Musicman Axis Update Poll

[jvh]

Hey there,

I just wanted to see what everyone thinks about updating the axis. Low Friction Pots, stainless steel frets, contoured top, recessed tremolo cavity, tone knob on floyd rose model(possible radius change, but don't let that sway your decision). Not that I don't love the current axis, but I just think a few things could be improved on this wonderful guitar. As I've mentioned I own the pdn model and love the stainless frets. I can't get enough. Maybe just some ideas for the future and see if musicman bites.

 

[straycat113]

I can understand where you are coming from jvh but as far as the possibility of SS frets I do not ever see any of the other changes happening. The EVH/Axis is personally my favorite original guitar design of the last 25 years, and the model that got me hooked on EBMM guitars. Before that all I ever owned for 20 odd years were Tele's and Strats and started on a Tele. So not having a tummy cut has never been an issue for me, though I know it bothers a lot of players. The neck specs on the Axis is one of my all time favorites and a change from a 10" radius to a 15" as well as a carved top would change the feel of the whole guitar. I always tweak and play with a tone knob but on this guitar I prefer it not having one, as it does what it was built to do better then any other guitar impo.But I can understand you wanting the features you mentioned.

 

[TNT]

hmmmmmmmm, let's see??

I don't know if "improve or update" is the right word - how about "change".

Although I personally like all the items you mentioned, (on certain guitars) I think I prefer the Axis without those changes. You could however, have a "classic" Axis, and then a newer version which would employ those features.

 

[bbake1]

SS frets, yes. Anything else and it would no longer be an Axis as we know it. It would lose it's character. Now the Reflex is really close. Adding a locking trem/nut and SS frets to a Reflex comes really close to what you are describing, and I would go along with that for Reflex options or a new MM model.

As far as low friction pots, I have no issue with the MM pots. If you really need them, you can order them in just about any shaft and ohm rating you want. Or buy that other guys axe that they come standard in.

 

[ZeroFivefour]

JVH,

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts on the EBMM line and floyds with recessed cavities.

Put a floyd on the Axis with recessed cavity and call it done. That would definitely rock.
Put a floyd on the Luke with recessed cavity and call it done too. That would rock even more.
Put a floyd on a Silo with recessed cavity and call it done too. That would rock too.

Put a floyd on a (insert EBMM model here), with recessed cavity and that would RAWK...

I love EBMM guitars.
I love floyds with a recessed cavity.

They work so well together it's simply amazing!

Now please for the love of God do not put a tone knob on it, tone is not in the KNOB, we all know that =).


Cheers,

Respectfully.
Tom

 

[mtrejo]

Tom, the Y2D has a recessed Floyd. Very cool guitar.

 

[browndog]

Its iconic, you can't change it.

 

[Tollywood]

Stainless steel frets would be othe only change on the list that I like. I really like them on my pdn Axis. I've always found the pots ebmm uses feel very friction-free to me.

As for the other stuff, and don't hate me for stating the obvious, the p.wolf has those specs. I've owned several and always liked the Axis more. I no longer have any wolves.

Haunted stainless frets?!? I'm opening myself up to ridicule, but whatever...

So, a few nights ago I was up very late in my music room on the first floor of my house (built in 1861). Wendy was already upstairs. I had the amp on with distortion and the pdn Axis was on my lap. I was trying to move the strings with one hand to see if I could move them sufficiently out of the way so I could see the chocolately strpies on the pao ferro fretboard. I was considering taking a pic with my free hand. Using one hand was a little awkward so I was moving the strings quite a bit, unintentionally creating a sliding noise. Then, I thought I heard a female voice say, "Hey, come find me", layered into the sliding noise. I spent about ten minutes trying to recreate any speech with the strings, but I was unsuccessful.

I've done alot of remodeling on the house, the most recent of which was sealing off the old doorway into the music room and cutting a new door into it from the family room instead of from the kitchen. Oh, and about a month ago I researched the records at town hall, wrote down all previous owners names, then searched cemetery records for those owners so I could get their children's names from the old graves. It gets better...then, I walked around the house saying hello to all of the names on my list - Wendy thought it was pretty weird.

So...haunted frets? haunted house? or, perhaps I just need to adjust my meds?

 

[Jack FFR1846]

I do like the idea of a carved body and SS frets. I have a Carvin that matches that description. I would think that it would need some more changes and give it a new name.

 

[jvh]

Great responses!

1. 15" radius:
OK I'm throwing the 15" radius out. Too many people are saying it changes the guitar. Leave it. I think this is swaying too many peoples thoughts.

2. Recessed Cavity
I don't think adding a recessed cavity would change this guitar. I think it would actually give you better geometry and possibility of lower action. It would also give players the ability to float opening up a new market.

3. Contour: I just think it's natural for a guitar to have some contour.

4. Stainless frets: I think everyone agrees stainless are the way to go. Much sleeker feeling.

Anyways, it's a great guitar. I play mine every day and it's my main guitar. You are still keeping the shape of the body, neck, and using the same pickups. It's essentially going to be the same guitar. It's just interesting to see everyone's thoughts on a classic guitar design. I know musicman is focused on the armada and the new petrucci, but it's fun to pretending. It's a relatively interesting poll, because my theory is that most axis owners will say keep it. If you own one obviously you don't want it changed, but people who don't own it may see some of these things as the reason they don't own one. You never know someone may stay away from the axis simply, because of it not being a recessed(zerofivefour). As with all guitars, everyone has their own opinion and it's impossible to please everybody right down to every detail. Also, to change up a current model guitar is like spitting on someones cupcake and telling them it's frosting. It would be reinventing an old guitar which is considered downright blasphemy and a pr nightmare. Can you imagine the classic designs of some of the oldest guitars changed?

So to keep it simple: Contour top, recessed cavity, and stainless frets.

The guitar is an absolute classic identifiable shape. The shape technically isn't changed(except contour). It's just mechanics.

 

[bsteff666]

Just my opinion...but changing the Axis in any way is probably the worst idea I have ever heard.

If you change it...then it is really not the Axis anymore.

If you want something different...then buy something different. What you are describing sounds like a certain other signature model guitar...

 

[jvh]

Contouring the top, recessing the cavity, adding stainless frets would no way change the axis sound or the guitar to the extent it would not be an axis. Contour allows for your arm to not rest on an edge. The recess would allow for floating bridge and lower action. Stainless allows for a smoother feel.

Everyone seems to have a problem with the 15" radius so I said heck leave it, but keep in mind musicman has released several different petruccis with different radiuses... Noone has said hey the new petrucci with the 20" radius is not a petrucci model guitar, because of the radius change. Just because I suggested changing the radius doesn't mean it would not be an axis. You have the same pickups body shape/ neck shape.

So anyways just have an open mind and not look at as a copy to the pv. Heck put a 20" radius neck on it. It's still the axis. the petrucci is still the petrucci with a different radius. BP is right change is disruptive woah!! Didn't realize some were going to be so hostile about this. I'm just hypothetically presenting something.

I can't imagine what a poll would look like if someone said they were changing the petrucci from 15" to a 17" to a 20"

 

[B2D]

Instead of an update, I think those changes should be offered as a la carte options on the current model.

I'd have all my guitars with SS frets if I could.

 

[CHill]

Buy a Reflex with a classic Trem. Contoured back and arm cutout. Cheers.

 

[Jackson2112]

Good thing I have lots, because that would be the end for me, It was hard enough adjusting to the Floyd compared to the old one they changed when the Tributes came out.

 

[jvh]

Buy a Reflex with a classic Trem. Contoured back and arm cutout. Cheers.

The reflex doesn't have a recess. Contoured tops look better than the arm cutouts. Some people prefer the axis shape over the reflex. I believe the neck is different as well. With all that said: doesn't really follow the poll of the thread. I jus wanted to see what everyone thinks. As you can see from the poll results most people are completely happy not having a recess or even contoured top. It seems like most people would like the stainless frets. As I said these aren't really major changes; however, you can see that many people that currently use the axis don't want any change. Not that it would change anyways. BTW I own a reflex and I really like that guitar. Still the axis personally fits me well and I can maneuver around it very well.

 

[ZeroFivefour]

Tom, the Y2D has a recessed Floyd. Very cool guitar.

mtrejo,

Thanks a lot for the reminder. I actually can't believe that I forgot about the y2d.

Cheers,

Tom