Deciding on a new guitar + TONE KNOBS.. do you use them?

[Multiversal]

Here's my dilemma.. I love all of these guitars. I love the Luke.. the Petrucci.. the Axis.. the Silo.. and the Al..

I wish I could afford to buy a couple of each.. but I can't.. and don't see myself doing that any time soon.

I want my next purchase to be an Axis. I love it. It's just.. pure rock.

BUT.. I find myself playing in TONS of different styles all the time at school and I want to know if the Axis can handle funk, blues, jazz, country and reggae...

I WANT an Axis, but I'm thinking that the most rational choice would be to get a a Silo, Luke, or another Petrucci. I'm not so sure how I feel about single coil in the neck on the Luke, though.. That would limit my tones a bit too much..

Even though I play all those styles.. I very rarely find myself touching the tone knob. When I do, it's because I'm playing jazz.. and honestly, if I'm playing a jazz gig.. I doubt I'd bring any of these guitars. I'm planning on purchasing a guitar specifically for jazz.

I play in an R&B group at school and also I'm starting a group with a friend from Japan which would be more on the instrumental rock/experimental side which my Petrucci and an Axis would be perfect for.

Also.. I freakin' love Floyd Rose trems.. I don't care how much work they are.. they are amazing.

Really, a Morse would be the most realistic choice if I'm buying for tone variety..

Man.. I'm so confused.

I want an Axis.. I think?

 

[Sub1 Zero]

I'm almost always messing with my tone knob. For leads and cleans with my silo I usually dial it down to around 7, sometimes 6. I can't live without a tone knob

 

[Multiversal]

Really?

Man.. I dunno. I just never use it.. I mean, I do when I'm just ****in' around but that's about it.

I used to use whenever I played the solo from the Alice in Chains song "Would" ... but I haven't been apart of that gig for nearly 3 years now.

 

[Ricman]

Go for an Axis Super Sport..with piezo....I can get damn nearly any tone I want of out of mine.

 

[Multiversal]

Ah.. man.. I would.. but I just need that Floyd.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

You don't need the floyd The MM tremelo slays it dude...

 

[fsmith]

What does the floyd give you that the vintage trem doesn't?

Pain in the ass string changes, tuning screws, tough palm mutes... On second thought maybe I see your point...

No really, I don't see the *need* for a floyd at all... The vintage trem is the way to go. The versatility of the different tones available on the Super Sport plus piezo makes it a no brainer to me. And the vintage trem is incredibly stable.

I've had a floyd and would never go back. But hey, it's your money...

 

[Astrofreq]

I'm going to rephrase some of this
-----------------------------------

I'm with you, Floyds are the best tremolo. I'm not here to start debates between forumites. I have the standard trems (which are great) on a couple of my super sports, but I still prefer the floyd anyday. Sure, it's more work, but IN MY EXPERIENCE it just stays in tune better. Period. I wish it were recessed, but hey.

 

[Multiversal]

I don't doubt the stability of the trem at all.

It's the range that I need.

I do tons of weird stuff with my guitars.. all kinds of strange noises and the Floyd helps out a lot.

 

[Multiversal]

You need an axis. I'm with you. Floyds are the best tremolo. I'm not here to start debates between forumites. I have the standard trems on a couple of my super sports and I definitely prefer the floyd anyday. I wish it were recessed, but hey.

I can live without it being a recessed.. even though I too would prefer that.

 

[Astrofreq]

I think, and I may be wrong, that floyd users tend to be more abusive than the standard trem users.

 

[Astrofreq]

... and no, I don't use my tone knobs. I actually unwire them.

 

[Multiversal]

I think, and I may be wrong, that floyd users tend to be more abusive than the standard trem users.

Exactly. I abuse the HELL outta my guitars..

The bridge on the Petrucci is pretty damn amazing and stays in tune after tons of abuse, but it's still no Floyd. It doesn't quite have the range.

 

[Astrofreq]

I don't know the Petrucci system, but some people swear by it. I just know on the two ASS's I have with standard trems, staying in tune IS an issue if I use the tremolo.

Don't get me wrong, I still love the guitars.

 

[DrBob]

... and no, I don't use my tone knobs. I actually unwire them.

+1 on getting rid of tone knobs, I take mine out of the circuit too (when the guitar has them anyway).

+1 on the Floyd Rose too.

Not to take anything away from the EBMM vintage trem, I love it on my Albert Lee, it's as good as any non locking trem I've ever used and better then most. But for me the Axis just feels right with a Floyd on it...

Mind you get back to me on that one the next time I'm mucking about with wire cutters snipping off ball ends and trying to find my Allen key

 

[beej]

Hey man, if you want the Axis ... get it.

You know exactly what you want, so in my mind there's no reason to talk yourself out of it. You'll just be sad later that you didn't get it.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Beej - talks a lot of sense!

I agree with him 100%

Edit
I use my tone/volume control a lot.

 

[Tone?]

My two cents on getting an Axis with a Floyd or with a vintage trem is the SOUND. Floyds have a specific tone compared to vintage trems.
Usually they are thicker sounding. Vintage trems usually have more sparkle though.

Mind you i havent tried an Axis with the vintage trem on it, but i am sure it will sound different than the floyded one.

I wouldnt really see any other argument than that.

They sound different.

 

[RobW]

I agree with the "get what you really want" statement as well. Otherwise you'll GAS to no end on it...

From my standpoint, I can cover quite a lot of tones with my Axis/floyd. It's all in the volume knob. This along with the amp itself is key. A lot of tonal range can be had just by cranking up the amp a little more and using the lower to middle ranges of the guitar's volume output.

(I tend to think that too many people just use their guitar's volume knob as an on/off switch. Full on to 10 or Zero. Sort of the same with amps; often with full-distortion and everything set to 10...)

Don't forget about the power of the half-cocked wah pedal for tone variation too (ala Randy Rhoads, Michael Schenker, etc.)

I never find myself at a jam or gig wishing I had something different.

I more often get carried away with just how good the guitar sounds, plays, feels, etc...

 

[Multiversal]

Axis it is.

Now.. the color.. oh man.

Thanks everyone for your replies.. I truly appreciate all of them.