Which MusicMan?

[enemyace]

I've been looking to replace my 15 year old Ibanez RG. My biggest influences are Van Halen (DLR Era) and The Edge, (Where the Streets). I was leaning towards a Peavey Wolfgang when a friend recommended I take a look at the MusicMan Axis. These guitars are perfect in everyway and I will buy one.

My question that I hope someone can help me with, is which model would best be suited to cover both a Van Halen tone and a Chimey 'Edge' tone. I know asking one Guitar to do both perfectly may be a little too much. But which one would be my best choice? I've heard stories that the regular Axis is much closer to the 'Brown Sound' than the Supersport, but the SS can cover more ground.

Anyways, hope someone can help me get the right Guitar in my hands. Thanks everyone.

 

[robelinda2]

Go an Axis if ya love the floyd, otherwise the Super Sport is the best choice, more versatile guitar.

 

[augustyn]

buy one of every kind ;-))

 

[Axistence]

Go for the Axis. Does the EVH thing, of course. And you can get lots of tele-ish sounds if you roll back the volume pot. It's not a 100%-single coil sound, but it's quite acceptable.

 

[Dizzy]

Go for the Axis. Does the EVH thing, of course. And you can get lots of tele-ish sounds if you roll back the volume pot. It's not a 100%-single coil sound, but it's quite acceptable.

Plus you could always install a push-pull Volume pot for coil tapping ........

 

[enemyace]

Thanks guys. Can someone explain the 'Push Pull Volume Pot' mod? Can I order an Axis from the factory with this mod?

 

[Norrin Radd]

Thanks guys. Can someone explain the 'Push Pull Volume Pot' mod? Can I order an Axis from the factory with this mod?

Nope. But you can buy the part from any good parts place and have it installed for around $25 - or do it yourself. It's not really too hard. I had it done on my old Axis - it sounded very good split.

 

[roburado]

Go an Axis if ya love the floyd, otherwise the Super Sport is the best choice, more versatile guitar.

+1. I agree 100%.

All the in-between positions are fantastic, and you aren't going to get 5 different pickup wiring configurations with an Axis. (Unless you have or do some custom work on it, as has been suggested.) To me, this is the greatest advantage that the Super Sport has over the Axis. Just look at this:

Obviously, it's up to you. But for me, the choice is clear. Not only do I like all those options, I'm not a fan of the Floyd.

The following diagram also gives one something to think about. Imagine all the above combinations with the possibility of piezo. You're not going to get that on an Axis.

Adding the piezo gives you 11 different combinations. Try that with an Axis--no piezo available.

 

[Astrofreq]

To be honest, I have an EVH (axis) and some super sports. I can't tell much of a difference in tone in the way you are talking about. I know people say the regular Axis sounds thicker (?), but if you want an "edge-y" tone, go with the Super Sport. I think you can totally still get the VH sound you are looking for. No prob. It's in the pickups and the fingers.

 

[roburado]

To be honest, I have an EVH (axis) and some super sports. I can't tell much of a difference in tone in the way you are talking about. I know people say the regular Axis sounds thicker (?), but if you want an "edge-y" tone, go with the Super Sport. I think you can totally still get the VH sound you are looking for. No prob. It's in the pickups and the fingers.

+1. The ASS can get all the same coil combinations that the Axis can.

 

[TonyEVH5150]

BTW the "push-pull" mod lets you do coil tapping on the neck and bridge pickups. It lets each humbucker operate as a single coil. Another way to get a little more flexability out of the Axis.

The Axis Super Sport may be up your alley if you're not emotionally attached to having a Floyd. It comes as either a vintage trem or hardtail. The standard Axis is Floyd equipped.

 

[tristan]

Which MusicMan?

ALL !

 

[Pablo]

The Axii and ASSes I've tried have sounded very similar to my ears (the trem versions, that is), and if you are "just" deciding between these two axes the question is easy: do you want a Floyd, a vintage trem or a fixed bridge.

The best jangly MusicMan is undoubtedly the Albert Lee... and the best VH axes are undoubtedly the Axis and Axis Super Sport (for decidedly obvious reasons). But MusicMan make a lot of "best
of both worlds" guitars and... well, to make a long story short: here are two suggestions for "compromise" guitars:

Petrucci Signature: If your main axe has been an Ibby RG (and that's the kind of playablity you like) it's hard to get past the Petrucci signature. The JP sports the only "Ibanez-y" neck MusicMan produces - it's flat and wide, wheras all other MusicMan necks are narrow and fatter. The neck and bridge PUs easily do the VH thing (especially after the introduction of the D-Sonic) and the split middle position is a jangle monster. All my H-H guitars are wired this way - whether they have toggle or lever switches - it's versatile and easy to use.

Silhouette: Sadly, the original Silo gets way too little attention - even on this forum. IMHO it's MusisMan's second most versatile guit-fiddle (after the Morse) and I absolutely adore it with a maple neck (which also aids in achieving VH tones). The PAF Pros are really great for cutting through and offer less baby fat than the VH pickups in the Axis - in other words: it's more VHII than 5150. The middle positions are even better at jangly bits than the Petrucci and the custom wound single coil even sounds good on its own.
Spring for a Ltd Edition Blue Dawn with a maple neck and a non-matching headstock and you'll have a wonderfully arogant stage guitar, that kicks serious hiney!

If you want to add versatility (and ultimate janglyness) to the frey, remember that all MusicMan guitars (save for the Axis and Morse) can be ordered with a piezo bridge.

However, if Floyd is a must the MusicMan selection is much narrower: Axis, Morse (the Swiss Army guitar) and the Morse Y2D. However, in my experience the MusicMan vintage trem can take a serious beating before going out of tune... the JP trem is IMHO the best trem ever made, it's comfortable, stable and sounds great!

Cheers

Eske

P.s.: I'd take the Silhouette route

 

[beej]

Morse (the Swiss Army guitar)

Damn Pablo, that's a great slogan for that guitar!

 

[Norrin Radd]

You know what I LOVE about this forum? Posts like Pablo's. Just awesome!

 

[OrangeChannel]

The Axii and ASSes I've tried have sounded very similar to my ears (the trem versions, that is), and if you are "just" deciding between these two axes the question is easy: do you want a Floyd, a vintage trem or a fixed bridge.

The best jangly MusicMan is undoubtedly the Albert Lee... and the best VH axes are undoubtedly the Axis and Axis Super Sport (for decidedly obvious reasons). But MusicMan make a lot of "best
of both worlds" guitars and... well, to make a long story short: here are two suggestions for "compromise" guitars:

Petrucci Signature: If your main axe has been an Ibby RG (and that's the kind of playablity you like) it's hard to get past the Petrucci signature. The JP sports the only "Ibanez-y" neck MusicMan produces - it's flat and wide, wheras all other MusicMan necks are narrow and fatter. The neck and bridge PUs easily do the VH thing (especially after the introduction of the D-Sonic) and the split middle position is a jangle monster. All my H-H guitars are wired this way - whether they have toggle or lever switches - it's versatile and easy to use.

Silhouette: Sadly, the original Silo gets way too little attention - even on this forum. IMHO it's MusisMan's second most versatile guit-fiddle (after the Morse) and I absolutely adore it with a maple neck (which also aids in achieving VH tones). The PAF Pros are really great for cutting through and offer less baby fat than the VH pickups in the Axis - in other words: it's more VHII than 5150. The middle positions are even better at jangly bits than the Petrucci and the custom wound single coil even sounds good on its own.
Spring for a Ltd Edition Blue Dawn with a maple neck and a non-matching headstock and you'll have a wonderfully arogant stage guitar, that kicks serious hiney!

If you want to add versatility (and ultimate janglyness) to the frey, remember that all MusicMan guitars (save for the Axis and Morse) can be ordered with a piezo bridge.

However, if Floyd is a must the MusicMan selection is much narrower: Axis, Morse (the Swiss Army guitar) and the Morse Y2D. However, in my experience the MusicMan vintage trem can take a serious beating before going out of tune... the JP trem is IMHO the best trem ever made, it's comfortable, stable and sounds great!

Cheers

Eske

P.s.: I'd take the Silhouette route

Silhouette...Pabs you forgot one thing...they don't ship PAF Pros anymore...it's been about two to three years at least...they use Virtual PAFs now...and it's for the better...they sound better...I love them in both of mine...

 

[Pablo]

Silhouette...Pabs you forgot one thing...they don't ship PAF Pros anymore...it's been about two to three years at least...they use Virtual PAFs now...and it's for the better...they sound better...I love them in both of mine...

Ah, that's right man... just goes to show that I'm getting old The Virtual PAFs are actually some of my fave pickups, believe it or not (to me it's a toss up between them and the Air Classics) - and they still sound amazingly good for early VH sounds

Cheers

Eske

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I think the ASS is the guitar you need. You will not regret it!

 

[JMB27]

I think the ASS is the guitar you need. You will not regret it!

Ditto