little axis setup help

[J_Alexander]

i have a axis with the floyd i was thinking about sending it in since it isnt much for a checkup. the setup seems really good. neck relief is nice about 2/32nd at the 12th fret at the low e. it seems though when i play stuf on the 3 low strings from the 12th fret up them 3 strings dont sound as good as they should. the others are fine. what do you other axis owners have the string height at the last fret. maybe i have it a touch low but it actually seems to measure high. let me know. if it isnt something i can fix myself, which i would like to do, i will send it to ebmm for a checkup.

 

[hbucker]

Putting a thicker shim in the neck is always an option. And I'm not sure anyone gets too carried away with playing the lower 3 strings too much above the 15th fret... too many other, easier places to play those notes.

Unfortunately, with the flush mounted Floyd, there just aren't many adjustments to be made after the neck is shimmed and adjusted correctly.

 

[DrKev]

them 3 strings dont sound as good as they should

Which means what, exactly? You think the set up seems really good, there are no obvious buzzing problems, which suggests it IS really good. Have you checked the intonation? Thicker strings always sound a little different higher up the neck (for a few reasons). If the intonation is off, you'll maybe notice it there more as a result.

 

[J_Alexander]

well it seems they buzz a little from the 12th fret up. just the .ow e to d. i think i will just send it in for a nice once over. i just cant figure out where the string height should be shimmed to . one way seems great but get some low end buzz above the 12th and the other seems to high. i will leave it to the pros.

 

[jim1h]

what is shimming the neck and why would you need this done, I can get a great low action by using the thumb wheel to adjust the truss rod, shimming sounds a bit drastic!

 

[hbucker]

what is shimming the neck and why would you need this done, I can get a great low action by using the thumb wheel to adjust the truss rod, shimming sounds a bit drastic!

While adjusting the truss rod affects action, that's not why you use it. You use the truss rod to make sure there is the proper relief on the neck.

Shimming is an effective way of adjusting the action on a guitar like the EVH/Axis with a flush mounted Floyd. In fact, my EVH came from the factory with a shim installed.

With all due respect, it's only drastic if you don't know what you're doing.

 

[Rufedges]

uggghhh,....wish I could help, ......I haven't found the advantages of a tremlo to be greater than the disadvantages,.......that's why I stick with hard-tails.

 

[jim1h]

While adjusting the truss rod affects action, that's not why you use it. You use the truss rod to make sure there is the proper relief on the neck.

Shimming is an effective way of adjusting the action on a guitar like the EVH/Axis with a flush mounted Floyd. In fact, my EVH came from the factory with a shim installed.

With all due respect, it's only drastic if you don't know what you're doing.

Yea thats fair enough, good explanation, but following instructions from the EB site, it recommends using truss rod to lower action on the axis.

 

[Mr.Axis]

both of my Axis and EVH had neck shims, almost any bolt on neck guitar I've every owned used some type of neck pocket shim to get a proper angle when using a Floyd non floater. I also shim the saddles to match fret board radius at 10", this brings an even height across the strings. Most Floyd type trems and lock nuts are made with a 14" radius, utilizing this on a smaller radius under 12" requires more work to get a nice low even action. In comparison a Wolfgang has a 15" radius and a Jem has a 16" I believe, setting these up is a quick and easy but it's like playing a plank it's so flat. I've also found by taking a fretboard 10" radius (I love) and compounding it with 12" from the 12th fret up is a great compromise OR a fixed 10" radius and radius the frets to 12" from the 12th fret up also ala Satch. I've done this with my JS1 and achieved great results, his guitar tech explains how he sets up Joe's guitars on Joe's site and it has a 10" rad fretboard like most of the EBMM's.

 

[hbucker]

No doubt adjusting the truss rod affects action. Too much relief and your action will stink. I don't see what EBMM says re: adjusting the truss rod for action on your post, but I would argue that the neck should be properly adjusted, period. If the action is still unsatisfactory at that point, you need to find other means of tweaking the action. The truss rod is for adjusting the neck. Any subsequent influence on the action is just a side effect.

 

[jim1h]

No doubt adjusting the truss rod affects action. Too much relief and your action will stink. I don't see what EBMM says re: adjusting the truss rod for action on your post, but I would argue that the neck should be properly adjusted, period. If the action is still unsatisfactory at that point, you need to find other means of tweaking the action. The truss rod is for adjusting the neck. Any subsequent influence on the action is just a side effect.

hmmm taken from EB web site, OK it doesn't actually mention Axis sorry my mistake. Thanks once again for your explanation. I followed these instructions.

"Q: What is the best way to adjust the action on my Music Man guitar?
A: The best and easiest way to adjust your action is to use the truss rod. To lower your action, turn the wheel clockwise. To raise your action, particularly if you have fret buzz, turn the wheel counter clockwise. It is always a good idea to make just one or two turns at a time, then play it and see if it needs more adjustment. It normally doesn't take many turns of the wheel to notice a difference.

A "turn" as defined here is inserting an adjustment tool and moving a spoke of the wheel from one side of the opening at the body at the neck to the other side."