Floyd Rose Set on Axis HELP!!!

[ejh8]

One Sunday morning before coffee, I got stupid and changed the strings on my EBMM Axis. And how was that stupid? Because I removed EVERY string at the same time instead of just one at a time like I was supposed.

Needless to say, the Floyd Rose, floating as it is, fell apart. What a mess! The 5 minute job took over two hours of stressful re-setup.

The tremolo never went back on correctly, specifically, the Tremolo bar feels lower, or closer, to the body. I liked it raised up a little higher. Also, I like the tremolo to dive only and the dive isn't quite as it was. The Floyd Rose is raised a little. I've tried to screw the claw in closer and closer, but I worry if I am not going to damage the body from the inside.

The springs also fell off, and I do not know how they should be installed. There are two springs on this guitar with size 9 strings. I re-setup the springs to the 2nd and 4th hooks., not knowing how they are factory installed.

My question is where should the springs hook, or does it matter? Does this tremolo need a third spring? I am only using 9 strings and I like the ease of the two springs. This is a guitar where I really like to utilize the Floyd - I mean if I just wanted a "little" vibrator on the tremolo I'd use a friggin Strat!

Any advice is much appreciated!

Thanks!
Eric

 

[ejh8]

I should add that the Tremolo feels like it is lifting a little, and I can pull back on it to sit it flush with the strings loosened. It seems not sit flush to the body, and instead is raised just a slight bit.

Thanks!

 

[TNT]

Wow, your sure made a big mess out of what was supposed to be a relaxed "coffee" break!! Geez, I can't believe it!!

Sounds like something I'd do!

After I have my coffee I'll come back on and post if no one else does. Be patient, you'll get it back to normal.

 

[jim1h]

take it to a pro mate before you screw it up completely, just swallow your pride otherwise you may regret it, bloody expensive coffee break.

 

[shredderbetter]

ouch~~~ always change a string at a time!!!!did you use the same guage strings??if you changed it may throw off the springs on the trem and cause more pressure problems? If you take off the big plate there is usally 2 or 3 springs depending on tuning and guage the spring screws need to be tightened to pull pressure against the trem block making it bottom out on guitar body face(on axis) the posts of trem should have the plate sitting in the "V" section of the trem posts,sometimes those shift when all the tension is off the trems the springs pull it away from the posts,good luck! Also if you screwed the posts too deep it will cause the trem to ride up~ try to level the posts and trem plate bottom to the face of the guitar then you can adjust from there with spring /string tension!2nd and 4th are fine you may find that straight as opposed to angle have more "power" to them but tension is tension,some of my 13 axii run 2 springs some 3 depend on tuning and spring strength itself!

 

[TNT]

Ejhj,

You happen to be anywhere in Northern Calif?

 

[Lord Toneking]

I've been taking off all my strings on my Axis for over 3 yrs and it has never been an issue. I like to really scrub the filth off the neck and it's alot easier without the strings on. I also take off the Floyd so it won't jump off the posts and scatch the body, plus I like to clean it and the body arounf the Floyd on the hard to reach areas.

Get you some needle nose pliers to get your springs back on. Mine only has 2 springs and with 440 tuning it's fine...you may need to screw in the claw if your Floyd is still not flush...it's all very simple

 

[shredderbetter]

I'm not saying you CAN'T remove all the strings but based on 25 1/2 scale and typical 440a tuning by taking all strings off you remove 120+ lbs of pressure on/off the neck hopefully you drop the tuning before you cut them otherwise it would be like jumping up and down on your guitar neck~each string has about 25 lbs of force on them so I'd HIGHLY advise the one string approach and drop the tuning not just cut it,but to each his/her own it's your guitar treat it how YOU want.For the sake of longevity the one at a time is the way to go!

 

[RobW]

One of these makes putting the springs back on a TON easier:

Tremolo Spring Tool

 

[ejh8]

No, sorry, in Patriots Nation here - 3k miles away.

 

[ejh8]

I've been taking off all my strings on my Axis for over 3 yrs and it has never been an issue. I like to really scrub the filth off the neck and it's alot easier without the strings on. I also take off the Floyd so it won't jump off the posts and scatch the body, plus I like to clean it and the body arounf the Floyd on the hard to reach areas.

Get you some needle nose pliers to get your springs back on. Mine only has 2 springs and with 440 tuning it's fine...you may need to screw in the claw if your Floyd is still not flush...it's all very simple

I think that might have been my plan, to clean up the neck and lemon oil it. Either way, it was a bit of a mistake at the time.

 

[ejh8]

One of these makes putting the springs back on a TON easier:

Tremolo Spring Tool

Wow, nice! I am ordering one now. I wish I had that before!

 

[ejh8]

Just an update:

I managed to fix the trem yesterday (insert crowd cheers here). I must have found the right balance of string and spring tension. The tremolo now sits flush, doesn't set weird after being using, the strings are in tune, the dive works ok, and I didn't add a blemish to the guitar. All is well in the Family.

Thanks for the advice. Had I not fixed it, to the Professional it would have gone for sure.

One question is about the springs and where they hook to the claw. Mine has 2 springs and they are hooked to the 2nd and 4th hooks. Does anyone have something different on theirs? Does it make much of a difference?

Thanks!

"I will only ever change one string at a time. I will only ever change one string at a time..."