This 1ST Production Run AXIS EX is definitely a STAGE KING player rather than a Case Queen but features all of the details that fellow EVH collectors are looking for, including a beautiful Translucent Pink quilt top plus 100% leftover EVH Hardware and Electronics!!

AXIS EX’s are fantastic guitars but not all were created equal. Only the initial production run from 1996 to very early ’97 were assembled with 100% EBMM EVH leftover components before factory modifications began to appear (through the end of production in 2005).

The woods for the AXIS EX were all sourced in Japan rather than San Luis Obispo, but the body specifications do feature the 3-way toggle switch in the lower horn area just like the EVH (and unlike the Made In USA AXIS which was also introduced in ’96).

I’ve been obsessed with hunting for these mythical guitars that were exclusively produced for the Japanese market after Edward Van Halen left EBMM for Peavey (and have owned dozens of them over the years) but I’ve only been able to land a handful of the earliest examples with the PATENT APPLIED FOR sticker on the EVH Custom DiMarzio pickups.

This Translucent Pink “UNICORN” just happens to be by far the earliest example I’ve ever seen and could essentially be a prototype since it was produced months before the model was introduced.

★ HI-END GUITARS CRAFTED BY HAND LOGO (See Photo of the spring cavity)

• My understanding is that the ‘HIGH-END GUITARS CRAFTED BY HAND’ guitars distributed by the Kanda Shokai Corporation were manufactured by Asahi Mokko (who has also produced exceptional quality guitars under the Ornetts, Greco, Valley Arts, and the Zemaitis brands).
• There are some first generation AXIS EX guitars out there without the HIGH-END GUITARS logo under the springs but this logo is the easiest way to identify a first generation AXIS EX.

★ VINTAGE MUSIC MAN® LOGO NECK PLATE with 5 DIGIT SERIAL NUMBER [85148]

• 5 Digit Serial Numbers are the rarest to find because they were leftover from the remaining stock of pre-stamped Van Halen Signature neck plates.
• These 5 Digit Serial Numbers are not sequential according to manufacturing dates (and are not registered in the EBMM Serial Number Database since it’s an overseas model) but I have found that all of the initial AXIS EX guitars do have 85xxx numbers (like this one) along with the PAF sticker on the DiMarzio N1 neck pickup.
• All of my 89xxx neck plate AXIS EX guitars were manufactured in early to mid 1997 and DO NOT have the Hi-End Guitars logo or PAF sticker on the neck pickup.
• Most Early Production AXIS EX’s (Mid 1997 – 1998) have the same MUSIC MAN vintage logo neck plates but the serial numbers begin with the letter “A” (just like the 1997 AXIS USA models).
• The majority of AXIS EX guitars (1999-2005) actually feature the modern ERNIE BALL MUSIC MAN logo neck plates with a “G” serial number.

★ BASSWOOD BODY WITH BOOKMATCHED MAPLE TOP & TRANSLUCENT PINK QUILT MAPLE VENEER

• The AXIS EX bodies are believed to have been provided by Iida Gakki (a musical instrument manufacturer based in Nagoya, Japan that has been closely affiliated with brands such as Ibanez, Yamaha, etc).
• “5-11 ’96 – 7” handwritten in pencil in the neck pocket suggests that the build date of the body was May 11, 1996. (See Photos)
• “7” = the pairing number for the neck and body built that day. (See Photos)
• Translucent Pink has always been highly desirable to EBMM EVH collectors since it’s one of the rarest colors but it’s the absolute premium and hardest to get out of Japan thanks to Japanese guitar hero Tak Matsumoto and his 1994 Translucent Pink EBMM EVH.
• This May ’96 production date is 4 months prior to the first AXIS EX magazine advertisement that I have been able to find in the September 1996 issue of Young Guitar. (See Photos)
• The Translucent Pink top is stunning but does have some player scratches and dings.
• The Opaque Black back shows signs of being played on stage such as some buckle rash, scratches, and some chipping along the edges that has been touched up. (See Photos)

★ FIGURED MAPLE NECK & FINGERBOARD

• The first generation AXIS EX necks for HIGH-END GUITARS are believed to have been provided by Yama Gakki (a musical instrument manufacturer based in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture in Japan).
• Since Iida Gakki was providing the bodies, they eventually also produced necks for the AXIS EX as well in the second generation.
• Most AXIS EX guitars have either a “Y” or “Z” factory stamp into the wood on the back of the headstock in between the 1st and 2nd string tuners, which I suspect would identify the manufacturer of the neck (Y for Yama and Z for Iida??), but this initial production run by HIGH-END GUITARS did not, like the EVH. (See Photos)
• “5-11 ’96 – 7” handwritten in pencil on the heel suggests that the build date of the neck was May 11, 1996.
• “7” = the pairing number for the neck and body built that day.
• This particular guitar has more to its story than I can explain because if you look very closely at the back of the headstock then you will see faint lettering “OMI 003 YAMAMOTO BIG SEA GUITAR” under the clear finish. Decals must have been placed there for quite some time since the wood around where they were has darkened with age. My guess is that they were once placed there by the original owner who may have been a touring musician and this was his #3?? I would love to track him down to get the full story about the guitar, along with “BIG SEA”…
• The inside of the Back Cavity Covers have also been personally inscribed “MR. OMI YAMAMOTO 96.11.9 SAT” [November 9th, 1996 date of purchase??] (See Photos)
• Original frets have been leveled but do still show wear. (See Photos)

★ CUSTOM DIMARZIO B1 & N1 PICKUPS with EVH “PATENT APPLIED FOR” STICKER

• THE PAF STICKER ON THE N1 IS IDENTICAL TO WHAT YOU WOULD FIND ON THE CUSTOM DIMARZIO EVH NECK PICKUP. Small detail, but BIG difference to early production hunters like myself. (See Photos)
• A Red U.S. Pat 5,399,802 sticker became standard on all AXIS/AXIS EX N1 & N2 Neck Pickups once the limited supply of remaining leftover EVH “PATENT APPLIED FOR” pickups were depleted.
• 4-Conductor B1 & N2 Custom DiMarzio’s started becoming standard in 1998.

★ MUSIC MAN® BRANDED FLOYD ROSE with OFFSET SADDLES [GOTOH GE1988T]

• Later production AXIS EX guitars (1999-2005) no longer came with the offset saddles like the EVH because the initial supply of the GOTOH GE1988T were depleted and discontinued shortly after ’98.
• The AXIS EX eventually also went with the same revision of the bridge that was being installed on the USA AXIS (GOTOH GE1996T).
• STEALTH BLACK EVH D-Tuna has been added to preserve the original look and still allow you to drop-down when you’re feeling “Unchained”!!

★ MORE ESSENTIAL EVH FEATURES

• SCHALLER M6LA TUNERS with Pearl Buttons
• NEW 3-Way Toggle Pickup Selector in the same lower horn position as the EVH (* Original 3-Way Switch INCLUDED).
• NEW BOURNS 500K Ohm Low Friction Volume Pot with “TONE” Knob (* Original volume pot INCLUDED).

★ ORIGINAL HARD SHELL CASE (with Key)

• These Made In Japan Hard Cases were an optional upgrade from the default EBMM Gig Bags and have a very similar appearance to the USA Hard Cases by G&G.
• The upper clasps may have been repaired or replaced at one time since they have screws rather than rivets but they work as they should.

★ ORIGINAL JAPANESE PAPERWORK

• Original KANDA SHOKAI CORPORATION Warranty Card
• Original KANDA SHOKAI CORPORATION Owner’s Manual

★ EXTRA CASE CANDY

• FRANKIE’S VINTAGE EVH ★ ART GUITARS 3/4 SLEEVE BASEBALL SHIRT (Check Shop Page for Available Sizes)
• ERNIE BALL 5150 Electric Guitar Strings
• SEPTEMBER 1996 YOUNG GUITAR Magazine For Guitar Kids (Japanese) [Features 1st Ernie Ball Music Man AXIS (USA) and AXIS EX (MIJ) Print Advertisement From Ikebe Music after Edward Van Halen Signature Guitar was Discontinued]
• 1998 Ernie Ball Music Man / Kanda Shokai Corporation Japanese Dealer Catalog – AXIS EX, pages 6-7 (Laminated Copy of the earliest EBMM promotional material that I’ve been able to find featuring the AXIS EX)
• 1992 ERNIE BALL MUSIC MAN Van Halen Signature Guitar Ad – “Flying Eddies” (Laminated Copy)
• AUGUST 1991 GUITAR FOR THE PRACTICING MUSICIAN Magazine Cover Featuring Eddie Van Halen & Introducing His New Ernie Ball Music Man Guitar! (Laminated Copy)
• 1991 ERNIE BALL MUSIC MAN Van Halen Signature Guitar Ad (Introducing the  Edward Van Halen Guitar) “I endorsed the guitar I used to play. I designed this one…Big Difference”. (Laminated Copy) * Notice that the guitar that Eddie is holding in this ad is one of the very first EBMM prototypes that were built for him and before his signature graphic was ever applied to the headstock on the production models (which looks just like the AXIS EX).

* Professional Eb setup with Ernie Ball 9s performed by Brendan Dezember in Mesa, AZ (April 2024)

You have now officially made it to the end of the AXIS EX Rabbit Hole.

Thanks For Looking,
BYE SEE YA LATER !!

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