Axis EX wood question

[Skinny]

I finally received my Axis EX. What can I say...

That's an ass-kicker! Basswood sounds great.
It's a 1992 model, Translucent Black finish.

Japan folks did a great job putting together this beauty.

All the guts are soldered very solid with no dirt and overburning.

It's well-balanced and has no problems with staying in tune.

It's like a Les Paul, but more versatile.

Great guitar!

 

[jim1h]

I got some good info on the differences between the axis ex and the axis from an american guy who lives in japan and has one. I'm worried about posting it though I dont want to break any rules

 

[Sub1 Zero]

Great guitar!

That thing is badass, probably one of the coolest tops I've seen

 

[RobW]

ya that thing is cool - love the trans black

 

[Spudmurphy]

I got some good info on the differences between the axis ex and the axis from an american guy who lives in japan and has one. I'm worried about posting it though I dont want to break any rules

I'm wondering what rules would be broken? We all love talking balls here and to know the differences would benefit us all with future purchases E.G. I am on the lookout for an EVH hardtail and would love to know all the little nuances about it.

 

[Skinny]

As far as I know the two main differences between Axis and Axis EX are - no tummy cut and "fake" top on EX (a layer of veneer on plain maple top instead of the actual figured top).
And maybe wood as well.
But I don't give a damn. It sounds like hell!

 

[jim1h]

I'm wondering what rules would be broken? We all love talking balls here and to know the differences would benefit us all with future purchases E.G. I am on the lookout for an EVH hardtail and would love to know all the little nuances about it.

Well I cant link the info so what the guy was basically saying is "The Axis EX is made by Ernie Ball Music Man. It's Japanese made though instead of in America. No big deal with Ernie Ball guitars though because they ship the bodies and necks over from the States and then they paint and put them together here. Same quality as the US made version at a more reasonable price. I've played both and there is no difference whatsoever."

He says that the one he purchased in Japan came with a gig bag not a hard case and all materials are the same, the EX has the pickup selector switch just below the lower horn and on the headstock where AXIS or the EVH sig would be it is blank, no "MADE IN SAN LUIS OBISPO CALIFORNIA USA" obviously.

Anyway if i was able to get hold of one in the uk I would have but they seem to be rarer than Dino doodoo

 

[spkirby]

OK folks, I've owned both an EX and several USA Axis's. There is a difference and I dont have the EX anymore

How the EX differs from the USA Axis:

1. Veneer top instead of thick maple top. Often one piece veneer, not bookmatched.
2. Neck profile vastly different - the EX's neck was massively thicker and didnt have the assymetrical profile of the USA Axis or EVH
3. Same body layout as an EVH (no tummy route, pickup selector switch on lower horn)
4. No Axis name on headstock.
5. Neck and fretboard not cut from same chunk of wood...on a USA Axis you are hard pressed to see any join, on an EX its easy!
6. Bodies and necks are made in Japan apparently, not US made, which accounts for the differences already mentioned.

Both the USA Axis and the Axis EX are decent guitars but in my first hand experience the USA Axis is built & finished much better. Go American if you can!

Hope that helps,
Steve

 

[Skinny]

Does anyone knows what's the average retail price for Axis EX?

 

[Dino.]

I finally received my Axis EX. What can I say...

That's an ass-kicker! Basswood sounds great.
It's a 1992 model, Translucent Black finish.

Japan folks did a great job putting together this beauty.

All the guts are soldered very solid with no dirt and overburning.

It's well-balanced and has no problems with staying in tune.

It's like a Les Paul, but more versatile.

Great guitar!

Sorry to bring up an old thread but I have a sudden interest in these guitars (Axis EX) and there seems to be very little information available on them. What I do know is that this model was not in existence prior to 1995-96. When EVH left EBMM in late '95, all of the hardware and electronics were shipped to Japan and guitars were built under the name "Axis EX" for the Japanese market (no EVH signature on the headstock).

What I question, are the claims that EVH bodies and necks were shipped to Japan as well for these guitars.
From all the pictures I've seen, some do appear to be EVH bodies and necks, other pictures I've seen are clearly not. For example, the picture attached shows a maple slab neck, as opposed to a one piece EVH neck. These slabs are often discolored which I would believe to be a sign of a lower quality wood as well. In addition, there is a video I saw on YouTube that shows an Axis EX with a thicker body and thinner binding than that of the EVH. So, it is my assumption that yes, it is possible that EBMM shipped EVH bodies and necks but when the supply ran out, I would guess that Japan began sourcing their own in order to continue production.

I really wish there was a way of identifying which guitars have the EVH bodies and necks and which were sourced from Japan. Assuming my theory is correct of course.

*Edit*
For whatever reason, I have no way of posting the pic I wanted to post.

 

[jfb44]

Sorry to bring up an old thread but I have a sudden interest in these guitars (Axis EX) and there seems to be very little information available on them. What I do know is that this model was not in existence prior to 1995-96. When EVH left EBMM in late '95, all of the hardware and electronics were shipped to Japan and guitars were built under the name "Axis EX" for the Japanese market (no EVH signature on the headstock).

What I question, are the claims that EVH bodies and necks were shipped to Japan as well for these guitars.
From all the pictures I've seen, some do appear to be EVH bodies and necks, other pictures I've seen are clearly not. For example, the picture attached shows a maple slab neck, as opposed to a one piece EVH neck. These slabs are often discolored which I would believe to be a sign of a lower quality wood as well. In addition, there is a video I saw on YouTube that shows an Axis EX with a thicker body and thinner binding than that of the EVH. So, it is my assumption that yes, it is possible that EBMM shipped EVH bodies and necks but when the supply ran out, I would guess that Japan began sourcing their own in order to continue production.

I really wish there was a way of identifying which guitars have the EVH bodies and necks and which were sourced from Japan. Assuming my theory is correct of course.

*Edit*
For whatever reason, I have no way of posting the pic I wanted to post.

From an old thread, the following is a grammatically corrected response for clarity:

The EX was a [guitar manufacturing] program for Kanda Shokai (KS) to keep offering an EVH-style guitar since the demand was so great in Japan [for the EBMM EVH guitar] after Ernie Ball stopped selling the EVH model in 1995. The EX bodies & necks were crafted in Japan, [with] Ernie Ball providing hardware, pickups, etc. Kanda Shokai’s catalog had a page for the EBMM Axis & [the KS crafted] EX. [EX] production was discontinued around 2003.

Though anecdotal, I can attest that the neck profile on my EX is thicker than any of my EBMM Axis guitars ranging in production dates from 1996 to 2013. The first response I had when I received & ran my hands through the EX, that I bought online directly from a Japan guitar shop, was "This neck feels significantly chunkier than the [EBMM] Axis."

 

[dibart77]

@jfb44:

If you're gonna quote my post, then please quote my post and give me attribution. Please don't rewrite the quote, as in my post I quoted Derek Brooks from EBMM and your thing isn't accurate to what Derek told me. And, frankly, i don't see how your "grammatical edits" provided any value over what Derek told me. Thanks.

​

 

[Dino.]

Thanks guys.
That answers my question.
I still find it odd that some of the necks on the Axis EX are one piece while others have a maple slab.
Either way, I think I'll just stay clear of them as it sounds like a gamble.

 

[Kool Eddie]

Hi,

I took the chance and bought an Axis EX from Japan. I can only say this is a fantastic instrument. It sounds and plays perfectly. So I got curious about the instrument because I could not find a match in the serial number database. This is the reply that I got from EBMM by email:

Thanks for playing Ernie Ball Music Man!

The Axis EX models are authentic Ernie Ball Music Man bodies, necks, parts and electronics. Those parts were sent to our distributor in Japan for the final assembly and setup so they were never logged into our serial number database so we don't have the production dates available unfortunately

 

[Luckball]

Axis Ex

I can answer some of your questions. I currently own a few EBMM evh and axis ex guitars.

First off all the hardware is the same on the early axis ex guitars. Offset saddles on the early Ex same as evh.

Early ex have same neck plate as evh. Some have a letter in front of the 5 digit number. Later ones have the newer axis neck plate.

Pickups are the same on all the ex guitars I have owned as evh.

Early axis ex have a 2 piece bookmatched top as all mine do. Some were a one piece top over the maple cap. The cap is 1/4” same as evh with a thin veneer over it.

Necks on the early axis ex feel exactly the same as my evh. I have owned every year evh except a 1994.

The tone is practically identical when I play them one after another. I believe the axis EX is the best kept secret out there. Don’t tell anyone because you can still buy them under 1200-1300 until people find out what they really are. Hope this answers your questions. I have owned close to 20 Evh and Axis Ex guitars in the last 2 years.

 

[Bozo]

Got lucky, found an EX that had not been played to death - however the bridge pickup was missing - did however find a proper fit N1 original

all I can say is crunchy sound, and yes the neck feels like a baseball bat

when I replaced the neck pickup I did observe book-matched maple veneer on a layer of maple

here is an ebay listing, not where I found it, yes it was a Japan source item

MUSIC MAN AXIS EX Trans Gold(MOD) #GG3hs | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for MUSIC MAN AXIS EX Trans Gold(MOD) #GG3hs at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

price was 180,000 yen plus shipping import duties etc

so if you see one on ebay you can usually find the original source listing somewhere in Japan

 

[franko5150]

Hi,

I took the chance and bought an Axis EX from Japan. I can only say this is a fantastic instrument. It sounds and plays perfectly. So I got curious about the instrument because I could not find a match in the serial number database. This is the reply that I got from EBMM by email:

Thanks for playing Ernie Ball Music Man!

The Axis EX models are authentic Ernie Ball Music Man bodies, necks, parts and electronics. Those parts were sent to our distributor in Japan for the final assembly and setup so they were never logged into our serial number database so we don't have the production dates available unfortunately

I know it's a few years late, but I just saw this. I finally decided to purchase an EBMM EVH or Axis. I've been spending countless hours on Reverb, GC, Ebay, etc looking for either an original EVH Signature, an EX (I just found out about the EX guitars), or a brand new Axis. My main issues, if you want to call it that, are that I would prefer the toggle on the bottom horn like in the original. I find the toggle next to the knob weird to reach. I currently have a PRS DGT & that's one of the things I do NOT like about it.
My other point, & I've heard differing things is, are the pickups on the Axis the same DiMarzios that were on the EVH Signature guitar or are they proprietary to the Axis only? I DO love that the new Axis have stainless steel frets.
I've found several "EX" guitars on Reverb, but when I ask sometimes the replies seem shady.
Any advice for a first time EBMM buyer?