Necks: Axis vs Reflex vs Al

[Pott]

So in the never-ending quest for The Next Guitar, I'm wondering if I shouldn't make my current MM90 Axis Sport redundant.

However it does have an incredible neck, and I'm wondering how an Al HH's neck (currently my first choice for a new guitar) or a Reflex's would be compared to it.

There is absolutely NO WAY for me to try these; nothing around here within hundreds of miles, no car, no shops. I wish

 

[agt]

I own versions of all three (a 25th rather than a Reflex, an ASS and an EVH rather than Axis, and my SSS AL is from the mid-90s). My observations based on my particular specimens:

Of the three, the Axis neck is narrowest side to side. You know this neck. It is a bit chunky front to back, and asymmetrical in that it is chunkier front to back on the bass strings side than the treble strings side. Similar side to side width, but not as petite feeling as the Luke, which is the smallest feeling EBMM neck and my personal favorite.

The 25th neck is similar to the Silo Special and among the fullest necks EBMM offers. Fuller in the hand than the Axis IMO. Compared to the AL, the 25th is a bit slimmer near the 1st-5th frets and chunkier near the body joint. The AL is just the opposite, being relatively chunkier near the first few frets. Overall, I'd consider the two comparable, with the fullness similar on average even though it is distributed differently.

Finally, the 25th/Reflex fretboard radius is 12" compared to 10" on the Axis and AL.

 

[ScoobySteve]

I've played all three the AL feels to have te "fattest" neck in the EBMM family. Though I've never played a morse. The Axis feels chunkier in my hands than my 25th.

 

[beej]

It's so hard to describe what are minute differences in feel between these necks, there's really no substitute for playing them.

I have an Axis MM90, 25th and AL and have no problem going between them. Of those, I'll say the AL profile feels the most comfortable to me. But I'm sure others will have a different opinion.