BD, small world. Welcome aboard!
I'll answer your questions from over on vhlinks....
As Rush said, "Once you've educated yourself you should have no problem wheeling and dealing with the salesman." That is what my remark of "if you played your cards right" entailed. It's all about bringing that price down, and getting the case included, and if you can haggle a little bit, you can walk out with an Axis for a song (pardon the pun). Like I said, if you have the green or the plastic in hand, that can open up a lot of doors right there.
Axes (FYI, the correct plural for Axis -- we checked on this long ago

) are produced with either quilt or flame and just sent out for general orders, a la GC, etc. If you want something specific or custom, such as a premium top (see
here), you would have to order direct from EBMM.
Either way, quilt or flame tops are just appearance aspects on a regular Axis; they're both maple tops, and there's no difference in regards to the body/woods used or electronics inside (unless you go with MM90's on an Axis Super Sport...we call it an ASS in this neck of the woods.

) As far as general public consumption, EBMM maunufactures Axes for general consumption (no, I don't suggest eating your guitar!

) If you want something specific, a la quilt or maple, you're either on the hunt at GC's, etc. or you'll have to order direct.
If you order direct, EBMM's build time is about 3 months, but from what I've heard from people fortunate enough to have ordered new from EBMM, bro it is SO worth it, AND you get the case, no questions asked, plus warranty, tools, and free strings on registering. Hey, good things come to them that wait, right? (You could just go harass the people at GC every day and play their Axes in the meantime.

)
Glad that you're an addict like all of us here brother, and we expect to see you with an Axis soon...oh, and we desire pics when that happens as well (standard rule of the board.

)
Take care, BD, and see ya here or on the 'links!
