SBMM
Well-known member
^^ +1 ^^
- Thread starter Michael919
- Start date
sundance_kiddsg
Member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2015
- Messages
- 14
hi all,
am new to the forum despite having owned a silhouette for almost 2 decades now.
thought i’d sign up and share my new acquisition.
am currently going through a van halen phase (again) and decided to get the ax40d. the only thing that held me back was determining if i could replace the bridge with a gotoh. this forum helped answer that question.
to help future owners wanting to do a swap, am reporting here that the gotoh ge1996t with the 41mm sustain block is a direct drop-in. i installed a d-tuna, changed the volume to a tone knob and am now looking for a chrome pickup selector tip to complete the look.
the string height at the 1st fret was quite high so i brought it down to almost nothing by attaching a 150 grit sandpaper underneath the locking nut and carefully sliding it back and forth in the nut shelf, checking the result regularly.
as i like my action high on the low e and low on the high e, i shimmed the gotoh saddles as follows:
low e string – 3 shims
a string – 2 shims
d string – 1 shim.
the action is now perfect at approximatey 4.5/64” on the low e at the 12 the fret and 2.5/64” on the high e.
oh yes, almost forgot… the gotoh brought the overall action down so i shimmed the neck pocket (2 masking tape thickness) at the end further from the pickup.
hope this is of interest to somebody
am new to the forum despite having owned a silhouette for almost 2 decades now.
thought i’d sign up and share my new acquisition.
am currently going through a van halen phase (again) and decided to get the ax40d. the only thing that held me back was determining if i could replace the bridge with a gotoh. this forum helped answer that question.
to help future owners wanting to do a swap, am reporting here that the gotoh ge1996t with the 41mm sustain block is a direct drop-in. i installed a d-tuna, changed the volume to a tone knob and am now looking for a chrome pickup selector tip to complete the look.
the string height at the 1st fret was quite high so i brought it down to almost nothing by attaching a 150 grit sandpaper underneath the locking nut and carefully sliding it back and forth in the nut shelf, checking the result regularly.
as i like my action high on the low e and low on the high e, i shimmed the gotoh saddles as follows:
low e string – 3 shims
a string – 2 shims
d string – 1 shim.
the action is now perfect at approximatey 4.5/64” on the low e at the 12 the fret and 2.5/64” on the high e.
oh yes, almost forgot… the gotoh brought the overall action down so i shimmed the neck pocket (2 masking tape thickness) at the end further from the pickup.
hope this is of interest to somebody
sundance_kiddsg
Member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2015
- Messages
- 14
found the chrome selector switch tip.
my transformation is complete...
my transformation is complete...
Another Noob
Well-known member
Looks sweet! Thanks for the documentation!
ju'esquire
Member
And sound great - love my SUB silo 3 <3
love my SUB silo 3 <3sundance_kiddsg
Member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2015
- Messages
- 14
yes, these sterlings are something else!
saving up for a lk100d...
saving up for a lk100d...
SBMM
Well-known member
Very, very nice work on that AX40D!
Monster212
Well-known member
wow awesome job on the ax40d.....
Another Noob
Well-known member
Wow, just took a second look at the pics and it doesn't look like a "D" body to me. My AX30 "D" has more triangular cut outs for the pickup mounting points. Those don't look the same.
Brian, were some 40D's produced with the old style pickup routes?
Brian, were some 40D's produced with the old style pickup routes?
sundance_kiddsg
Member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2015
- Messages
- 14
thanks guys!
there appears to be two versions so brian should be able to shed some light.
if you watch the namm13 youtube video, you will see the one played by sean ashe has also rectangular routing..
ot:
am still deciding if i should to replace the strap buttons with eye-hooks to accommodate this:
great eye!
there appears to be two versions so brian should be able to shed some light.
if you watch the namm13 youtube video, you will see the one played by sean ashe has also rectangular routing..
ot:
am still deciding if i should to replace the strap buttons with eye-hooks to accommodate this:
BrickGlass
Well-known member
I had the chance to play a koa JP 100d today at Banjo Center. Was soooo impressed. Now I'm beyond tempted to break out the wallet for it. Wish it came with a hard case.
I did a separate post about this new addition but thought I should add it here to bump up this outstanding thread. Maybe some newer owners will see it and post about their SBMM and SBMM SUB guitars.
http://forums.ernieball.com/ernie-ball-music-man-guitars/63764-hmm-whats.html#post1010732
http://forums.ernieball.com/ernie-ball-music-man-guitars/63764-hmm-whats.html#post1010732
ju'esquire
Member
Hey folks i have find a silo20 used of course very rare in France i'm just happy ��
See u soon
See u soon
I just ordered one of these for my SUB AX4. Can't wait to get it installed!! Next week can't get here soon enough!
Sterling by music man AX40D Rock Block upgrade – Stone Tone Products
Sterling by music man AX40D Rock Block upgrade – Stone Tone Products
Congratulations! Enjoy it!
Hi there. That's a sweet looking AX40! I love mine but in the realm of 'can't just leave it alone' I have a few trem and switch questions. First, how close to the Floyd Rose specs are the posts on the Axis 40? I'm looking to go to a Shaller or other trem. Maybe an Ibanez pivot/cam style to ensure return to zero/centered. I'm also curious whether I'd need to do the body rout for up/down action. Anyone done this mod?
Thanks and keep jamming!
Thanks and keep jamming!
Last edited:
SBMM
Well-known member
Yes, you'll need to do a Floyd route to the top if you want it full floating
ju'esquire
Member
Not necessarily my luthier went up the studs and it works after it is a pros really genial
ju'esquire
Member
I will make pictures for you to make an idea
Me personally I do not know how he did
But believe me it works
Me personally I do not know how he did
But believe me it works
Update - I've received this and installed it on my Sub AX4. The tone of this guitar with this installed is absolutely amazing. Clarity, sustain and harmonics off the charts! I once had an AX40D with the actual DiMarzio Axis pickups and this SUB AX4 with this tone block sounds just as good! Unreal.
