Now Available at Northeast Music Center!

Ernie Ball Music Man Axis 30th Anniversary – Translucent Black (S/N: H10405)

Limited to Only 100 Translucent Black Guitars Worldwide

Build Code: 303-30A-11A-00-TB-CR
Manufactured: May 15, 2026
Includes Certificate of Authenticity & Deluxe Music Man Hardshell Case

Thirty years after the Axis made its debut, Ernie Ball Music Man has returned to the translucent finishes and original design elements that helped establish this guitar in 1996.

This 30th Anniversary Axis in Translucent Black combines a hand-stained quilt maple top with a black lightly sparkled back, matching headstock, figured maple neck and fretboard, original asymmetrical neck carve, custom-wound DiMarzio humbuckers and Music Man double-locking tremolo.

And with only 100 Translucent Black examples being produced worldwide, this is a genuinely limited anniversary guitar.

This individual example, serial number H10405, was manufactured May 15, 2026 and is available now at Northeast Music Center with its Certificate of Authenticity and deluxe Music Man hardshell case.

Highlights

• 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Axis
• Only 100 Translucent Black Guitars Worldwide
• Hand-Stained Translucent Black Quilt Maple Top
• Basswood Body
• Black Lightly Sparkled Back
• Cream Body & Neck Binding
• Matching Translucent Black Headstock
• Commemorative 30th Anniversary Logo
• White Figured Maple Neck
• Figured Maple Fretboard
• Original Asymmetrical Axis Neck Carve
• Gunstock Oil & Hand-Rubbed Wax Neck Finish
• 22 Stainless Steel Frets
• Glow-in-the-Dark Side Dots
• 25.5" Scale Length
• 10" Fretboard Radius
• Custom-Wound DiMarzio Humbuckers
• Music Man Double-Locking Tremolo
• Schaller M6LA Tuners with Pearl Buttons
• Sculpted 5-Bolt Neck Joint
• Certificate of Authenticity
• Deluxe Music Man Hardshell Case
• Serial Number: H10405
• Build Code: 303-30A-11A-00-TB-CR
• Manufactured: May 15, 2026

Translucent Black – The Dark Side of the Axis

Of the six 30th Anniversary finishes, Translucent Black may be the most understated—and one of the most striking.

Rather than covering the maple, the translucent finish allows the natural movement and depth of the hand-stained quilt maple top to remain clearly visible beneath the darker color.

Turn the guitar over and Music Man continues the theme with a black lightly sparkled back, creating a subtle visual transition from the dramatic quilted front.

Cream binding provides just enough contrast to define the compact Axis body, while the color-matched headstock and commemorative 30th Anniversary logo complete the limited-edition presentation.

It's dark, sophisticated and unmistakably Axis.

Only 100 Translucent Black Examples Worldwide

Music Man has made the 30th Anniversary collection genuinely limited.

Worldwide production consists of:

• Translucent Gold – 120
• Translucent Black – 100
• Translucent Blue – 100
• Translucent Pink – 100
• Translucent Purple – 100
• Translucent Red – 100

That puts H10405 among only 100 Translucent Black 30th Anniversary Axis guitars produced worldwide.

For longtime Axis players and collectors, that gives this guitar significance beyond simply being another limited finish.

The Classic Asymmetrical Axis Neck

The neck has always been one of the defining features of the Axis.

Music Man uses a figured maple neck and figured maple fretboard with its signature gunstock oil and hand-rubbed wax finish, creating the smooth, natural feel that has become synonymous with Music Man guitars.

The original asymmetrical neck carve places more thickness toward the bass side while gradually thinning toward the treble side. The result is a neck that naturally supports the fretting hand while still feeling fast and exceptionally comfortable.

A 1 5/8" nut width, 10" radius and 25.5" scale complete the familiar Axis geometry.

The neck is attached with Music Man's sculpted 5-bolt joint, providing secure attachment while maintaining excellent access to all 22 frets.

22 Stainless Steel Frets

The anniversary model features 22 high-profile, medium-width stainless steel frets, providing an exceptionally smooth surface for bends and vibrato along with excellent resistance to fret wear.

Music Man also adds glow-in-the-dark side dots, a small but genuinely useful feature when playing on a dark stage.

Custom-Wound DiMarzio Humbuckers

The electronics remain wonderfully straightforward.

Two custom-wound DiMarzio humbuckers were designed specifically for the Axis and deliver the power, clarity, articulation and harmonic character that have long been part of the model's identity.

Control is deliberately simple:

• 500k Volume Control
• 3-Way Toggle Pickup Selector

No unnecessary switching.

No complicated control layout.

Just direct access to the two custom DiMarzio humbuckers and the sounds that helped make the Axis famous.

Music Man Double-Locking Tremolo

The Music Man double-locking tremolo features fine tuners and is configured for downward pitch movement.

Combined with the locking nut, it provides the tuning stability needed for aggressive tremolo work while retaining the clean, compact design of the original Axis.

Schaller M6LA tuners with pearl buttons complete the hardware package.

Specifications

Body

• Construction: Solidbody
• Body Wood: Basswood
• Top: Hand-Stained Quilt Maple
• Finish: Translucent Black
• Back: Black Lightly Sparkled
• Body Finish: High-Gloss Polyester
• Binding: Cream
• Pickguard: None

Neck

• Neck Wood: White Figured Maple
• Fretboard: Figured Maple
• Neck Profile: Original Axis Asymmetrical Carve
• Neck Finish: Gunstock Oil & Hand-Rubbed Special Wax Blend
• Scale Length: 25.5"
• Radius: 10"
• Frets: 22 High-Profile, Medium-Width Stainless Steel
• Nut Width: 1 5/8"
• Neck Width at Last Fret: 2 3/16"
• Fret Markers: Dots
• Side Dots: Glow-in-the-Dark
• Neck Binding: Cream
• Neck Attachment: Sculpted 5-Bolt Joint
• Headstock: Matching Translucent Black
• Headstock Length: 5 7/8"
• Truss Rod: Adjustable Without Component or String Removal

Hardware

• Bridge: Music Man Double-Locking Tremolo with Fine Tuners
• Tremolo Operation: Lowers Pitch Only
• Nut: Locking
• Tuners: Schaller M6LA with Pearl Buttons
• Hardware: Chrome

Electronics

• Pickups: Two Custom-Wound DiMarzio Humbuckers
• Controls: 500k Volume
• Switching: 3-Way Toggle Pickup Selector
• Electronic Shielding: Graphite Acrylic Resin-Coated Body Cavity with Aluminum-Lined Control Cover

Additional

• Strings: Ernie Ball RPS 9 Slinkys .009–.042
• Certificate of Authenticity Included
• Deluxe Music Man Hardshell Case Included
• Build Code: 303-30A-11A-00-TB-CR
• Serial Number: H10405
• Manufactured: May 15, 2026
• Worldwide Translucent Black Production: 100 Guitars

Thirty Years of the Axis

What makes the 30th Anniversary Axis particularly appealing is that Music Man didn't reinvent the guitar simply for the sake of creating an anniversary model.

Instead, it returned to what made the Axis special: a compact single-cutaway body, beautiful quilt maple, the original asymmetrical figured maple neck, straightforward electronics, custom DiMarzio humbuckers and double-locking tremolo.

The Translucent Black finish gives those familiar ingredients a darker, sophisticated appearance—and Music Man is building only 100 of them worldwide.

At Northeast Music Center, we love limited guitars that remain first and foremost exceptional instruments to play. H10405 checks both boxes: it has genuine 30th Anniversary collectibility while retaining the fast feel, powerful tone and simplicity that made the Axis legendary.

This individual Ernie Ball Music Man Axis 30th Anniversary Translucent Black, serial number H10405, is available now at Northeast Music Center with its Certificate of Authenticity and deluxe Music Man hardshell case.