EBMM Axis Questions

**rvk5150** · 01.02.21, 10:01 AM

Hey All,

One of the guitars missing from my collection; much to my regret as I had two golden opportunities to purchase over the years but passed; is the EBMM EVH. Been chatting with my wife a bunch and thankfully we are in a good financial position that if another opportunity came I would jump on it.

Of course that seems impossible now as with Eddie's passing the market for those; and other EVH related gear; has skyrocketed and I cannot afford the ridiculous prices people are asking.

That takes me to the Axis; it seems I can potentially find one at a more reasonable cost but I want to make sure it is truly an EVH model minus the signature...so I am asking if anyone knows of major changes over the years? I am struggling to find that info.

For example EVH went to Peavey in 96/97 IIRC....do I need to stick to finding a 90s model Axis? Do the new ones retain the specs?

I see a nice 2007 sunburst on reverb right now......

**iplayguitaralot** · 01.02.21, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by rvk5150

Hey All,

One of the guitars missing from my collection; much to my regret as I had two golden opportunities to purchase over the years but passed; is the EBMM EVH. Been chatting with my wife a bunch and thankfully we are in a good financial position that if another opportunity came I would jump on it.

Of course that seems impossible now as with Eddie's passing the market for those; and other EVH related gear; has skyrocketed and I cannot afford the ridiculous prices people are asking.

That takes me to the Axis; it seems I can potentially find one at a more reasonable cost but I want to make sure it is truly an EVH model minus the signature...so I am asking if anyone knows of major changes over the years? I am struggling to find that info.

For example EVH went to Peavey in 96/97 IIRC....do I need to stick to finding a 90s model Axis? Do the new ones retain the specs?

I see a nice 2007 sunburst on reverb right now......

Yeah the axis is exactly the same except they moved the switch to a better place and made the neck a hair thicker past the 12th fret so the high E doesn’t miss the fretboard, both worthy upgrades. Built by the same people in SLO with all the same great hardware, I think there may have been an update to the trem as well but it’s a Japanese gotoh, which is my favorite. It has the great pickups and it’s a killer guitar.

**Imthe1** · 01.02.21, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by iplayguitaralot

Yeah the axis is exactly the same except they moved the switch to a better place and made the neck a hair thicker past the 12th fret so the high E doesn’t miss the fretboard, both worthy upgrades. Built by the same people in SLO with all the same great hardware, I think there may have been an update to the trem as well but it’s a Japanese gotoh, which is my favorite. It has the great pickups and it’s a killer guitar.

A couple of things I would add...
1. they added a belly cut to the back
2. Any Axis circa 2012 and newer no longer has a Gotoh trem, but rather an in-house trem (or at least they aren't saying who makes it). I have 2 of them with the newer trem and they perform and function fine and like the pop-in arm. The nut is also top mount and doesn't have the screws that go through the neck. Older models before 2012 will have the Gotoh trem.

**rvk5150** · 01.03.21, 05:21 AM

Thanks for the replies...so a 2007 would be good to go then.

**Brett** · 01.03.21, 12:29 PM

Can I be honest? If you’re an Ed guy and have been wanting an EVH version I think you will regret buying an Axis and not trying to get an actual EVH version. Yeah it’s basically the same guitar but it isn’t you know. The changes they’ve made probably are for the best but again it’s not an EVH. The prices will drop as time passes I would be patient. But of course completely up to you. Just my two cents.

**rvk5150** · 01.03.21, 01:03 PM

I appreciate that insight Brett; I am thinking the same thing unless a sweet, sweet, deal on an Axis comes around. A new EVH just popped up on Ebay the other day if I recall correctly and they wanted $10k; it is unreal right now.

**Brett** · 01.03.21, 06:40 PM

I saw that one for $10,000 and that guy is a clown, that thing is not worth anywhere near that unless Ed himself played it. My pink one if it was mint wouldn’t be worth that, and it’s one of the rarest ones. People are just being idiots right now. Assuming these don’t sell for these ridiculous prices hopefully the reality will set in again.

But the Axis is definitely a very nice guitar. I just feel like you might be a little disappointed that you didn’t get quite what you really wanted.

**rvk5150** · 01.04.21, 03:33 AM

Originally Posted by Brett

I saw that one for $10,000 and that guy is a clown, that thing is not worth anywhere near that unless Ed himself played it. My pink one if it was mint wouldn’t be worth that, and it’s one of the rarest ones. People are just being idiots right now. Assuming these don’t sell for these ridiculous prices hopefully the reality will set in again.

But the Axis is definitely a very nice guitar. I just feel like you might be a little disappointed that you didn’t get quite what you really wanted.

Agree.

**masong** · 01.05.21, 02:43 PM

Another option is the Axis EX, made in Japan from leftover EVH hardware with local wood. Identical specs minus the body wood and the lack of signature on the headstock (though note some of Ed's own EBMM didn't have a sig either). Older ones are better, if you do go that route, the neck specs began to differ as supply ran low.

Still suffers from the same problem Brett mentioned that you won't be 100% happy due to settling.