AXIS EX update (neck differences)

[drop_d]

I was just fanning the flames of neighborly hate with the EX turned up to what (to me) was a reasonable level when I happened to look down at the neck. Since it was my first EBMM, I didn't really notice it at first, but there is a clear line between the fingerboard and the neck. It is such an obvious joint, it could even be a different piece of wood. On my US EBMMs (maple fingerboard guitars, anyway) it is almost impossible to see where the fingerboard is replaced after the trussrod groove was routed and the rod inserted. It doesn't affect the playing or the sound, but it is a very noticeable cosmetic difference. Which begs the question of why I didn't notice until now and if it took this long to notice something this obvious, where does that leave my taste test . . . but we won't go there.

If they cut corners on the fingerboards, I wonder about the tops--especially as pretty as the top is. One of these days when I have the neck off--not that I see any reason to do that in the foreseeble future, I'll check out the maple top to see if it is the same thickness as the EVH and SLO AXIS.

I don't know if this info is interesting to anyone, since they probably don't have EXs in the US. Who knows though, the question might pop up in the future . . .

. . . then again,


dd

 

[spkirby]

The reason for this is that the EX's with maple fretboards use 2 pieces of maple wood for the neck...one for the back and another for the fretboard. The US Axis uses the same piece of wood for both neck and fretboard. Why there is a construction difference I dont know. However it will not affect anything as its similar in construction to any rosewood (or other) fretted neck.

The Maple top depth should be similar to the US model. Look down the gaps around the pickups!

Steven

 

[drop_d]

Couldn't resist. I popped the neck off the axis and made a rather startling discovery, a guitar that was sold to me as a 2002 says 12.10 97-6, handwritten, not stamped like the evh. The top of my black evh is about 4mm thick, because the color extends into the neck pocket, I can't tell if all of that is the quilt or if the quilt is a veneer pasted onto the top of another slab of maple. With the EX however, there is no paint in the pocket, so at first the 7mm thick slab of maple seemed quite impressive, upon closer examination however, it appears that a very thin slice of quilt (about one millimeter) is laminated to the top of what I imagine is a rather non-descript 6mm slab. Perhaps this is the way all EBMMs are, I'm not about to take dismantle my babies just to satisfy my curiosity--especially when someone over on that side of the pond knows the answer.

What's the story with the SLOs?

Another interesting (albeit trivial) tibit, the pup end of the neck is exactly the same width on the EVH and the EX: 55.15mm. Which means that the EX is built almost exactly to the same specs as the EVH.

For those of you who don't do metric. Sure I teach math, but that doesn't mean I'll convert it for you. It's homework. 25.4 mm/inch.

How do I feel? A bit disappointed about the maple veneer, but I guess that explains why so many of the EXes I've seen have such pretty tops . . . .

Honestly? Quite bummed . . . somehow, the EX that I was quite fond of seems a tad second-rate. I don't know if I'd feel better or worse to find out that all my EBMM tops are the same. Somehow I doubt it. Oh well, I'd better put it back together.
dd

 

[kbaim]

We in the US are scheduled to go metric in the year 2145.

Obviously, we're excited.

 

[Jimi D]

I love this geek info drop_d! Keep it coming!

Don't be too discouraged by a veneer top (if that is indeed the case). I'd look closely at one of the pickup cavities if I were you to try and confirm... Could the apparent "veneer" line be caused by the stain usde to bring out the figure sinking into the wood? Maybe Derek or Jon could shed some light on your observations?

In the end, it doesn't matter really, does it? I mean a great sounding and playing guitar is a great sounding and playing guitar, no matter what it's idiosyncracies of build...

 

[drop_d]

Yeah one of the questions about the US that I have the most trouble answering over here (apart from those regarding politicians and bizarre foreign policy) is why the US insists on clinging to a hopelessly antiquated system of weights and measures. I just explain that contrary to the popular belief here that Americans are bad at math, Americans LOVE fractions.

dd

 

[ned911]

I can't find any information on the web site for the Axis EX - anyone have link?

 

[spkirby]

Yeah one of the questions about the US that I have the most trouble answering over here (apart from those regarding politicians and bizarre foreign policy) is why the US insists on clinging to a hopelessly antiquated system of weights and measures. I just explain that contrary to the popular belief here that Americans are bad at math, Americans LOVE fractions.

dd

DD, its weird in the UK as we are metric for most things (unless you're 40-50ish, the youngest generation to be good at fractions!) although we still measure distances in miles!!

Fortunately I'm young (ish!) enough to be a part of the base 10 crowd!

Don't be bummed about the guitar, it sounds, plays and looks great so be happy. As JimiD mentioned it might be a staining issue. I'll be looking at my one closely soon!

 

[spkirby]

I can't find any information on the web site for the Axis EX - anyone have link?

You won't on the US website, you will on EBMM's Japanese distributor :

http://www.kandashokai.co.jp/

Tech specs:

Body Basswood With Bookmatched Figured Maple Top
Body Finish High Gloss Polyurethane
Neck Selected Maple
Neck Joint 5-Bolt Sculpted Joint For Perfect Alignment With No Shifting
Neck Finish Hand Rubbed Gunstock Oil And Wax Blend
Fretboard Maple, 324 Scale, 254R
Neck Width 41mm at Nut, 56mm at Last Fret
Frets 22 / High profile, Medium Width
Pickups 2 Custom Dimarzio Humbucking
Bridge MusicMan Floyd Rose Licensed Locking Tremolo
Tuners Schaller M6LA with Pearl Buttons
Controls Volume (500k pot)
Switch 3-Way Toggle
String ERNIE BALL 5150 (#2900)
String Gauge .009.011.015.024W.032W.040W
Colors Translucent Red (50)
Translucent Gold (53)
Translucent Purple
Translucent Green
Translucent Blue (56)
Translucent Pink
Translucent Black
Natural (90)

 

[ned911]

Are they MIJ, MIK or MIC?

Ned

 

[spkirby]

These are assembled in Japan by EBMM distributor Kanda Shokai from EBMM US exported components - the same components as used on the EVH and US Axis. This was done to keep up with demand in Japan. They like their music heros over there!!!