Confused about Axis neck vs. EVH neck

GoKart Mozart · Mar 23, 2003

Ok, I've read on here before that the Axis neck it different than the EVH neck. But in this interview with a production manager at Ernie Ball, this guy says they're the same. Here's a quote:

http://www.tbns.net/becker/ernieball.html

"Q:Speaking of the Axis, it looks like a non-signature Eddie Van Halen model. I read somewhere
once that you guys digitally read the fretboard of Eddie's Kramer with a laser and re-produced
it to make his signature music man. Does the Axis come with that same fretboard? If not,
what other differences are there between the two models?

A:For all intense and purposes, the Axis is a non-signature EVH model. As you may or may not
know, Eddie Van Halen stopped working with Ernie Ball/Music Man in the mid-1990's. We
still retain the rights to that design, therefore we still make the guitar but under the "Axis" name.
The story about the digital reading of the fretboard is indeed true - it was done because he had
worn down his neck so much by playing, that the back contour became extremely comfortable
to him. Rather than wearing down new guitars, you could say they are "pre-worn", by shaping
the neck to the characteristics of his previous guitars. Each neck is still made this way. "

So what exactly, if any, are the differences in the EVH neck and Axis neck??

hbucker · Mar 24, 2003

Here is the response I got from Customer Service a few years ago regarding the same question...

"The only difference between the Axis and the EVH necks is that the Axis
is a little wider at the neck pocket. Some of the beginning players
were having problems with the little E falling off so we widened it a
bit.

Best regards,
John Young
Customer Service
Ernie Ball, Inc"

I own an EVH and can tell you that I notice a difference in neck feel between the Axis and EVH. The Axis feels less broken in to me. It's still a nice neck. It just feels different.

blackspy · Mar 26, 2003

I own an EVH and can tell you that I notice a difference in neck feel between the Axis and EVH. The Axis feels less broken in to me. It's still a nice neck. It just feels different.

Based on the few Axis guitars I've played, and the few EVH guitars I've played. I'd have to say that they all feel slightly different. Two different EVH's would likely be different (a little anyway) as would two different Axis guitars.

GoKart Mozart · Mar 26, 2003

This is the answer I got via Scott Appelgate of Customer Service:

"Jacob,
You are absolutely correct. We widened the neck 1/32 of an inch on the Axis, moved the toggle switch, and beveled the body. Those are the only changes we made from the EVH to the Axis. "

Doesn't sound like the neck's that much different.

hbucker · Mar 26, 2003

It doesn't really matter, but the Axis necks I've played have all been different consistantly in the same way from my EVH. That is, the neck feels a little wider and the edges feel slightly more square. The square feeling might only be a byproducts of the width but that feel is there none the less. The other EVH's I've played have felt like my EVH.

Fact is, they are slightly different and slight differences in necks can make HUGE differences in feel. I'm not saying this because I have an EVH and refuse to accept that the Axis is as good. I prefer my EVH but do believe some of the changes (body bevel & relocation of pickups switch) made in the Axis were improvements. I'm just saying the necks feel different enough to me that somebody might easily prefer the Axis over the EVH or the EVH over the Axis.

Whatever floats your boat is what you should set sail on.

c_hebb · Apr 9, 2003

String Gauges?

I've had an EVH for many years and it has been safely stowed away under my bed waiting for the day i send it off to EBMM for a new toggle switch and a makeover (nicks and scratches). It's been a long time since i last played it but i remember that the high E string would occassionally get caught over the edge of the neck. Has anyone tried experimenting with different string gauges for this issue? I don't remember it being a big deal but if i can eliminate in completly...

JT3 · Apr 18, 2003

Same Prob.

c hebb, I've had the same problem sometimes with my EVH. The e string sometimes slips off the fret board during lead breaks. I'd like another 1/32 on my neck. Sometimes tough on tapping too cause of the, "oh no I might slip off" snydrome. Other than that I think this is the finest guitar made.

c_hebb · Apr 18, 2003

Have you experimented with different strings?

JT3 · Apr 22, 2003

Yup. Didn't help.

Tim O'Sullivan · Apr 22, 2003

I have a hard tail EVH in Purple, and a hard tail Axis in Red. To me, both necks feel quite different. I would say the Axis neck is much fatter and obviously wider as previously discussed. To my ears, the Axis is much fuller in tone and a little louder too, probably as a result of the neck. But I have had them both re-fretted with Stewmac 149 frets, which gives them both a 'bigger' feel anyhow.

c_hebb · Apr 22, 2003

That's odd. I think the necks are nearly identical except for that additional 1/32. I didn't know they made the EVH model sans Floyd Rose? Did you change that or something? Anyway, did you wear out the frets? I think the EVH frets are really a perfect size, for me at least...

Tim O'Sullivan · Apr 22, 2003

Well my Hard tail EVH is a stock guitar, it came like that! Strings are through the body like a tele. From what I hear (maybe EBMM can confirm this) they were quite rare, and only a thousand or so were made. I am not a trem player, so its perfect for me! As for the frets, its a bit of both. I always thought they were a little small, and I had them both dressed a few times due to general use. I had an old Aria re-fretted with Stewmac 149's and they were perfect for me, so both the MM guitars got done too. I have also has the frets dressed on a Plek machine. This is a computer controlled process which does a dynamic fret dress to elimate buzzes and dead spots. Really makes it extra comfortable to play!

5Stringer · Dec 4, 2007

c_hebb said:
That's odd. I think the necks are nearly identical except for that additional 1/32. I didn't know they made the EVH model sans Floyd Rose? Did you change that or something? Anyway, did you wear out the frets? I think the EVH frets are really a perfect size, for me at least...

The EVH model was offered without the Floyd in the 3 most popular (at the time) colors - Trans Gold, Trans Red, Trans Purple from 1993-95.

Just to set the record straight on that.

Dan

greenwizard · Dec 4, 2007

Man! We've had a lot of crazy resurrected threads over the past few days.
Pretty cool....

Ricman · Dec 4, 2007

"Lets do the time-warp agaaaaaain"

5Stringer · Dec 4, 2007

Geez, I didn't even notice how old that thread was - "you are now in the twilight zone"

Dan

GuitarHack · Dec 4, 2007

Ricman said:
"Lets do the time-warp agaaaaaain"

LOL

Tim O'Sullivan · Dec 5, 2007

My posts were a lot more intelligent and well written all the way back then!

Lord Toneking · Dec 5, 2007

My question is this...

After owning both the EBMM and the Peavey Wolfgang, why are the necks so different if the EBMM and the Wolfgang?

hbucker · Dec 5, 2007

Lord Toneking said:
My question is this...

After owning both the EBMM and the Peavey Wolfgang, why are the necks so different if the EBMM and the Wolfgang?

I'm sorry. I don't understand your question. Yes, the Wolf neck is significantly different than the Axis/EVH neck. They only things they have in common are the asymmetrical design and the oil finish, but even that is different (gunstock vs. lemon oil).

Does this answer your question?

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