NGsD: Peavey Wolfgang and EBMM Axis Tribute

[peckhart]

I picked up the Axis last week and the Wolfgang this week. I wasn't planning on buying two guitars and one will not be staying.

I've had 2 Goldtop LPs in the past and always loved the look. My currently band has me really needing whammy bars so guitars with locking trem systems are what I go for. Been using 2 LP Axcess for a few years and really love them, but was wanting a solid 3rd guitar with a trem and wanting the Goldtop look...led me back to the EBMM Axis and then opened the door to the Wolfgangs that I never looked at before.

While searching the EBMM Axis Tribute Goldtop came up on GC and even though I was really wanting the Wolfgang for the bigger neck and carve top I figured I could return it. A day later the Wolfgang popped up on Reverb and my offer was accepted. So here I am with both, which is really cool as I can directly compare them.

The Axis is in good shape, but the neck was dry and rough and the frets needed a polishing. I gave it the treatment and got some 10s on it. Plays much better now.
The Wolfgang seems well maintained. Frets are nice and the neck is perfect. I think it has 9s on it and came out of the case tuned standard, which will go to Eb for me. I'll probably get some 10s on it today.

So far I like the bigger neck on the Wolfgang. Much easier going from my LPs to that neck. It plays easier too, but I am not sure if that is just the 9s even though it is tuned a half step higher. We will see when string gauge and tuning are equal.

More tone comparisons to follow as well.

I like the paint on the Wolfgang more as well. I would describe it as being more rich and deeper. You can see it is darker in the pics.

 

[Kevin11]

Congrats! Both are great guitars, I don't know how I'd pick just one.

FWIW, I have 10s on my Peavey Wolf Special tuned to Eb and the tension has always felt a little looser than all of my other Strat scale-length guitars. No idea why, but not a bad thing at all.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

sweet x2!

 

[japetus]

Sweet! I have always really liked Wolfgangs but I have never owned one. I am considering getting one down the road.

 

[Kevin11]

I'm blessed to have some nice guitars (Gibson, Fender, PRS, Suhr, Hamer) and my band mates still say my USA Peavey Wolf Special is the best sounding of the lot. It's really different than anything else I have or have heard. The only thing I can compare it to, which stands to reason, is if you've ever heard live clips of EVH's old Frankenstrat with the "broken" pickup coil. It's got that super-hot Strat zing to it. I honestly haven't played another Wolf Special to compare. Maybe I got lucky and got a good one. LOL

I've played a few MM EVH and Axis models over the years too and they were all amazing. I've never played a bad one or heard a bad clip of one. Interested to hear which one you prefer!

 

[hammered]

Those look great , love the gold finish on both

 

[DistortED]

Congrats, those are great scores there. I really enjoy my Gold Top Wolfgang a lot, they're fun to play and sound really good. Enjoy !!

 

[Dave L]

I don´t think I´ve ever seen a solid-finish Axis, very cool.

 

[SpiderWars]

Not that it matters in your decision but to me these two models always look like the pretty sister (Wolfgang) and the not-nearly-as-pretty sister (Axis). I've been wanting a Les Paul-ish guitar with a Floyd so I need to try the Wolfies.

 

[peckhart]

Not that it matters in your decision but to me these two models always look like the pretty sister (Wolfgang) and the not-nearly-as-pretty sister (Axis). I've been wanting a Les Paul-ish guitar with a Floyd so I need to try the Wolfies.

Interesting you say Les Paul-ish about the Wolfgang. I agree. It really is sort of a bastard child of a Strat, Tele, Les Paul, PRS orgy.
I can tell you that moving from the Axcess to the Wolfgang is not the same sort of shock when I try to transition to the Axis.

 

[peckhart]

I don´t think I´ve ever seen a solid-finish Axis, very cool.

I had one that was called burnt apple finish. Black edges that transitioned to a deep red sparkle. It was really cool and that one was probably the best playing and sounding one I ever had.
Also had one in a sparkle solid royal blue. Had some issues with that one.

The Goldtop was a very limited run on the original EVH ones and then they brought it back for that Axis Tribute batch. The only reason I knew is the recent threads floating around about the one Eddie gave Cantrell that was stolen and missing for a number of years until somewhat recently when a guy tracked it down and then returned it to Jerry.

 

[peckhart]

I'm blessed to have some nice guitars (Gibson, Fender, PRS, Suhr, Hamer) and my band mates still say my USA Peavey Wolf Special is the best sounding of the lot. It's really different than anything else I have or have heard. The only thing I can compare it to, which stands to reason, is if you've ever heard live clips of EVH's old Frankenstrat with the "broken" pickup coil. It's got that super-hot Strat zing to it. I honestly haven't played another Wolf Special to compare. Maybe I got lucky and got a good one. LOL

I've played a few MM EVH and Axis models over the years too and they were all amazing. I've never played a bad one or heard a bad clip of one. Interested to hear which one you prefer!

Preferring the Wolfgang by quite a bit. I appreciate the carve top and not having my forearm feel sore after 20min. The neck is way more my style and the tone is much more in line with the my LP Axcess guitars. The Axis is a little too mid rangy and boxy sounding.
All of this works out for the best too since the Axis is well under the GC return window.

 

[Kevin11]

Preferring the Wolfgang by quite a bit.

I was dead set on picking up a Lifeson Gibson Axcess a few years back and after trying several, gave up in frustration. Huge Lifeson fan, but not a fan of those guitars at all.

 

[peckhart]

Preferring the Wolfgang by quite a bit.

I was dead set on picking up a Lifeson Gibson Axcess a few years back and after trying several, gave up in frustration. Huge Lifeson fan, but not a fan of those guitars at all.

What didn't you like?

 

[Kevin11]

Preferring the Wolfgang by quite a bit.

I was dead set on picking up a Lifeson Gibson Axcess a few years back and after trying several, gave up in frustration. Huge Lifeson fan, but not a fan of those guitars at all.

What didn't you like?

Being mainly an LP guy, I have a particular Custom that I've bonded with over the years, so the biggest issue is probably that I'm really used to that. The neck on the Lifeson Axcess just felt really "off" to me. The width across the fretboard was definitely wider than any other LP I've ever played, and way too wide for me. Hurt my hands after 10 min or so and that's never happened before. Wasn't crazy about the pickups either (for my tastes) but that's easy enough to fix. They seemed built really well and had a nice resonant feel unplugged. In every other respect, a great guitar. Was bummed it didn't work out.

So still jonesing for a guitar with a Floyd and an LP vibe, I recently picked up a PRS Custom 24 Floyd that is insanely good.

 

[peckhart]

Preferring the Wolfgang by quite a bit.

I was dead set on picking up a Lifeson Gibson Axcess a few years back and after trying several, gave up in frustration. Huge Lifeson fan, but not a fan of those guitars at all.

What didn't you like?

Being mainly an LP guy, I have a particular Custom that I've bonded with over the years, so the biggest issue is probably that I'm really used to that. The neck on the Lifeson Axcess just felt really "off" to me. The width across the fretboard was definitely wider than any other LP I've ever played, and way too wide for me. Hurt my hands after 10 min or so and that's never happened before. Wasn't crazy about the pickups either (for my tastes) but that's easy enough to fix. They seemed built really well and had a nice resonant feel unplugged. In every other respect, a great guitar. Was bummed it didn't work out.

So still jonesing for a guitar with a Floyd and an LP vibe, I recently picked up a PRS Custom 24 Floyd that is insanely good.

I hear you. The neck is a bit wider. I assume to accommodate the spacing of the Floyd Rose?
I don't particularly care for the pickups either, but I am so used to almost always pulling out the stock pups in guitars and putting in some boutique hand wound pickup to my liking. Did that on both of my Axcess'.
I also didn't love the Floyd on them and replaced them with Gotoh 1996t trems. The Gotoh is bigger from the front to back of the base plate, which doesn't drop right into the trem route. I took a dremmel and shaved it down/reshaped it. If you aren't right up on the guitar and know to look for it you would never know. Still evaluating if I want to do that with the Wolfgang as I like the Gotoh better than what is stock on the Wolf, but so far its not terrible. I would have to do the same dremmel work due to the same smaller Floyd specific trem route on the Wolf carve top.

 

[harddriver]

Do the goldtops of the Peavey and the EBMM still have the Maple cap on the body or are they 100% Basswood?

 

[peckhart]

Do the goldtops of the Peavey and the EBMM still have the Maple cap on the body or are they 100% Basswood?

Not sure on the EBMM, but the Wolf does.

 

[Kevin11]

Do the goldtops of the Peavey and the EBMM still have the Maple cap on the body or are they 100% Basswood?

Arched-top USA Peavey Wolf Standards are maple capped, regardless of color. The Specials are just basswood. Pretty sure all MM Axis guitars have a maple cap too right? Even if they're a solid color?

 

[Kevin11]

I hear you. The neck is a bit wider. I assume to accommodate the spacing of the Floyd Rose?
I don't particularly care for the pickups either, but I am so used to almost always pulling out the stock pups in guitars and putting in some boutique hand wound pickup to my liking. Did that on both of my Axcess'.
I also didn't love the Floyd on them and replaced them with Gotoh 1996t trems. The Gotoh is bigger from the front to back of the base plate, which doesn't drop right into the trem route. I took a dremmel and shaved it down/reshaped it. If you aren't right up on the guitar and know to look for it you would never know. Still evaluating if I want to do that with the Wolfgang as I like the Gotoh better than what is stock on the Wolf, but so far its not terrible. I would have to do the same dremmel work due to the same smaller Floyd specific trem route on the Wolf carve top.

I've never swapped or modified the trems on any of Floyd guitars, other than to block or add a D-Tuna. Been meaning to investigate that option (FU Tone, etc.). Need to stop procrastinating.

What pickups did you end up with in your Axcess'?

And...I think you should keep the Peavey and EBMM!