Axis SS trem bar & pickup selector

[gnom3x3]

I recently purchased an Axis SS, and it definitely the most playable guitar I have played.

There is one very minor problem - when I have the 5-way pickup selector in the middle position and try to use the trem bar, the bar will hit the little white knob on the pickup selector. It's easy enough to get around - just take the little white knob off and then there's no problem. Has anyone else run into this ?

thanks,
gnom

 

[Jimmyb]

Welcome gnom.

Can't say that I've ever had this problem myself. Is it a case of when you grab the bar and swing it round that you catch it? If so, you could adjuct the little set screw in the trem block which tensions the arm. That way you can have it fixed in position, without needing to move it.

 

[TonyEVH5150]

I had a problem like this with my Axis Sport. Turns out it had a screw in trem arm instead of the pop-in one that normally comes with it. The Angle was different between the two. If I screwed it down until it was snug, it hit the selector switch or the vol knob.

Does your trem arm screw in, or just push or pull out?

 

[gnom3x3]

Yeah, exactly. It is the kind that pops in and out, so there is no screw to adjust.

thanks for the reply

Welcome gnom.

Can't say that I've ever had this problem myself. Is it a case of when you grab the bar and swing it round that you catch it? If so, you could adjuct the little set screw in the trem block which tensions the arm. That way you can have it fixed in position, without needing to move it.

 

[gnom3x3]

It is the kind that pops in and out. If I use it pop'ed in, it will hit the little pickup selector knob squarely and won't go any further without moving the pickup selector as well. If I leave it pop'ed out, it barely nicks the knob, but it is still noticeable enough to make taking off the knob preferable (at least for me).

thanks for the reply

I had a problem like this with my Axis Sport. Turns out it had a screw in trem arm instead of the pop-in one that normally comes with it. The Angle was different between the two. If I screwed it down until it was snug, it hit the selector switch or the vol knob.

Does your trem arm screw in, or just push or pull out?

 

[TonyEVH5150]

It's a rare possiblity, but it could be bent. You should give customer service a call. You can order a new trem arm from them.

 

[gnom3x3]

I took the guitar back to the large retail outlet where I bought it. The manager pulled out this box full of stray tremolo bars and tried them out until one fit and had enough clearance to not hit the pickup selector. I think what happened is that the original sales person did the same thing and stopped when he had one that fit without testing it any further. I doubt that anyone there actually knows what happened to the original tremelo bar. You put a bunch of asiring young guitarists in a room full of amazing instruments they can't afford, and you have to expect stuff like this to happen once in awhile.

I will contact MusicMan directly and see if I can't order a separate tremelo arm, just so I have one that was built for the Axis SS. The guitar is otherwise in fine condition, indistinguishable from "new", and I love playing it as I said before.

Thanks to everyone who replied - I probably wouldn't have taken it back if I hadn't learned that others were not having this problem

Happy Holydaze !!

On my Axis SS, there's about 1/2" to 3/4" clearance between the 5-way switch knob (in the middle position) and the trem arm. You could try bending the bar slightly or ordering a new one. I switch pickups a lot so I'd be hesitant to play without the switch tip knob. That looks like a recipe for a good cut.