EVH Floyd - high e string too high?

[AndyK]

I'm working through some setup issues with my new to me EVH.

With the trem parallel to the body, the action on the high e string is much higher than all the rest of the strings. There is no shim under the trem saddle. Not sure what I can do to lower the high e?

 

[Stevie]

Have you checked to see if the right saddles are in their proper place. D & G should be the highest and then they taper down to the respective E's. Is the neck pocket level, high e side may be lower. You may need to shim the neck pocket high e side to get the desired result.

 

[AndyK]

The saddles are in the right order. The neck has two factory shims in place, but the action is way low except for the high e.

I plan on sending the guitar to EB for a refret, can I assume they would address any setup issues when assembling the guitar?

 

[jvh]

The saddles are in the right order. The neck has two factory shims in place, but the action is way low except for the high e.

I plan on sending the guitar to EB for a refret, can I assume they would address any setup issues when assembling the guitar?

I'm pretty sure you can assume, but I would still point it out to them. Always, best to give your 'mechanic" all the information.

 

[TNT]

Based on what you said, that is a "weird" situation! However, normally you can interchange the individual saddles, and also shim the individual saddles too. It has to be one of those corrections (per your description).

 

[AndyK]

Based on what you said, that is a "weird" situation! However, normally you can interchange the individual saddles, and also shim the individual saddles too. It has to be one of those corrections (per your description).

Strange, not sure how anyone didn't notice the high e being so high before!? It's almost like I have to raise all the other saddles to compensate.

 

[TNT]

andy can you post several good close up pic's??

 

[Mick]

2 factory shims??????????????? I wonder!!! Ask CS

 

[DrKev]

Strange, not sure how anyone didn't notice the high e being so high before!? It's almost like I have to raise all the other saddles to compensate.

Yes, shimming individual saddles is what I'd expect to be the most appropriate course of action. Shimming one side of the neck pocket is not an approach I would take (and of course will affect the other strings too).

Call Customer Service. That's what they are there for.

 

[AndyK]

I'll try and post some close ups tonight. Hard to show a 1/32nd difference in string height though - but it's there! It could be the Floyd nut is higher, but that would usually mean the B and the G would also be higher.

There are 2 very thin pink factory neck shims in the neck pocket. I'm guessing when I get new (taller) frets, one of those shims will have to go. The action right now is silly low, about 1/16th at the 22nd fret, yet it still plays OK.

PS--The neck is SO TIGHT in the pocket I almost couldn't get the damned thing off! Tight tolerances = better tone!

 

[TNT]

Yes, as you know there are quite a number of very important areas of concern when doing a set up correctly! I use custom made brass shims for all my guitars, (neck pocket, bridge, saddles, nut. etc. . . .,) that I make myself. I take quite a bit of time when I set up my guitars, but in the end they are tweaked "perfectly"!!

 

[AndyK]

Interesting. Having the perfect sized shims is key, especially if the Floyd radius doesn't match the neck radius.

Hopefully EBMM will set it straight!

 

[ily]

When i've my old 1993 axis i had same problem the original gotoh were for 14" radius E string were more hight than other

on my axis super sport with standard term i can adjust all the string with 10" radius

 

[AndyK]

When i've my old 1993 axis i had same problem the original gotoh were for 14" radius E string were more hight than other

on my axis super sport with standard term i can adjust all the string with 10" radius

Hmmm, does everyone with an EVH have a high E string due to different radius' between the Floyd and neck?? What is the cure if the Floyd's radius is too flat for the EVH neck?

 

[TNT]

Andy, it would apply to any scenario/guitar "neck vs. saddle radius". i.e., your choice is thus: depending on which way you want to go (up or down in string height).

Once the neck is correctly placed/angled in the neck pocket - "shimmed", that takes care of the neck.

Then, you can either put in a saddle shim or take a shim out. If you need to go lower after you've taken the shim out, your choice is to get either a smaller saddle size (normally use D or A string saddle) or file the bottom of the exisiting saddle .

Then vice versa for the opposite remedy.

 

[AndyK]

Would I be able to just file the groove in the high E saddle, to lower it? Like grooving the saddles on a Les Paul?

The Gotoh Floyd saddles have little guide pins on the bottom that would make filing the bottom of the saddle tough.

 

[TNT]

The thing about it is, you may ruin or permanently change that particular saddle. Now to those of us who do this quite often with our guitars, etc. .. . and have guitar "part rooms/shops" etc. . . at our disposal, it may not be a big deal.

Normally I have a can full of various size saddles for all my bridges. I can mix and match; I can file this or change that; substitute this, modify that, etc. . . . . till I get a perfect fit.

When I do file a saddle it's on the underside of it (the flat side), so that I don't mess with the string "cradle" portion of the saddle. However, once again, it's up to the tech to decide on how he wants to approach it. But as you can see. you can really tweak to perfection your guitar by getting a little "parts" inventory going etc. . ., plus it's a lot of fun to boot.

 

[AndyK]

I do have a little arsenal of Floyd saddles, screws, string blocks, etc. But, not offset Gotoh saddles! I also would have no problem altering the saddle(s) to match the guitar radius, since this Floyd will always be on THIS guitar. Might as well make sure it fits.

If the EBMM tech team can't figure it out, I'll start filing when I get the guitar back.

 

[jvh]

woah woah hold up their cowboy! The EBMM team can figure it out. If you are sending it in just let them fix it. This isn't rocket science, but even at that these guys live and breathe guitar. I bet you their head guitar assembler has been doing this his whole life. I work around guys like this and trust me they know their stuff. The only problem you may run into is that the factory wants to fix it right and not do a patchwork job. So if they see a problem doing a cheapy fix then you're going to either have to pay the price, fix it yourself, or get the gypsys to do it.

 

[AndyK]

Update:

I got my guitar back from EBMM (see my NFD post)! The guitar is awesome, but the high e is still high!

I may have to start filing the bottom of the saddle after all.