The Ernie Ball Music Man Axis line of guitars has been a staple of our instrument offerings for more than twenty years. With a comfortable body shape reminiscent of a cross between a Fender Telecaster and a Gibson Les Paul, the guitar is an absolute player’s dream.
Popular with guitarists such as Steve Stevens, Stephen Egerton of the Descendents and Adam Levine of Maroon 5, any guitar in the Axis line is a fantastic addition to any guitarist’s arsenal. Below, we break down the finer distinctions between the three Axis models, so that you can determine which particular offering best meets your playing needs.
The Axis
The Axis made its debut in 1990. The guitar features a beautiful quilt or flame book matched maple top over a lightweight basswood body. Two medium output custom DiMarzio humbuckers are mounted directly to the body for optimum resonance and signal response. This tonewood / pickup combination is a perfect recipe for hard edge rock tones, but also delivers a subtle dynamic response at lower volume levels when needed. The asymmetric hard rock maple neck allows for comfortable hand positions across all 22 frets, while the double locking Music Man Floyd Rose tremolo keeps the guitar perfectly in tune.
Buy this if you want an Axis with a double locking Music Man Floyd Rose tremolo.
The Axis Super Sport
Not long after the introduction of the Axis model, we continued to expand on the potential of the guitar’s design. Over the next three years the AXIS Sport and AXIS Super Sport models were unveiled. Though the AXIS Sport is no longer offered, the Super Sport variant has continued on as a fan favorite. Featuring the same basswood body and maple top and DiMarzio humbuckers, the Axis Super Sport incorporates different options to bring out extra versatility. Super Sports come equipped with either a hardtail bridge or Music Man vintage tremolo system, a 5 way pickup switch with split-coil capabilities, and a conventional Volume/Tone pot configuration
Buy this if you want an Axis with a five-way pickup switch and Music Man vintage style tremolo.
The Axis Super Sport Semi-Hollow
The most recent entry into the Axis line of guitars is the Semi-Hollow Body. The Semi-Hollow is characterized by its chambered basswood body and distinctive “M hole” maple top, which provide extra acoustic resonance. Like the Super Sport, the Semi-Hollow can be configured with either a hardtail or MM vintage tremolo, in addition to a 5-way pickup switch.
Buy this if you want an Axis with a hardtail bridge and semi-hollow body.
Technical Specifications
| Model | Specs |
|---|---|
| Size | |
| Axis | 12-5/8" wide, 1-3/4" thick, 36-1/4" long (32.1 cm wide, 4.5 cm thick, 92.0 cm long) |
| Axis Super Sport | 12-5/8" wide, 1-3/4" thick, 36-1/4" long (32.1 cm wide, 4.5 cm thick, 92.0 cm long) |
| Axis Super Sport Hollow Body | 12-5/8" wide, 2" thick, 36-1/4" long (32.1 cm wide, 5.1 cm thick, 92.0 cm long) |
| Weight | |
| Axis | 7 lbs, 4 oz (3.29 kg) - varies slightly |
| Axis Super Sport | 6 lbs, 13 oz (3.09 kg) - varies slightly; 7 oz (0.2 kg) more with tremolo |
| Axis Super Sport Hollow Body | 6 lbs, 13 oz (3.09 kg) - varies slightly; 7 oz (0.2 kg) more with tremolo |
| Body Wood | |
| Axis | Basswood with bookmatched figured maple top |
| Axis Super Sport | Basswood with bookmatched figured maple top |
| Axis Super Sport Hollow Body | Basswood with bookmatched figured maple top |
| Bridge | |
| Axis | Music Man® double locking tremolo with fine tuners; lowers pitch only |
| Axis Super Sport | Standard - Music Man® strings-thru-the-body bridge of chrome plated, hardened steel with solid steel saddles; Optional - Music Man® vintage tremolo |
| Axis Super Sport Hollow Body | Standard - Music Man® strings-thru-the-body bridge of chrome plated, hardened steel with solid steel saddles; Optional - Music Man® vintage tremolo |
| Neck Radius | |
| Axis | 10" (25.4 cm) |
| Axis Super Sport | 10" (25.4 cm) |
| Axis Super Sport Hollow Body | 10" (25.4 cm) |
| Headstock Size | |
| Axis | Only 5-7/8" (14.9 cm) long |
| Axis Super Sport | Only 5-7/8" (14.9 cm) long |
| Axis Super Sport Hollow Body | Only 5-7/8" (14.9 cm) long |
| Frets | |
| Axis | 22 - High profile, medium width |
| Axis Super Sport | 22 - High profile, medium width |
| Axis Super Sport Hollow Body | 22 - High profile, medium width |
| Neck Width | |
| Axis | 1-5/8" (41.3 mm) at nut, 2-3/16" (55.6 mm) at last fret |
| Axis Super Sport | 1-5/8" (41.3 mm) at nut, 2-3/16" (55.6 mm) at last fret |
| Axis Super Sport Hollow Body | 1-5/8" (41.3 mm) at nut, 2-3/16" (55.6 mm) at last fret |
| Neck Wood | |
| Axis | Select maple neck |
| Axis Super Sport | Select maple neck |
| Axis Super Sport Hollow Body | Select maple neck |
| Fingerboard | |
| Axis | Select maple |
| Axis Super Sport | Select maple or rosewood |
| Axis Super Sport Hollow Body | Select maple or rosewood |
| Neck Finish | |
| Axis | Gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend |
| Axis Super Sport | Gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend |
| Axis Super Sport Hollow Body | Gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend |
| Tuning Machine | |
| Axis | Schaller M6LA with pearl buttons |
| Axis Super Sport | Schaller M6-IND locking with pearl buttons |
| Axis Super Sport Hollow Body | Schaller M6-IND locking with pearl buttons |
| Truss Rod | |
| Axis | Adjustable - no component or string removal |
| Axis Super Sport | Adjustable - no component or string removal |
| Axis Super Sport Hollow Body | Adjustable - no component or string removal |
| Neck Attachment | |
| Axis | 5 bolts - perfect alignment with no shifting; Sculpted neck joint allows smooth access to higher frets |
| Axis Super Sport | 5 bolts - perfect alignment with no shifting; Sculpted neck joint allows smooth access to higher frets |
| Axis Super Sport Hollow Body | 5 bolts - perfect alignment with no shifting; Sculpted neck joint allows smooth access to higher frets |
| Controls | |
| Axis | 500kohm volume pot |
| Axis Super Sport | 500kohm volume and tone - .022µF tone capacitor |
| Axis Super Sport Hollow Body | 500kohm volume and tone - .022µF tone capacitor |
| Pickups | |
| Axis | HH - 2 DiMarzio custom humbucking |
| Axis Super Sport | HH - 2 DiMarzio custom humbucking |
| Axis Super Sport Hollow Body | HH - 2 DiMarzio custom humbucking |
| Left-Handed | |
| Axis | No |
| Axis Super Sport | Yes |
| Axis Super Sport Hollow Body | No |
| Switching | |
| Axis | 3-way toggle pickup selector |
| Axis Super Sport | 5-way lever pickup selector |
| Axis Super Sport Hollow Body | 5-way lever pickup selector |
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