AXN Model 2 for 2024

I thought I would post the specifications of this cool AXN Model 2 thats in the shop. Its pretty much the most awesome sounding Rock guitar I have ever played. Funny thing is it sounds just like all my other AXNs. Sweet !! These AXNs make me very very happy inside!

Enjoy The Pics !! Video Below …. Johnny AXN Guitars +1 ( 949 ) 329-8943

Model 2 Guitar Specifications

Neck Shaft : Maple AAA
Neck Fretboard - Maple AAA
Fret Wire - Jumbo ( Dunlop 6000 )
Inlays - Mother of Pearl
Fretboard Radius - 15”
Nut Width - 1-11/16” R10
Scale Length - 25.5”
Pickup : AXN Custom Seymour Duncan JB 2-wire
Bridge - A Floyd Rose makes this an AXN M2
Sustain Block - AXN™ SuperWide™ PLUS Red
Frets - 22

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Hardtail AXN Model One is a Reality

The AXN Hardtail RockNRoll Guitar

More information will be released to highlight the AXN Guitars Model One. I want to talk about the successful design and launch of my new guitar! I love hardtail guitars!

This model started out as an idea in my head and it took four years to become an actual real AXN guitar. In my mind I naturally gravitated toward a hardtail Strat. This would be an additional AXN Guitars flagship model. In 2020 I started the first steps to develop this design into a real guitar.

For many years I collected vintage hardtail guitars and specifically Jake E Lee type Charvel hardtail guitars. As Ozzy Osbourne’s guitar player Jake E Lee had 3 hardtail Strat guitars. I’ve been on a quest to own every Jake E Lee replica guitar for many years. From the hardtail guitars I have owned i examined the specifications and the aspects of each and that influenced my AXN Hardtail..

I fell in love with the hardtail bridge Jake Used on his Strats. That vintage bridge design is part of the AXN Model 1 Hardtail RockNRoll Guitar.

As a guitar player i can tell you that a hardtail strat guitar for RockNRoll and Metal music is a perfect tool. Enjoy an AXN Model 1 Guitar

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AXN Guitars Kramer Neptune New Jersey Derek Frigo EnuffZNuff Dennis Kline Graphic

AXN Kramer Neptune New Jersey Dennis Kline

Hello friends its great to be able to report in with some fun and exciting news. We are into January of the year 2024 … can you believe it?

I have a quick story and I’m planning to make it that quick. My story is centered around the Kramer guitars used by EnuffZNuff and original EnuffZNuff guitarist Derek Frigo.

In December 2023 I was talking with my friend Chip from the band EnuffZNuff. Do you remember EnuFFZNuff … Flying High Michelle? MTV Hit ?..

I keep reminding Chip of the fact that many guitarists in the Kramer guitar community have an interest in Kramer Neptune New Jersey Guitars and the models used by EnuffZNuff and specifically the Kramer guitars that Derek Frigo used in videos and on tour in the 1980s. One problem my friend Chip, founder and original member of EZN plays bass. AXN as of today does not make any basses.

That said, every time I visit a show or hang out with Chip I throw into the conversation that I have an interest in re-creating a Kramer guitar that Derek Frigo used that had a Dennis Kline lips graphic. The guitar Derek used actually had a big set of lips with a cigarette in the mouth.

During the holidays 2023 Chip and I started talked to current EnuffZNuff guitarist Tori about AXN Guitars producing a replica Kramer Neptune New Jersey Guitar.

So it happened. Below are the pics.

The only problem was that with Chips schedule during the 2023 holidays and the upcoming tour for EnuffZNuff I only had 7 days to get anything I had in stock ready. Of course the both of us procrastinated on the idea much longer than needed and pinched me for time. In other words I had to paint a graphic on a guitar that was currently manufactured ( raw wood neck and body ) build up and make ready in seven days. As well get some time in to do a setup and play the guitar until it felt right to go on a worldwide tour + ship across the USA ….Well I did it. !!

There were a few interesting kinks in the plan... of course …That said the guitar is in use by Tori of EnuffZNuff today on a 6 month tour in 2024. It looks like its gonna be back to back shows for EnuffZNuff for at the least 90 days with maybe a 2day break or so in between for the boys and the AXN Model 2 Guitar … too tune back in for an update down the line.

Here is a video form 1986 with Derek Frigo using the Kramer Lips w/ cigarette graphic

Lengthy video of Johnny from AXN Guitars talking about 1986 Derek Frigo Lips with cigarette Kramer Guitar

EnuffZNuff January 2024 Rokisland Fest with AXN Lips Model2 Guitar

Tori from EnuffZNuff playing the AXN Lips AXN Model2 Guitar live in Floriday 1/29/2024

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AXN Guitars Magic in The Details

AXN Guitars Feel So F-ing Good !!!!

A 2.25” neck heel is our standard on all AXNs. Unique to the 1980s the slightly larger heel size. This gives just a hair more fretboard on either side of the outside strings. I don’t know of any guitar makers today privy to this. I adopted this from many years of research. It feels really really good on my guitars!

The small extra amount of fretboard space on either side of the string at the 22nd fret is added for a distinct purpose. It gives just a little more room that high up in the register to allow for some intricate playing. Also makes my guitars have some mojo.

Differing from Fullerton era Fender guitar production, the reason a couple very savvy 80s guitars makers manufactured neck heels to the larger size was to replicate the wider feel of a Gibson Les Paul. A Les Paul has fret edge binding usually made from a white colored material. When the fret edge binding is added to a guitar fretboard it increases its total width at the 22nd fret to 2.25”.

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AXN Guitars The Glitter & The Glam

TWO THINGS TO TALK ABOUT TODAY:

( 1 ) A New Look For AXN Branding and New Socials Content:

We have fresh re-branding and a new look for AXN Guitars. Check out the banner at top and the new AXN Guitars Logo!!

Thank you guys for staying connected. Some great things are happening in the way of manufacturing guitars. There are new designs in the works. One BIGGIE for my shop is that I’ve found a source here in the USA for Aged Light Weight Mahogany wood. After over a decade of making guitars for hard rock I now use Aged Mahogany as a staple wood for most of my AXNs… More technical info to come in future posts.

As most of you that monitor our social networks have noticed Ive been out in LA now for a while promoting. As it turns out I am working with a few artists on NEW AXN shapes/designs and they are mainly based in Los Angeles. ( to be announced in 2024 ) So very many times ill be taking videos and creating content from interesting places and interesting people around Hollywood and Los Angeles creative districts.

Engaging Video/Socials Content:

I will create content going forward that establishes a connection with my audience and their interests which are the 1980s and 1990s versus boring videos of our manufacturing shop. I’m finding you guys spend less time watching when i post video of a pin router in my shop making a guitar body and you rockers spend more time on the video shorts when they have great and exciting subject matter, So keep a lookout and let me know if your liking the new look of things around here Contact Johnny

AXN Guitars…. “ Slay Video “

PLEASE VISIT THE SOCIAL NETWORKS

( 2 ) THE “ ALL NEW “ AXN HARDTAIL MODELS ONE …ABOUT TO LAUNCH

So yes. Ive been re-designing and changing the AXN Model One

Below is a video of a highly evolved Model One AXN. I’ve went back and forth on wood types, bridges, shapes for things like the pickups and the control cavities. But its done and in production!!!

Stay tuned.

Here is a Sneak Peek

Until Next Time .. Stay Safe !! Johnny

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The new AXN™ Model '83

link to Model Page >> The new AXN™ Model '83

Thank you for noticing my AXN Guitars. We’ve launched our all new AXN Model ‘83. The ONLY guitar in the world to have the EXACT KRAMER 1983 KRAMER BARETTA NECK SHAPE. The 1983 Kramer Baretta was an Edward Van Halen signature model… actually the first and only Edward Van Halen Signature guitar from the great era of 1983 to the early 1990s.

Best Regards, Johnny AXN Guitars email: info@AXNguitars - phone (949) 329-8943
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The AXN ‘83

We launched the first AXN model ‘83 as a run of 5 guitars in the year 2019. These were absolute clones of the 1983 Kramer Baretta in every way. The difference was our ‘83 was manufactured here in the USA from prime AAA grade materials. Ours was a true boutique guitar with handmade attributes. In that regard everything about our AXN versions of the 1983 Baretta were far superior versions yet our AXN guitars are new not vintage guitars as are the 1983 Kramer Barettas. This makes the Baretta highly collectible instruments and very very rare. Yet, our AXN Model ‘83 captures the true specifications, the spirit, and the details of this beautiful Kramer guitar.

I learned a lot. From a luthiers standpoint, having studied ESP and Kramer manufacturing for decades some details i already knew about and expected. That said, for me to have dug that deep into the signature model Kramer that was created for Edward Van Halen during that era of his playing was very interesting. It was just informative to have a few 1983 Kramer Barettas here in my shop all at once and take notes from the actual vintage guitars. Yet, that is what we did. Through 2018 into 2021 we used several real 1983 Kramer Barettas had them here in the shop dissembled them and calibrated them individually and seperately. I have a blog post here about that on my web page.

The first thing I dissected in order to reproduce the neck was its neck profile. Its been called “wide-and-flat”. Indeed the 1983 Kramer Baretta neck profile is very wide and very flat. The nut size on a 1983 Kramer Baretta uses a 1-3/4” nut which should translate to wide for anyone since the Fender standard is 1-5/8”. Also, the neck shape running up and down the neck is very unique. Some people have called it “quirky”. I believe it is very very awesome and I enjoy the neck profile in all aspects of my own playing.

The 1983 Kramer Baretta neck shape may be my all-time favorite neck shape or one of my favorites. It is very different and feels wide with tons of girth. The thing about the neck profile is that it has a very similar wideness and thickness from fret one to just about fret fourteen. The even more awesome thing about this neck profile is that it screams 1980s…. truly is and will always be indicative of a 1980s guitar neck.

Its a shred neck FULLY. I say this not to make small its comfortableness when playing chords. I say its a shred neck because when you put the flat fretboard together with a sleek and fast neck shape coupled with fat jumbo frets and the fretboard and overall wideness and girth from fret one to fret fourteen… this screams 1980s.

You just cant get the playing experience from a Les Paul or a Fender or any other guitar. Its fun a Fuck to play and its also comfortable… Its just DIFFERENT

ITS DIFFERENT … Get yourself and AXN Guitar!

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AXN Guitars Makes An Appearance on Blabbermouth.net

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AXN Guitars Destroy 2023 Campaign

I’m here to thank everyone for the wonderful compliments. As it seems many of you are coming back for your second AXN Guitar and I appreciate that immensely.

In reality the success of AXN guitars is due to the people who buy them. Many times I get ideas from buyers. The ideas cue me in to what my audience actually want from AXNs. So I deliver it back in the guitars. That is exactly the case with my new AXN Model 3 SuperStar.

My buddy Thomas Skeoch from the band Tesla is a perfect example. Things that he encounters when playing large and small live shows has initiated common sense suggestions. These changes to the little details of the AXNs have been absorbed and well recieved. Tommys input, because he is quite creative in his own right, made better into best!!!

Tommy also is responsible for much if not all of Tesla’s iconic sound from the Tesla albums that we all love so much. His hard rockin attitude and his hard rock guitar tone is the perfect match for my AXNs. That said I’ll let some video from our recent travels together talk and ill shut up now LOL. here you go >>> YouTube Conversation >>>

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AXN GUitars Model 2 SuNsetStrip Model 2 Lips #05

Here Is For Sale Listing For This Guitar

Scroll down this post past these pics …there is some information I added about our AXN methodology >>

Introducing the AXN Guitars SunsetStrip Model 2. For those of you that have been following me through the evolution of these AXN Guitars you know I’m sincere.

Where others are just running through the motions of manufacturing guitars I am giving my Life , my Love, and myself completely to Create something quite different. I’ve spared no expense on these luthier grade guitars. Yes we are manufacturing these guitar from prime woods and top shelf hardware. I look at this as much more than just woodworking. It the creation of something meaningful and tangible.

Through years of preparation and perspiration I’ve positioned AXN Guitars as functional art. In all honesty nothing plays better or sounds more RockNRoll than this LIPS AXN SunsetStrip Model 2 and it’s brothers and sisters. That is because I started with the designs.

I initially wanted everything I preferred in a guitar that fit the style that I grew up with. Funny enough the bands that I love and the guitar players that I grew up trying to emulate were playing guitars that look sort of like these AXNs. In addition the music I gravitated towards was RockNRoll played with swagger through a Marshal Plexi amp.

The percieved problem was that I could never purchase the guitars my heros played. The actual instruments used by them were custom made “one-offs” made from great woods and materials. Theirs were modified for the real environment they performed in which was usually arenas. Even today the big name brands even the smaller brands are high volume producers. You know this and I know this. Creativity lost. Individuality is lost completely in that process.

Soi here I am… a small shop manufacturing often one-guitar-at-a-time for other guitar player guys that want the same thing… a perfect handmade “custom shop” or …actual true “custom”. A perfect instrument made from perfect woods and perfect hardware with perfect pickups that is a visually perfect RockNRoll electric guitar… in their eyes.

There you have my AXN Guitars

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The Last AXN To Have A Banana or Hockey Stick Headstock

Well I’m manufacturing these with a reverse AXN headstock now. Pictured is the last AXN to have that banana or hockey stick shape of headstock.  

My AXN Model ‘83 is the only guitar in the world to have the exact specifications of the EVH Signature 1983 Kramer… No other brand has ever made an accurate version because they were either unable to recreate it from an original or they didn’t care to.

Remember there were only 200 made and I cloned my AXN Model ‘83 from the authentic 1983 Holy Grail Kramer Barettas I had in my shop. I cloned the neck perfectly and its accurate at every fret from fret one to fret 22.. People that have followed me have seen my posting and photos of my collection of KramerBarettas. Check out this page on my site … I talk about that process of cloning a 1983 Baretta…Keep in touch friends. Don’t forget I’m creating true functional art!

check out the below videos to learn more. Thank you and keep in touch!

Johnny

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AXN's Johnny Moves GEN2 1980s Designs Into Manufacturing & Production

I’am so very happy. I want to thank the people that continue to urge us on to make these 1980s throw-back guitars. My shop has completed all my refinements and they are being manufactured by my team and I as we speak. [ heres the video announcement ]

I resigned all the guitars on CAD. I put a whole shit-ton of 1980s aesthetics and 1980s dynamics including unique attributes fully into my guitars. Things… little details that only I would remember. Things that were lost in the 1990s and were intrinsic of only 1980s guitars. These are exclusively in my AXNs. This includes fast and unique neck profiles and secret formulas used by the great 1980s luthiers. The luthiers and the brands that you all know and loved so much.

Only a small boutique shop like AXN can do this accurate guitar recreation. That is because we are a nimble and precise manufacturing unit.

Again, I thank those of you that send positive emails and comments on my INSTAGRAM & YOUTUBE streams. You are close to my heart!!!

KEEP IN TOUCH!!!! Always

JohnnyAXN

By the way if you want an inside view of our shop and the art we create there…

watch my personal INSTAGRAM @johnnyaxn

click the below video to get the announcement

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AXN Guitars Artist Custom AXN Projects Recap of 2022

Hello friends and 1980s Rockers. This post shows some detail about the custom AXN Guitars I manufactured and designed for Tommy Skeoch formerly of Tesla and Bruce Kulick of KISS fame.

[ visit our Artists Page Here ]

In future posts to this AXN News Blog I will show the technical details and specifications for those AXN Custom Artists Guitars including the woods, neck profiles, pickups and Floyd Rose systems they choose.

In 2022 opportunities happened and I was able to work closely with and visit with some cool guitarists that have a little bit of knowledge about 1980s guitars. I used their suggestions and comments about my AXN Guitars to make my brand even more authentic and true to the 1980s guitars we all knew and loved.  

The AXNs in the below featured video were designed, manufactured and 100% produced in our AXN shop.

I personally recorded the guitarist’s preferred neck thickness and the neck shapes at all fret positions. Inevitably their choice were true to the unique 1980s neck shapes that don’t exist in todays modern guitars. We choose the body woods for weight, balance and comfort as well as tone. We did all this in a scientific manner.   

My luthier and I took suggestions and ideas and incorporated those into the new line of AXN guitars. Details such as volume knob placement, pickups, and circuit choices were added to our AXNs.    These two artist models have our AXN SuperWide sustain blocks on German Floyd Rose tremolos. It’s is real deal 1980s utopia will full blown hard rock tone.  

Keep a lookout. Our web site AXNguitars.com is where you can reach out to me with your comments.  I look forward to hearing from you guys

 Johnny AXN Guitars

[ click the below image for video ]

Hit the above photo for a video of these artists

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AXN Guitars Announces Japanese Distributor for AXN Sustain Blocks

LEP International Brands Page

We are happy to announce our partnership with LEP international. LEP International is an online distributor of music related products. [ Google Info ]

LEP will be carrying the full line of AXN Sustain blocks and marketing them in Japan. We look forward to working with Tomokazu Kawamura and his team.

所在地〒025-0098　岩手県花巻市材木町12-19 LEPビル
電話 0198-23-6600（平日 10:00 - 12:00 ）
FAX 0198-29-4244
MAIL info@lep-international.jp

https://www.lep-international.jp/AXN

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AXN Guitars - Sneek Peek Model 1 Skulls Artwork - 1/24/2023

We have a run of guitars coming. The AXN Model 1 hardtail guitars are pure RockNRoll. I spent years to research and develop the specifications for these hardtails. I really wanted to make them 1980s authentic. These are Les Paul Killers. Not that I don’t love a great LP. But this platform of the SuperStrat is viable for hard rock.

As it looks i took an edgy direction on the specifications and the artwork. I liked it! I let the videos tell you guys a little more.

Thanks for following. The socials will have more frequent updates. Keep in touch with questions

Best Wishes, Johnny

[ below video links to YouTube ]

[ below video links to Instagram ]

Above photo goes to our Instagram @axnguitars for this update

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The AXN Model 2 SunsetStrip For 2023 -1/21/2023

We have a one-off for 2023. This guitar was relic’d extra. Everyone seems to like more versus less relic so it looks like thats where we are headed. Very artful and very classy is how I would say this one was done.

We manufactured one guitar in between custom orders specifically to leave for sale at AXNguitars.com.

Enjoy the photos and have a great week!

This one is for sale here https://alienxnation.com/available/axn-model-2-sunsetstrip-2023-available-now

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Comment

DIFFERENT - JUST DIFFERENT! -1/11/2023

I’m ranting here... Thank you for viewing, but I love this stuff!! It’s Badass!

It’s 80s … it’s accurate 80s and with modern engineering. I studied these RockNRoll guitars for decades. I know the history and it really is pretty darn interesting. I consider what the luthiers of the 1980s were doing as hand made Fuctional Art.

I refined a formula for something very different from whats available today... Recently i found out that you can keep the unique aspects of a 1980s guitar. Also you can add some modern touches because manufacturing and technology progressed. It now allows us to make stuff way more precise. All these things seem to have come about just so I can create cool 80s guitars that actually play and sound way better than guitars did then.

Thanks for checking out these video shorts and Keep in Touch Friend!

Johnny AXN Guitars

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AXN Guitars SuperWide Sustain Blocks in Action 1/09/2023

AXN SuperWide Sustain Blocks in Action

Hey its Johnny, as you guys know all AXN Guitars Model 2s have a Floyd Rose that was engineered with a special sustain block. We patterned them after the Prototype Sustain blocks used in the first run of Floyd Rose tremolos from the early 1980s. There was a big difference in craftsmanship materials and alloys used. We were able to create the “Ultimate Floyd Rose Experience” by manufacturing these by hand in the USA!

After number of question and requests I put together this post for informational purposes. Both of these guitars have AXN Superwide sustain blocks in them as standard equipment.

You can also see more on our Artists Page

Have a great week!

Johnny

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AXN Guitars Model 2 and Model 3 SuperStar Year 2022 in review

Hello ts Johnny from AXN Guitars. This is just a follow up. Thank you for all your messages and the great words of encouragement in 2022. I promise, we have gotten caught up on custom orders. I have manufactured a few guitars just to post for sale on my web site. I will be listing those AXN guitars on my Available AXN Page very soon!

The year 2022 was interesting and eventful. We refined our guitars to Gen2. Our Generation 2 designs incorporated our SuperWide Sustain Blocks into all our guitars. In addition we finally launched my AXN Model 3 Superstar into the line which was the result of much refinement and R&D .

VIDEO : AXN SuperStar M3 Year 2022 in Review

The Gen2 design refinements included many small details that brought my guitars just a bit closer to period correct 1980s. One such detail was the size of the neck heel where the neck fits into the neck pocket at the 22nd fret. We increased the necks heel to 2-1/4 inch which is just a hair wider and a popular size that was used only in the 1980s by Charvel Jackson guitars and also Fender Guitars. Other small refinements were our period correct tremolo posts and a wiring and shielding process that was used by Wayne Charvel and Grover Jackson during that RockNRoll era which bring clarity and headroom to humbuckers in electric guitars

VIDEO : AXN M2 Year 2022 in Review

I was excited to add two RockNRoll guitar players as AXN Guitar artists. Mr Bruce Kulick formerly of KISS and Mr Tommy Skeoch formerly of Tesla. You can learn more about them on my AXN Artists Page.

Lastly, after much back and forth I was able to complete a custom humbucker pickup with BareKnuckle Pickups. Our AXN Custom Bareknuckle Holy Diver 2-Wire Humbucker is our choice in our AXNs for 2023.

Okey Dokey I will keep this short. Checkout the two above videos which display some 2022 AXN Guitars.

Thanks and Keep in Touch! Send and email with suggestions and ideas to me. I like your opinions!

Johnny AXN Guitars

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AXN Launches 1983 Kramer Checkerboard Graphic Into Line

Hey this is Johnny from AXN Guitars. This blog post introduces this really cool run of 2023 AXN Guitars. This is an AXN Model 2 with a checkerboard graphic that originates with the Kramer Neptune NJ factory and from 1983.

We are creating a total of 5 guitars with this artwork. Thus far we are on #03/05 which will launch for sale soon. Here is the listing for one that sold

This post is informational for Kramer guitar lovers. Heres a little more information on this artwork. This design is one that came from the Kramer Neptune NJ "after hours" era. During that time Kramer management paid their employees overtime to stripe guitars with tape and create artwork onto the 1983 line of Kramer Pacer guitars. I owned a perfect specimin 1983 Pacer guitar with this checkerboard pattern and cloned it perfectly! its functional art.

>>HERE <<is the last Kramer Pacer i owned with this graphic. Its very collectible Kramer Pacer too by the way.