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Eddie Van Halen

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Oct 2, 2004
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Neck problems

Jon,

I recently set up my Axis, my strings are factory height, my floyd is flush and even on both sides and it stays in tune perfectly so I'm happy with everything but my neck is angled downwards a little bit getting closer to the headstock. The truss rod didn't do anything, I have it screwed in all the way (lowest action) but I did try it VERY unscrewed and the neck didn't budge.

Heres the neck, dont mind the reflection

MyGear13a.jpg


Do you have any idea why this is happening?

Thanks alot
 
Last edited:

Dodgeball

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Sep 20, 2004
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232
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England
Dude, don't panic.

Every Axis I have seen looks like that (including mine) . I believe there is a shim under the neck that creates that angle your noticing. Without the shim the action in the higher registers would be way high. Remember, you can't adjust saddle height on a floyd and the base plate must sit flush on the body so the shim creates an angle so that action height can be set using the trussrod alone.

If this is wrong in any way somebody please send me a quick slap. :D

Cliff
 

Tim O'Sullivan

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So am I correct in thinking, on a floyd equipped Axis, the only way to adjust the action is using the truss rod? I understand you cant adjust saddle height individually, but surely you can bring the bridge up and down?
 

blackspy

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Well you can raise the bridge if you wanted to, but you'd probably have to shim the neck more if you did in order to restore lower action. It's setup pretty much as is, in my experience. Minor adjustments to the truss rod should be all that's required. The bridge can't be lowered any further than it is. This is the same as any guitar with a flush mounted floyd.

This *is* the offshoot of a sig guitar, so it still has some of those quirks. It was setup for a specific user in mind. They do play pretty sweet right off the rack mind you.
 

Tim O'Sullivan

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I am glad I know this! I like my action higher than most people (in fact some people have said like cheesewire!) So I dont think I will be lusting after one of these now! Back to the happy hard tail world!
 

blackspy

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Well, if you like it high, then there wouldn't be any problem. You can raise the bridge if you don't mind high action. Most of us seem to like it low though. That's the issue with the flush floyd. It can't be lowered any further.
 

tommyindelaware

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i'm guessing the tilt is designed to be there. if the plane was parralell to the top..there wouldn't be enough space for the bridge to exist happily.......
the neck pocket is cut to achieve the proper angle....
this is the case w/ alot of guitars....

Eddie Van Halen said:
Jon,

I recently set up my Axis, my strings are factory height, my floyd is flush and even on both sides and it stays in tune perfectly so I'm happy with everything but my neck is angled downwards a little bit getting closer to the headstock. The truss rod didn't do anything, I have it screwed in all the way (lowest action) but I did try it VERY unscrewed and the neck didn't budge.

Heres the neck, dont mind the reflection

Do you have any idea why this is happening?

Thanks alot
 

Eddie Van Halen

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Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
270
Location
Edmonton, Alberta Canada
ya the truss rod adjusts bridge height, i have it all the way and in i have the floyd as low as it can be while staying level on both sides, and my action is 1/16th of an inch off the 12th fret

good i was worried but thanks guys :D
 

tommyindelaware

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Dec 24, 2002
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wilmington , delaware
Eddie Van Halen said:
ya the truss rod adjusts bridge height, i have it all the way and in i have the floyd as low as it can be while staying level on both sides, and my action is 1/16th of an inch off the 12th fret

good i was worried but thanks guys :D

the truss rod isn't used to adjust the the bridge height . think of the truss rod as an adjuster for the string height over the entire length of the fingerboard......
:)
 

Dugger

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Jun 20, 2005
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Ohio
Looks like I'm a little late to the party, but yeah, the neck angle is there for the non-recessed Floyd.

I had Warmoth build a few guitars for me in the past (BEFORE I discovered the joy of that is Ernie Ball Music Man::shameless plug::)) and I had to pay for the 2 degree angle in the neck pocket to work with the non-recessed Floyd.

Now that you're aware of it, you'll spot it a mile away on other guitars now!
 
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peat

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Sep 15, 2005
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Sydney
Eddie Van Halen said:
ya the truss rod adjusts bridge height, i have it all the way and in i have the floyd as low as it can be while staying level on both sides, and my action is 1/16th of an inch off the 12th fret

good i was worried but thanks guys :D

the truss rod doesnt adjust bridge height
that is the most absurd thing ive heard about a truss rod

it adjusts the bow in the neck
thats all

adjusted in conjunction with bridge height (and nut height if you are interested)
but its not the main action adjuster
 

Eddie Van Halen

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Oct 2, 2004
Messages
270
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Edmonton, Alberta Canada
it says in the ernie ball F.A.Q that its the easiest way to adjust action...

and i didnt mean bridge height all together i mean it brought the front end of the floyd downwards judging to which way i turned it :eek:
 
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