Dull Sounding Axis

[pajsh]

Just hoping someone can reassure me on this one as I have bought a 2nd hand Axis and it's so dull the top 3 strings sound like a nylon string guitar when played acoustically and not much better when plugged in.

It's my 3rd MM and a beautiful looking guitar but just seems to lack treble. I've had a full pro set up done with new strings to try and cure it but it's no different.

It's the only Floyd Rose guitar I've owned so I'm wondering it this just a feature of the F/R and should I not expect great clean tones?? I have to say once you switch to the crunch channel is does sound awesome and the pickups are really powerful. I'm not a massive heavy rock/metal player and probably should not have bought a F/R guitar, but it does look great and is fine at mid/higher gain settings.

Some of it might be the amp which is a TSL601 and I think not really renowned for clean tones like say a Fender, but I do get some reasonable clean tones out of it with my Axis Sport which also has a trem but not the F/R.

Anyway I'm going to the local music store where I bought my first MM at lunch to see if other F/R guitars sound the same, but just woundered if anyone has any ideas or experience??

Said guitar is the Sunburst in the picture and TSL amp with my Axis Sport.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[Stratty316]

Have your tech recheck the set up... Both of my Axis guitars sounds great on a nice clean channel. I do prefer the hybrid slinkys on all of my guitars and their worth a try and feel like they give it some extra bottom end fullness.

 

[banjoplayer]

difficult to say without seeing. When I hear dull, I´d check the nut or the action... But if you had a pro doing your setup he could help you with the guitar in hands

 

[DrKev]

If it affects the fretted notes, it is not the nut. I'd be looking at the saddles. But of course it's a floyd, it will sound different to the music man bridge, but how much different?

Can Somebody who owns both chime in here?

 

[pajsh]

I get good clean tones from my PRS Tremonti (SE ) which has a fully floating trem but that's the only other trem guitar I have to compare it against apart from the Sport. My other guitars are either fixed bridge or blocked so maybe it's just a new sound I'm not used to.

Does seem to me with the mass of the F/R it could well dull the treble at clean volumes and I can't think either what I could change or my tech could either. He's a hugely experienced (albeit a eccentric) guy having owned his own guitar business before he retired, so I can't think he could make it any better.

Having said that strings may be a factor as he's loaded it with his own personal supply imported from the states rather than the slinky's I normally use which are possibly brighter.

Just checked and the store I use have plenty of other F/R loaded guitars in so I'm off there over lunch to check them out.

 

[pajsh]

OK been out for lunch, tested a few guitars with F/R and had a good chat in store.

Whilst the Ibanez/Jackson guitars were fine and had plenty of acoustic "ring" to the treble strings, there were two EVH F/R guitars that quite clearly had a lot less and sounded a bit dull like mine. So I guess that's just the way it is.....somethings will never change....

However, I now acknowledge I'm probably wrong looking to get good clean sounds from a Dimarzio loaded, F/R bridged guitar with no tone control and really it should probably just be used for higher gain stuff with the volume left on full.

Never mind it's a nice guitar so I'll save it for heavy rock days.

 

[ksandvik]

I could get clean tones for funk et rest with my Axis, no problems. With no tone control.

 

[Tollywood]

However, I now acknowledge I'm probably wrong looking to get good clean sounds from a Dimarzio loaded, F/R bridged guitar with no tone control and really it should probably just be used for higher gain stuff with the volume left on full.

haha - Yes, you are wrong. Crank it up!

 

[Stevie]

I think I know the sound difference you are talking about. My first Axis is a 2007, sounds crisp and bright when not plugged in. My second, a tribute 2013, sounds dull(er), with new strings and set up. I assuming its the woods and combination thereof that affect the resonance, but without doubt, there is a noticeable difference.

I know I am basing this opinion only on two Axis', however my 2007 Axis has the edge over the newer tribute.