Axis Hardtail vs. ASS Hardtail

[Astrofreq]

First off, Kudos to Tonyevh for selling me the Purple Axis hardtail. It was in better condition than I thought it would be and Tony is a great guy. Thanks alot. I can't believe you parted with that guitar.

So, I've been A/B'ing the Axis hardtail vs. the ASS hardtail. After playing straight ASS hardtails for so long, the difference of the AXIS is considerable. I know there have been multiple threads about the differences in tone, but I hadn't really been able to test them out side by side. The Axis is just fiercer and has more midrange break-up. Exactly the way that guitar is supposed to sound. The ASS is definitely toned down about 20%, not in volume, but in response.

I may sell my two super sports because I like this one so much. Like Tim says, this is the ultimate guitar. Sure, people will say the ASS has more variation, which it does. But if you are wanting a good clean tone, there are better EB guitars altogether for that IMO. BP, I beg of you to at least think of reissuing the Axis hardtails. There really is a difference.

my 2 cents.

 

[fsmith]

If the right one comes along I will certainly jump on it. I love the 3 way toggle of the Axis guitars, I prefer it to the knife switch on the ASS's.

I figured as you posted that there would be a difference in tone between the two.

No plans to sell any of my guitars, but there are a couple of guitars that I am patiently waiting to show up used in good condition, and an Axis hardtail is one of them.

 

[TonyEVH5150]

Glad to hear you like it. It was a great sounding and playing guitar, and the pictures I had really didn't do it justice. I can't believe I let it go either, but I had my reasons. Just know that if you do something crazy (like I did) and sell it, hit me up first.

I definitely preferred the tone I got on the hardtail over what I was getting on an ASS. I think the tone pot is the difference. You could try disconnecting the tone pot in one of your ASS's and seeing if you can hear any change in the Super Sport's response compared to the hardtail. I wound up selling my Axis Sport and Super Sport because they didn't hold a candle to the sound I was getting out of that purple beauty you have now.

I have owned two Axis hardtails, and both have had killer tone. Tone that will put your Les Pauls on eBay faster than you can blink. It really is the one model that EBMM has made in the past that I would love to see back in the lineup.

 

[Astrofreq]

You could try disconnecting the tone pot in one of your ASS's and seeing if you can hear any change in the Super Sport's response compared to the hardtail.

I have done that and it still didn't make it to the sound on the new purple beauty. I probably will sell the other two before long.

 

[whitestrat]

I like the simplicity of the Axis, but not the FR. The Axis hardtail is perfect for me... I had to let this purple one go, cos the wife started complaining... too much too soon. *sigh*

 

[threeminutesboy]

I have done that and it still didn't make it to the sound on the new purple beauty. I probably will sell the other two before long.

pickup height is the explanation

The pickups are closer to the strings on the Axis Hardtail than on the ASS (at least on mine)

reason why I have raised the pickups on my 2007 ASS hardtail. The ASS is a swiss knife while the Axis hard tail is a pure rock machine

 

[beej]

Good call - shimming the pickups on the ASS makes a huge difference. The wood's the same, the pickups are the same, etc.

Also one easy mod you can do on the tone control, rather than fully disable it, is to use a push-pull to take it out of the circuit. Say, pull up to get the old tone control and push down to have it fully out of the circuit. (I've wired that up on my AL, but the other way round.)

 

[fsmith]

Beej,
Do you have a part number on the pot and a schematic? (silly question) I've thought about doing that to mine...

 

[threeminutesboy]

Beej,
Do you have a part number on the pot and a schematic? (silly question) I've thought about doing that to mine...

ditto

you are brillant Beej

 

[Astrofreq]

Well, if I totally de-soldered the wires, wouldn't that be the same as taking it out of the circuit? It still doesn't have the umph.

 

[beej]

Any log taper push/pull pot will do, 250k or 500k depending on what you have in there now. Get one online at Stewmac or at any guitar store. It's an easy thing to wire up, PM me and I can do something up for ya.

Rad- I think threeminutesboy was right on, the pickup height is probably the most noticable factor. Other than that and the pot, they're the same guitar.

 

[Astrofreq]

I'll mess around with it. Unfortunately, on the ASS I have with a piezo, the pots are part of the circuit board are they not? I'm scared to mess with that thing.

 

[Astrofreq]

I need to open up my ASS and see what pots it has now. Did someone say the super sports have a 250K volume pot? the site says a 500. Has anyone tried a 1Meg pot on these?

I'm still going to mess with the pickup height before switching anything else out. If I keep these, I definitely want to put a 3 way switch in. I hate the 5-way.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

The hardtail Axis is the best guitar that EBMM has ever made. Its so simple and so perfect. All I have ever wanted is one in green.