Axis Sport History

[Stratty316]

Yes, the Axis sport came HH, HSS, SSS at launch. The MM90s came later. The early Sports had pick guards and zebra pickups. I think the pickguards only lasted about a year/year and a half before they disappeared. I always thought they looked best with the Pickguard. My Sport has always been one of my favorite guitars.

 

[Johnny Alien]

I agree that the pickguard was the better look

 

[Helliger]

I had a black one. H/S/S and remember shopping for them when I bought it (probably 1997 or '98). There were quite a few translucent purple ones. I guess looking at the color chart maybe that would be translucent blue but I was thinking they looked on the purple side at the time. The ash body was pretty heavy. I never weighed it but figure it was around 8 to 9 pounds. It seemed all the ones I tried were on the heavy side. I regret getting rid of it. Loved the neck. I didn't like the pickups. To me they sounded a bit harsh so I replaced them. I think I actually still have the original pickups somewhere.

On the lookout for a maple neck one. They don't seem to come up a whole lot. Mine looked like this. I thought it was a good look. I prefer them with a pickguard.

Ernie Ball Music Man Axis Sport 1997 Black | Reverb

These guitars were handmade in San Louis Obispo and are "fast" players as the necks are super comfortable. This guitar features a Seymour Duncan Custom humbucker which reads at slightly hotter than a PAF pickup and two single coils (HSS config). You can cover a variety of styles from rock, jazz, ...

reverb.com

 

[headcrash]

Thanks Helliger for bringing up that thread, which I obviously missed half a year ago.

If you happen to still have the original pickups, and are in the EU, please sell them to me

Oh man, these were golden times with such an amount of really gorgeous color options. There's even some colors, I haven't seen on pics, let alone in real-life.

 

[GWDavis28]

Oh man, these were golden times with such an amount of really gorgeous color options. There's even some colors, I haven't seen on pics, let alone in real-life.

Check here, most are documented.

What Colour is this? or EBMM Bass Finishes Guide

Well, this idea has been thrown around some, so I decided to have a go at it. I am by no means an EBMM historian, so this is by no means definitive yet... Things I need help with: 1.Fire Engine Red?!?! Help Please 2.Better Pics of finishes that are iffy. 3.Mistakes in general If you have...

forums.ernieball.com

Glenn |B)

 

[Helliger]

Thanks Helliger for bringing up that thread, which I obviously missed half a year ago.

If you happen to still have the original pickups, and are in the EU, please sell them to me

Oh man, these were golden times with such an amount of really gorgeous color options. There's even some colors, I haven't seen on pics, let alone in real-life.

Ah, sorry. I'm in California. Looks like I was right about the purple ones though. They definitely made them in translucent purple. Looks like someone is selling a hardtail version.

Music Man Axis Sport 1997 Purple translucent | Reverb

Music Man Axis Sport, 1997, translucent purple, rosewood fretboard, hard tail. Some dings, small scratches, some fret wear. Contact for more pictures.

reverb.com

 

[racerx]

Ah, sorry. I'm in California. Looks like I was right about the purple ones though. They definitely made them in translucent purple. Looks like someone is selling a hardtail version.

Music Man Axis Sport 1997 Purple translucent | Reverb

Music Man Axis Sport, 1997, translucent purple, rosewood fretboard, hard tail. Some dings, small scratches, some fret wear. Contact for more pictures.

reverb.com

Good find, lets see what I can do

 

[GWDavis28]

Good find, lets see what I can do

Gone, was it you Racer?

Glenn |B)

 

[racerx]

Gone, was it you Racer?

Glenn |B)

There are so many amendments for me to choose from, but if I had to pick one, I would pick the fifth Really excited -- I have the same/similar pickup set in my Bullhead Cutlass and I love the flexibility of the Axis pickup with single coils.

 

[Helliger]

There are so many amendments for me to choose from, but if I had to pick one, I would pick the fifth Really excited -- I have the same/similar pickup set in my Bullhead Cutlass and I love the flexibility of the Axis pickup with single coils.

Sweet! Looks really nice. Love the necks on those. The one I had was maple neck but that rosewood looks slick.

 

[GWDavis28]

Funny I thought the Axis Sports all came with solid saddles.

Glenn |B)

 

[headcrash]

Wow, even MORE colors, Glenn

There also have been golden times, when Axis Sports sold for like 600..700..800 EUR in Germany. I got mine for 1200...1300 in 2013 and 2018. Now they're often listed for around 20k, but it seems they seldom, if ever sell for that much.

 

[headcrash]

Funny I thought the Axis Sports all came with solid saddles.

Glenn |B)

Funny, I thought the Axis Sports all came with the bent saddles

My 1997 AS HSS came with bent saddles, but I exchanged them with solid ones, because I like the feel better.
MY 2001 AS HH came with the solid ones already.