Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

[Corbic]

After watching a lot of Van Halen videos from the 1993 and 1995 tours, I've become increasingly interested in the Axis guitars he plays. So after looking them up on eBay, I found they are much too expensive for me. And then I kind of forgot about them for a few days....until....

Today I walk into my local music store to pick up some staff paper and what do I see hanging on the wall, a bright orange OLP Axis clone with a quilted maple top (veneer I'm guessing or fotoflame or something). I asked the guy at the desk if I could play it, so he hooks me up to a Marshall MG50DFX (not my first choice but I wasn't going to argue or anything). After the turning the gain down from 10 (silly 10 year olds who think they need so much gain :nana: ), I started playing, and wow! Excellent sustain, very lightweight, but resonant as anything. very smooth feeling maple neck, with a back similar to my 50s Strat. It nearly played itself, and the tone with those stock pickups wasn't awful either (Though I'd probably put the Brobucker in there). The tremolo was a bit tight for the things I want to play on it, but nothing a setup can't fix. Very nice guitar overall, and I can't wait to see what it will look like next to my Surf Green Strat

So now, before I pull the trigger on this, what do you guys think about these guitars? Good, bad, awful, not so bad? Any stories about them? Anything at all? Anything and everything about them is appreciated, thanks guys!

-Corbic

 

[Dan-ola]

Re: Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

I liked the ones I had; just like you said - light, resonant, fun to play. But...
After playing a real Wolfgang, I could see the short-cuts better; I was going to change the pickups, put on a beefier Strat bridge, get locking tuners, and wire it like a Satriani JS1000 with a push-pull to split both pickups. Then I realized my $200 guitar would now cost $500+ - so why not get a real Wolfgang?

If your idea is a cool back-up with little investment past the purchase price, go for it! If you want to do a bunch of mods, I would look for a used USA Wolfgang Special (the flat-top model) instead - that is a sweet guitar and already in full EVH mode...

Dano

 

[Corbic]

Re: Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

Thats really what I was planning on using this for. It'd be a nice second guitar, give me a wider set of tones, and it would give me a nicer vehicle for my Brobucker. I think I might eventually replace the bridge, or at least the block at a later point in time, but even stock it's perfectly fine for my needs. Unless I get a bunch of terrible reviews saying it's fallen apart on someone I think I'm going to pull the trigger on this in the next few weeks.

The biggest changes I'd be making to it are the pickups, and some locking tuners for the EVH-esque whammy stuff.

 

[Dan-ola]

Re: Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

Is this the newer model with pickup rings? The older ones had the pickup into the wood and I'm not sure the Brobucker would work without modification...

Dano

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

I have one and I think it's a great guitar. I did replace the stock pickups, which weren't bad at all. I replaced them with a DiMarzio Air Zone (bridge) and an Air Norton (neck). I am very happy with it. If you're going to do the EVH trem stuff, go ahead and spring for the MM1 Floyd Rose model.

 

[Corbic]

Re: Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

Is this the newer model with pickup rings? The older ones had the pickup into the wood and I'm not sure the Brobucker would work without modification...

Dano

It is the one without the pickup rings, but I think because it has a tremolo, and since my Brobucker is trem-spaced, that it probably will work. I'm going to take measurements of the Brobucker tomorrow and head back to the store to see if it will fit later on in the week.

I have one and I think it's a great guitar. I did replace the stock pickups, which weren't bad at all. I replaced them with a DiMarzio Air Zone (bridge) and an Air Norton (neck). I am very happy with it. If you're going to do the EVH trem stuff, go ahead and spring for the MM1 Floyd Rose model.

I would spring for the Floyd Rose model, if they weren't 280 dollars or so and also, if they had any in the area. This one I found is used, since they never have them around here, and the local Guitar Center (which is 45 minutes away) only the carries the ones with the vintage-styled tremolos as well. If one shows up though, I'm definetly going to try and swing for that one.

And didn't Eddie have an original vintage-style tremolo on his original Frankenstrat? I figure that one of those with locking tuners and a well-oiled string contact points would work almost as well.

 

[phil_104]

Re: Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

One of my buds has one and another guy I know has a wolfgang. I played both over extended periods of time. Even tho the wolfgang is much more expensive, trust me, get the wolfgang. It is soooo worth the extra dollars.

Just my .02

 

[jmh151]

Re: Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

Get a used Wolfgang or better yet a used Axis. You won't have to do anything to them and they'll last for years.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

Get a used Wolfgang or better yet a used Axis. You won't have to do anything to them and they'll last for years.

A used Axis would be great; but he said he dones't have the money. Now, that said, Corbic, if you want to install locking tuners, you'll have to get two sets due to the 4 and 2 headstock...

I use my bar quite a bit. I have installed a graphite nut and have tightened the tuners to make sure they don't slip. I don't dive bomb with it though. That's not going to work.

Good luck...

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

If you HAVE to have an OLP then go used.

Personally I would say take the time and save up and get the real deal.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

The ones I've played out of sheer curiousity have been so-so. They may be authorized copies of the Axis, but I'd rather have an Axis. Between the OLP and something else in the same price range, I'd still look at something else.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

I know I would rather have an Axis too; however, there's a huge difference between $1,000 and $200.

I got my OLP and replacd pickups, did some work on the hardware and treated the neck. I really can't complain about it now...

 

[ErikH]

Re: Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

Oh yeah, there sure is a major difference. What I should have said there too is that the Axis is the one guitar where I will not accept a copy. Only the real thing will do. As much as I GAS for more Strats, a Gibby Les Paul Goldtop and others, the Axis has to be the real thing for me.

 

[El Dorado]

Re: Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

I would suggest trying several of them out and getting the one that resonates best. Lower end guitars can be pretty different from piece to piece. The one thing that does bug me about OLPs is that the edge of the guitar is kind of sharp and digs in on my right arm.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

Oh yeah, there sure is a major difference. What I should have said there too is that the Axis is the one guitar where I will not accept a copy. Only the real thing will do. As much as I GAS for more Strats, a Gibby Les Paul Goldtop and others, the Axis has to be the real thing for me.

I can understand that....

 

[Bezmotivnik]

Re: Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

There's always the discontinued MM S.U.B. Axis.

I don't know about the guitars, but the S.U.B. basses are extremely close to the fancier MM versions except for industrial bulletproof finish, some noncritical hardware and no case. S.U.B. basses are the real deal.

I saw a new Axis on long sale at GC a while back for $389, but passed on it for some reason.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

I saw a new Axis on long sale at GC a while back for $389, but passed on it for some reason.

There's no way in hell that was a EBMM Axis at that price. They go for $1400-$1500 brand new, and that's before negotiations.

 

[Bezmotivnik]

Re: Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

There's no way in hell that was a EBMM Axis at that price. They go for $1400-$1500 brand new, and that's before negotiations.

Pay attention: It was a S.U.B. MSRP under a grand.

I had just previously bought a MM S.U.B. bass, new, for $329.99, MSRP $999. Still have it.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

Pay attention: It was a S.U.B.

I had just previously bought a MM S.U.B. bass, new, for $329.99. Still have it.

I did pay attention. You didn't say S.U.B. in that last sentence. To me, that means it wasn't a S.U.B. irregardless of the rest of the post. I never assume what was meant if it's not clearly stated.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Whats the word on the OLP Axis clones?

you guys are giving me Ball Gas..... ha ha hahahahahahah ahh haha hhah


Seriously i wnat the real Axis myself.... oneday it will be mine.... i'm not sure if i'll ever get used to the narrow nut width but they are the best feeling axes out there for me.... Ernie Ball and Godins are my love....