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Ernie Ball Music Man Custom Design Experience

One piece top EVHs?

PeteDuBaldo

PeteDuBaldo

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A customer came into the store this morning to try out a Soldano SLO-100, and the first guitar he busts out was a signature-free EVH with a MusicMan neckplate and MusicMan Floyd.

SN A80477

It was a one-piece trans gold quilt with matching headstock.

Did EB ever do one-piece tops?

The neck profile was funky a la super D shape not Axis style (read: borderline uncomfortable) and the SN doesn't exist in the EB database. The headstock was radiused on the face, and had a black ErnieBall/MusicMan silk screen (no EVH siggy). The toggle was mounted on the lower horn, not in the Axis location.

I've seen some wierd stuff at the store this week - first the pre-EB StingRay Bass and now this.... what will tomorrow bring, and what the heck was the guitar?!?!?!?!?
 
spkirby

spkirby

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Thats an Axis EX Pete...sold one last year so I know...;)

Japanese made. Search this forum for more info

Yeah the neck, its a fatter profile than the US EVH / Axis...
 
spkirby

spkirby

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Spudmurphy said:
Any pics ?
Click to expand...

Here you go...it was very pretty...

axis_ex.jpg
 
K

Katana6506

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Axis EXs were EBMMs, but they were made in the "transition" period between EVH's departure from EBMM and the renaming of the EVH siggy as the Axis. As a result, they have no signature or model designation on the headstock other than the EBMM logo.

Feel free to fact-check me on this, as this is pieced together from previous discussions of these guitars.
 
Eilif

Eilif

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Would someone explain the EX further? I'm curious now. :)

Are they made under license from EBMM? Exactly who manufactures them? How else are they different from the EBMM Axis models?
 
Colin

Colin

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My understanding is the EX was a "made for Japan only run". I believe the maple cap is thinner as well. I have some Japan axis ex brochures I'll scan and post.
 
spkirby

spkirby

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Eilif said:
Would someone explain the EX further? I'm curious now. :)

Are they made under license from EBMM? Exactly who manufactures them? How else are they different from the EBMM Axis models?
Click to expand...

Built by Kanda Shokai in Japan. The Axis EX was made when demand in Japan for the Axis was huge and EBMM needed production help (correct me if I'm wrong here BP).

K.S. made the necks and bodies, all other hardware is as per SLO Axis including the Dimarzios.

The EX is exactly the same body format as an EVH, same body routes, no contours and pickup switch on horn. The finish is hand stained too as per the EVH so some fading does occur...Visually it looks identical to an EVH minus the signature, even the Axis logo is nowhere to be found.

Since I had an EX and an SLO Axis at the same time I can tell you a few build quality differences...one the clearcoat was not quite as smooth as an SLO, two the maple neck is made from two pieces of maple, i.e. the fretboard and neck are not matched as they are for the SLO's and thirdly, the most serious for me, the neck profile is WAY different, not asymetrical and very large U shape. It was the neck shape that made me sell it...

Soundwise it was great, seemed to have a lot of oomph and was a bit darker than my SLO

Apparently the figured maple top is a thin veneer which might explain why all EX's are so pretty, but I can't confirm this.

All in all it was a decent guitar for the money as they tend to be cheaper than a US Axis, you get the same components, EVH looks, gorgeous top. Build quality was good but just not quite to the same level finish wise, however that baseball bat profile of a neck was the killer for me...

SteveK
 
Spudmurphy

Spudmurphy

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Thanks Spirkby for the pics and the facts above.

Man, there should be a book written on the MM genre.

What kind of price do these things go for?

(Spud soon about to leave for the Airport to work away for a week in Scotland :mad: )
 
hbucker

hbucker

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The "one piece top" would be an indicator that it is indeed veneer. Not that it would have to be, but for a guitar in this price range I think it would be rare that they'd go to the expense of putting a one piece quarter inch top on it. But I've been wrong before... :rolleyes:

It's still very pretty though.
 
Smellybum

Smellybum

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160,000 Yen is about £760 or $1400 USD......... seems a bit high.

but I suppose from a distance you're getting an EVH for less ?

Forgive my stupidity, apart from the location of the switch and the signature on the headstock, and the hanging around the bar saying "yeah, my buddy Ed gave me this" pants....


what's the difference between this and a standard axis ???
 
spkirby

spkirby

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The belly contour on the rear is post-EVH and the neck is a tiny tiny bit wider too but basically its the same guitar.
 
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