My first Ball! (Axis SS content)

[GuitaRasmus]

Hi there - after trawling through the web, looking for a black axis/axis ss or one i another colour to refinish, I hadn't had any luck, but then a forumite in my homecountry found one for me! It is an Axis SS which was a prize in the Emergenza 2003, and I just picked it up tonight for very very cheap (they usually go used here for about 2000-2200$ - this one cost me 750$ ! It has NEVER ever been played, it was won by a guy who only plays Les Pauls, and he hasn't played it more than five minutes, max. Not a scratch or nick in the frets, not a smudge or greasy finger on it, original strings are still fresh - it is, in effect, a brand new guitar.

Granted, it IS ugly, but I'm having it professionally refinished in gloss black (although I am considering leaving the sides and back in the original SUB textured black) - I just put on 10's, set it up, and it plays and sounds wonderful - I already love it. Especially split sound in pos. 2 sounds alot like a strat - I like it. The humbuckers also sound great - I've always loved the Dimarzio ToneZone, the bridge HB sounds a bit like that - is it the ToneZone or is it just familiar?

Anyway, pics. I'll post more when it gets its new finish:

It has only got a little bit of figure in the neck - is this normal on a SS, or is it just this model?

 

[Sweat]

WOW, nice score and great axe, and by the way not ugly, think it looks great, very cool, but your guitar so go for it, birdseye or neck figuring is hit and miss on all models, but stil no matter the best neck around, congrats and enjoy that guitar

 

[leftyguitarblue]

I like it too. I don't think it's ugly at all. Have fun with it!!!

 

[Larry]

I think it looks cool.

 

[guitarman23]

really nice, not the kind of top that i would buy with but pretty cool!!!

 

[brasco68]

It's unique....I like it. Congrats!

 

[whitestrat]

I wouldn't refinish it though...

 

[ishred6string]

looks really cool as is !!!!

 

[GuitaRasmus]

Thanks guys! I am really really happy with the guitar, but I do think that it is ugly - graphics on guitars are not really my cup of tea, and I've dreamt of a gloss black axis, so it will get refinished - but it plays really great and I am such a happy camper.

 

[leftyguitarblue]

Thanks guys! I am really really happy with the guitar, but I do think that it is ugly - graphics on guitars are not really my cup of tea, and I've dreamt of a gloss black axis, so it will get refinished - but it plays really great and I am such a happy camper.

hey, that's what matters most, you have to like it. Enjoy!!!!

 

[GuitaRasmus]

Wow, I'm impressed.

I just drove out to the refinishing guy here tonight, and while we took it apart, we discovered that this guitar also has a maple cap. Upon further inspection, we saw that it actually has a flamed maple top! It seems absurd to use a flame maple cap under opaque paint (although my PRS also has flame maple top, under the black paint), can anyone in the EBMM staff confirm if this is standard practice? We didn't sand the top back, so I don't know how the flame maple looks per se, we only saw the flames on the sides of the neck pocket. It is so flamed that I almost considered a translucent black finish, but no, I really want a solid black - Now I know that theres flame underneath, I can always refinish it again if I wanted.

Anyway, I'll post pics as soon as it is done.

 

[GuitaRasmus]

I've just got a few progress pics - I am so excited, this is going to be so awesome!

Here the textured laquer and graphics are sanded off:

Here it recieves it's first few coats of black - the guy who paints it builds it up slowly with 5-6 thin layers:

And here the binding is scraped clean, and it has recieved it's first coat of clear.

A couple more clear coats, 4-5 days drying time and final sanding, then I can assemble and rock out! I am really looking forward to getting this guitar together. I am also considering adding some funky switching, more about this later.

 

[TwAn]

Looks very classy so far! Nice...

 

[Eilif]

Congrats on a great acquisition!

I just love seeing these "work in progress" type photos. Please keep them coming.

 

[zyx345]

Initially, I didn't think the refinish would be worth it but that looks pretty good!

 

[GuitaRasmus]

Thanks guys - I'll keep this thread updated as I get new pics and as it gets assembled.

 

[Astrofreq]

You rule. I'm so impressed that you know all about painting guitars. I wish I had a clue how to do that stuff. It's gonna look killer.

Forget what all the other guys say, that thing was hideous beforehand.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Cant wait to see the finished product!

 

[GuitaRasmus]

radrock: Thanks a lot, though I can't take credit for the paint job - it's done by one of my friends, and he's great at it.

SO looking forward to thursday!

 

[GuitaRasmus]

Awesome! I've just recieved mail from my buddy, and it's done! He just gave it final polish tonight, so I'll pick it up and assemble it tomorrow - pics to come!