new guy

[Sweat]

Welcome and good choice to pursue Music Man guitars, like others have suggested go to the MM website and see all they offer can not go wrong with any you may buy.

Like Mike VT said not problem buying without testing, they are all that good hell I live in a large city with access to many and will still buy siight unseen, always have.

Now keep us informed of your progres!

 

[jamminjim]

Hey there Big Paul welcome to the best guitar forum in the USA. I've also bought all my balls sight unseen, and not just the three Sub 1's I currently own, also two Silhouettes and two Albert Lees (all 4 reside in Europe now). I've never had a problem buying this way, and will do it again. No worries with EBMM gear.

Cheers!

 

[big_paul]

Welcome and good choice to pursue Music Man guitars, like others have suggested go to the MM website and see all they offer can not go wrong with any you may buy.

Like Mike VT said not problem buying without testing, they are all that good hell I live in a large city with access to many and will still buy siight unseen, always have.

Now keep us informed of your progres!

what the musicman website addy please?

 

[Stratty316]

what the musicman website addy please?

Welcome to the Ernie Ball Music Man Company

or you can just click on "products" tab at the top of the page (to the right of the Ernie Ball logo) then click on the red "Musicman.com" tab...

 

[big_paul]

Welcome to the Ernie Ball Music Man Company

or you can just click on "products" tab at the top of the page (to the right of the Ernie Ball logo) then click on the red "Musicman.com" tab...

thanks. what the difference between the axis and the axis FRB? that ken guy plays the FRB from what i have seen here.

 

[Stratty316]

thanks. what the difference between the axis and the axis FRB? that ken guy plays the FRB from what i have seen here.

The basic difference between the Axis and the BFR Axis is a Mahogany tone block in the BFR. There are some color options only available on the BFR and the woods used are maybe a little nicer cosmetically... meaning more birdseyes in the neck and a little "better" quilt or flame (not that they are bad on the Axis at all).

With a BFR you can specify wether you want a Quilt or Flame maple top while with the Axis it is the luck of the draw. To be honest, the question you really need to ask yourself with the BFR Axis vs the Axis is wether or not the Mahogany Tone Block is worth the extra money to you. The regular Axis is a killer guitar and while the addition of the tone block is very cool and sounds great there is not a whole lot of difference between the two guitars even when it comes to cosmetics as there are some KILLER tops on regular Axis guitars as well.

That being said, I have 2 Axis guitars and will probably add a BFR Axis or BFR Axis SuperSport at some point. I really like the Bahama Blueburst... but you can't go wrong with either.

 

[big_paul]

The basic difference between the Axis and the BFR Axis is a Mahogany tone block in the BFR. There are some color options only available on the BFR and the woods used are maybe a little nicer cosmetically... meaning more birdseyes in the neck and a little "better" quilt or flame (not that they are bad on the Axis at all).

With a BFR you can specify wether you want a Quilt or Flame maple top while with the Axis it is the luck of the draw. To be honest, the question you really need to ask yourself with the BFR Axis vs the Axis is wether or not the Mahogany Tone Block is worth the extra money to you. The regular Axis is a killer guitar and while the addition of the tone block is very cool and sounds great there is not a whole lot of difference between the two guitars even when it comes to cosmetics as there are some KILLER tops on regular Axis guitars as well.

That being said, I have 2 Axis guitars and will probably add a BFR Axis or BFR Axis SuperSport at some point. I really like the Bahama Blueburst... but you can't go wrong with either.

thanks and great explanation. but the pickups, hardware etc are all the same? what is the tone block and what does it do? sorry for all the questions. the gae has changed since i was in it and for the better i see. thanks. oh yea wehats the price difference?

 

[Stratty316]

Pickups, hardware, and everything else are the same. The tone block is a piece of Mahogany that is inbeded into the body around the pickups. Imagine they carve out a little of the basswood body and replace it with Mahogany then adhere the maple top to the body so as you never see the tone block. Anyway, it changes the tone of the guitar a little bit. It will still sound like an Axis, but it has a little something else to it... its been a while since I have played a BFR Axis so I can't describe the tone exactly... but its not like you would love one and hate the other. Its kind of like how the all rosewood necks changed the tone on the Axis when they did that limited run. Its just a little different flavor to an already great sounding guitar.

The BFR treatment makes more of a distinct difference on other models like the Luke, the AL and the Petrucci due to the addition of maple tops and the tone block.

 

[phatduckk]

welcome to the forum.

for the music you like id suggest any of the following:
http://www.music-man.com/instruments/guitars/axis.html
http://www.music-man.com/instruments/guitars/axis-super-sport.html
john-petrucci | guitars | instruments
jpx-6 | guitars | instruments
http://www.music-man.com/instruments/guitars/steve-morse-y2d.html
http://www.music-man.com/instruments/guitars/reflex-guitar.html (might be the best guitar ever made)
http://www.music-man.com/instruments/guitars/albert-lee-hh.html

if you're going to buy it without trying it you should know about the neck shapes a bit:

Axis & Axis Super Sport have an asymetrical contoured neck
The JP and JPX have super fast necks
and the Morse Y2D has a "normal" neck (whatever that means)
The reflex neck is "normal" too but perhaps a bit bigger than the Y2D's neck
The HH AL also has a standard shaped neck as well

The Axis is based off the EVH signature that MM used to make so if you're a giant EVH fan that might be the easy bet.

Otherwise, browse youtube and get a taste for what they sound like then call Pete at Welcome to DuBaldo Music Center! and buy something from him. He's an awesome MM dealer

All humbucker equipped MM guitars can easily cover rock & 80s metal but those listed are the ones Ive had experience w/ and would recommend.

The Luke is also a great guitar. it has a V shaped neck (which i love) and is a killer axe. however its an HSS and not an HH. so if you want to mix in some single coil goodness then its also worth checking out for sure

 

[big_paul]

welcome to the forum.

for the music you like id suggest any of the following:
axis | guitars | instruments
axis-super-sport | guitars | instruments
john-petrucci | guitars | instruments
jpx-6 | guitars | instruments
steve-morse-y2d | guitars | instruments
reflex-guitar | guitars | instruments (might be the best guitar ever made)
albert-lee-hh | guitars | instruments

if you're going to buy it without trying it you should know about the neck shapes a bit:

Axis & Axis Super Sport have an asymetrical contoured neck
The JP and JPX have super fast necks
and the Morse Y2D has a "normal" neck (whatever that means)
The reflex neck is "normal" too but perhaps a bit bigger than the Y2D's neck
The HH AL also has a standard shaped neck as well

The Axis is based off the EVH signature that MM used to make so if you're a giant EVH fan that might be the easy bet.

Otherwise, browse youtube and get a taste for what they sound like then call Pete at Welcome to DuBaldo Music Center! and buy something from him. He's an awesome MM dealer

All humbucker equipped MM guitars can easily cover rock & 80s metal but those listed are the ones Ive had experience w/ and would recommend.

The Luke is also a great guitar. it has a V shaped neck (which i love) and is a killer axe. however its an HSS and not an HH. so if you want to mix in some single coil goodness then its also worth checking out for sure

does this guy do complete setups like rich at ibanezrulze.com if you pay extra? thanksn

 

[beej]

You won't need a setup for any new MM ... they are perfect out of the box. Seriously.

 

[big_paul]

i did not see a axis at DuBaldo Music Center. does he not usually carry them? or can i have him order one in when i am ready? i like the Translucent Gold Maple Fretboard

 

[Stratty316]

Pete has a good selection of a variety of MusicMan guitars. It may be because NAMM is 2 weeks away that he doesn't currently have an Axis, but he can order what you want from MusicMan when you are ready.

And Beej is right... new MusicMan guitars almost never need a set up from the factory. They are usually set up perfect.

 

[big_paul]

Pete has a good selection of a variety of MusicMan guitars. It may be because NAMM is 2 weeks away that he doesn't currently have an Axis, but he can order what you want from MusicMan when you are ready.

And Beej is right... new MusicMan guitars almost never need a set up from the factory. They are usually set up perfect.

perfect. do you also mean set for the style of play i like. strings not to high etc? seems like pete's prices are a little bit better than anywhere else. this is the guy you guys go to as rich for ibanez then i take it?

 

[big_paul]

when i look around am i seeing the EVH drop d tuner on some of the axis models? im assuming custom add on.

 

[GWDavis28]

when i look around am i seeing the EVH drop d tuner on some of the axis models? im assuming custom add on.

Yes.

Pete and Nick Dubaldo are the best great to deal with. Call them.

Glenn |B)

 

[big_paul]

Yes.

Pete and Nick Dubaldo are the best great to deal with. Call them.

Glenn |B)

thanks man. they are the guys ill be going through when ready. then we can talk about amps and accessories

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Yes.

Pete and Nick Dubaldo are the best great to deal with. Call them.

Glenn |B)

Definately call them! I bought 2 ebmm's from them. A new natural quilt Axis and a used black cherry burst Al.

And.....well.....Pete HIDES some of his musicman stock. I don't know why. I think he gets a kick out of pulling brand new stuff out that's been hidden for 2 years. I know from his site, he's got a blue Axis supersport on clearance (wanna see a great price?!)

Also...Pete plays every single guitar before it goes out to be sure it is set to go. (even the leftys)

 

[big_paul]

Definately call them! I bought 2 ebmm's from them. A new natural quilt Axis and a used black cherry burst Al.

And.....well.....Pete HIDES some of his musicman stock. I don't know why. I think he gets a kick out of pulling brand new stuff out that's been hidden for 2 years. I know from his site, he's got a blue Axis supersport on clearance (wanna see a great price?!)

Also...Pete plays every single guitar before it goes out to be sure it is set to go. (even the leftys)

what is the price difference on the axis BFR? im liking the looks now of the emerald burst. can they pretty much get any color that i have seen?

 

[Stratty316]

the only thing is Emerald Burst was discontinued so unless Pete has one stashed away you are going to have to find it used. If that is the case ebay is your best bet for pricing.