Sound differences between Axis SS HH and current JP

[Toneseeker]

Hello everyone,

I have been getting really interested in MusicMan guitars lately, especially the current JP model and the Axis SS HH. I would like to read any opinions or descriptions of the different sound that these guitars have, thanks. Great forum BTW.

 

[eliot323]

Hi there
I've had both in my time but currently have just kept my Petruccis. The answer to your question is partly dependant on the woods you choose for an Axis - such as maple or rosewood fingerboard and whether you go for a vintage trem or hard-tail (which can affect the sustain).

The Petrucci's body is basswood, so it's especially suited to heavy rock/metal type applications and is perhaps tighter in the bass and mids and not quite as bright as the Axis SS, maple on top of basswood, which seems to increase the high end more. The Axis SS has five PUP selections, with the two in-between positions being different single coils from both PUPs wired in parallel. The Petrucci only has three PUP positions and a custom middle position. This is the two inner coils of the humbuckers in parallel. This gives you that in-between strat pickup position sound (sort of like the bridge + middle PUPs on a strat). This is a really nice for those clean(er) passages that crop up and it is more useful to me than both pickups together.

My feeling is that the Axis SS is a good "chameleon" guitar - it can be used to mimic a number of different guitar sounds/types with more versatile PUP selections (check out Jamie Humphries' comments on the artist pages at EB/MM websites), whereas the Petrucci is perhaps less varied in its sonic palette; if you want a more multi-purpose guitar, maybe the Axis SS would suit you more.

It also depends on what other features you want (or are more suited for your particular style of music): 24 vs 22 frets; floating trem vs vintage type-trem or hardtail etc. Both have beautiful necks - the Axis SS is narrower than the JP but both are really comfortable.

If you can try them both out - they are both fantastic guitars!