floating trem on older axis sport?

[beachroadbum]

Hi guys,

I am wondering if it is possible to make the vintage style tremelo on my axis sport a floating trem? I tried last night and when I use only two springs in the back angled it's impossible to get the trem just right...it raises way too high...I added a third spring which is how it was when I bought it and I was able to raise the trem just a hair...so I was able to get just a tiny bit of upward movement.
I don't know...maybe the older axis sports you can't make them float? Any tips on how to set it up? I read the FAQ on how to set up an older luk model to float but it didn't help me.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

best,
Jared

 

[Jimmyb]

Hi Jared,

Welcome to the forums. You can make the trem on the Axis Sport float, in a similar way to the trem on the Luke floats. From memory, the Luke is set to give 3 semitones of upward pitch on the G, but I might be swrong with that. The Luke (mark 2) and the Sport both use the same EBMM vintage tremolo.

I've never tried it myself, but there are people here that should be able to give you some good advice on making it work.

 

[spkirby]

Two springs and screw in the trem claw screws deeper, or three springs and loosen off the trem claw springs. Easy!

As Jimmyb says its the same system as on the Luke and that is set to float by the factory so you should have no problems.

BTW Sports are cool!

 

[beachroadbum]

Thanks for the warm welcome Jimmy!

 

[beachroadbum]

Hey Now Steve,

Yeah I must be doing something wrong. This is my first time messing with the tremelo...I screwed the claws all the way into the wood with two springs and the bridge still raised too high up whenever I tuned to pitch. So in using three springs it is still considered a floating trem? Or is it considered a floating trem when only using two springs? haha...may seem like a dumb question but I am just not sure. When I adjusted it with using only two springs it seemed impossible to tune...whenever I tuned the low e a and d the g b and high e would go out of tune and vice versa.

 

[beachroadbum]

Yeah steve thanks for the nod on the older axis sport. About two years ago I searched high and low to find a new old stock and I found one online from washington music center...it was dropped and there was a nasty dent on the body and also there were a few hairline cracks in the finish near where the neck joins the body...but after calling musicman I was assured it was just a cosmetic flaw which was common...so all in all I got a beauty of a sunburst axis sport for 650 bucks brand new!!!
Washington had it on their rack forever. They set it up for me and it has played like a dream...but now I want to get that trem to float!

 

[spkirby]

Hey Now Steve,

Yeah I must be doing something wrong. This is my first time messing with the tremelo...I screwed the claws all the way into the wood with two springs and the bridge still raised too high up whenever I tuned to pitch. So in using three springs it is still considered a floating trem? Or is it considered a floating trem when only using two springs? haha...may seem like a dumb question but I am just not sure. When I adjusted it with using only two springs it seemed impossible to tune...whenever I tuned the low e a and d the g b and high e would go out of tune and vice versa.

The tuning problem you speak of is the nature of the beast with floating trems (with 1, 2 or 3 springs! ). Because everything is balanced when you start tuning one string you are adjusting the tension over the whole mechanism which throws other strings out of tune. There is an art to tuning a floating trem system but you also need patience. Try doing a google search to find tips...alternatively take it to a tech as for them it'd be a 5 minute job.

 

[beachroadbum]

ahh a whole new world!

 

[Spudmurphy]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I set up one of my Als to float and Spirkby is 100% on the button with his reply.

Floating trems have their disadvantages and tuning is one of them.
Another is when you bend a string it can put others out of tune - much like the above really.

It's all about getting the compromise in using 2 or 3 springs with adjustments needed to the claw.

Just watch you dont let a spring slip when you remove/insert them or when adjusting the claw - so many accidents to guitars are caused this way.

Let's see some pics of yer guitar??

 

[beachroadbum]

Hey Now,

Whoohoo...what did the trick was putting light guage strings on! Thanks for all the help guys...It's amazing how the vintage tremolo keeps the strings in tune! I will try to get a picture up soon!

 

[Kevan]

BeachRoad (and all other trem users/abusers like myself):
PUHLEASE clean and lubricate your trem posts and knife edges!!!
It *really* helps the trem come back to zero after each use.

Your trem- and your audience- will thank you.