Lets discuss the Axis SS w/M90s and help me build one!

[Mckenzie]

Hi Everyone,
Well I have decided to go with a P-90 style guitar and have narrowed it down to either a PRS McCarty Soapbar or an Axis SS with the MM-90. I was just wondering if you could discuss the pros and cons of each and what style you think the Axis SS would cover. I am mainly a blues-rock/ hard rock player with the need for a mellower sound at times. I have a PRS Brazilian Custom 24, Les Paul Classic Plus and American Strat so I think I have all my basics covered but this one.

Do these pickups have any bite to them? I am trading a G&L Special Hollowbody in for this one and it is a bit weak sounding. I played one a while ago and I remember it sounded phenominal....other than that I have read that some feel they are not very hot pickups. Any thoughts?

Anyways, I am leaning towards the Axis for the price...

Now...next part. You need to help me pick out a color for it. I am going with a premium top and matching headstock. I am not sure if I want the trem or not. I am thinking of Trans Gold, honey burst, cherry burst, trans red or tobacco quilt top. I am just wondering what the most desireable color would be for resale or collectibility.

Your opinions are very much appreciated.

thanks!

 

[koogie2k]

I have not played a soapbar Axis. However, one of the most awesome colors is Pacific Blue Burst....especially with a primo top! I believe Kbaim has a pic of one with the 90's.....

 

[GWDavis28]

I am just wondering what the most desireable color would be for resale or collectibility.

Don't worry about desirable colors or collectibility, just get what you want that's the most important thing. I have 2 Axes and love them, they don't have the MM90's, but my AL does and they are awesome. I wish that one of the Axes had them.

Later, Glenn |B)

 

[jazzbo jim]

Hot diggity dog!!!
Good choice (the EBMM that is)
The M90's have the silent circuitry which I wish I had on my Hamer Vangaurd. (also has P90's and soounds killer and full of mojo...a GREAT tone somewhere between singles and humbucker!...only hassle is the noise)

Colour: (Canadian spelling,eh )
I'm partial to anything close to country gentleman orange for this guitar, however, trans gold on a quilt top would look killer IMHO. Also, if you opt for the piezo, I'll make a point of seeking you out and stealing it of your house while you're shopping for something foolish, like food!!!

 

[Jimi D]

Hi Mckenzie, and welcome to the forum!

Personally, I'm a huge fan of the EBMM custom MM90 pickups. I have owned a Les Paul Jem with P90s, a Godin LG SP90 equipped with Duncan P90s, a Gibson BluesHawk with the Blues 90s and a G&L ASAT with the MFD oversized single coils, and for my money the MM90s are the best of the lot. These Ernie Ball Music Man pickups are beautifully voiced: not particularly hot pickups, they fall short of the mid-pronounced grunt of the Gibson P90s, but have more growl than Gibson's Blues 90s or the Duncans that were in the Godin. Their voice is pronounced and vocal without being overly aggressive, but there's certainly some growl on tap if you need it. This guitar is like a Tele on steroids, and responds very well to Tone and Volume control changes, with the ability to mimic everything from balls-to-the-wall garage rock aggression to country twang and Ricky jangle depending on the pickup choice and control settings. It even does a lovely warm jazz tone. An added bonus is the Silent Circuit, which significantly reduces the hum without a discernible effect on the tone. I think if you liked the sound of it when you first played it you should probably trust your instincts and build one to your taste - and don't worry too much about the resale thing; these guitars are keepers!

good luck!

 

[GWDavis28]

Dude, here's one on the bay that's just what you are looking for.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=7325875525&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Later, Glenn |B)

 

[AxSport4me]

Hi Everyone,
Well I have decided to go with a P-90 style guitar and have narrowed it down to either a PRS McCarty Soapbar or an Axis SS with the MM-90. I was just wondering if you could discuss the pros and cons of each and what style you think the Axis SS would cover. I am mainly a blues-rock/ hard rock player with the need for a mellower sound at times. I have a PRS Brazilian Custom 24, Les Paul Classic Plus and American Strat so I think I have all my basics covered but this one.

Do these pickups have any bite to them? I am trading a G&L Special Hollowbody in for this one and it is a bit weak sounding. I played one a while ago and I remember it sounded phenominal....other than that I have read that some feel they are not very hot pickups. Any thoughts?

Anyways, I am leaning towards the Axis for the price...

Now...next part. You need to help me pick out a color for it. I am going with a premium top and matching headstock. I am not sure if I want the trem or not. I am thinking of Trans Gold, honey burst, cherry burst, trans red or tobacco quilt top. I am just wondering what the most desireable color would be for resale or collectibility.

Your opinions are very much appreciated.

thanks!

Go with the EBMM!!!! Especially for the price you can`t go wrong! As far as the MM90 pickups having bite......oh yeah,they bite!!!!!!!! I have an Axis Sport with those pickups and i am mainly a metal player which sounds kinda funny choosing a guitar with P-90 type pickups, but i loved the look of the guitar and Musicmans in general, so when i plugged it in i was totally blown away with the tone and the ability to handle high gain distorted sounds!!!! Needless to say i bought it right then and there!!!!! Awesome guitar!

 

[Mckenzie]

Well everyone thanks for the responses and welcome!

I ended up placing my order last night for a Trans Gold Axis SS with upgraded top, trem, matching headstock and MM90s. BUT! When I got into work this morning I searched EBAY quickly and found this guitar with the Cherry Burst Top and I amost wet myself! I immediatly changed my order to Cherry Burst after seeing this one. I was a little reluctant after looking at the one on their website....it looked horrible.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...5256922&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW#ebayphotohosting

Compared to:

http://www.ernieball.com/mmonline/color_chart/images_lg/colorchart_25.jpg

Koogie2k: Yeah I am all about the blue. I will post a pic of my blue PRS quilt 10 top here for you. Thats the only reason I bought it! But I think two blue guitars would be too much.

GWDavis28: I was just thinking for down the road if I ever had to unload it thats all. And that guitar is absolutely gorgeous....love the color but buddy wont ship to Canada so it wont go. Really nice one though....here is another one that I was considering buying but the guy wanted too much for it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7321732073&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT&rd=1

jazzbo jim: Yes I'm a Canuck don't hate . And I could not swing the Piezo....$280 CDN for it. I think thats the only option I dont have....so I guess I wont have to worry about you then haha.

Jimi D: I have to say I wasn't crazy about the MFD pickups in the semi hollow body G&L. They just sounded lifeless. I played one in a solid body and it sounded much better. I look forward to getting it ASAP (as in before Halloween).


AxSport4me: Thats what I like to hear. I just want it to sound a bit fatter for certain songs where a single coil would sound too thin and a humbucker would be too much. I play with a mesa F50 so I have tons of gain at my disposal but I like to keep it around half...

 

[GWDavis28]

Yah they are in the process of redoing the Musicman site over and they were talking about way better pictures of the colors.

Congrats I like the color.

Glenn |B)

 

[GWDavis28]

Check out the Black Cherry one that Pete has.

http://www.dubaldomusic.com/EBMMstock.htm

Glenn |B)