Is an Axis SS for me?

[funkysam]

Hi there!

First post for me here. Hope to become a MM owner soon...
In fact, I have the opportunity of buying an used Axis, hardtail w/ rosewood fingerboard.

I've done a lot of searches on this forum but some things need to be explained:

I'm quasi sure I'll need to change the PU's for something less powerful.
But I've read that we could'nt use F-spaced PU's in the Axis. But stock PU's are F-spaced, aren't they?
And regular PU's will need some mods to fit too.

I'm a bit discouraged about those 2 things... What do you think about them?

In fact, I'd like something between a Les Paul and a Tele, and I think this one could do the job with a PU change. My styles are rock, 70's hard rock, funk stuff, and some fusion à la Red Hot.

Btw, how are the out of phase sounds in the Axis?

Thanks for your time,
Sam.

 

[OrangeChannel]

You can used F Spaced pups in any guitar. Keep in mind F Spaced doesn't mean Floyd Spaced.....it means F@#$r Spaced. DiMarzio engineered the spacing of the pole pieces to fit the string spacing on 25 1/2 scaled axes. Happy jamming!

JZ

 

[hambucker]

Measure it up and see how the string spacing fits. Regular space pickups fit better in my Str@t than F spaced. Unless the spacing is way off you probalby won't notice a difference in sound anyway. To get a Tele sound you will need a hot single coil in the bridge (that's my favorite part of the Tele). My Axis has some Tele tones in the bridge, but it's got MM-90s. I used to have a Seymour Duncan JB in my Str@t that sounded really close to a Tele when it was split and had 500K pots. It may be hard to get some "true Tele" tones out of an Axis without some work.

As for out of phase and all that, it would depend most on the pickups you were using. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with a JB in an guitar. I don't think you can MAKE that pickup sound bad.

 

[ned911]

Don't be to sure you need to change the pups right off. I've got a Super Sport and with the 5-way switch it's very versitile. It's not going to sound exactly like a Strat or Tele but I can get great blues tones out of my Champ.

With the Champ it seems the SS will produce breakup sooner which keeps the tube screamer off more so than with my other guitars.

Before you rush out and change the pups I would try the guitar with the originals for a while.

Ned

 

[Dodgeball]

I really don't think you will need to change out the pickups anyway as they are really not all that hot, they just handle high gain very very well.

I play a load of Zeppelinesque classic rock with my Axis and find it absolutely spot on. Especially with the pickup selector in the middle position (both buckers ON).

As for modding replacements this will only be necessary if the replacements have square mounting...ears (???) like EMGs do. Dimarzio's will fit perfectly and I'm sure I've read of some other forum members putting Duncans in an Axis model guitar. Try doin a search for "Axis pickup replacement" or something along those lines and I'm sure you will find lots of useful info.

Hope that helps u out.

Laters

 

[Lew]

I agree with Dodgeball and Ned,you should try them first.
The tapped sounds are great.

 

[Jimi D]

I love the Axis Sport and Super Sport... can't imagine why you think you have to change out the pickups, but to each their own... You're right in your presumption that it's a LOT harder to swap out pickups in an Axis SS than in a Strat or something else with pickup rings or a pickguard. Because the Axis pickups are mounted to the guitar itself, and because the pickup routes in the guitar have unique "triangle" ear cuts, you either have to modify the mounting tabs on your pickups or route the guitar in most cases. I've never felt the inclination myself, as I find the Axis pickups to be extremely versatile - they are very well voiced for the guitar....

 

[funkysam]

Thanks for your answers.
Of course I'll try stock PU's first, but I don't want to be blocked with those PU issues.
If the out of phase sounds are decent, that'll be ok for me.
I have a strat but don't want to have to carry 2 guitars for a show.

 

[ned911]

FS-

I always carried multiple guitars to a gig. You never know when something will die on you and having a backup is a must. The only thing that kept me from carrying 2 amps was I could alway run the from the effects right to the board.

Ned

 

[funkysam]

You're definitely right for the backup, Ned.
But I want to make the show with only one guitar. (Having another one as a backup is another story...)

Considering the Axis, I don't like the fact that everybody consider it as a shred guitar and also the fact that it's highly asiociated with EVH. And I don't want a shred guitar at all, just a simple guitar, that can play rock, and funk fusion stuff.

Why the Axis, and not the Silhouette, which might be a better choice?
I don't know, but I highly prefer the Axis shape, between a tele and a les paul.
And I don't think a hardtail Axis with rosewood fingerboard is a shred guitar.

 

[beej]

> highly prefer the Axis shape, between a tele and a les paul.

Not to complicate things ... but why not look for a used Axis Sport with a SSH configuration? You'd get the body shape you want and single coil pickups too. You run across 'em on eBay every so often.

 

[PurpleSport]

Considering the Axis, I don't like the fact that everybody consider it as a shred guitar and also the fact that it's highly asiociated with EVH. And I don't want a shred guitar at all, just a simple guitar, that can play rock, and funk fusion stuff.

Hardtail Axis Sport owner here, and I totally understand that sentiment...I didn't even TRY an EVH/Axis for nearly 10 years myself, because I was known to be such an VH fan that I didn't wanna be seen as a mindless lemming who went out and got Ed's guitar just because he played one.

Big mistake, because when I did I learned EBMMs are such amazing instruments (I actually played a used Silo once during that period and it was so amazing I thought it was a one-off, and didn't investigate any other EBMMs because there were never any dealers around). That stigma's probably about gone now anyway seeing that EVH has sold his soul at the crossroads not once, but twice since the EBMM days.

One could always get an Axis in a traditional color like a vintage sunburst to help offset the perceived shred factor. Alternatively, along with the Silo I suggest trying one of the other models like the Luke or even the Steve Morse...I actually prefer the tones of my Luke to the Axis, and the Morse probably has any tone you could want in it once you learn that idiosyncratic pickup layout. I'm actually not a huge fan of EBMMs looks (aside from the Albert Lee)...I use 'em because they sound and play awesome!

 

[shendrie]

I find it funny that people think of the AXIS SS as a shredder guitar... I essentially stopped reading guitar mags around the same time the EVH model came out (I had moved to the other side of the console around this time and was reading Mix, EQ, etc...) so I was completely unaware of any of the history on the AXIS guitar. Never saw anyone bring one into the studio...

I was in the music store a few months back and saw this orange guitar with P90s that had a great neck and sounded like a Tele on steroids. I always thought the Stingray bass was nice and figured, "Hey, I guess Music Man make guitars as well". My perception was a that this was some new design that incorporated a bit of the Tele and LP with a classy quilted maple finish (rosewood neck), vintage tremolo, etc... After playing it every time I went back to the store I thought, "I have to have this". It was only then that I started to do some research on the AXIS, I was amazed to find out that this is mostly perceived as a Floyd equipped HH metal shredder guitar. I think the SS versions really have a lot to offer in the way of variety and hopefully one day will just be thought of as a good all round guitars.

Regarding the out of phase sounds with the HH config... I did end up trying the HH before I bought the MM90 model with the same hopes a you (one guitar for all). In the end my F#^^%r Str@t just sounded much nicer and since most of my work is studio work I figured I would go with the unique sound the MM90s offered.

I'm glad I didn't know about the EVH connection because I probably would have ignored the guitar based on that alone; not that I dislike Eddie or his playing, I was just never really into the whole signature model guitar thing.

Stuart

 

[funkysam]

Thanks all again for your answers.
I'm not really into the signature model guitar thing too. But I think MM is, considering the fact that a lot of their guitars are sig models.
Thanks Purplesport for suggesting the Luke. I really like this guitar, but I'm a bit afraid of EMG's pickups. I never used active PU's and won't know how they will react with (vintage or not) effect stompboxes. But sure that SSH PU configuration will be more versatile than Axis's HH.
Well, I need some more reflection... What a pain to have to choose between those so great guitars!

 

[PurpleSport]

Thanks Purplesport for suggesting the Luke. I really like this guitar, but I'm a bit afraid of EMG's pickups. I never used active PU's and won't know how they will react with (vintage or not) effect stompboxes. But sure that SSH PU configuration will be more versatile than Axis's HH.

No prob, happy to put the bug in your your ear. The Luke's a very underrated guitar, IMHO....definitely worth taking some time out to go through it's tones through various amps and pedals if you get a chance to see if the actives agree with your ear.

Believe it or not, EMGs are known for pushing a good strong signal through pedal or rack FX quite well....it's actually their un-effected cleaner sounds where things start to get dicey, depending on how authentically "vintage" you like your tones. Some (like me) find their frequency curve can be a wee bit flat compared to the more zingy-er passives - I've actually had to use the EQ "pedal" at the front of my Boss GT-6's FX path to put back some of the spike and spank in the high end, something that I've not really done before with my other guitars. They're different animals for sure, but still quite useable!