Axis SS V.S. PRS CE-24

[Learman69]

Hi all, I know things may be just a little biased here but I need help deciding between these 2 guitars. Main thing Im looking for is a guit with versatility and a vintage trem. I've played the CE24 and liked the feel and sound. I have not played the SS but it seems to have everything I want. The big plus for me is the neck of the SS, I have a Wolfgang with birdseye and I am spoiled now on these type of necks. Any + and - to these 2 guitars??

Thanks

 

[GWDavis28]

Dude, go find your nearest EBMM dealer and try one out. Where do you live?? Maybe someone here either lives near you and has one you might be able to try or knows of a dealer that does.

Glenn |B)

 

[mhorse]

Well Axis SS is 22 fret, if that matters to you. I've recently came across an article bashing 22-fret guitars with some argumentation. I don't necesserily agree with it, but some people seem to care. Interestingly enough on the same website CE24 was the highest recommended PRS model.
I bet Axis weights less, which can be an advantage on stage. You can order Axis with piezo or P90 instead of humbuckers, you can also get solid rosewood neck now too.

 

[kbaim]

Does the ce come with the rotary knob or a pup lever.
I got a custom 24 with knob, (knob=bad).
and wide thin neck carve, which isn't as comfy as eb for me.
maybe I'll bring the prs to the OH

 

[mhorse]

Does the ce come with the rotary knob or a pup lever.
I got a custom 24 with knob, (knob=bad).
and wide thin neck carve, which isn't as comfy as eb for me.
maybe I'll bring the prs to the OH

Out of curiocity, why is the rotary knob bad?

 

[jongitarz]

Out of curiocity, why is the rotary knob bad?

I had a PRS, and HATED the rotary knob....It's too hard to use quickly and you tend to over shoot your target setting. Had I kept the guitar, I would have installed a 3 way.

 

[Antoine]

A friend of mine has got the CE-24, and we have done tests to compare both, the PRS and my Axis SS HH : The Axis is a better guitar.
In fact, i have compared my Axis and my Luke with a lot of guitars from any manufacturers, and IMHO, there are no guitar than can do better, EBMM are the bests guitar you can play, and tonewise they are absolutly fantastic !!!
Maybe my opinions are a little biased, but i'm so addicted to the tone, neck, look and feel of EBMM guitars, than i can't play anything else anymore !!!
Congratulations to the EBMM team, and thank you for your guitars !

 

[jazzbo jim]

I have a rotary on my Hodad 12 string Dano..I can't remember which setting gives which config!! But I like that guitar.
I've been seeing a TON of PRS's being played by both pro and poser alike lately.
I like the look of many PRS's but there's something oh so cool about that stout little Axis. It rocks and it's "huggable" (like playing a sax!)
Going from my Axis to playing my strat is like strapping on a canoe!
Having said that, I've heard that the PRS trems, however, are AMAZING and stay in great tune.
Personally, unless it's a Floyd, I haven't been able to find ANY trem that stays in wonderful tune (athough my Legacy comes close and my Axis is slightly better)

 

[Big Poppa]

heres another way of looking at it:

line Big Poppa's war chest or Pauls.

Lets try to do a "or" rather than a vs.

you know that old subjective thingy.

PRS are fantastic guitars and I think ours are too. Paul is a friend and good man also.
(I think that Im mentioned in his book)

Play em both and buy the one that suits you...if it's a tie buy mine!

 

[kbaim]

Out of curiocity, why is the rotary knob bad?

see Jon's answer.

 

[phatduckk]

I think that you answered your own question when you said "The big plus for me is the neck of the SS"

i have a PRS McCarty (swapped the bridge pup for a Dragon 2) and I like it a lot ... but i think id rather have an axis. both rock

 

[Jimi D]

I've owned a PRS Custom 24 and an EG3, so between the two of them I have a pretty good idea what a CE 24 would be like. Anyway, I obviously prefer the Axis, personally, but PRS make awfully nice guitars... I have to agree with the thumbs down on the rotary pickup selector, tho' - even on my friend's PRS Signature Custom the rotary knob irritates me... I also found the pickups somewhat wanting, and not nearly as toneful as the Axis pups - and the necks seemed very generic to me, for lack of a better term (ie: they didn't fill my hands well at all)... fretwork was lovely though, and I really, really like the PRS trem - it's one of the best you can get, imho... You've really got to try both to find what's right for you, but I think the Axis is a little more versatile, at least in my experience....

 

[Dugger]

It's all a matter of personal preference, but I'd have to say you can't go wrong with the Axis.

I had 2 PRS CE24's and neither of them compared to my 3 Axis. A while back, I went on a PRS binge for a while. Sadly, I tried really hard to dig the PRS vibe, but just didn't get it. The CE's were more expensive than an Axis, didn't feel as good, the flame top on both were barely figured, didn't even have real binding, and had the dreaded 5-way rotary knob which I just hated.

I like the Axis neck countour MUCH better than the wide/thin carve on the CE24. Both were close in price, but at the end of the day, it's about playability, and (to my hands) the Axis won in the end.

 

[Colin]

In my opinion due to the high standards that Music Man and PRS have set, the rest have had to pull their socks up.

Colin

 

[lock-ny]

I had a ce24 and I sold it to finance my axis with a hardtail a few years back, I just played the axis better and sounded better on it, it was made for me, now my silo is my main ax and I have a few choices, but I just couldn't bond with the prs for some reason, maybe it was the scale length or the neck or pups but we never fully bonded. But like Big Poppa said its subjective, you really need to play an axis and you will know right away whether its for you or not, let me also mention that the silo and all of the EBMM guitars are special in their own way so try as many as you can get your hands on before you settle on one, they all pretty much rock - russ

 

[Roxy]

A more comparable model to the CE 24 might be the JP6. Both offer 24 frets, rosewood fretboards & maple necks, duel humbuckers, a coil tap, a great tremolo and locking tuners. Don't forget body woods. PRS uses mahogany with an optional maple top. The Axis is similar to your Wolf (basswood/maple top). The JP6 is basswood.

* For about the same money or even less you can get the piezo option on the Axis or JP6 for what you would pay for a CE 24.

If fact, I know you can get a JP6 fully loaded Limited Edition 2005 Buttercream (my favorite) for less at www.indoorstorm.com where I got my JP7 LE. These guitars are awesome and play like a dream. The ergonomic body contour, tone, versatility, etc. would be hard to beat. Check a JP and Axis out somewhere. Good luck!

 

[jimmyp]

Both - they are both stunning and are very good at what they do - I would try for a cust 22 with McCarty switching if you can find one - I reckon it is a lot easier than messing with a rotary control. The neck is the big decider - the Axis necks are a joy to play - the unfinished necks are awesome. I like both guitars a lot (I'm picking up my new McCarty rosewood tomorrow) and like Big Poppa says, try both and see which works best for you and your style, then decide. Workmanship and playability I think are around equal - either way, you'll have a very cool axe,
Dave