Help in deciding my next Axe!: Reflex vs Albert Lee vs…?

[dustpandave]

Hi everyone, been perusing this forum for years, but this is my first post. I have been a music man player for the last 12 years - with my trusty black Axis Sport (pre-2010 model, not too sure of specs)

I recently acquired a Steve Morse "Dark Lord" for a steal... However i have not been fully resonating with it, although its a magnificent guitar! - I really play a wide variety of music - mostly progressive rock/ metal, but have a strong blues feel and influence - and I also am into post-rock. I like to have a one trick pony - and keep my gear collection minimal

My band is a good example of my style - have a listen here:

. ( skip to end for heavy bits). - so like nice sparkly atmospheric cleans to real heavy riffs and soaring leads. (All my guitar parts - the lead and atmospheric sounds - were played with my Axis Sport!)

SO this is where i am at... I love my Axis sport, but i have never really loved the tiny frets and D neck... The Dark Lord looks so badass, but I find the frets a bit too jumbo, and im not really nailing the feel that i love (maybe more Tele - style). nor the tone.

In terms of online options - someone is wanting to trade me a black Albert Lee with 2 P90’s and a DiMarzio humbucker in the bridge - also a really slick looking piece…. Then there is a Standard Reflex 2012 and a BFR Reflex avaialbale on reverb for similar price… Since the Reflex is similar to my sport but just a bit bigger with the body and frets - and also really versatile - it seems like a winner…. Decisions decisions!

 

[GWDavis28]

Hi Dave, welcome man!!!! Would love to see the guitars you have I've always been a fan of the Axis Sports!!! And well the Dark Lord just oozes cool right.

Your thinking about getting something else? Are there any in your area you can try out, like resellers or used? What are your wants in an EBMM?

Maybe a Sabre?? I tell you I got to mess around with a new Rabea Massad Sabre and I really loved it!!! Got to try out a Cutlass as well very much like my Silo Specials.

Glenn |B)

 

[dustpandave]

Thanks Glenn! Yea those Rabea sabres look absolutely sweet

I found this interesting 1978 Sabre on Reverb says it was designed by Leo fender !? Didn’t know he had any input in music man!?
Looks really sweet - yea and then I have been eyeing out that Black Reflex - seems to be a winner - everything I like about that axis but also rectifies what I don’t like about it - with a slightly bigger body and frets

Gonna look around for some sabres ! I assumed they would be more vintage toned not good for progressive/ heavier stuff

 

[dustpandave]

Thing is - I’ll be buying off reverb most likely as I can’t afford a new guitar - and I don’t really have transport
So I can’t really try a few out - but music man guitars are pretty much the only guitar I could comfortably buy blind and most likely not be disappointed

 

[dibart77]

Thanks Glenn! Yea those Rabea sabres look absolutely sweet

I found this interesting 1978 Sabre on Reverb says it was designed by Leo fender !? Didn’t know he had any input in music man!?

Yes! Leo Fender was a founder of Music Man! From Wikipedia:

In 1971, Forrest White and Tom Walker formed Tri-Sonix, Inc. Walker had previously been a sales representative at Fender. Walker approached Leo Fender about financial help in the founding. Because of a ten-year non-compete clause in the 1965 contract that sold the Fender companies to the CBS Corporation, Leo Fender became a silent partner.

White had worked with Leo Fender since 1954, in the very early days of the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company as the plant manager. Eventually, he became vice president, and stayed on after the company was sold to CBS, but grew unhappy with their management and resigned in 1966. Fender did not like the corporate name, so it changed first to Musitek, Inc., and in January 1974 the final name, Music Man, appeared. In 1974, the company started producing its first product, an amplifier designed by Leo Fender and Tom Walker called the "Sixty Five," a hybrid of tube and solid-state technology. The number of designs rapidly increased, and 15 of the 28 pages from the 1976 catalogue were dedicated to amplification.

In 1975, Fender's legal restriction expired and, after a vote of the board, he was named the president of Music Man. Fender also operated a consulting firm, CLF Research, in Fullerton, California. By 1976, it had built a manufacturing facility for musical instruments and was contracted to make Music Man products. In June 1976, production started on guitars and in August basses followed. These instruments were designed by Fender and White.

And then in 1984-1985 Ernie Ball bought Music Man:

Sterling Ball, Ernie Ball's son, was an acquaintance of Fender and helped beta-test early Music Man models. Sterling took control of the Ernie Ball company in 1974. Under Sterling's direction, Ernie Ball acquired Music Man. The deal included trademarks, inventory, and a warehouse, but no factory. A factory was built with the help of Dudley Gimpel, and instrument production began in 1985.

 

[dustpandave]

Super interesting thanks for sharing ! In all hear years of owning a Music man I have never thought to go back into that history !

 

[GWDavis28]

Thing is - I’ll be buying off reverb most likely as I can’t afford a new guitar - and I don’t really have transport
So I can’t really try a few out - but music man guitars are pretty much the only guitar I could comfortably buy blind and most likely not be disappointed

I totally hear that!! Good luck in your search.

Glenn |B)