Question Sterling AX40D owners or anyone that has any experience with one?

[Ed Hunter]

I have a situation where i have wanted another Axis for quite some time now and i really don't think anyone needs to hear why i would want another of these guitars, that is too obvious to answer.(think tony the tiger and what he is famous for saying).
Anyway a used one is not any lower priced than $900(at least i have never seen one go cheaper and be worth buying)
and i can also get a brand new Sterling AX40D for $450 which has the awesome dimarzio set in it.
But have to make up my mind by weds because it will be sold to another person after that.
I am willing to get a Gotoh trem for it(not sure if this is even necessary? so that brings the price to about $600 if i did get the trem for the AX40D
and i would oil the neck in BC tru oil just like my Axis neck.
My question is it worth spending the $450(or at the most $600 with upgraded trem) or just
getting another Axis used for $1000 or more? Are the sterling AX40D's a good choice as a "secondary" to a real axis in my situation? it is 1/2 the cost
I have not ever owned one and there is very little on the web about the quality and playability of them?
Thanks for any help on this.

 

[xjbebop]

all I can add is that we bought an AX40 (not even the "D" model) a few years back, and it's a VERY solid & quality instrument!
It sounds great with the stock pups and the fit, finish & hardware are tip-top.
That sounds like a great price for a "D" model...

 

[Ed Hunter]

all I can add is that we bought an AX40 (not even the "D" model) a few years back, and it's a VERY solid & quality instrument!
It sounds great with the stock pups and the fit, finish & hardware are tip-top.
That sounds like a great price for a "D" model...

Thank you and have you by any chance ever played a axis?
If so would it be fair to say the AX40 is a very good at coping the overall vibe/feel of a axis?
There is virtually no reviews or info(except specs) on the net so this is really the only place i will be able to find out anything on these AX40's play and are built especially comparing them to the real deal axis guitars.
I cannot play the AX40 in person, the one i would be buying is from a online sale and the seller will only hold it until weds this week for me which was more than nice enough of him

 

[Gomnana]

I just bought an AX40D a few days ago, used. After taking it to my guy and getting it all set up and sorting out the intonation, it's easily my favourite guitar! I'd say it's about on par with the quality of my EVH Wolfgang Special (MIJ). The floyd is awesome, and the pickups are of course the same as the EBAxis ones.

In love with the purple finish too.

 

[Ed Hunter]

I just bought an AX40D a few days ago, used. After taking it to my guy and getting it all set up and sorting out the intonation, it's easily my favourite guitar! I'd say it's about on par with the quality of my EVH Wolfgang Special (MIJ). The floyd is awesome, and the pickups are of course the same as the EBAxis ones.

In love with the purple finish too.

Thank you! your Comment of " I'd say it's about on par with the quality of my EVH Wolfgang Special (MIJ)"
is what i needed to know!
As long as i dont get a lemon i am sure for $450 new i will be very happy with the AX40D
I have played the MIJ WG's and really thought they were very well built.
The other one under those called the Standard $599 new(i think they are made in indonesia?) i was not real impressed with but the MIJ's i played all were of very high quality.
Funny thing about the newer AX40's is the pu's alone are worth about half of what the guitar will cost me!
so i guess $450 is a really good deal now that you compared it to a MIJ wolf.

 

[Ed Hunter]

In love with the purple finish too.

yeah i normally don't go for purple guitars but it just works on the AX40's ! Looks sexy as hell actually!
with the cream binding and zebra dimarzio's i really like it!
Unfortunately the one i will be getting is not that purple or even trans black. it is a red burst
and of those three red burst would have been my last choice but what can ya do right? you dont play the color!

 

[jones4tone]

The burst is a gorgeous guitar for that price…

 

[Ed Hunter]

The burst is a gorgeous guitar for that price…

Thanks and yes it is really nice looking and i was not saying i hate that color but of the available finishes from sterling,
the burst would not have been my first pick.
all i am hoping for right now is to get a "sweet" one because regardless of brand there are good ones and not so good ones. that is just the way it is with guitars even if they are exactly the same model and color,
Normally i always play it/look it over before i buy but in this situation i cant.

 

[Gomnana]

Those red burst AX40Ds are awesome! I saw one in person once, and the colours looked really great.

I love my MIJ Wolfgang by the way Both are excellent quality guitars. The Wolfgang just nudges it in my opinion, because of the beautiful neck! But the AX40D neck plays great too. I think I might actually prefer the sound of the AX40D too.

Agree with you about those Wolfgang Standards, not worth the price they command, and I actually think they are kind of ugly.

I wouldn't worry too much about getting a dud. You can just as easily get a dud from any of the made in America guitar companies. I always take any new guitar for a good setup at my local guy.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Those red burst AX40Ds are awesome! I saw one in person once, and the colours looked really great.

I love my MIJ Wolfgang by the way Both are excellent quality guitars. The Wolfgang just nudges it in my opinion, because of the beautiful neck! But the AX40D neck plays great too. I think I might actually prefer the sound of the AX40D too.

Agree with you about those Wolfgang Standards, not worth the price they command, and I actually think they are kind of ugly.

I wouldn't worry too much about getting a dud. You can just as easily get a dud from any of the made in America guitar companies. I always take any new guitar for a good setup at my local guy.

Yeah i am sure in person it will really catch my eye and like you said about being concerned about a dud
it really is the luck of the draw. I do all my own work except frets.
the only thing i was going to do to the AX 40 is redo the neck finish in birchwood casey tru oil(which i use on all my guitar necks after getting my Axis and finding out that is what EBMM uses) set the action/intonation and put on my EB Colbalt strings.
as long as it does not have any defects i cannot tackle(like a raised fret or two,twisted neck) all should be great.
BTW, i posted a answer about the case for these on your thread.

 

[SBMM]

Just FYI, the only finish currently in production is the AX40D in Ruby Redburst (RRB).

 

[Ed Hunter]

Just FYI, the only finish currently in production is the AX40D in Ruby Redburst (RRB).

Thanks Are these AX40D's being discontinued? I had read that somewhere?
I am sure in person i will love it. pics usually don't do guitars justice and i am much more concerned about the feel,build and tone.
color means very little to me anyway. I am ordering it tomorrow first thing.

 

[SBMM]

Where are you ordering from Ed?

 

[Ed Hunter]

Where are you ordering from Ed?

A store on ebay called Replay guitars
they have two left the salesman said and are out of their original box's but are like new.
They offer a 14 day money back guarantee or i would not bother and he said they are covered by manufacturer's warranty just as new?

 

[SBMM]

Replay is a good dealer of ours. I'm sure you're gonna love it! Post pics when it arrives

 

[Ed Hunter]

Replay is a good dealer of ours. I'm sure you're gonna love it! Post pics when it arrives

Glad to hear you know of them definitely eases my mind dealing with them since i was not familiar with them prior to this.
Yeah as soon as i get it all sorted out i will take a few pics.

 

[Gomnana]

Thanks Are these AX40D's being discontinued? I had read that somewhere?
I am sure in person i will love it. pics usually don't do guitars justice and i am much more concerned about the feel,build and tone.
color means very little to me anyway. I am ordering it tomorrow first thing.

Yeh, I'd like to know the answer to this too.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Yeh, I'd like to know the answer to this too.

Yeah i am not sure why he did not respond to the question about them being discontinued?
It sure does seem like that is the case since hardly any stores have them and the only color being made in ruby red burst

 

[Gomnana]

It would be a real shame if they discontinued them. The AX4 sub series just isn't the same. But it seems like they are phasing out the AX40s in favor of the AX4s.

I'd love to see some pictures of your ax40d when you get it, or better yet a video! Strangely, there are no videos of the ax40d ruby red on the internet! None that I can find..

 

[Ed Hunter]

It would be a real shame if they discontinued them. The AX4 sub series just isn't the same. But it seems like they are phasing out the AX40s in favor of the AX4s.

I'd love to see some pictures of your ax40d when you get it, or better yet a video! Strangely, there are no videos of the ax40d ruby red on the internet! None that I can find..

I agree I have not played a AX4 but it does not have those dimarzio's which like i said in my previous post are a major reason i am even considering getting a AX40D(that is one of the main factors to getting it to sound like my EBMM axis)
I am sure for the low price they sell for the AX4's are fine but those that lust after a Axis or just want a backup to their axis
would always prefer the AX40D by a large margin.
Dont quote me on this but i dont think the AX40D sold as much as they had hoped.
There is virtually reviews on the whole internet on them and that usually tells the tale of a product that did not sell
particularly great. I think the normal price at $750(usd) and even more in your country for just guitar no case or gig bag is the main reason it did not sell all that great.