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Axis Geometry/Ergonomics

MarkF786

MarkF786

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 6, 2011
Messages
78
I find it odd how the Axis' bridge is set so far back on the body. When the guitar first arrived, I noticed how short the case was and I thought it must have been designed to fit in carry-on luggage. But it took a couple days to notice how it was made so short, with the bridge set far back on the body. Then I noticed when I'd play it, my forearm would start to feel uncomfortable after a while, though I've never had a problem with a Tele or other guitars without an arm contour. But with the Axis' bridge an inch further back, the edge of the guitar presses into the forearm an inch up, and at a sharper angle.

Ergonomics are very dependent on how the guitarist holds the guitar. I've been very influenced by Robert Fripp and Guitar Craft, and wear the guitar more around the height of my solar plexus, and resting my forearm against the body. EVH wears the guitar more around his hip, and his forearm doesn't seem to rest often on the guitar - so I guess he never felt the need for an arm contour.

I'm curious, does anyone know why he preferred the bridge so far back?
 
MarkF786 said:
I'm curious, does anyone know why he preferred the bridge so far back?
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That bridge placement predates the EVH guitar. Look at the Silhouette and Silhouette Special, and the Albert Lee prototype predates the EVH guitar too. The shorter headstock and shorter body aid in weight and balance and overall comfort. That the guitar is a little shorter tip to tail while retaining the 25.5" scale length is I think a bonus, rather than the intent. The rare time I pick up any strat copy I hate that the strap button is so far behind the bridge and the headstock seems ridiculously long.
 
I thought Eddie being short wanted this smaller ergonomics for his guitar (the signature EVH, which turned in to the Axis).
I think it’s why the Axis is so popular.
 
Unless he said that himself somewhere, I think that's a thing said by people who didn't know that Music Man were already making shorter guitars. Besides he was 5'8". That's only a little below average. And I'm 5'6" and nobody ever calls me shorty! :)
 
Is the axis bridge really THAT close to the end of the guitar? Seems pretty standard for the smaller "shredder" style guitars.
 
DrKev said:
That bridge placement predates the EVH guitar. Look at the Silhouette and Silhouette Special, and the Albert Lee prototype predates the EVH guitar too. The shorter headstock and shorter body aid in weight and balance and overall comfort. That the guitar is a little shorter tip to tail while retaining the 25.5" scale length is I think a bonus, rather than the intent. The rare time I pick up any strat copy I hate that the strap button is so far behind the bridge and the headstock seems ridiculously long.
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I appreciate the feedback. I hadn't noticed that about the Silhouette, though the Axis' bridge is back further, at least 1/4" based on measurements. I have a Stingray II, which also has a short-body - though it's still 1/2" longer than the Axis.

I'm 6' 4" so the bridge placement stands out more to me. And out of the ~15 other guitars I own (and many more before), they're all more 'typical' in bridge placement - so it's quite different to me.

I'm not saying it's bad thing. They're probably wildly popular amongst dwarfs.😛
 
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