Newbie Axis questions

[Dag-o]

Hey everybody, I thought some of you nice folks might have some suggestions for me. About 6 months ago i bought an Axis(used) on a whim and it turned out to be a great guitar. So when i saw an Axis Sport hanging in a pawn shop, i bought it with out a thought. But, i have some Questions, One, the Axis sounds better in my opinion- the pickups get a nice bust up hi gain sound- (like a very hot S.G.ish-but better). The Sport is way Tele sounding ( single-single hum model) even the humbucker on it has a spanky/brite Tele sound. Are they the same pickup in each model? Any way to get the sport to sound more like the regular Axis? I can't believe that Ash vs. Basswood could make such a diff. or that two simalar pickups could be so different. What's up with this?
The Sport has a very rough-big fret ends that stick out maybe 1/16'' past the neck edge. very rough on the hands. neck feels like a fish spine- very harsh. is this common on Sports? My Axis is super smooth and fast, and the sport could be with some work , i'm not complaining-i could do a lot worse for the 240 i paid for it. but seriously, it's like the frets were never dressed or had a file on 'em or anything. is this common for this model?

Also, is there any way to shim up the Floyd Rose on the Axis? it seems way to close to the body when near the strings. still, GREAT guitars thanks

 

[blackspy]

The Axis has EVH spec'd pickups, I don't know if the Axis Sport pup's are the same? Is it possible that the pickups in the Sport aren't even factory?

As for the fret ends sticking out, it's likely a humidity issue, mine gets like that too on occasion when its really dry. Get a cheap humidifier and it'll be fine in a week or so.

The Floyd on the Axis is not only supposed to be close to the body, it's actually flush mounted on the body, so it only lowers pitch. Sounds like it is the way it should be. If you really want to raise it, you can use the posts on either side of the bridge to raise it.

 

[smk5150]

I had the similar feeling playing Axis Super Sport and Sport. AFAIK these ARE the same pickups!

As for frets sticking out - this is a problem with air humidity. A luthier should help you with this guitar . Some guys here at forum know preety much about this, maybe they'll tell you what to do

 

[shreder75]

wood makes a heck of alotta difference....I have two axes..an axis and an esp lynch model..both loaded with duncan JB trembuckers...the basswood of the axis makes it sound darker than the highly percussive and bright attack of my alder lynch...

just in case you cared..lol

 

[GWDavis28]

About 6 months ago i bought an Axis(used) on a whim and it turned out to be a great guitar.

Nice snag , did you pay much?

The Sport has a very rough-big fret ends that stick out maybe 1/16'' past the neck edge. very rough on the hands. neck feels like a fish spine- very harsh. is this common on Sports?

Yah Jon just fixed mine for me a litttle while ago, just like everyone else has said, is it a very figured neck? That seems to happen more to figured necks Jon told me. He also referred to this as "Fret Sprout", It like that name it's very fitting. As for the neck feeling like crap. Have you cleaned it and treated it? You might want to PM Jon and see what he did to clean mine, man it's like a different neck. My 2 Axes necks feel like all of my other EBMM's necks.

Hope this helps, Glenn |B)

 

[kbaim]

That seems to happen more to figured necks Jon told me. He also referred to this as "Fret Sprout",'s very fitting.

Strange......... Jon told me "fret sprout" was what happened when eb employees took their "winky" out, to go "wee wee".

 

[GWDavis28]

Strange......... Jon told me "fret sprout" was what happened when eb employees took their "winky" out, to go "wee wee".

BOO!!! Oh man that was bad.

 

[Dag-o]

thanks for the response everybody, the problem with the floyd rose is that the actual bar part is loose and rocks and when, say just below the high E its only like a third or half an inch from the strings-not a lot of play before it bottoms out and is kinda in the way. i've pulled the bridge and tried to tighten underneath, but no avail. Maybe i should just bend the bar(i guess, i really like the Bigsby on my gretsch. which the bar is high off the body) o.k. the neck-I can tell the neck itself is a good smooth neck-heck it's a great neck, but the "fret sprouts" are ridiculous- huge jagged-pointy speedbumps-if i actually played up and down the neck fast it would tear flesh-no kidding.-i'll try the humidifier, but i have my doubts. The frets arent beveled, or angled in-if thats what you call it. look at the neck horizon from the back and it looks like large, and i mean large, braile, seems like a cheap touch on an other wise excellent guitar.
I got my Axis for a flat 200 bucks-plays like a dream, beautiful figured top, birdseye neck. One advantage of living in a poor town like Memphis, you do find some guitar bargains. A few weeks a go I saw a twin to my guitar in guitar center, cash in hand (less than a grand or so) i went back the next day and it was gone. Today somebody is selling their Gibson Les paul standard for 800 in the paper.-maybe i'll find a use for that money yet. Actually, Musicman has pretty much gained a customer for life if i can find some more guitars like my Axis. Thanks eveybody

 

[phatduckk]

hey dude ... welcome to the boards.

im sure someone here will be able to help with any questions ...

and when you get a chance ... pics would be sweet

 

[GWDavis28]

Dag-o, $200 beans it a great deal. Get a hardshell case for it. Memphis has to have some good techs that can deal with the fret-sprout. Ask around, maybe there's someone on here that is from that region and knows of someone that can do the work and is good.

As far as the trem bar goes, wish I could help, but I only have the vintage trem. Are you talking about your Axis or Axis Sport?? The Axis Sport didn't have the Floyd option.

Glenn |B)

 

[blackspy]

Isn't there another little screw on the bridge, just behind where the bar inserts? I think that's where you can adjust the play to tighten it. I don't have my guitar here to double check, but somebody will know.

With regard to the humidifier, unless the guitar is in some bad shape fret-wise, the humidifier will work. My Axis came from the store like that, and I had my doubts when the dealer told me that it was just from hanging in the store for a month, and if I used the humidifier it'd be fine in a week or so. He was right... and once in a while it still happens, as I said, when its particularily dry. There's an article over on the (can I say this here?) the wolfgangguitars.com website that discusses this problem, and some options on what to do if the humidifier doesn't work out. It goes with the territory of 'unfinished necks' or so I'm told.

$200 dollars for an Axis? Damn ... that's a steal.

 

[shreder75]

Isn't there another little screw on the bridge, just behind where the bar inserts? I think that's where you can adjust the play to tighten it. I don't have my guitar here to double check, but somebody will know.

With regard to the humidifier, unless the guitar is in some bad shape fret-wise, the humidifier will work. My Axis came from the store like that, and I had my doubts when the dealer told me that it was just from hanging in the store for a month, and if I used the humidifier it'd be fine in a week or so. He was right... and once in a while it still happens, as I said, when its particularily dry. There's an article over on the (can I say this here?) the wolfgangguitars.com website that discusses this problem, and some options on what to do if the humidifier doesn't work out. It goes with the territory of 'unfinished necks' or so I'm told.

$200 dollars for an Axis? Damn ... that's a steal.

that's correct..there's a little allen screw

 

[brentrocks]

lets see some pics!!!.....oh welcome to the board!!!

$200 is a great deal!!!

 

[Jimi D]

re: "fret spout" - it occurs when the neck shrinks because it gets too dry. Even a humidifier probably won't fix a severe case. If I were you, I'd take it to a good luthier (and there are a lot of 'em in Memphis) to have the fret ends dressed. Shouldn't cost much at all to just take off the rough ends... I'd do it before trying to use humidity to fix the problem...

I have seven Axes (plural of Axis), and they all sound different. I'm not sure that the S/S/H Sport has the same bridge pickup as the Axis proper, however...

Congrats on the new guitars and welcome to the board...

 

[blackspy]

From the FAQ:

Q: What are the differences between the Axis and the Axis SuperSport?

A: ... 4. It is available with MM-90 pickups or the standard Axis humbucking pickups. ...

So, they do indeed use the same Dimarzio pickups, if you choose the humbucker configuration and not MM90's.

 

[Pundix]

i could do a lot worse for the 240 i paid for it.

Man.. The only question I have is why don't I ever find deals like this? 240 for an EB? At that price I'd have a truckload of em...

 

[GWDavis28]

Man.. The only question I have is why don't I ever find deals like this? 240 for an EB?

Dude it's all dumb luck. You know right place, right time thing.

Later, Glenn |B)