- Thread starter SanLewy
- Start date
John C
Well-known member
I'll take a stab at it for you - basically the Axis is the current version of the old early 1990s EVH signature; the SuperSport offers more options to basic design:
Axis - maple neck/fingerboard only, figured maple top/basswood body, 2 Dimarizio humbuckers designed for EBMM, controls are a 3-way toggle switch and a volume, EBMM Floyd Rose licensed bridge (made by Gotoh I believe), Schaller tuners with pearl knobs.
Axis SuperSport (humbucker model) - choice of the maple neck/fingerboard or a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard, figured maple top/basswood body, 2 Dimarizio humbuckers designed for EBMM (same as the "regular" Axis/EVH), controls are a 5-way blade switch, master volume and master volume, choice of either the EBMM vintage-style trem bridge or an EBMM hardtail (string-through) bridge with solid saddles, locking Schaller tuners with pearl knobs.
Axis SuperSport (soapbar model) - choice of the maple neck/fingerboard or a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard, figured maple top/swamp ash body, 2 MM-90 pickups (EBMM's own P-90 style pickups), controls are a 3-way blade switch, master volume and master volume, choice of either the EBMM vintage-style trem bridge or an EBMM hardtail (string-through) bridge with solid saddles, locking Schaller tuners with pearl knobs.
Both SuperSports are availble as "Rosewood" models - these have a rosewood top instead of the maple top and a solid rosewood neck.
Hope that helps.
Axis - maple neck/fingerboard only, figured maple top/basswood body, 2 Dimarizio humbuckers designed for EBMM, controls are a 3-way toggle switch and a volume, EBMM Floyd Rose licensed bridge (made by Gotoh I believe), Schaller tuners with pearl knobs.
Axis SuperSport (humbucker model) - choice of the maple neck/fingerboard or a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard, figured maple top/basswood body, 2 Dimarizio humbuckers designed for EBMM (same as the "regular" Axis/EVH), controls are a 5-way blade switch, master volume and master volume, choice of either the EBMM vintage-style trem bridge or an EBMM hardtail (string-through) bridge with solid saddles, locking Schaller tuners with pearl knobs.
Axis SuperSport (soapbar model) - choice of the maple neck/fingerboard or a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard, figured maple top/swamp ash body, 2 MM-90 pickups (EBMM's own P-90 style pickups), controls are a 3-way blade switch, master volume and master volume, choice of either the EBMM vintage-style trem bridge or an EBMM hardtail (string-through) bridge with solid saddles, locking Schaller tuners with pearl knobs.
Both SuperSports are availble as "Rosewood" models - these have a rosewood top instead of the maple top and a solid rosewood neck.
Hope that helps.
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kevin
Ernie Ball Customer Service
Hi Guys....we already lay it out on the FAQ section of our website:
http://www.ernieball.com/faq_content.php?subjectcode=mm_guitars
Q: What are the differences between the old Edward Van Halen signature guitar and the model that took its place, the Axis?
A: When Eddie left Ernie Ball/Music Man in 1995, the decision was made to keep the guitar in production pretty much the same as when it was the Eddie Van Halen guitar. All of the design, including the neck, pickups, and woods used are the same, but we made a few improvements:
1. The neck was widened slightly (1/32") at the body end. This was to correct problems for players who were having trouble with the high E string slipping off the neck on the 12th fret and up.
2. The switch was moved near the volume knob. This was done to help prevent accidental hitting of the switch, especially while strumming.
3. The "tone" knob was replaced by a volume knob (NOTE: it was always a volume pot - the "tone" knob was a sort of joke).
4. We added a comfort contour (a belly cut) to the top and back of the body.
Q: What are the differences between the Axis and the Axis SuperSport?
A: One difference is that the Axis is only available with a Floyd Rose bridge.
This is what is on the Axis SuperSport that is not available on the Axis:
1. It comes with a tone control. 2. It is available with either a stop-tailpiece or a vintage tremolo, but not with a Floyd Rose bridge. 3. It is available with either a rosewood or maple fretboard; the Axis is only available with maple. 4. It is available with MM-90 pickups or the standard Axis humbucking pickups. 5. It is available with a piezo (acoustic) bridge (right-hand only - extra charge). 6. It is available left-handed (extra charge). 7. The SuperSport has a 5-way selector switch to employ coil-tapping, while the Axis uses a 3-way toggle switch. 8. The base price of the SuperSport is somewhat less than that of the Axis.
http://www.ernieball.com/faq_content.php?subjectcode=mm_guitars
Q: What are the differences between the old Edward Van Halen signature guitar and the model that took its place, the Axis?
A: When Eddie left Ernie Ball/Music Man in 1995, the decision was made to keep the guitar in production pretty much the same as when it was the Eddie Van Halen guitar. All of the design, including the neck, pickups, and woods used are the same, but we made a few improvements:
1. The neck was widened slightly (1/32") at the body end. This was to correct problems for players who were having trouble with the high E string slipping off the neck on the 12th fret and up.
2. The switch was moved near the volume knob. This was done to help prevent accidental hitting of the switch, especially while strumming.
3. The "tone" knob was replaced by a volume knob (NOTE: it was always a volume pot - the "tone" knob was a sort of joke).
4. We added a comfort contour (a belly cut) to the top and back of the body.
Q: What are the differences between the Axis and the Axis SuperSport?
A: One difference is that the Axis is only available with a Floyd Rose bridge.
This is what is on the Axis SuperSport that is not available on the Axis:
1. It comes with a tone control. 2. It is available with either a stop-tailpiece or a vintage tremolo, but not with a Floyd Rose bridge. 3. It is available with either a rosewood or maple fretboard; the Axis is only available with maple. 4. It is available with MM-90 pickups or the standard Axis humbucking pickups. 5. It is available with a piezo (acoustic) bridge (right-hand only - extra charge). 6. It is available left-handed (extra charge). 7. The SuperSport has a 5-way selector switch to employ coil-tapping, while the Axis uses a 3-way toggle switch. 8. The base price of the SuperSport is somewhat less than that of the Axis.
I have both and are quite different beasts really. SuperSport is obviously more flexible with more tone options... Axis is more rock oriented and has a ballsier tone (due to lack of tone control, floyd and the bridge pickups mounted closer to strings).
Said it before...I use my Axis for hard rock, Supersport for everything else...
Steve K
Said it before...I use my Axis for hard rock, Supersport for everything else...
Steve K
robelinda2
Well-known member
the difference? the ASS kicks ASS. floyd shmoyd.
ASS- MM90, Hardtail, rosewood board, piezo, matching- the best, all class.
ASS- MM90, Hardtail, rosewood board, piezo, matching- the best, all class.
kompressaur
Well-known member
I prefer the core tone of my Axis over my Supersport but the ASS can do tones the other cant.
Komp
Komp
Tim O'Sullivan
Well-known member
Anythink that is Axis shaped is an awesome guitar!
If the ASS has all those extras, why is the Axis a bit more expensive? Because of the FR bridge? Thanks again.
robelinda2
Well-known member
correct, floyds cost more.
go the super sport.
go the super sport.
Astrofreq
Well-known member
then swap the neck pickup out for a Humbucker From Hell. That's what I do.
Ah edited I misunderstood your pickup question.
Like an all natural rosewood in person.
Like an all natural rosewood in person.
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The sort of music peformed by Pink Floyd, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Deep Purple (Yes, "Smoke On The Water" was composed and performed on single coils), Indeginous, Eric Johnson, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, you know, basically all your Strat players type of stuff.
"Hummers" can do a decent job with all this stuff, but I dont think it will ever be exact. I'm not even sure if splitting humbuckers will produce the correct tone, but if somebody is looking for an all-around type of guitar, the ASS seems to be excellent choice. Then again, so does the Morse. (Glad I'm not making that decision.
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