Some 'New" Axis design ideas?

[Tone?]

I have been thinking about how many people i have heard that would like some different features on the Axis guitars.

I know that a guitar cant be for everyone, but after Eddie left a few more changes might be able to be incorporated.

I myself like the way it is and would love to see the EBMM keeps the way it is.

Some of the most common comments i hear ( and i will list first) are:

1) Make the neck a bit wider cause some people find it too cramped for their hands

this has been by far the biggest 'complaint' i have heard.

2) Put a recessed floyd on it.


those are the two most common changes i have heard people want

others that i have heard are more electronics switching.


maybe it would be cool and as a natural progression of the instrument to make another model with the first two changes to see how it goes?

just thinking out loud here guys.

I personally dig what EBMM did when Eddie left with the changes they made. I feel they were DEFINITELY for the better.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

I think it would be sweet to have different color options for the binding, lettering, and pickup covers, though this is something one could easily do on his own.

 

[Pablo]

To my hands, most Musicman necks simply feel too narrow - I think it is a conscious decision to focus on the old school 1 5/8 width. As far as 6-strings, my preference is 1 11/16. With that said, I absolutely love both the tone and look and feel of the Axis. If I were to change anything, it would be to add a forarm contour...

Cheers

Eske

 

[TonyEVH5150]

I think the Axis is just about the best rock guitar out there. It combines the feel of a strat neck with the tone of a Les Paul. It's one of the easiest to play, no-frills rock machines. The addition of the belly carve and the beefing up of the upper frets made it even better.

I would only put in for one of two things: either a forearm contour, or an archtop. The binding idea is a good one, but I'd probably love to see one with a natural or faux binding. Just enough to show the edge of the quilt top (or flame).

 

[Slingy]

What are the color options for the binding on the ASS?

 

[Tone?]

i think that the Axis is as pretty as it needs to be. The idea of the faux binding is cool though.

funny thing is that after looking for a real pretty Axis i noticed how when i play the thing i dont look at it and care anyway.

 

[Larry]

I think its perfect as it is!

 

[Tone?]

The only thing i would be interested to try out as an option would be a slightly wider neck. And i say slightly cause i like narrower than usual ones. The 1 5/8 doesnt bother me. just further down as the neck goes. Cause vintage fenders were all 1 5/8 but they are wider down the neck. I wouldnt like the Axis to be that wide but maybe a tad thinner. Who knows maybe it would lose that 'magical' feeling being a tad bit wider. Ebmm widening the neck a bit down after the EVH was a great idea, to me. It could stand it a tad bit more throughout the whole neck.

i dont really care for a forearm contour.

 

[Multiversal]

+1 on the recessed floyd.. but, I can still live without it.

 

[TNT]

In my opinion: You can always improve (practically speaking any neck on the market). The Axis neck is "near" perfect as it sits, and the absolute BEST guitar neck made!!

1. The "back" profile is perfect.

2. A slightly larger radius (e.g., 12" would flatten the fretboard a tad and it wouldn't be as easy to fret out when doing extreme bending), i.e., Luke

3. A tad wider at mid and lower neck would preclude the high (or low E) strings from slipping off the sides of the frets when playing somewhat wildly with pull-offs, bends, taps, etc.

Again, I personally love the neck as it sits, and would not even think necessary to incorporate the above.

Just my opinion.

 

[grumpyoldman]

The fact that the Floyd is NOT recessed is the whole reason I tried an Axis in the first place. I have fat fingers and medium sized hands, but I can certainly manage the neck width (or lack of it for those who wish it to be wider). But with the problems inherent with making a floating Floyd reach perfect tuning, and stay in tune steered me away from guitars equipped with them for ages. When I heard that the Axis used a Floyd, but did not recess it to allow it to float, I was intrigued. I have broken the odd string during a gig, and the last thing I wanted was to give in to the demands of covering 80's material and buy a Floyd equipped guitar, and worry that the first broken string would send the tuning out of this world.

Fortunately, not only do my Axes stay in tune, but I haven't yet broken a string on any of them!

 

[TonyEVH5150]

What are the color options for the binding on the ASS?

Cream is the only color of binding I've seen on the ASS.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

Yep, and I think itd would be awesome to have black, red, green, etc available for solid colored Axii

 

[Slingy]

Ok just wondering. Doesn't really matter since there isn't a pickgaurd on them to match. Looks like it matches the color of the pick-ups anyway. I gotta get out and see some of these in person.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

I'd want the lettering and pickup covers, knobs, etc. to match as well

 

[petruccirocks02]

I think the Axis rocks. The only thing I'd like to see would be recessed floyd also.

-Phil

 

[Tone?]

A recessed Floyd can also be made to rest on the body as well or be blocked by a system such as the Tremstopper. This would give you more ease of setup eliminating the use of shims etc..to get your action the way you want it.

On that note i do think that a tremstopped does sound different than resting the floyd on the body.

 

[headcrash]

Just add the forearm contour and let us customers have the choice between:
* Ash or Basswood (or other woods)
* SSS, SSH, HSH, HH and MM90 pichups
* Pickguard yes/no
* fixed bridge, Vintage Trem, Floyd
* throw out that tone pot

I also think the Axis series is one of the best rock machines out there. Tight, yet ultra-fat tone, no mud at all plus very good playability.

 

[RobW]

I think the Axis is just fine as it is.

The neck is awesome. The tone is sweet. The shape and ergonomics are great. The Floyd is fine. The one volume knob is fine...

The only intriguing option to me would maybe be a pickup option...HSS would be interesting, but then really you might as well (and probably should) add a Tone control while you're at it...(maybe the same goes for the MM90's??)

Then you are basically getting close to a Super Sport anyway....

Leaving the bridge humbucker alone and having a push/pull volume knob coil split for the neck humbucker would be the best option for me. I love the fat sound of the humbucker, but I think the single coil neck pickup sound would rock...and it would leave the integrity of the design intact...

 

[slukather]

I agree with RobW, the design is great, l'd leave it the way it is, maybe change pickup configurations, l'd love to see one with Luke's emg's.

Scott.