- Thread starter jisama2
- Start date
Thanks for checking, Glenn!
Yes, "G06564" is the full serial number stamped on the neck plate.
Since it’s not in the database, I’m guessing it might be around 1999, but I'm not entirely sure about the exact year or specifications.
As you can see in the photos, it has a black sparkle (glitter) finish with a D-Tuna. The back has some battle scars from being played hard, but the neck is perfectly straight.
Here are the pics. I'd love to know what your official logs say about its exact birthday and color!
Yes, "G06564" is the full serial number stamped on the neck plate.
Since it’s not in the database, I’m guessing it might be around 1999, but I'm not entirely sure about the exact year or specifications.
As you can see in the photos, it has a black sparkle (glitter) finish with a D-Tuna. The back has some battle scars from being played hard, but the neck is perfectly straight.
Here are the pics. I'd love to know what your official logs say about its exact birthday and color!
DrKev
Moderator
You'll have to contact Music Man customer service directly but the database does have a few holes and errors. Trying random numbers around it G065xx suggests mid-1999. BUT...
..the serial numbers were not sequential and some could be months later than a number it's close to, and your guitar has a non-recessed neck plate. That productioon change occurred in early 2000.
Black Sparkle was a standard color back them, matching headstock was an upgrade for an extra charge. The D-tuna was added by a previous owner and the orginal volume knob would have been cream strat-style knob.
dear drkev
Wow, that's incredible!
To be honest, I bought this guitar on a local classifieds app here in Japan for only about $450 (72,000 JPY), and the seller completely believed it was a Japanese-made "AXIS EX."
So, just to be absolutely, 100% sure... I can safely celebrate that this is a genuine, USA-made Axis, right? No doubt about it?
If so, this is the biggest steal of my life! Thanks again for your amazing help!
Wow, that's incredible!
To be honest, I bought this guitar on a local classifieds app here in Japan for only about $450 (72,000 JPY), and the seller completely believed it was a Japanese-made "AXIS EX."
So, just to be absolutely, 100% sure... I can safely celebrate that this is a genuine, USA-made Axis, right? No doubt about it?
If so, this is the biggest steal of my life! Thanks again for your amazing help!
DrKev
Moderator
WAIT! Axis EX do not appear in the database because they were not made in the US. And the Axis Ex was made in Black Sparkle.
Does it say Axis on the headstock and "Made in San Luis Obispo" on the back of the headstock? And they are not decals (no outer edge visible against the light)? If so it's not an EX, it's the real thing (Music Man use a silk screen their logos, it's never a decal.)
But that price is still a steal for an Axis EX. In fact, it's too low. Do you have buyer protection?
The Mythical Ernie Ball Music Man AXIS EX MIJ ⋆ EVH Art Guitars
A Deep Dive-Bomb Down The Rabbit Hole Of The Mythical Ernie Ball Music Man AXIS EX Guitar. [Edward Van Halen MIJ For Japan 1996-2005]
evhartguitars.com
Thanks for the details, Dr.Kev!
I just took some detailed close-up photos of the guitar. After looking at them closely, I think this might actually be a Japanese-made AXIS EX, rather than a USA model.
Here is what I found from the attached pictures:
The Headstock & Tuners: The back of the headstock has original Schaller M6 Mini tuners stamped with "Made in Germany". Also, the front logo doesn't have the black outline around the silver letters.
The Binding: The plastic binding on the body side maintains a completely uniform width all the way through the cutaways, which points to the Japanese EX construction rather than the USA masked natural binding. It has just aged into a beautiful vintage yellow over the years.
Given these features, it seems to be a very early production AXIS EX (Made in Japan) from around 1997-1998. It looks like this early run famously used stamped USA neck plates (G06564) shipped from the EB factory.
What do you think of these specs? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this
I just took some detailed close-up photos of the guitar. After looking at them closely, I think this might actually be a Japanese-made AXIS EX, rather than a USA model.
Here is what I found from the attached pictures:
The Headstock & Tuners: The back of the headstock has original Schaller M6 Mini tuners stamped with "Made in Germany". Also, the front logo doesn't have the black outline around the silver letters.
The Binding: The plastic binding on the body side maintains a completely uniform width all the way through the cutaways, which points to the Japanese EX construction rather than the USA masked natural binding. It has just aged into a beautiful vintage yellow over the years.
Given these features, it seems to be a very early production AXIS EX (Made in Japan) from around 1997-1998. It looks like this early run famously used stamped USA neck plates (G06564) shipped from the EB factory.
What do you think of these specs? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this
Is the that G in the serial number and not a C? Great guitar!!! There is a chance as it happens whom ever owned it before swapped the neck plate, they sometime crack from over tightening. Sometimes, there is a date stamped on the neck heel. If you ever get ambitious enough to remove the neck.
Congrats all around though nice guitar man and welcome!!!
Glenn |B)
Congrats all around though nice guitar man and welcome!!!
Glenn |B)
Thanks for the insight, Glenn!
Regarding the serial, it is definitely a "G" on the plate. However, instead of a previous owner swap, I think I just found the ultimate historical evidence that explains this exact factory specification.
Please check out this original 1997-1998 Japanese catalog scan from Kanda Shokai (the official distributor back then) for the "AXIS-EXS" (AXIS-EX SOLID) series!
Here is how the catalog and my new neck photos solve the entire mystery:
The Specs Match Perfectly: The catalog explicitly lists "Black Sparkle" as an official color option, and states the tuners are "Schaller M6LA with Pearl Buttons" (matching my German Schallers perfectly).
The USA Parts Connection: The description highlights that these AXIS-EXS models were built by Japanese master luthiers using genuine USA Music Man parts. This perfectly explains why it carries a stamped USA "G" plate straight from the factory!
The Neck Quality: I’ve also attached the full neck and side profile photos. As you can see, the wood quality is outstanding, and the neck is remarkably straight even after 25+ years.
So, it turns out this isn't a part-swapped guitar, but a 100% official, ultra-rare Japanese domestic AXIS EXS in Black Sparkle from the very first production run!
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this Kanda Shokai catalog spec!
Regarding the serial, it is definitely a "G" on the plate. However, instead of a previous owner swap, I think I just found the ultimate historical evidence that explains this exact factory specification.
Please check out this original 1997-1998 Japanese catalog scan from Kanda Shokai (the official distributor back then) for the "AXIS-EXS" (AXIS-EX SOLID) series!
Here is how the catalog and my new neck photos solve the entire mystery:
The Specs Match Perfectly: The catalog explicitly lists "Black Sparkle" as an official color option, and states the tuners are "Schaller M6LA with Pearl Buttons" (matching my German Schallers perfectly).
The USA Parts Connection: The description highlights that these AXIS-EXS models were built by Japanese master luthiers using genuine USA Music Man parts. This perfectly explains why it carries a stamped USA "G" plate straight from the factory!
The Neck Quality: I’ve also attached the full neck and side profile photos. As you can see, the wood quality is outstanding, and the neck is remarkably straight even after 25+ years.
So, it turns out this isn't a part-swapped guitar, but a 100% official, ultra-rare Japanese domestic AXIS EXS in Black Sparkle from the very first production run!
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this Kanda Shokai catalog spec!
beej
Moderator
Sweet. Well that was a great score! Play the hell out of it.
Thanks for chiming in, dibart77!
I used to think the exact same thing, but take a closer look at the Kanda Shokai catalog description I posted above.
It explicitly states: 「USA Music Manの管理の元に…USA純正パーツを使用し」 which means "Built under the supervision of USA Music Man... using genuine USA factory parts."
Because this specific "AXIS-EXS" solid series was officially assembled using original parts shipped straight from the Ernie Ball factory, these early Japanese models famously carry the USA-stamped "G" serial plates from the factory.
It’s a lesser-known piece of Axis history outside of Japan, but that's what makes this particular domestic run so unique and interesting!
I used to think the exact same thing, but take a closer look at the Kanda Shokai catalog description I posted above.
It explicitly states: 「USA Music Manの管理の元に…USA純正パーツを使用し」 which means "Built under the supervision of USA Music Man... using genuine USA factory parts."
Because this specific "AXIS-EXS" solid series was officially assembled using original parts shipped straight from the Ernie Ball factory, these early Japanese models famously carry the USA-stamped "G" serial plates from the factory.
It’s a lesser-known piece of Axis history outside of Japan, but that's what makes this particular domestic run so unique and interesting!
DrKev
Moderator
No, I really think they used the same plates available in the factory. I've looked a whole bunch online since this thread came up yesterday! The serial number spread doesn't seem to different from what we'd expect of any EVH/Axis guitars; 8-, A-, and G-serials. Including sold listing in search results on Reverb, I see half a dozen G-serials right away.
@jisama2 Usually DiBart is our resident expert here, because he has owned more EVH and Axis guitars than anyone on the history of the forum, and (quite literally) possibly the world. This is a rare occasion where the evidence seems to suggest he is mistaken. It may never happen again!
K
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@DrKev
@dibart77
Wow, Dr.Kev! Thank you so much for doing that deep dive research on Reverb! It’s amazing to hear that you found half a dozen other G-serial examples out there. That completely solidifies the Kanda Shokai catalog evidence.
And to DiBart — please don't get me wrong, I have massive respect for your incredible knowledge and history on this forum! If the official Japanese distributor back then hadn't left behind this specific catalog scan, I would have 100% believed that "G = US only" as well. It really shows how wild and mysterious the transitional era of the late 90s was.
I'm just incredibly honored to discover this rare historical anomaly together with the absolute best experts in the world on this forum.
Thank you both for this amazing, historic thread!
@dibart77
Wow, Dr.Kev! Thank you so much for doing that deep dive research on Reverb! It’s amazing to hear that you found half a dozen other G-serial examples out there. That completely solidifies the Kanda Shokai catalog evidence.
And to DiBart — please don't get me wrong, I have massive respect for your incredible knowledge and history on this forum! If the official Japanese distributor back then hadn't left behind this specific catalog scan, I would have 100% believed that "G = US only" as well. It really shows how wild and mysterious the transitional era of the late 90s was.
I'm just incredibly honored to discover this rare historical anomaly together with the absolute best experts in the world on this forum.
Thank you both for this amazing, historic thread!
