Axis Super Sport - How do I order one?

[DeepFried]

I got an Axis SS Rosewood a few months ago - killer guitar, love it. I've been thinking of getting a "regular" Axis SS in Pac Blue Burst, maybe with a trem, then maybe one with MM90's, etc....

The problem is, the Axis I've got is still the only EBMM I've ever played, much less owned. I'm having a hard time tracking down any EBMM guits at all locally (SF Bay area).

I'm very impressed with the build quality on my rosewood Axis so I wouldn't mind ordering a new Axis SS with the options I want and waiting for it to come in. Do I go to a local dealer and order through them? Is there a particular dealer who is better in general for ordering, like Wild West maybe? Or can I order directly through EBMM?

 

[old_metal_head]

I was thinking about an Axis SS as well.

I'd like a natural finish QMT, BI maple neck, no matching headstock, no trem.

Oh, it would be perfect if the volume control could be placed where the tone control is (sans a tone control) and a toggle switch could be placed where the volume control usually is (sans the lever switch).

 

[mbgreene]

There are a few dealers who frequent this forum, PeteDuBaldo and Bassplyr (Doug) and you could try sending them a PM. Both have great feed back from the folks who've used them.

Or, go through the build an instrument section of the website and you can search for dealers in your area by zip code. Some list their websites and current inventory.

 

[DeepFried]

Thanks for the replies. I checked the northern California dealer inventory and they don't have more than a couple of Axis' (Axii?) between them.

I think I'll call one of the local guys and see what they say.

 

[kbaim]

If you live in CA and order from WILD WEST (a fantastic guitar store btw) you'll still have to pay tax. If you order through doug (bassplyr) or pete...you don't.

That could save you $100-$150 depending on what you end up getting.

Buys a lot of strings.

And about 2-3 tanks of gas.

 

[DeepFried]

ah yes, good point, kbaim.

 

[phatduckk]

ah yes, good point, kbaim.

im in the SF bay area too and have been pretty annoyed by lack of EB dealers. I think Height Ashbury (on Height obviously) has EBs but i dont know how many. The GC's in SF and SJ sometimes have some guitars (usually just a handful of SUBs and basses though).

So, ya ... +1 on what folks here said ... find one online if you're impatient or if you can wait call up Bassplyr (http://daddyosmusicshack.com/) or Pete and order one. ive ordered 2 EBs from Doug and he's been amazing to deal with. Ive havent ordered from Pete but many here have and they speak very highly of him as well

There's a site (i forget the URL) but its called something like GuitarDb.com (but thats wrong) where you can search for guitars. Also http://chucklevins.com/search.asp?d=guitars&searchfor=axis usually has a bunch in stock

good luck on the hunt

 

[DeepFried]

im in the SF bay area too and have been pretty annoyed by lack of EB dealers.

Yeah, I don't think I've ever seen an EBMM at Guit Center, aside from basses. I bought my rosewood Axis at Rocker but they don't have much stock either, mostly basses.

Thanks for the links! Levins has a good website. I like being able to see a pic of the actual guitar you're interested in rather than some generic pic.

Haight-Ashbury Music isn't a bad store but they have some of the highest prices in the Bay Area. When I was in there a few weeks ago, they had a silverface Champ for something like $700. WTF?!?!? I didn't see any EBMM but maybe I missed 'em. I'll check again the next time I make a trip to Amoeba Records down the street.

 

[kbaim]

Deepfried,

Might as well look into going to the open house in sept if you live in the bay area.

 

[DeepFried]

Deepfried,
Might as well look into going to the open house in sept if you live in the bay area.

I'm signed up, bro. Maybe they'll hand out a new Axis to everyone who walks in the door.

I'll stuff one down my pants on the factory tour.

 

[old_metal_head]

Okay so I couldn't find an Axis or Axis SS in the greater Pittsburgh area (believe me I called every dealer around). So, I drove over to Boardman Ohio (about an hour) to try a hard tail they have.

It is a black hard tail SS with rosewood and a matching head stock.

I came prepared. I brought my strap and preferred brand of picks. Following is my opinion.

I played it for about an hour, and no one bothered me.

I didn't care for the tuner buttons, they didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the guitar.

The rosewood seemed to faded and not like other rosewood I've owned. Maybe because it is new?

The body seemed large to me too. My right arm felt uncomfortable resting on the top.

.......Damn the forum thing just kicked me out.......

I like the bent saddle bridges better.

The controls seemed awkward, especially the lever switch.

The finish was perfect.

The guitar was extremely light, more so than some of the basswood RGs I own. It resonated well.

I plugged it inot a Boogie single. The bridge pickup sounded okay with distortion but the other combinations left me apathetic.

The neck was okay but I found myself pushing the strings off the fretboard edge.

I guess it is not a guitar for me.

I like my Benji much better.

Maybe I'll try to find a decent Silo.

 

[savannah_sean]

Yeah, I don't think I've ever seen an EBMM at Guit Center, aside from basses.

I was in San Francisco last January, and the GC on Van Ness (which I had to walk up to, since I went down to 10th and Mission, not knowing they had moved) had a bunch of EB's. To be honest I can't remember all of the different types (I was mainly concerned with whether they had Steve Morse models; they didn't) but they had at least two Albert Lees, and I'm sure they had others as well because I remember thinking "cool, at least they a few different kinds." I think they had a couple of Pets.

I don't remember any EB's at Haight Ashbury, but I could easily be wrong about that. They may have had some OLP's though.

 

[SteveB]

old metal head...

You should have gone to the Guitar Center in Robinson. They have a single Axis in stock.

But now you've tried one, so it's moot.

They don't have any Silhouette, AL, JP, or Morse guitars there (except OLP versions).

Edit: said guitar was in the store on Wednesday, July 27th when I went in there.

 

[DeepFried]

I was in San Francisco last January, and the GC on Van Ness (which I had to walk up to, since I went down to 10th and Mission, not knowing they had moved) had a bunch of EB's. To be honest I can't remember all of the different types (I was mainly concerned with whether they had Steve Morse models; they didn't) but they had at least two Albert Lees, and I'm sure they had others as well because I remember thinking "cool, at least they a few different kinds." I think they had a couple of Pets.

They must have sold. Are you sure they weren't those OLP copies? They have some of those but I've never seen a real EBMM there.

 

[old_metal_head]

You should have gone to the Guitar Center in Robinson. They have a single Axis in stock.

I called Robinson and Monroeville and they both said no stock on EBMM guitars. Maybe they just didn't want to check.

While I was in Boardman I checked-out the GC there too. They didn't have squat.

The sales guy tried to convince me that the OLP guitars are close in quality to the EBMM guitars.

I didn't even bother...................................................

Wait. I wonder what happens if you license yor stuff and it becomes a better value with similar quality?

 

[fogman]

......The sales guy tried to convince me that the OLP guitars are close in quality to the EBMM guitars....

The OLPs are bang for the buck, but there's no way they could charge 1/5th of the price and be similar.
You, gotta love sales people. I never trust them. I do my own research and come in more informed then them all the time.
I tell them this is what I am buying. You don't need to SELL me anything. It all comes down to price!!!

 

[John C]

There's a site (i forget the URL) but its called something like GuitarDb.com (but thats wrong) where you can search for guitars.

I don't know if it's still needed, but the name of the site phatduckk referred to is Gbase.com ( http://www.gbase.com ). It's not every dealer in the world, just those who sign up them. However, it ranges from large national-rep independents like Make'n Music in Chicago and Indoorstorm in N.C. to smaller mom & pop shops who don't have any other presence on the web.