Question Individual string height adjustment on axis floyd

[roodboy]

I recently picked up another axis floyd and the high e string appears a touch high, it seems about the same height as the b string saddle. It doesn't appear to me to be following the curve/contour of the fretboard radius.
My Other axis rosewood floyd has a high e saddle that is a touch lower than the b string saddle.
I thought I saw in the FAQ that it could be done but guitar needs to be disasembled.
My tech says the individual saddles cannot be adjusted.
Is there a way to adjust the individual string saddle height?
If there is could somebody give me an idea how to do it?

 

[beej]

You can't adjust individual saddle height on a Floyd, you have to raise or lower the entire bridge.

I'm sure the CS guys can give you more info if need be.

 

[roodboy]

You can't adjust individual saddle height on a Floyd, you have to raise or lower the entire bridge.

I'm sure the CS guys can give you more info if need be.

Thanks
Is cs customer service?

 

[edhalen]

Thanks
Is cs customer service?

yes

 

[roodboy]

yes

Thanks, i have a call in to scott.
Will post any additional info.

 

[hbucker]

The floyd probably doesn't match the 10" radius of the neck. And there are no individual saddle height adjusters.

I believe it's possible to shim the individual saddles, but I just checked at StewMac.com and they don't sell such shims. This leads me to think they may not exist.

Putting in a thicker neck shim will lower your action but won't change the radius issue you speak of.

Bottom line, if it's that important for your bridge radius to match your neck radius, the Axis with a floyd may not be the guitar for you.

 

[4Boogie]

I have seen it done. Super tiny washer were used under each saddle to raise them. One washer on the A and B strings and two washers on the D and G strings. A tech did this for me about 20 years ago to a Stratocaster I had. I was told by a local music store the radius of my fretboard was different than the radius of the floyd and could not be done. This guy had it done in a couple of hours. I have tried to contact the tech but have had no luck... but I have seen it done

 

[aleclee]

I believe it's possible to shim the individual saddles, but I just checked at StewMac.com and they don't sell such shims. This leads me to think they may not exist.

They're available elsewhere.

 

[roodboy]

It probably wouldn't be an issue for me if my rosewood axis floyd didn't have a lower e string saddle than the b string saddle, so it makes me want it on the maple neck too.
The two I own are the only two I have played so I don't know which one if any is the anomaly.
Haven't heard back from CS yet.
I guess to use the indiviual shims would probably result in action on strings in middle of radius as higher than they are now, so maybe wouldn't be the right thing.

 

[cm_17]

Adding shims to a Floyd to adjust the radius to the fretboard is a common tweak on all kinds of guitars. But yes, that requires a little bit of surgery.

Roughly, it's done by adding one under the B and A string saddle, and two to the G and D. That will approach the 10 inch radius. To set it perfect, you'll have to sand individual shims down. But often that level of rocket science precision is not required at all. The key issue however is that commonly the action of the high E is lower than the low E. Easiest adjustment is to slightly lower the Floyd on the treble side.

This is not possible on an Axis or any other guitar of similar built, as the trem is not recessed and meant to sit flush with the body. It's somewhat doable if your Axis' Floyd slightly floats (you can achieve this by removing the shim plate underneath the trem). If that's not the case, your lowest possible action is determined by the Floyd/saddle height when flush with the body.

Really the only way to adjust it properly together with saddle shims is to shim the neck pocket. That is a bit of a hassle and takes a good part of an afternoon/day .
Thing is, EB shims their EVH/Axis necks from the factory, and with great precision and experience. I have never ever encountered one that wasn't shimmed well and couldn't be tweaked to perfect playability with a little truss rod adjustment (well, to my liking that is, around 1.2mm @ high E's 22nd fret, with just a hair of neck relief).

 

[roodboy]

I really appreciate the replies.
Is there any axis setup guru on Long Island or in NY area?
If I could get this to play like my rosewood I would be ecstatic.

 

[Bluplirst]

Its possible that the wrong saddle was put in the floyd at assembly. There are three different height saddles. Contact CS and see if you can get a replacement saddle.

 

[roodboy]

Just as a followup, I spoke with customer service today and totally forgot about mentioning the replacement saddle.
My tech did a nice setup on it, and customer service indicated that there is no factory adjustment for individual saddles.
Anyway, the action is pretty low and more I play it the more of a non issue it is.

Thanks again for the replies.