Question AXIS Guitar: New VS Old - Help Please

[paulphoenix]

Hi Guys An Gals,

just after some advice please from all you Axis owners and players on production/hardware/build quality/neck differences between these guitars: new VS old.

I am saving my gig moolah and hope to bag my first MM guitar by the end of the year (I've never wished my life away so fast before now!!), and I'm totally in GASing for the Axis (my only dilemma is choosing which colour!).

But, I recently read the following comments posted on the MM website and I am now not sure whether to buy new or used:

"Not a fan of the new Floyd trem at all. Very cheap. Shame on you guys for cutting corners. So many silly changes to the Axis. Not happy. Im buying old ones from now on. Non-recessed neck plate? Scratchy non recessed back cavities that rub against your clothes and make audible noise? Softer feeling neck wood that bends slightly? Poor tuning stability due to the new trems fine tuners? Top mounted nut? Thinner neck carve? Thinner neck finish? small trem posts? Different tone? The guitar looks good and sounds good, but feels cheaper and is not the same as what they once were. It is a different guitar. If its your fist you will like it, but don't expect it to match up to the old ones quality or tone. Selling my new one and buying an old one"

"Why is the neck on my new axis thinner than my older one? My older axis has a much fatter neck by far. Also, I noticed the new non-gotoh Floyd has smaller posts and a smaller brass block then my older one. I am considering selling the new one and buying an older one"

Any advice, thoughts and opinions welcomed.

thanks paul

 

[KevinUK]

Paul

I have an old Axis and a more recent one, the old one with sunken neck plate always delights, the feel the balance, the sound in my opinion there is not a better mid range production line instrument, my newer Axis is almost as good, but not quite, I simply can not put my finger on why and in no way condemn the newer instrument but there is that ingredient "W" missing and I have no idea what W is !!!

I save every gig fee that I receive and that is how I have gathered a vast collection of guitars, keep it up

 

[paulphoenix]

Thanks Kevin,

Is there like a "cut off" year for these changes? I'd like a newer model (post 2011) because of the pop in trem arm and less fret wear etc.

 

[KevinUK]

I do not know if there is a cut off as such, but I am sure that someone on this forum will be able to give you chapter and verse, I know when my older Axis has been seen by EBMM nutters they get a bit excited for some reason !!! Good luck, I own 50+ top end guitars and the Axis is ALWAYS the one I take to gigs because you can wear it all night with comfort it makes all the sounds that you can possibly want/need holds tune, I wont go on but I think it is a marvellous instrument

 

[paulphoenix]

....I am a GAS fuelled EBMM nutter!!

I dare say a 2014 model Axis would still be a finer instrument than either my '99 MIA Strat or my Ibanez S1XXV (of the finest Indonesian craftsmanship!), but I am looking to invest in a top drawer axe here, and I would like to get the best bang for my british pound!

If the older models are comprised of superior necks/hardware/build quality, then I will have to concede to buying a pre-owned guitar with (potentially) a few knocks and scratches rather than a brand new guitar with slightly lesser mojo.

chapter and verse anyone?

Thanks

 

[DrKev]

Welcome to the forum!

Neck carve has never changed (but necks are hand finished can feel a little different from instrument to instrument).
Recessed neck plates only lasted two or three years in the late 1990s and were discontinued because they caused problems when customer or guitar techs over-tightened the screws).
Softer feeling neck wood that bends? Nonsense.
Thinner neck finish? What neck finish? It's a light rubbing of oil and wax, it's not actually a 'finished' neck. Again, nonsense.
Fret material has not changed, so fret wear is the same as ever.

Tuning stability problems caused by the fine tuners? Can't see how that could be possibly the case but if there are problems, warranties are in place so stores will fix or exchange faulty instruments (free of any charge to the customer in the European Union) and EB Customer Service are the best in the business.

If people don't like the new Floyd that is only personal opinion. The trem posts, block and tone - I honestly don't recall any complaints here on the forum. Many of the guys here have been playing and collecting these instruments since the earliest days. Some of them think the current Floyds are fantastic. And one of the Gotoh-made Floyds is a drop-in replacement so if somebody really doesn't like the current one, so there are other options too.

I'm sure the Axis experts around here will chime in before long and then we'll get the real low-down.

Besides, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. You'll just have to try them for yourself to find out. But the quality, fit and finish is as good as it ever was.

 

[ozzyrules]

I wouldn't put much stock in that negative critique. I swear, my 2011 Axis Tribute plays and sounds better than my 1995 EVH. I've got 9 Balls ranging from '95 to '12 and while there is a very slight difference in feel among each of them, they all play wonderfully.

 

[Johnny Alien]

It does seem like there is even less of an oil finish on the newer EBMM guitars vs the late 90's ones I own.

 

[Tollywood]

Hello Paul, and welcome to the forum.

I've had an evh. I've had a few of the early Axis guitars with the recessed neck plate. I've had the newer Axis with the non-recessed neck plate, and, finally the newest Axis with the new Floyd Rose.

I never noticed a difference in tone between these instruments and although I think the neck pocket looks better recessed, I can't say that the non-recessed plate ever bothered me or affected my playing at all, nor do the covers bother me on the back. My clothing never felt weird rubbing against the covers (I kinda liked it (kidding)). As for the top mounted screws at the nut, that seems quite structurally sound and it never bothered me.

The new Floyd model ebmm installs now actually feels smoother to me. The new Floyd posts do seem a tad smaller, but who knows...maybe that's why it felt smoother? (I am just speculating) The necks have all felt like the same Axis shape to me. When it comes to build quality, I can honestly say that ebmm does an amazing job of that and their quality control must be excellent because every ebmm instrument I've bought new was just perfect.

If I sound like a fanboy, I am...but I assure you that ebmm earned my loyalty by putting out such a fine product, in the past and to this day.

 

[Eric O'Reilly]

I too have noticed the neck finish feels lighter on the 2011 tribute i played, but I would think it was rubbed on the same, the older ones probably feel smoother because of all the playing and hand and skin oil that has accumulated, thats the beauty of an unfinished or light oil finish, they get much better with age! The tribute sounded and looked great, but I will say the old floyd I liked better. And I like the old nut screwed in through the neck, maybe its just cause Im used to it. But when my axis / evh money is finally saved I might bite the bullet and get the Evh for collectibility. Not to mention ill play the crap out of it! Or a nice axis quilt that I like the feel of.

 

[billy carr]

Good stuff, I'm sold!