Axis vs. AX40

[Whammy_Abuser]

Hey guys, I have been looking at getting a new EBMM for a while now, but due to life I really don't have the dough to get a full blown Axis at the moment.

What I am wondering is this,
How big is the quality difference between the real Axis and the AX40

if it is a huge one then I will just wait and get an Axis, however if with a electronic/pickup/tremolo swap it would fare well against it's big brother, then I'll just go for the AX40.

Thoughts?

 

[azazael]

Check out used Axis.
For Sale forum is a good place to start.

 

[DrGonzo5150]

Where are you based?

I have to say, you can get some damn good deals second hand. I would probably go that route... I would argue that cost would be comparable by the time your have coffed up money for upgrades, so why not get the real thing

And... As you may be aware, the custom dimarzio pickups in the Axis are MAGICAL, can't be purchased new and are hard to find second hand. They were worth the price of admission alone for me

 

[browndog]

I bought an AX40 on May 1 and an Axis 3 weeks ago. That was my 2nd AX40.

Obviously there is a difference but the AX40 is a great guitar... stock. Had I kept the AX40, I might have upgraded to a real Floyd & DiMarzio’s but up here in Canada where everything costs more, that would put me in the used Axis price range.

I bought my first one sight unseen and was very impressed when I got her out of the box. Great fit & finish, nicely quilted maple veneer top and a satin smooth neck with absolutely no issues.

Any questions, PM me.

Jeff

 

[nobozos]

Let me start by saying that the AX40 is a great value for it's price. The most signifigant difference in construction between the AX40 and the Axis is the top. The AX40 uses a veneer, and the Axis uses an actual maple cap.

I've made alot of purchases, trades, and errors in judgment over 25 years of playing. I will offer you some advice based on my experience, use it however you wish.

Every time I've sacrificed getting what I really want in order to get a cheaper version of it, I've spent alot of money on upgrades that I've never gotten back. Usually, I end up trading the guitar in for something better, and closer to what I really wanted to begin with. Ultimately, I will end up getting the guitar I originally wanted used, but I will have traded my way there, losing money on every trade along the way, and costing myself more money than if I would have bought the guitar new in the end.

The urge to get the "real thing" won't be pacified by getting something close to the real thing. Sure you'll be satisfied for a while, but that passes quickly.

If I could do it all over again, I would have saved my money, got what I wanted to begin with, and ended up spending less overall.

The only up-side is that I got alot of experience working on and modifying guitars, and have made alot of people that bought my used guitars very happy.

 

[blkcloud1313]

I agree with nobozos; buy the best and never feel like you made the wrong choice.

 

[sandmannn69]

Get the real deal(Axis) second-hand. AX40 is okay, but even with upgrades, it's not even close (you can't upgrade the neck....that's the deal-killer).

 

[cam01235]

As beautiful as the Axis is the AX40 is very nice guitar the neck is excellent..currently in Australia an Axis is 3200$ (and worth every cent) and the AX40 is going for about 900$..this is one guitar where the value version is very good compared to the real thing..obviously Axis is on an other level but AX40 is very good for this price..very playable guitar..one thing that has surprised me is that some very playable value guitars come out of Indonesia I really have been genuinely surprised and impressed..I am very close to getting an AX40 as I want a nice maple neck and easily affordable..I will probably get a JP6 as next serious instrument..I already have PRS and ESP

 

[Jack FFR1846]

If you must buy new, the AX40 is a nice guitar. But you're already comparing it to an Axis. They are very different playing. I've played a number of AX40's and sorry....none have come anywhere in the same universe as my Axis. The quality of the guitar is very high, but the feel isn't close (to me, anyway).