Floating Floyd on an Axis

[starsky]

Anyone got their Floyd floating on their Axis?

I've always been a trem guy and sold my two hartail Axis' (Axis and ASS) last year to help fund a dream Axis with Floyd. I just loved the sound of the Axis and wanted one with a trem. Scottish Axis availability being what it is, I was unable to try one out properly so just went ahead and bought one on the Bay.

It was at that point that I found I just couldn't get on with the standard setup of the Axis - Floyd flat against the body. I hadn't realised before that when I use the trem I seem to use upward bends more than I thought, and it just didn't feel right to me without being able to do that. I don't mean huge pull-ups, just a little as part of the vibrato technique. So with a heavy heart I sold the Axis resigned to the fact that they just don't work for me. BFR Luke? Yes please...

Fast forward a few months and I'm in a music store where there's a used Axis on the wall. Thought I'd give it a quick go to get a taste of that great Axis sound again. Lo and behold the trem felt great! Examining the Floyd, it was setup to float a few mm above the body, and the neck looked like it had been shimmed a little to compensate for the higher trem height.

Perfect setup for me, that little difference allowing a small amount of upward trem movement was enough to transform the Axis. Awesome! Walked out the door with it on a day I was only in for some picks.

So now I've got a slightly beat up Axis which sounds great and the Floyd feels great.

I'd never have thought of raising the Floyd height as I knew the action would go too high, and I'd be too scared of messing with shims in the neck. I was just lucky I found one already set up that way.

Anyone else got their Floyd floating?

 

[TNT]

What if it comes to rest 4mm off the body??? or 2 mm off the body???

In addition, you lose some sustain.

 

[starsky]

What if it comes to rest 4mm off the body??? or 2 mm off the body???

In addition, you lose some sustain.

Not sure I follow? It's like any floating trem, comes to rest in the same position...

Yep, probably loses a little sustain, but nothing I'm noticing

By the way the trem is floating parallel to the body, the trem posts have been raised up a few mm.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

At least set up like that, you are not having to rout out behind the bridge!

 

[TNT]

Starsky,

I was just mentioning that normally, the "posts" probably shoudn't be raised that high to modify the Axis to become a "floater" (although obviously it can).

Since it was designed not to float "everything" was geometrically positioned accordingly. However, on the JP it was the opposite.

But my question is, why do this when the whole purpose of a "float" is to be able to raise the bar up a good distance.

Is that few mm of float worth the risk of dealing with possible tuning issues?? Just asking

 

[starsky]

It's all just to make it feel 'right' for me. Didn't get on with a regular Axis Floyd configuration but I loved the sound of the Axis. I don't need loads of pull up capability, just enough for a bit of vibrato.

This floating Axis seems to be coping admirably with my setup, no tuning issues and it works for me. The posts are only 2mm or so higher than they normally would be so it's not like they are teetering on the edge of collapse

I've always been a 'floater' I guess