which MM Guitar should I get?

[Chaka5150]

I'm really considering selling my JP6 BFR tobacco sunburst It is a beautiful instrument...but have just not been bonding with it this last year. I keep goin back to my axis for it's simplicity and feel. Also I find the BFR is really dark for my tastes; likely a lot to do with current pickups and again, wood characteristics. Pickup change might help with this...I do love the BFR for cleans though...get some very stratty sounds and that's what i love about it.

I definitely want a MM guitar, and Piezo is a must for me. the guitar needs to sound a bit brighter/more open and play chimy cleans to high gain stuff. My axis has the high gain dpt covered so I'd like the second to cover more the in between stuff but still handle high gain when possible.

So here's what i've been considering:

Axis Supersport w/piezo (thinking MM90's) rosewood fretboard.
wait for a reflex gamechanger? --although I'm not really needing to have a million combinations with the pickups (as cool as it is) i have enough things to tweak with my axe-fx

The Axis SS really appeals to me because I'm so used to the body and neck...but i went for the JP6 in the first place for a wider neck as i have big mits; i found on the axis it was more difficult for me when chording/fingerpicking etc..on cleans.

thoughts?

 

[tommydude]

Have you tried an AL ??

 

[Chaka5150]

no I haven't but I think that is just off my radar...maybe for my third guitar in the future though.

 

[meanMRmustard]

I'm with ya in thinking about the Axis SS with mm90's. Havent heard a bad thing about them and it will be my next guitar!

 

[Chaka5150]

I think the mm90's have a rep for being fairly versatile...I want to be able to have really nice cleans (so the Axis Humbuckers not my choice--great for crunch though) and hope that the mm90's can pull of higher gain as well...just nice to not have to switch guitars for every preset I'm playing..too much juggling with cables/guitars. I actually went to a local guitar shop today to see a silohuette special ( as i've read the necks are the same on the reflex) seemed like a nice neck not as chunky as the axis but a bit wider too--which is a good thing for me. I would pull the trigger on an Axis SS in an instant it's just that the neck is a bit narrow for my hands and having two guitars with the exact same neck is what I'm worried about.

 

[TNT]

ya know it's the almighty Axis for me!!! Just love the neck and back profile; I threw in some DiMarzio's (Norton) in the bridge and the guitar rips with punch, and is very colorful!!

 

[Chaka5150]

i've thought about loading a norton or tone zone in the bridge for my JP6, but wonder how it would sound split with the liquifire and if the cleans would be any good from the tone zone or norton

 

[TNT]

I've had both pickups in several guitars (in & out) over the years. The Tone Zone is big and powerful, but not too musical or colorful.

The Norton (not air) is awesome, and plenty color with punch. Works great in my MM guitars (Journey, Foreignor, Aerosmith, AC,) as well as a EVH Frankie for my EVH trib band tunes.

 

[Eilif]

Silhouette with piezo.

 

[browndog]

How bout a nice Purple Reflex.

Add the TGC to it later.

 

[ScoobySteve]

It may be the simpler solution..... But you could try a standard JP6. The basswood is wonderfully bright and resonant. It's why I prefer it to the BFR. To me the BFR has a darker, warmer "chuggier" tone. If that makes any sense. It also comes in a familiar configuration with piezo and the superior arm scoop!

Also a 20th Silo w/ Piezo sounds like a winner. But I've never played one.

 

[Chaka5150]

Yeah that's actually a great option...I thought about a standard JP6; this way i still have the wider neck (15" radius). One thing i love about JP guitars is that killer trem system. I would go back to an unfinished neck as well. I've gotten use to mine but when i play my Axis, it's hard to go back. My only other little complaint is the pup/piezo select knob on the upper left horn. I am always engaging it by accident due to my playing style.