Valentine vs. Axis MM90

[Alfred S.]

Hi,

among others I own an Axis Super Sport MM90. I'm attracted towards the Valentine.

Anyone of you who owns both or had the chance to compare? Would be super helpful to understand how they compare. Neck, sound. What do they have in common and in which aspects are they very different.

Appreciate your help

Alfred

 

[Ted]

Alfred, I don't own an Axis SS MM90 but since nobody chimed in, I thought I'd at least reply with a few thoughts on the Valentine:

They are incredible guitars. Tonewise some say the bridge pickup is somewhere between a tele bridge pup and a P-90 and I would agree. I have a new Yamaha Revstar Standard with P-90s (takes care of my 24 3/4 scale Les Paul/SG urges-- very fun guitar to play) and I do love the sounds I can get from P-90's so I would imagine your Axis can give you some awesome tones. I almost bought a BFR Ghost in the Shell Albert Lee this past week, but the particular guitar I was looking into weighed a ton and I had to pass on it.

But back to the Valentine, it's a lot like a Telecaster in terms of feel and tone- the bridge pup is thinner, brighter and twangier than a P-90, but that neck humbucker is very Gibson-like-- depending on what you do with the tone knob. And when you split the neck, it's not going to sound like a Strat neck, but it's a very usable tone either on it's own or combined with the bridge. The active boost is something I use every time I play.

I'm not good with describing neck profiles-- I did play an Axis in a shop a few months ago. I liked the neck on it a lot. It didn't feel terribly different on a "feel" level to the way my Valentine necks feel-- despite maybe they have vastly different profiles on a technical level. I don't know. I have hands on the bigger side and both necks feel great to my hands. I didn't buy my Valentines to "shred" on but if I want, I can even shred on them maybe a little better than on my "shredder" axes. Haha.

It's kind weird when I look at both body styles-- if I just kinda reimagine the upper horn on the Valentine as a single cut type thing, they'd have almost the same body yet in reality I see single-cut and double-cut guitars as different beasts for some reason--when really its just mostly aesthetics.

There's a good reason the Valentine gets high reviews. It's an extremely versatile, well-built, thoughtfully designed instrument with some very useful features and a modern yet classic style to boot. I always want to grab it and play it and never want to put it down. I think if you're used to playing a P-90 instrument, then the Valentine should give you plenty of new tonal options while having a bit of familiarity too.

Cheers,

Ted

 

[Alfred S.]

Very helpful Ted - really appreciate it!

 

[msquared]

I own two Valentines and agree that they're flat out awesome guitars.

I've played about a bajillion Axis guitars at this point but somehow have never run across a MM90 model and had no idea they existed. I'd love to try one out sometime, they look great.

Neck: Axis is going to have an asymmetrical profile versus the Valentine's rounded profile. Both have the same nut width. I don't know if the MM90 has stainless steel frets, the Valentine does though. No idea about differences in board radius offhand.

Body: Both are ash as far as I can tell. Maple top on the Axis of course unless it's painted.

Pickups: The Valentine is essentially a "Tele Deluxe" or "ASAT Bluesboy" or whatever you want to call a Tele with a humbucker in the neck. When I split it, it's a dead ringer for the Teles I have. The MM90 of course has P90s. I would say the bridge of the Valentine is very close to a P90 but without all the gnarly noise issues that traditional P90s bring. I don't know if the MM90 solves these or not (I assume so).

Tremolo bridge is going to be the same or very close between the two, assuming you are comparing with a Valentine Tremolo.

Generally speaking I think you'll be quite comfortable with the Valentine as long as you dig the neck profile.

 

[Iperfungus]

Guys, please...stop it!
You're making me desire a Valentine!!!
Ahahahah!!!
Damn' it.

 

[Astrofreq]

Both have amazing necks, no question. The Axis MM90 has a very spanky and gritty sound, which was quite nice. The Valentine is more of the tele sound, with single in the bridge and humbucker in the neck. The boost on the Valentine is really cool though, I just preferred the sound of the MM90s, but that's me.

 

[Sweat]

Valentine is nice but not MM-90 nice, had an ASS with MM-90's did not appreciate what I had at the time

 

[alf cockle]

hello alfred..from alfred..i ownseveral mm90 equipped axis sport,and axis supersport guitars..i.ve played them for 20,plus years...they,re really good...very simple..3 way switch...the neck p/u is the best on the planet,the bridge is good,too,once you figure out how much volume/tone to use..very important.....my alltime favourite sounds.....the sport mm90 is so under rated..and so superior....gasp...so there!..you should get one...or 5..

 

[alf cockle]

hi again alfred....i didnt notice,but you already have an mm90 axis...so you,re already there..personally,i havent played the valentine,so my view on this topic is one sided....my genre is country blues,and my ebmm mm90 geetars are perfect for my style.

 

[Ninemile]

I have nothing to offer for comparison but as an owner of approx 30 guitars and my Sport MM90 has been my #1 for some time now, needless to say, I love it. I play a lot of country and reggae and it's pretty much perfect for anything up to and including, heavy Tool type of tunes with the right amp or pedals.

 

[DrKev]

Yup, the MM-90s were special. @beej had a Super Sport with MM90s and it blew me away. I think he sold it. What a maroon!

 

[Iperfungus]

You guys are dangerous a lot.
I just bought my Axis Super Sport...now you make me think about Valentine...MM90... ahahahahahaahahahah!!!
Damn' it!

 

[GWDavis28]

You guys are dangerous a lot.
I just bought my Axis Super Sport...now you make me think about Valentine...MM90... ahahahahahaahahahah!!!
Damn' it!

No MM90's on a Valentine though, only Albert Lee and ASS.

Glenn |B)

 

[GWDavis28]

Yup, the MM-90s were special. @beej had a Super Sport with MM90s and it blew me away. I think he sold it. What a maroon!

My AL with MM90's is one of my top favorites. Love those pickups, still looking for that holy grail Axis Sport with MM90's. I had it and let it slip thru my hands .

Glenn |B)

 

[Iperfungus]

No MM90's on a Valentine though, only Albert Lee and ASS.

Glenn |B)

Yeah, that's right.
I was speaking about the Valentine and the ASS with MM-90....and....and....and......I would have a house full of MM guitars and basses!