Rosewood Axis Question

[G.I.G.]

Hello everyone. I'm new but I have been poking around here for a while. Great forum you guys have!

I had a couple of questions regarding the Axis with a rosewood neck. I have looked at other posts but I can't figure out if these are a limited productin guitar or if the rosewood neck is a standard option. There is no mention of the rosewood neck in the MM catalog or website. My local EBMM dealer said that he thinks they might discontinue the rosewood Axis next year. I was also curious if you can get the Axis with a rosewood neck but with a maple top. That does not seem to be the case but I figured I'd ask.

For those of you who own them or have played them, what do you think? I can't find many reviews on harmony-central about them. What do you think the pros/cons are vs. a standard Axis? I have played both but have only played a standard Axis through my Dual Rectifier, never the one with the rosewood neck.

Any input would be great!

Thanks.

 

[robelinda2]

man i'd love to try a rosewood axis SS, i hope they dont discontinue it next year!!!!!!

 

[G.I.G.]

man i'd love to try a rosewood axis SS, i hope they dont discontinue it next year!!!!!!

I also tried to e-mail EBMM customer support with that same question but I have not heard back. Hopefully they do not discontinue that option. I wish more guitar manufactures offered a rosewood neck.

 

[GuitarHack]

GIG:

To my admittedly amateur ear, the rosewood top and neck on the Axis has an almost instantaneous, popping sort of attack. It is warm and thick and pleasing, yet with very good articulation, and the note sort of keeps blooming after that. It smooths out the single coil MM90s nicely...if you want smooth. The maple top (and neck) is sharper and brighter, with a more pronounced decay. Or, to put it another way, I guess the rosewood sounds more compressed, whereas the maple is more lively and articulated. Both sounds are EXCELLENT.

There's also a big difference when playing chords, either clean or overdriven. On the rosewood, it's like you can hear every note coming at you equally, the definition is so good that it's like six different guitarists are playing one note each. The notes of the chord all decay more equally...you're not left with just the bass notes toward the end on the rosewood guitar.

Which do I prefer? That's tough. I think I like the maple better on the MM90 guitars, since the additional articulation seems to go better with the single coil "Tele-on-steroids" vibe. But, I have to say, the rosewood Axis with humbuckers is A-FREAKIN'-MAZING!!! I've never played a better sounding, more versatile guitar than the rosewood ASS with humbuckers (except maybe the 20th Silo, but I'm still getting to know her). The basswood body on the humbucker Axis (versus the ash body of the MM90s) probably figures in, but whatever, if you haven't tried a rosewood Axis, do yourself a favor and find one, I doubt you'll be disappointed.

My $0.02, YMMV,
Hack

 

[G.I.G.]

Thanks for the input GuitarHack, that is very helpful!

I was pretty convinced how well the rosewood Axis sounded having never plugged it into an amp. You can tell a lot about an electric guitar just playing it accousticly.

It's funny you mention the 20th anniversary silhouette. That's the other EBMM I've been eyeing but I havn't played one yet. I think I am going to stick it out and wait for a rosewood Axis, especially since I don't know how long they will be producing them.

Has anyone heard of the rosewood axis being discontinued?

 

[LoudGtr]

I think that 'TNT' is using a Rosewood Axis (not 100% sure, kind of looks like one) if you look under the General Discusion section of the forum watch the videos of the 'open house'. It should give you a good idea of the guitar. Again, I'm pretty sure that's a rosewood one.

 

[Colin]

the rosewood is not a limited edition and as long as we keep buying them they will keep making them.

 

[robelinda2]

i hope so Colin!! it seems like a stunning axe.

 

[Big Mike]

I love mine (HB's). Adds a girth and low mid phatness that I dig a ton.

 

[G.I.G.]

I think that 'TNT' is using a Rosewood Axis (not 100% sure, kind of looks like one) if you look under the General Discusion section of the forum watch the videos of the 'open house'. It should give you a good idea of the guitar. Again, I'm pretty sure that's a rosewood one.

Thanks LoudGtr, but I couldn't find the video you mentioned when I looked around the general discussion section. Could you provide a link?

 

[robelinda2]

here's the link!

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10550&highlight=open+house

 

[jeffrey]

I couldn't stop playing one at the Open House, the thing was amazing.

 

[augustyn]

i am very interested in an rosewood axis also but what i wonder is why there are always so many for sale.
its great from EB to offer rosewoodnecks w/o charge but i'd love to see a rosewood neck w/mapletop....hopefully thats possible anytime...

 

[K-DOG]

I've got a rosewood Axis (+5 other Music Man guitars) and it is an incredible guitar! I call it my "coffee table guitar" because that's what it looks like to me. I picked mine up for <street price edit> (before taxes) at Long & McQuade in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and if you have ever priced out a rosewood neck at warmoth or somewhere else, you'll find out that as well as being an excellent guitar, it is an excellent value as well. I really pissed off the staff there when I bought it, as it just came in that day, and was a "staff pick"... they took me out of their computer system! Buy a rosewood... you won't regret it.

 

[G.I.G.]

i am very interested in an rosewood axis also but what i wonder is why there are always so many for sale.
its great from EB to offer rosewoodnecks w/o charge but i'd love to see a rosewood neck w/mapletop....hopefully thats possible anytime...

Likewise, I would love an Axis rosewood with a maple top. Is there any talk/rumors of EB doing something like that? That is probably the reason why I have put off buying the rosewood Axis for so long now. I've also heard that they might discontinue them all together.

Anyone from the Ernie Ball camp have any insider information?

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I would buy one of these too!

 

[Superunknown]

The rosewood axis is my main guitar!!

 

[Nutboy]

Rosewood Axis Luke Blue

Hey guys,
The Rosewood Axis has one of my favorite clean tones of all time. I have a Luke Blue model that I've used for every electric clean tone on the last two TLB records. Awesome! I'll try to get a pic together soon. Here's a video of me playing it on the session for Burn Season. http://www.travislarsonband.com/bs_web_text.ram

I love this guitar!

Travis

 

[robelinda2]

yes i want one.


no, i need one.


ps Travis you are cool.

 

[darchirnoj]

Yeah , the rosewood axis is the guitar that I'll probably always remember playing. I've never felt a neck like that. I do regret not buying it when I had the chance. Some weeks after I played one, I was outbid on one with a piezo on ebay. I think it went for less than a grand too.
Outstanding guitar. If you have the means and are considering purchasing one, I'd highly recommend it. The only thing I've heard people complain about (perhaps) is the look of the top, but in person, it looks awesome.
And the neck is the best ever, period. I've played an all rosewood neck PRS; couldn't touch the axis rosewood for feel.