Keep it or send it back?

**Koch Sanchez** · 03-12-2009, 07:45 AM

So I bought a used 2006 MM Axis Supersport from a reputable dealer (bought it online though). Received the guitar yesterday - sounds great, looks great. My issue is the strings are extremely difficult to bend - granted my fingers/callouses are not in top playing form - but much harder to bend than my strat which is set up with 10s (not sure what guage the axis is set up for - feels like 10s though).

The other more major issue is the B and to a lesser extent the E string are fretting out when I bend a whole note or further up on the 14th-15th fret (but nowhere else above or below that). I raised the action a bit at the bridge and adjusted the truss but its still fretting out. The dealer said he looked the guitar over several times and there were no issues or raised frets or anything.

Are these guitars typically difficult to bend on? Does the fretting out issue sound like something that is a quick fix? Wondering whether to keep the guitar and have it set up or spend the extra $4-500 to get a new one.

**beej** · 03-12-2009, 07:57 AM

Sounds like it just needs a good setup.

Used? What strings are on it now? Should come with 9s on it and be a breeze to play.

Get it set up and it'll play like butter.

**Big Poppa** · 03-12-2009, 07:58 AM

wow I dont know what to say.....Maybe this guitar has 11's....Also sounds like the diy setup may be an issue...there is now reason why our guitar should require more effort to bend than another guitar with the same gauge and scale length

**Koch Sanchez** · 03-12-2009, 08:03 AM

Might be heavier gauge strings - they are at least 10s I think but could be 11's.

**tommyindelaware** · 03-12-2009, 08:05 AM

the scale length is the same on a strat as it is on your musicman. so.......if you put the same size strings on it.......the sting tension will be the same. (technically ever so slightly less on the musicman because of the shorter headstock.)
sound to me like you just need the guitar to be set up to your own personal preferences by a good guitar tech. this is very often the case and common w/ used guitar purchases.

**Big Poppa** · 03-12-2009, 08:50 AM

glenn this is a used guitar giving this info is meaningless this is why I hate customer service threads.....Tommy gave the good advice...

**Koch Sanchez** · 03-12-2009, 08:53 AM

I'll probably get it set up and see how it plays - awesome instrument otherwise though - well built and the top is gorgeous.

**paranoid70** · 03-12-2009, 09:21 AM

I bought a used Stingray and a used 20th Silhouette, both played really rough until I had them setup properly. (They were also shipped to me from other parts of the country.) The Stingray in particular was a dramatic improvement after the setup.

**TNT** · 03-12-2009, 01:06 PM

Yep,

"Set up" Koch!!! Not da guitar - not da strings!!

**radrock** · 03-12-2009, 01:10 PM

Koch, post some pictures for us.

If it's a hardtail, the tension will most likely be more than if your strat has a trem.

**Smellybum** · 03-12-2009, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by Koch Sanchez

Are these guitars typically difficult to bend on? Does the fretting out issue sound like something that is a quick fix?

These guitars are easy to play - even a ham fisted idiot like me can manage - spend a few $$$ and get a pro setup -

there's a zillion questions we could ask you - was the guitar shipped by air, was it tuned to concert pitch during shipping etc. - with respect sounds like you're not too sure how to set it up, take it to someone who can, then make a call, if it's got a 'problem' a decent tech will uncover it as part of the setup, and then it's a bun fight between you and the dealer,

Having bought new and used balls I can tell you there is a very nice comfort blanket with buying new ,but that said every used ball I've had has played like a dream, some just needed setup....

Hope this helps.

**Tone?** · 03-12-2009, 04:16 PM

These guitars to me are best setup with 9s though i could be wrong.

Please dont take this the wrong way, but if you dont know what gauge you are playing on, er, then spend some more time with it. A bit of a rushed judgment.

First thing to look for is neck bow/relief.
Action

Check out these things again.
Are there any shims in the neck pocket?? there shouldnt be but maybe you should check.

It took me awhile to setup my Axis the way I want it and I am slowly getting there more and more. I believe as YEARS go by, yes years, you get more accustomed to what the guitar does and how you like it setup. Mine is an Axis with floy so it is a tad bit trickier to setup since the floyd is flush. But now I am loving the guitar more and more and more and more..........lol

I have mine setup \without the claw thingy and base plate that the bridge rests on. I removed em and have the Floyd resting on the main baseplate only. this gave me leeway to lower the bridge take out almost all the shims i had in it and makes for a waaaay better sounding and functioning guitar. Now the bridge lays closer to the body and as a result is more comfy and to my ears sounds more resonant. Plus the guitar feels slinkier without the excessive angle from the too many shims.

**Jack FFR1846** · 03-13-2009, 06:00 AM

I'm going to agree that you probably have 11's on the thing. Maybe the dealer thought everyone should be SRV. I have 10's on my Supersport and do the 2 tone bends in the Hotel California ending lead with no problem at all and my trem is cranked down so the other strings don't change tone while doing 2 tone bends.

jack