Floating Floyd on my Axis

[donbarzini]

Hello,

I just purchased a used Axis with the Musicman Floyd. I just realized that this Floyd has been set up to pull back as well and I do not like that because when I bend a string, the others are out of tune. Is it easy to set the bridge back to the original position, flush against the body? It also looks as if there are only (2) springs installed, I have a spare. I play EB Super Slinky 9's. Any directions would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Eddie Van Halen]

was it used? Because unless a previous owner changed the whammy bar then, i dont get it. Axis don't come with floating Floyds, just ones that lower pitch

 

[donbarzini]

Yes, I purchased a previously used Axis. It does have a Musicman Floyd however it is raised above the body rather than flush and I am not sure how to set it the way it originally was.

 

[Raz]

Just tighten the claw that holds the springs inplace, until the bridge rests on the body. Loosen the string tensions, then proceed. What I do is tune and tighten at the same time, that way when the bridge rests, its pretty well balanced...if you overtighten you'll have to use more force to 'DIVE'!

 

[bluebullet]

wait a minute is the bridge angled forward or is it level and floating if its level than you need to turn the pivot bolts in equally until the bridge is flat against the body and then if the action is too low whoever had it probably had the neck shimmed to keep the action low with the bridge raised to float. hopefully the bridge is just angled forward and you can just increase spring tension till the bridge rests flat then tighten till you can do a full bend without the other strings going flat. if you can contact who you bought it from maybe they can tell you if they shimmed the neck or not.

 

[donbarzini]

The neck was not shimmed, I do know that already. The bridge is level and floating, I am able to push down or lift up (1/2 step). Does this mean I can tighten the two allen head bolts on each side of the bridge until the bridge lays flush against the body? Will this cause any other problems with the set-up?

 

[bluebullet]

yes adjust them evenly till the bridge is flat on the body. if they did not shim the neck then your action on the upper frets is about to get alot better.

 

[Raz]

Errr, I guess I forgot that, I assumed that was a given...

 

[brentrocks]

when i got my kramer, they had the floyd raised up to float. they shimmed the neck though....i took the neck off and re-set it up myself. that was the first time i had the neck off a guitar. it all turned out ok though and it plays pretty good....

maybe i should open up my own guitar repair shop....NOT!!!

 

[donbarzini]

Thanks for the information guys. I'm going to bring my Axis to the local guitar tech tomorrow and have him set it up properly for me. As soon as I lowered the Floyd bridge, the guitar became unplayable, the strings were on the neck and the tension of the tremolo was much more resistant. I raised the bridge where it originally was and it is playable again. I think it will be worth the cost to have the Axis properly set up for me until I gain more experience to perform this myself.

 

[bluebullet]

they shimmed the neck thats why when you lowered the bridge the strings were to low

 

[donbarzini]

I guess so. So I'm assuming this can be un-shimmed? I really want to get this thing set up so the Floyd is mounted flush to the body like the factory originally would have set it up (non-floating) and the lowest possible action. I know the guitar tech locally is very good so I am hoping he should know what to do.

 

[bluebullet]

yes he will just take off the neck and remove the extra shims they do come from the factory with a shim in there just not as much as you have in there now.