Old Axis SS vs. New Axis SS

[shendrie]

Hi - I am new here and will most likely be joining the ranks of Axis owners soon however I have a question for anyone who feels like commenting.

I am currently looking at 2 Axis SS (I can only choose one); the question I have is about the necks. I have noticed that one of these guitars just seems to fit and feel better than the other however I can't really pinpoint what is different about them. The neck on one seems as if it is a bit chunckier and feels more symetrical than the other. Do you know if the necks are shaped by hand or machine? I see a few of you have more than one of these... do you find each one plays differently?

Also one of them appears to be a couple of years older (serial #G15689 DOB?) while the other one seems much newer (serial #G26739). Did the necks change over this time period? The newer one seems a little more chuncky and from my perspective less fun to play.

Thanks
Stuart

 

[Eddie Van Halen]

or get a new normal axis and be happy with it because its better

 

[dwf1004]

Welcome to the board, Stuart...I'll have Jon look up those serials on Monday, and get you the DOB to help you out in your quest. As far as the necks, I believe that they are cut to their general shape etc., and then hand sanded for finality before oiled and waxed. Jon can also correct me if I'm wrong on that...

We'll get you that answer on Monday...hang tight bro!

EVH, either way, how could he go wrong? Short of the Floyd and the lack of tone knob and 5 way, it's the same guitar, bro. He could be one of those Floyd haters, like some of the peeps on the board, so it'd be a good fit for him, IMO.

Long and short, an EBMM is an EBMM; whatever he gets to join the ranks, and prevent one less F*nder on the streets, is good by me.

 

[Jimi D]

Darrell's right - the necks are hand sanded/finished but the rough cuts are CNC'd and the neck shape hasn't been changed since the introduction of the model. There are likely to be slight differences between individual necks, but if these guitars are used, have you asked if one (the smaller) of the necks has had a fret job or been "modded"? If the frets have been "leveled", that can make a guitar feel a little tighter and harder to play, and I know a lot of guys shave their necks to change the feel slightly - I was playing a used USA Washburn recently and when I commented on how the neck was nice and smooth but a little slim for me, the store owner told me it had been shaved down a touch. I was shocked because I would never have known if he hadn't told me; when done well, it's a very difficult thing to discern, especially - I would imagine - on guitars with oil & wax finish necks...

 

[Lew]

or get a new normal axis and be happy with it because its better

Unless ofcouse he likes the extra 2 tapped positions,Back contours,Tone knob and lockers and dislikes the Floyd.

 

[jongitarz]

Unless ofcouse he likes the extra 2 tapped positions,Back contours,Tone knob and lockers and no Floyd.

Right On Lew! IMO the Super Sport is so much more guitar than the Axis, but to each his own

 

[koogie2k]

Welcome to the addiction! Good luck on your purchase, as I am sure you will be happy with either one.

 

[jongitarz]

G15689 7/10/01 G26739 10/12/04

 

[shendrie]

Thanks for the replies guys...

I was able to have both of these guitars home together over the weekend and had a good chance to really compare them. The difference on the necks turned out to be the edge bevels on the fretboard. The older one that I liked had much more of a rounded edge vs. the newer one.

As far as the Axis goes... My Floyd Rose days ended around the same time my hair started to fall out. I will be trading in my 86 Kramer Barretta that has sat idle for about 10 years (starting around the time I got my current strat) for this guitar.

As far as the 5 way switch goes... of the 2 guitars I was comparing the older one is a MM90 and the new one was an HH model. No 5 way for me... I love the sound of the MM90s. The reason I was even looking at the new model was in the hopes of getting one all purpose guitar but in the end the humbuckers were overkill (for a strat guy) and the in-between positions on the 5 way sounded good but not like my strat.

I will be buying the MM90 model and since I have had it on rent for a few weeks now I already know I will be a very happy camper with it. It has a rosewood neck, see through quilted orange (i guess that is how it would be described), tremolo and of course 2 MM90s. This is the most comfortable guitar I have ever played.

Glad to see there are others out there who really like these EBMM guitars as well.

Stuart

 

[kbaim]

hey stuart,

interesting comment about the bevels. I noticed the same thing on the newest Luke I ordered. It was delivered 3/04. Just had the frets filed to smooth out the roughness. Paid about 40 bucks.

I wonder if this is being addressed at the factory, or perhaps they've changed things up a bit for some reason. Who knows? Glad you found one you're happy with.

KEITH

 

[Eilif]

Hi Stuart,

Would you be so kind as to bless us with photographs?