Axis vs Axis Sport

[Eddie Van Halen]

Axis vs Axis Super Sport

Ok so it's coming close to buying time and as far as I currently know I'm either getting the Axis or Axis super sport, as far as I see it, here are the pros, for me anyways

Axis:
-FLOYD ROSE (major)
-nut lock, stays in tune better

Axis Super Sport HH Vibrato w/ Piezo:
-Piezo
-5 way toggle switch

Now I can't decide which to get because I really want a floyd rose because there are without a doubt the best whammy bars out there because you can do the Van Halen esque tricks with them, but I'd also really like a piezo, the 5 way and 3 way switching doesn't really matter to me, I'll take either

The Super sport would be good for the piezo because alot of Rush songs use one and the 5 way makes for more versatility but there is not Floyd Rose and no nut lock to stay in tune better

Opinions? I need help! I'm going to my local guitar store today though so I'll try them out yet again

 

[GWDavis28]

EVH, you should change your post from Axis Sport, to Axis Super Sport since that's what you are looking at. The Axis Sport is a discontinued model and actually different than the Axis and ASS (Axis Super Sport) as many around here like to call it.

Thought you might like to know. Glenn |B)

 

[Eddie Van Halen]

ya i realised i did that after i posted the message it's all fixed


any opinions?

 

[GWDavis28]

EVH, change the first line too. Hey if you can't decide which to get, why not get both!!!

That seems to happen to most people around here. Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Later, Glenn |B)

 

[Warg Master]

EVH, change the first line too. Hey if you can't decide which to get, why not get both!!!

That seems to happen to most people around here. Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Later, Glenn |B)

that's the best solution.

 

[Eddie Van Halen]

I could, Axis' here cost like 1800 plus all the extra stuff, so prob around 2 grand

so if i could get my hands on 4 grand to get both i'd be a happy man

 

[Warg Master]

I forgot to mention, with the vintage music man trem.... it doesn't go out of tune... your "locking trems stay in tune better" doesn't apply to music man guitars.

 

[Eddie Van Halen]

the trem on the axis is locking, at least the one i played, never played the SS yet


i meant the lock up by the nut keeps it in tune better

 

[Warg Master]

I was referring to the SS with the vintage trem. Obviously a reg axis doesn't have a vintage trem. With the vintage trem, all I was saying is you don't need the locking nut, the trem doesn't go out of tune, it rules.

 

[beej]

The vintage trem on the Super Sport is excellent and stays in tune really well. You can dive on it like crazy. (Tommy in Delaware recommends lubing up the nut from time to time - I haven't tried this yet - but should help tuning stability.)

I used to be a big fan of the Floyd (I've still got two), but these days I find the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. Sure, it's a bit better for staying in tune, but it's more of a pain to change strings, tune it when it goes out more than a step or two (have to take off the locking nut, tune, lock it up, fine tune ...) etc. As is I've blocked mine so they stay in tune when strings break or I want to change tunings.

Given this, and given that the Super Sport has the extra 2 split coil sounds, I found it a no-brainer to pick the Super Sport over the regular Axis. Just my two cents. But hey- they're both awesome guitars.

 

[c_mac]

Locking tuners come on the Axis SS, so it will stay in tune just as easy as a floyd. I have an Axis SS w/ piezo coming in the mail and I own and Axis SS w/ MM90s and have had an AL. All of them stay in tune extremely well due to the locking Schaller tuners. It's up to you obviously but I would get the Axis SS over the standard Axis but that's more because I would want those in between sounds that the Axis couldn't do with a 3-way.

Chad

 

[mesavox]

If you're wanting the piezo, the Floyd is no reason to settle for piezoless. As has been said, locking tuners are in effect a locking nut, and there is no reason to not be able to do Eddie dives with the SS trem.

I've never had a Floyd stay in tune better than the trem on my EBMMJPM. As good yes, better no. Remember, there are other things that cause a guitar to go out of tune besides just a trem.

 

[jongitarz]

mesavox...Are you Kevin?

 

[Ali]

There are very subtle tone differences between the Axis, ASS and piezo ASS which you'd never notice unless you play them back to back. The regular Axis seem to have a sharper attack, more treble and longer sustain, esp harmonics. The piezo sounds more mid-rangey with a softer and sweeter attack. The sales staff in the guitar store didn't believe me until I showed them. It really is a very subtle difference but, as i have a Luke for the smooth stuff, I went for the regular Axis and spent the piezo money on a premium quilt instead

 

[Jimi D]

I think an important thing to remember with the Axis is that the trem isn't floating, so you can't do a lot of Floyd tricks (like flutters and rising harmonic squeels) the way you can on a floating Floyd guitar. So the Floyd is awesome, and will hold rock solid tuning through the absolute worst abuse, but unless you want to flap your strings against the fretboard every time you get a solo, I don't think the Floyd will prove as useful to you as the piezo. As others have said, the EBMM vintage trem with locking tuners is very, very stable when properly set up, so if you have any use for the piezo, I'd go with that. For my part, I have seven Axes (plural of Axis) in various models, but only one Floyd-equipped Axis (though I would like another, and use a Peavey Wolfgang Special as a "backup" to my Axis now).

my 2¢

 

[Dodgeball]

The Super sport would be good for the piezo because alot of Rush songs use one ...

I saw Rush in London in September and Alex played a Supersport with MM90's/piezo for a couple of numbers. He has a red one and it can also be seen (I think) on the second disk of the Rush in Rio DVD when he is doing his warm up.

As for my opinion, I currently have a regular Axis which I love. But the performance of locking tuners now is just so good that It will be the last floyd equipped guitar that I will own.

I have a Jap strat that I put gotoh vintage lockers on and I now have the vintage trem with graphtec saddles set up to float. I can do divebombs, crazy flutters and upward wangs without the sucker hardly going out of tune at all. The Luke or ASS will kill that strats performance anyday!!

I'd go with the ASS if I were you.

 

[Lew]

Well I would say an ass.I own 2.but I am biased.Never liked floyd's but I would always put up with them if I wanted a trem guitar to do more than a vintage shimmer and keep it's own.
Love the MM trem's.
I can change string's in 5 minute's.
I have a tone pot and two more positions on the switch.

What about a supersport isn't better?