Question Has anyone else seen this on their Axis?

[kimonostereo]

I've been loving my Black Magic Crystal Axis for the last few days. Fret sprout is gone and I can play it with ease. Wonderful guitar!

For an otherwise wonderful and perfect guitar, I've noticed a few things, and I was wondering if knuckleheads could shed some light.

The neck joint and contour of the neck don't match. Is this normal? All my other Balls are seamless.

While I haven't changed the strings yet, the nut seems to be off a bit near the lower strings. There is a gap between the locking nut and the fretboard. Since I haven't removed the strings, I can't tell if there is play to move it forward to close the gap.

There are also some brass shims under the locking nut. Two under the first three strings as seen here:

Just wondering if any of you have seen this on your instruments. I didn't notice this on my EVH but then again, that guitar was made a while back. Am I just too obsessive or are these things common?

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

Don't worry about the shims under the nut or the sculpting of the neck heel, it is normal! The shims are there to adjust the nut to the right string height, and I have seen them on virtually every Floyd equipped guitar that has come through the shop. Even my '87 Kramer has them. If you aren't the original owner of the EVH it is quite possible that someone may have removed them in the past 15 years.

If you have other concerns about the locking nut you should take it to a good tech or call EB CS 866-823-2255

 

[patpark]

all the Axis I have seen, the locking nut is mounted exactly the same. I think its is a way of compensating the locking nut so the lower strings get a longer string lengnth that helps with the overall intonation.

 

[kimonostereo]

Thanks! Good to know it's OK.

I wonder why the neck pocket and the contour don't line up perfectly though. Doesn't affect playability, so I guess it's OK!

 

[browndog]

I’ve never seen a neck joint like yours. All my Axis’s were perfectly seamless.

Concerns... you know what to do.

 

[bbake1]

I’ve never seen a neck joint like yours. All my Axis’s were perfectly seamless.

Concerns... you know what to do.

Same here.

 

[Slav123]

Looks a bit off, my Axi don't have that neck - neck pocket line up issue. I'm not sure if you can just remove it and shift it/reposition it a bit? I guess that you can always send it back to EBMM and get a new neck.

Good luck!
Slav

 

[patpark]

if the guitars plays and sounds good, I wouldn't send it back for that (neck heel). It doesn't affect playability and tone.

 

[kimonostereo]

I have no plans to part with her or take her apart.

Just wanted to know if this was common or not. I understand about the shims in the locking nut. Perhaps my EVH has them too, I just never took a good look. I guess I was thinking that EBMM was mostly computerized CNC so there wasn't a need for shims in the locking nut but I suppose the tolerances in the wood are there and the shims are being used as they should.

And yes, Pat is correct! It doesn't affect playability.

 

[straycat113]

Okay one thing I am is a straight shooter. Everything you have mentioned would be deemed normal except by the pictures your neck seems a bit off by the slightest of margins. I do not feel in anyway this would affect playability but is more of a mental distress issue. If you are fine with it go and rip it up but if it is going to nag at you call CS and I am sure they will advise you correctly.

When you have thousands upon thousands of guitars being turned out there will be issues every now and then. To be honest some companies are well known for certain issues. EBMM is at the top of the list in the quality department IMHO and my opinion is straight up, and also in just about every magazine review you will read on there guitars. I have never even seen one review that complained about a set up coming out of the box which is an issue I do not even pay attention to, as I feel it is nit picking because no one knows what weather changes and climates a guitar has gone through before it lands where it is supposed to go. But a lot of reviewers deduct points for this.

But as I stated I really cant see it affecting playability but the mind issue is your call.

 

[Slav123]

Looks a bit off, my Axi don't have that neck - neck pocket line up issue. I'm not sure if you can just remove it and shift it/reposition it a bit? I guess that you can always send it back to EBMM and get a new neck.

Good luck!
Slav

By " sending it back ", I meant the neck not the entire guitar! But, if you're cool with the locking nut gap (by the lower strings) and the neck heel offset, then there's no problem here. Enjoy your guitar bro!

All the best,
Slav

 

[GuitarHack]

FWIW, my Axis neck and nut aren't like that. I did have an Axis once that had the little brass shim visible. But like you say, and everyone agrees, if it plays and sounds great, no problem. Pics of mine are below.

That black sparkle finish is too cool!

 

[Astrofreq]

the edge on the neck pocket is nothing good sandpaper can't fix.

 

[Dante]

the edge on the neck pocket is nothing good sandpaper can't fix.

yeah, but that's not what's been asked.

and damn, they make the coolest colors

 

[douglasspears]

I've never seen anything like that. Neck joint or nut. That nut just looks jacked up and even bent, and the strings are going to the tuning pegs at weird angles. Honestly, I'm surpised you say it plays well, it doesn't look like it would to me.

$.02

 

[Jeff R]

The locking nut on my 09 Axis developed the same little fretboard gap and I traced to the nut's mounting screws being a little too loose.

I unlocked the clamps, detuned, loosened the mounting screws a little more, pushed the nut where it belonged and re-tightened the mounting screws. Fixed it.

 

[kimonostereo]

I've never seen anything like that. Neck joint or nut. That nut just looks jacked up and even bent, and the strings are going to the tuning pegs at weird angles. Honestly, I'm surpised you say it plays well, it doesn't look like it would to me.

$.02

LOL! The strings were put on incorrectly by Fing, although I'm positive it was an accident. I just never bothered to change them yet since I believe these are coated slinkys he put on right before shipping it off to me.

That said, I decided last night to redo the strings in and see if the nut is just off because it was loose. I figured with that small degree of space that it might just be off a bit and sure enough it was. Loosening the two hex screws on the back of the neck then adjusting it flush to the finger board fixed that problem.

Contacted AJ over at EBMM customer care and was told the neck joint was within spec.

 

[kimonostereo]

The locking nut on my 09 Axis developed the same little fretboard gap and I traced to the nut's mounting screws being a little too loose.

I unlocked the clamps, detuned, loosened the mounting screws a little more, pushed the nut where it belonged and re-tightened the mounting screws. Fixed it.

Hi Jeff!
Yep, thats what I ended up doing last night when I got home from work. All fixed here.