar stand or cushioned piece of furniture or in its case. Again, you really can't even feel or see these tiny scratches unless you are really trying but it's just something to be mindful of with unfinished necks. Any kind of contact with a hard object or edged surface is to be avoided at all times.

My satin poly finished neck seems to be a tad better protected from this kind of accidental surface pitting.

My oil/wax standard necked Valentine has become my daily player-- feels sensual to play. My bound neck BFR is like my Sunday driver-- it has a little more "uptown" look and feel.