Axis vs JP

[Volfgang]

Im having trouble deciding between buying another Music man Axis or JP6 or X.
I had an Axis and loved the neck and sound even though it didnt have much options.

I havnt tried a JP model though I have heard good things. But one thing I was wondering is about the neck.
Has anyone compared the 2 necks? I hate wide/thin necks (for example)like they have on Prestige Ibanez guitars.
So I was wondering if the JP neck is alot closer to an Axis neck or is it totally different altogether?
The Axis neck is perfect for me but I want something with a floater and more tone options.

 

[jzeijen]

Although I have never tried an Axis neck, I do have a Petrucci. It's neck is pretty thin compared to the ones on my other MM. The only way to decide is to try one out.

 

[Bluplirst]

The JP is a lot closer to a wide thin than the Axis which is more narrow and thicker. If you hate wide thin necks, stick with the Axis.

 

[Volfgang]

Although I have never tried an Axis neck, I do have a Petrucci. It's neck is pretty thin compared to the ones on my other MM. The only way to decide is to try one out.

Yea I might try one this weekend if I can find atleast 1 shop in Australia that has 1...
Do you mean the neck is thin as in the back of the neck?
Or the width of the fretboard?

The back of the neck on the Axis is described as a "small c" shape, then kind of gets a bit more contoured towards the neck joint

 

[jzeijen]

By thin I mean the back of the neck.

 

[Dr.Strangenote]

They are different, the Axis is meatier, the JP more flattened out. Both are GREAT necks in their own right.

 

[djlynch]

Axis-rounded or C
JP-D shape? flat back but has some shoulders. It's Ibanez thin

 

[ily]

i've played sometimes on a JP6 first version
great guitar very good sound but the neck isn't good for me (the only EBMM neck i can't play ) radius 15" is too flat for rhythm chords and size at nut 43mm is too large for my taste
i prefer an Axis neck or a Luke neck if it's not too 'V' shaped

try a Luke.......

 

[mikeller]

Im having trouble deciding between buying another Music man Axis or JP6 or X.
I had an Axis and loved the neck and sound even though it didnt have much options.

I havnt tried a JP model though I have heard good things. But one thing I was wondering is about the neck.
Has anyone compared the 2 necks? I hate wide/thin necks (for example)like they have on Prestige Ibanez guitars.
So I was wondering if the JP neck is alot closer to an Axis neck or is it totally different altogether?
The Axis neck is perfect for me but I want something with a floater and more tone options.

If the Axis neck is great - you might want to look at an Axis Super Sport. It has a 5 way switch for more tonal options and the bridge can easily be set up to float.

 

[ozzyrules]

Im having trouble deciding between buying another Music man Axis or JP6 or X.
I had an Axis and loved the neck and sound even though it didnt have much options.

JP neck feels more like an Ibanez neck than the Axis does. It's way "thin" compared to the Axis/Super Sport. If you need single coil sounds, the ASS is the way to go.

 

[Defender2000]

I had a loaded tangerine pearl jp6(check out my avatar). I got some amazing tones out of it. Tonally, the jp is a very versatile guitar. I really like the jp, but didn't love it. I really tried, but I had a hard time bonding with it. Flat radius and a thin neck. The body is very comfortable and the oil/wax finish on the neck was smooth as silk. But the shape of the neck just didn't feel right to me. I like a little more meat to grab onto. I ended up trading it in for an axis tribute. The axis is much better suited for me. The difference between the axis neck and jp neck is worlds apart.

My advise is just to go out and test drive one and see how it feels to you. If you're looking for more tonal options than the regular axis, try checking out the ASS, the Y2D, or even the Luke. Only you can decide what feels right to you.

 

[TSHOW]

Don't listen to us............Try out an Axis and an Axis Super Sport............I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOve them both........also...try the JP6.............Everyone has different taste, needs...etc.!!!!! Good Luck!!!!

 

[Volfgang]

I tried a JP6 today, well a few hours ago, the shop had to kick me out cos ithad to close...

Well I have to say the JP6 neck is not as wide as what I thought it was, I had an Ibanez Prestige and that has a fretboard that feels as wide as a fence pale. I hated the Prestige neck, the JP neck felt NO where near as wide as that.
Anyhow the JP6 sounds freaking awesome, you can go from full on thrashy metal to an almost strat-like clean sound with just a flick of the switch to the middle,meating sounding bridge pickup.

Hmmm...
BUT... there was one thing that kept happening while I was trying the JP. It kept going out of tune, so that has made me wary
as I hate guitars that do that for what ever reason....
The one thing great I remember about my old Axis was that it never went out of tune, no matter how much I smashed the the whammy bar on it....

Great...I just screwed myself now because I was so keen on getting an Axis, and I love that guitar's neck, but since I tried the JP it got me by surprise, I was not expecting it to be so comfortable to play, and be so versatile....*&%#$@!!

 

[Volfgang]

Don't listen to us............Try out an Axis and an Axis Super Sport............I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOve them both........also...try the JP6.............Everyone has different taste, needs...etc.!!!!! Good Luck!!!!

I tried the JP6 and used to own an Axis, but no Axis super sports in my local shops. Not many EBMM guitars in Australian shops

 

[koogie2k]

I tried a JP6 today, well a few hours ago, the shop had to kick me out cos ithad to close...

Well I have to say the JP6 neck is not as wide as what I thought it was, I had an Ibanez Prestige and that has a fretboard that feels as wide as a fence pale. I hated the Prestige neck, the JP neck felt NO where near as wide as that.
Anyhow the JP6 sounds freaking awesome, you can go from full on thrashy metal to an almost strat-like clean sound with just a flick of the switch to the middle,meating sounding bridge pickup.

Hmmm...
BUT... there was one thing that kept happening while I was trying the JP. It kept going out of tune, so that has made me wary
as I hate guitars that do that for what ever reason....
The one thing great I remember about my old Axis was that it never went out of tune, no matter how much I smashed the the whammy bar on it....

Great...I just screwed myself now because I was so keen on getting an Axis, and I love that guitar's neck, but since I tried the JP it got me by surprise, I was not expecting it to be so comfortable to play, and be so versatile....*&%#$@!!

The JP holds tuning very well. Could have simply needed a set up since it was at a shop. Another option would be to get a Gamechanger which has unlimited tonal options available. Just my thought.

 

[Adam_D]

I have 2 Ibanez, one is a 6'er, the other is a 7, and my JPX is a 7. The difference between the necks on the 7's is a million miles apart to me, the JPX feels more comfortable in every single way, and I actually prefer the feel of a painted neck!

Tuning wise, I agree with koogie2k above, chances are that JP in the shop was just in need of some set up love and fresh strings. Conversely if the guitar was completely new, then perhaps the springs in the back are still adjusting. It takes a little abuse for them to settle into their prime position! I love my JPX more than any guitar I've ever played, the only one thing I would change is perhaps the pickups, but that's total personal preference and something easily changed!

First world problems when we stress over which beautiful axe to choose, eh??

 

[T- Bone]

I have a couple Axis' and have owned a petrucci. The Petrucci was more of a finesse playing guitar. I couldnt really 'dig in'. If I did it sometime went out of tun, plus the neck was way too thin and flat for me, I did like that either. I also wasnt a fan of the pickups. they seemed kinda bright compared to the Axis

The Axis imo is the ultimate rock guitar. You can dig in and abuse the neck and strings on that thing and it wont go out of tune...and sounds fatter and more ballsy imo. And the neck on the Axis to me is just so much more comfy, but everyone is different

 

[Dr.Strangenote]

T-bone, sounds like you may have a little issue with your JP, whether it being the nut, the strings and how it's strung, or trem/springs, etc. Of all the JP's that I've owned, actually, every single music man that I've owned, never at all had a problem with tuning stability.

Every time I am done playing my Axis for some time, then going to the JP, they are completely different animals. But both are total face melting rock machines. The JP immediately opens up a lot just simply by the longer fret board (24 fret as opposed to 22 [and wider at the nut and last fret]). The sound on the JP seems 'to me', a bit more tame and very focused and in control but aggressive. The Axis with those custom wound pick ups is like unleashing mayhem all at once, and it's cool!! It most cases, I have to hold back the volume sometimes to keep it in control. The necks are certainly different and that's why we ALL should own both, just sayin.

It is all personal preference.

 

[Volfgang]

T-bone, sounds like you may have a little issue with your JP, whether it being the nut, the strings and how it's strung, or trem/springs, etc. Of all the JP's that I've owned, actually, every single music man that I've owned, never at all had a problem with tuning stability.

Every time I am done playing my Axis for some time, then going to the JP, they are completely different animals. But both are total face melting rock machines. The JP immediately opens up a lot just simply by the longer fret board (24 fret as opposed to 22 [and wider at the nut and last fret]). The sound on the JP seems 'to me', a bit more tame and very focused and in control but aggressive. The Axis with those custom wound pick ups is like unleashing mayhem all at once, and it's cool!! It most cases, I have to hold back the volume sometimes to keep it in control. The necks are certainly different and that's why we ALL should own both, just sayin.

It is all personal preference.

Yep I think your right, maybe I'll just get the JP6 and then get the Axis later.
I play alot of heavy metal which the Axis is perfect for but I cant get past how good the middle pickup cleans up on the JP, sounds nice clean and almost strat-like.

 

[straycat113]

The EVH/Axis was the guitar that got me into EBMM and after owning every model except for a Luke the JP was the only one I just could not gel with due to the neck.But for some reason I would not sell or trade it as I loved everything else about the guitar. Well I have been watching this instructional DVD in which the piece really called for a 24 fret guitar and I pulled out the JP and am really starting to bond with it though I still wish it had a beefier neck. I am still holding out hope that something may happen like they did with the Dark Lord and offer just on LE of the guitar with a chunkier neck as I would be all over it.

Look how many guys posted on this thread alone saying they love the guitar but not the neck and that aint nothing as on a lot of forums the same thing is said about the guitar.We all know it is the biggest selling Ball model so that puts us in the minority, but then again guys who like a bigger neck have not had a shot at one? I still have a feeling we may see a run with a bigger neck like they did with the DL.I am still waiting to see what the Stallion is going to be like, may be the horse a lotof us want to ride.