Axis sport black sparkle rarity /pickup color

[mcclassic]

Hello:

I have to admit years ago I was not a fan of the sparkle finish but opportunity let me have one gorgeous silo special in sunburst red sparkle with maple neck that I love.

So the other day found one used (mint condition by the way) black sparkle axis I think sport (can't remember how to identify which model) and finally put it on layaway, I have to admit that I was very impress how that sparkle looks in the black background, it is almost looks like a window to the universe, first thing that came to my mind was the line at the 2001 space oddyssey "it is full of stars".

So trying to investigate a little more on this model, how rare it is the black sparkle, fix bridge and maple neck with matching headstock and if they came with double blacks, I normally see the axis models with cream/black pick-ups.

Thanks!

 

[Stratty316]

Is there binding around the body? If not you have an Axis Sport and these did come with all black pickups for a while.

If there is binding on the body you have either an Axis or an Axis Super Sport and the factory pickups were changed because they all come factory Black/Cream. The easiest way to tell the difference is the pickup selector, if it is a 3-way toggle like a Les Paul it is an Axis. If it is a 5-way blade like a Strat it is a Super Sport.

As for how rare it is... I have no clue... haha... if it turns out to be a Hardtail Axis (not Sport or Super Sport) then your are looking fairly rare Ax... either way you are picking up a great guitar. I love my Axis Sport! It plays and sounds amazing!

 

[mcclassic]

Thanks Stratty316, great guitars as you said. And you are right no binding I think that put in the axis sport region, also I did not know about the pick-ups being all black for some time, thanks a lot for the explantaion and time!

 

[GWDavis28]

Sports came with just black pups. Sports are the best and Black Sparkle is the Classy sparkle of sparkle finishes man. Can't wait to see it!!!

Sport Info.

Black Sparkle isn't considered rare as far as sparkle finishes go. The rare colors in my opinion would be:

• Gremlin Green
• Red Sparkle
• Midnight Blue
• Gold Sparkle

Glenn |B)o

 

[mcclassic]

GWDavis28 very cool information, thanks! the guitar looks same as the one at the picture but only the background black instead of silver.

Thanks for the info on the less common colors

 

[zombi]

Let's not kid ourselves... Almost all the sparkles have a rarity to them. Autumn Redburst, original blue dawns, autumn redrise (like pete's pet, so jealous...), and of course the infamously rare burnt apple silo. While the guys justification on the rarity of the finish was completely off, and it was *supposedly* not a rare finish, I have yet to find one. And I own one of the four autumn redburst silos. In theory that should have been a much greater task.

But here's what really matters. Sparkles rule. Even if it's a more common sparkle, it's STILL a rare find and highly unlikely you'll be playig a gig where the guy pulls out the same guitar you have...

 

[zombi]

And they are dead sexy. I'd happily pay for more spray guns for more sparkle!

 

[GWDavis28]

I've got a couple of rare one of a kind sparkle finishes.

Here is Copper Pink:

Glenn |B)

 

[zombi]

I've got a couple of rare one of a kind sparkle finishes.

Here is Copper Pink:

Glenn |B)

Have I told




You lately....




That I hate you.



Jk. . But seriously, what a nice piece!

 

[Jimmyb]

The earlier Sports (with the pickguard) had the zebra coloured pickups:

Around mid 1999, the basic design was changed, with the HSS and SSS models being dropped and the MM90 model introduced. During this time, there were all sorts of variations to the design, before 'standardising' with the black covers.

Sounds like you've got a great guitar.

 

[mcclassic]

Thanks a lot to all for the great information, I kick myself now for not getting a gorgeous silo white sparkle years ago, but it was out of the budget, still I got lucky to got the silo special in red sunburst sparkle later *new) for a very cheap price, since then I started to appreciate how gorgeous it's the EBMM sparkle finish (still not very convinced of the other brands sparkle finish).

Thanks!

 

[zombi]

Other sparkles are too over the top typically. Ebmm sparkles are just he right balance of flash and class. I've seen like 3 white sparkle silos as of late... You can pm me if you want to know where one is.

 

[mcclassic]

Zombi, thanks again, love to have a white sparkle silo, this year has been good on black and white guitars so maybe... still need to pay first this one..hehe