Guitar identification

[DomN8R]

Hi guys
I recently picked up an old Ernie Ball guitar, and I'm not having any luck learning anything about it. I don't know if this is the proper forum to ask in, but I figured I'd give it a shot. Anything you guys can offer will be appreciated.
I own a ranch in south Texas, and we can't get anything but dial-up internet...so I'm hoping to do this without having to post a pic, but I will if need be.

I'm a Gibson guy, so this guitar is new to me all the way around, but here's the best description I can give you.

The color is...hmm, somewhere between sunburst and tobacco. You could call it either and argue your case effectively, I think. It's a tele body, with a short neck and a small headstock. Tuners are EADG on top and BE on the bottom while in playing position.
Dual humbuckers, a single volume knob, 3 position switch, and a chrome tremolo bar.
The neck is light colored wood with nickel frets.

This isn't a particularly attractive guitar, but it has been set up nicely- the action is very low, no buzzing, very nice to play. The 22 fret neck is very flat and reasonably narrow- combined with the tele shape, it's easy to dive down to the base of the neck.
The routing was done by- apparently-a 12 year old boy in woodshop class. While it's smooth and finished well, the fit is...well, sloppy, around the pickups.

I can't find any marking other than "Ernie Ball inc." on the back of the body and "Headstock Design Trademarked Ernie Ball inc." on the headstock.

I'm just curious about this thing- I collect guitars, and while they're mostly Gibsons and Epis, I have a few oddballs in the collection. I like to know as much as I can about them.

Thanks!

James

 

[littlephil]

Can you find a serial number? If so, Customer Service should be able to ID it from the number.

 

[threeminutesboy]

From your description and if you don't have anything on the heastock i would say either a van halen model but you should have a signature on top of the headstock or an axis ex

 

[DomN8R]

Nope, no serial number anywhere, and no signature, either. Weird, huh? I poked around the 'net several times before posting here, struck out everywhere. Not sure what to think...
Like I said, it plays great, and I'm not trying to sell it- I don't think it's worth much anyway- I'd simply like to satisfy my curiosity.

Thanks guys

 

[RocketRalf]

I'll trow a wild guess and say it's a refinished OLP Axis?

 

[kneeoh]

A pic would be helpful. I do think RocketRalf is right though.

 

[DrKev]

It's a tele body

Well then, it's a tele body with a possible fake or refinished neck? Impossible to say without photos (and even then...)

 

[DomN8R]

I'll get a pic posted- I guess I'll have to do it from my wife's office, tried for 2 hours this morning and the gods of dial up access laughed at me.
I'm sure it's not refinished, looks like the factory finish everywhere.

I know nothing about Ernie Ball stuff, except that I like the strings and I have used the strap locks...so I'm in the dark here. I might be missing something obvious, but- obviously- I wouldn't know it.

I'll get that pic up asap...thanks fellas.

 

[straycat113]

Well it has my interest as I would believe you at least checked the web for EB body designs as it sounded like an EVH/Axis model, I would believe a picture would solve this quickly.

 

[DomN8R]

I'll post a pic asap, down with a nasty virus right now and my wife has the camera somewhere...I don't believe this is a high-end guitar at all, I picked it up cheap ($100). I'm calling it a tele body because that's the closest thing to it- that I know of. As I said, I'm a die hard Gibson guy, so if it isn't an LP or SG, I'm out of my league, lol. I've been playing for 25 years or so, but I've never been one of those guys who can glance at a guitar across the room and say "ah, that's a 1953 Fender something-or-other". I just like to play, you know? I was pleasantly surprised at the action on this guitar, so it piqued my curiosity. I appreciate all of the input from you guys, let me get a pic up so you have something to work with. My wife's sick too, so "Honey, where's the camera?" just gets me a nasty glare...

 

[DomN8R]

Argh...got it, I think.





Ok guys, axis? POS? Tell me what you think about this thing! What would you call the finish...?

I tried to post the pic larger, but I couldn't figure out how to.

Thanks!

 

[kneeoh]

That's an OLP. They produced licensed copies of Music Man guitars for a few years. This particular model is a copy of the Axis. The quality of the instruments were hit or miss, you either got a good one or one that was almost unplayable (I actually own an OLP Petrucci but it never leaves it's case because it just isn't the same as my actual Music Man Pet's). Once the license period ended, the relationship was not renewed. The logo on the front of the headstock is OLP.

 

[DomN8R]

OLP...I wondered about that logo, couldn't make heads or tails of it...certainly couldn't figure out how to get an "EB" out of it. So OLP was similar to squire and epi, in that there are some very good ones and some pure crap ones. That seems to be the case with most things built under license, guns, airplanes, guitars, whatever. QC I guess.

I appreciate the info- like I said, it plays nicely, so I'm happy with it. My wife wants to learn, so I put some super slinkys on it and it's pretty soft without losing too much bite. I have several half stacks, but it seems to love the spider IV 150 head on the B-52 400w cab. Now I know I can turn her loose without worrying about her scratching it, lol.

Thanks guys!

 

[Dante]

glad you enjoy it. i got my heart with gibson style guitars too, but it's a wonder what to see what quality instruments ebmm makes. maybe a real one, one day?

 

[DomN8R]

Sure, if I run across one, I'm open to anything. I like the look and feel of Gibsons, but I have some oddball stuff that would surprise you. I picked up a beautiful Les Paul made by Brownsville several years ago- the guitar is gorgeous, made quite awhile back, obviously. I thought I'd hang it on the wall in my music room, but it plays like a $3000 Gibson. I've won bets with it, to that effect. Never would have given it a chance if it hadn't been cheap and finished out nicely for a wall hanging, lol. I think I gave $125 for it.
Actually, I've found that my expensive guitars tend to live in the case, for fear of damage. Silly, but when you drop 5 or 6K on a guitar, you tend to fret over it- I do, anyway. I tend to take the better Epi's or low end Gibs and upgrade tuners/pickups/pots and take my time with the setup, and I end up with a great playing guitar for low money- so if some drunk at one of our parties drops it, it isn't the end of the road for the drunk, hehehe.

I've been perusing the forum a bit. I like the feel of the place! Good attitudes and helpful folks- rare on most forums, I've found. I appreciate everyone's two cents here!

James

 

[Spudmurphy]

A good friend of mine on the forum has an OLP and it plays great - after a little bit of tlc/set up.

Welcome on board from an old Gibbie man

 

[DomN8R]

Thanks, man. I own an automotive performance and speed shop these days, so I don't have alot of time for forums, but it's nice to have a friendly place to go when I can squeeze in a little time. A buddy and I started this shop after we retired, and it's going great, but man...talk about time intensive. I didn't work this hard when I was working!!!



Cheers,

James

 

[threeminutesboy]

Thanks, man. I own an automotive performance and speed shop these days, so I don't have alot of time for forums, but it's nice to have a friendly place to go when I can squeeze in a little time. A buddy and I started this shop after we retired, and it's going great, but man...talk about time intensive. I didn't work this hard when I was working!!!



Cheers,

James

Enjoy your retirement James and again welcome here.

If you have any chance to give a try to an Axis Super Sport you will quickly see that OLP and EBMM and not in the same league and you could easily become, like most of us here, ADDICTED!!!!!

A couple of mate try to go to rehab (Hi Smelly and Keith ) but obviously not working quite well but EBMM drug is a strong one

 

[DomN8R]

Thanks, bro...I'll have to find one and give it a try. They aren't exactly laying around on the pawn shop shelves here in south Texas!

Better get to the shop, we have a 1950 Ford F1 to prep for paint today.

Cheers!

James

 

[threeminutesboy]

Ok send me the car I'll send you my Axis Super Sport

if you are in texas try to get in Touch with Keith (AKA CFB or Sweat) he is Mr EBMM in Texas at least for the guitar for the Bass I think Bovinehost should be a could candidate