Tremolo help

[cjl5150]

I watch Don Lappin and I am impressed by several things, of course. But I wonder how he gets his guitar to stay in tune after all of the trem use. My Axis SS just doesn't do that.

Are there set up tricks/secrets?

 

[bbake1]

Many discussions before, try the search function if you want more info.

Try here to start:
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-guitars/46427-tremolo-setup.html

 

[ScreaminFloyd]

I watch Don Lappin and I am impressed by several things, of course. But I wonder how he gets his guitar to stay in tune after all of the trem use. My Axis SS just doesn't do that.

Are there set up tricks/secrets?

There are so many factors involved in this question. The best possible thing that You could do is: Take your guitar to a qualified guitar tech. If that does not help with your problem then the next best possible step is to call customer service @ Music Man. Honestly i have used the Lic. Floyd on the Axis and the Vintage Trem on the Axis SS and i have never ever had a problem with tuning. Learn as mush as you can about your instrument and how it works and how to maintain and take care of it. Good luck to you.

 

[cjl5150]

I actually have a pretty good handle on setting up a guitar (truss rods, wiring, etc)-I have just never tried doing much with a non-locking trem. If I wanted to whammy, I used a Floyd. But, I really love playing this Axis SS, so I am willing to put the work into getting it right. It stays in tune perfectly with regular playing, it's just when using the bar.

I messed with the Carl Verheyen set up a little today and it seemed to help. I'll dig into it more when I have some time. But, getting a minor 3rd rise in pitch with a bar like he says in the video seems like a lot. I raised my trem quite a bit and didn't get much more than a half step when I pulled up.

Has anyone else had this experience?

 

[Spudmurphy]

^
Interestingly enough - I tried the Carl Verheyen set up on my JP6. It took about 15 minutes to do and works a treat.(I'm using 9's on the JP)

 

[cjl5150]

^
Interestingly enough - I tried the Carl Verheyen set up on my JP6. It took about 15 minutes to do and works a treat.(I'm using 9's on the JP)

Sweet. It seems to be working great here too. I might take a spring out to get more 'warbble' out of it. And I might even have to shim the neck. When I raised the trem, I had to lower the saddles nearly all of the way-I like my action super low.

 

[Roubster]

Ummmm, you should not be touching the trem posts. Only thing you need to adjust is the trem claw in the back.

 

[ScreaminFloyd]

Sweet. It seems to be working great here too. I might take a spring out to get more 'warbble' out of it. And I might even have to shim the neck. When I raised the trem, I had to lower the saddles nearly all of the way-I like my action super low.

There is your problem. You just answered your own question why your guitar wont stay in tune. Happy trails....

 

[cjl5150]

Ummmm, you should not be touching the trem posts. Only thing you need to adjust is the trem claw in the back.

I raised the trem post so the trem would float...that's the way Carl has the guitar in the video. My Axis SS had the trem flat against the body.

 

[cjl5150]

There is your problem. You just answered your own question why your guitar wont stay in tune. Happy trails....

I don't follow you...

 

[fbecir]

I raised the trem post so the trem would float...that's the way Carl has the guitar in the video. My Axis SS had the trem flat against the body.

You don't need to raise the trem post in order to have a floating tremolo. If you unscrew the claws, you will have less tension from the springs, thus, the tremolo will not be flat on the body. That means that you will be able to raise the pitch with the tremolo.
The tremolo will not be parallel to the body but slanted.

 

[cjl5150]

Ok. I see what you're say. I understood that a floating trem should be parallel to the body for intonation reasons and that a trem returned to position better if it was parallel.