Hello and a question

[gearjunkie]

Hey guys, I'm a long time guitar player (20+ years now) and I have owed quite a few guitars over the years, but I never liked the look of Ernie ball guitars so I always stayed away from them. Over the last 10 years or so I've occasionally picked up various models and I was so damn impressed with the playability and the fantastic necks they have, I guess it planted a seed. About a year ago I pulled an Axis off the shelf and couldn't put the thing down. I kept going back to the shop and playing it. With age and changing tastes I think its a beautiful guitar now. So I had to bite the bullet and order one. For me personally I think the Axis is the perfect guitar. I'm Glad to be part of the group!!! So my question is: Is the bridge actually "blocked" so it can't pull up, or is it just a matter of space because the body isn't routed? (Just wondering, my Steve Vai days are behind me now)

 

[Stratty316]

The trem is designed to sit on the body for maximum sustain and therefore only "dive" on the Axis. There are ways to make it float, but I would say just leave it alone. I have seen people route them and play with the trem but most come back and say they should have never messed with it and end up returning it to stock... if they can.


Also, CONGRATS and welcome to the family... the Axis is amazing! as are all the Balls...

 

[Voo]

welcome to the family

 

[e.mate]

Welcome to the family, brother

I think the basic concept for Axis/ASS is, to have the Trem sitting directly on the body top, and there are advantages. I am playing for more than 25 yrs now, and I had it all - FR floating, Wilkinson floating etc. I got rid of a guitar that I loved very much due ito its handling features, but at some stage I just couldn't stand the floating FR anymore, with all the detuning and lack of sustain problems. The floating Wilkinson was better, but still there was a sustain issue.

I then swapped to a Yamaha RGX with Piezo and Gotoh trem, which was slightly floating (most propably because the piezo bridge should not touch the body's maple surface during trem usage). However, this guitar had different construction features, so the sustain issue was minimized.

When I got the ASS that was a whole new world, very direct attack and huge sustain. I played nothing like it before.

Now, before some brothers rush in and shout that you cannot compare piezo and standard trem, let me just say: I know I justed wanted to illustrate, that you "pay" the powerful sound with lack of trem upbending. At least for me, that's okay....I can still bend the strings with my left hand

 

[Coffeemug]

Welcome aboard and congrats on ordering an Axis...stick around and show us some pics once you receive it!

 

[colinboy]

welcome and congrats!

 

[nobozos]

All the Floyds that I've seen on EBMM guitars are top-mounted (only able to dive). The good news is that the Petrucci is a floating trem, and the tuning is extremely stable. It's not a double locking trem, but rather uses locking tuners. I've played a Petrucci, and abused the trem, and it's right back in tune. It's pretty amazing for a non-double locking trem.

 

[John C]

All the Floyds that I've seen on EBMM guitars are top-mounted (only able to dive). The good news is that the Petrucci is a floating trem, and the tuning is extremely stable. It's not a double locking trem, but rather uses locking tuners. I've played a Petrucci, and abused the trem, and it's right back in tune. It's pretty amazing for a non-double locking trem.

There have been a couple of previous EBMM models with floating Floyds, but they are pretty hard to find these days:

1. The original Luke had a routed/floating Floyd; I think these were only made for about 5 years or so before it was replaced by the current version with the vintage trem/locking tuners. The current Luke bridge is set to float, but it floats like a Strat (base plate at an angle) instead of having a route like the original Floyd-equipped Lukes or the JP (as nobozos describes above).

2. The Silhouette had a routed/floating Floyd as the trem option circa 1992-1996. Last month there were actually two of these up in the "Sale" thread; first time I've seen two come up for sale at the same time in about 15 years.

I believe the Steve Morse now has the routed/floating Floyd - at least when you to the Music Man site and mouse over the color options the black Morse that pops up has a routed/floating Floyd. The Morse used to be like the Axis - dive only - and I believe I read in another thread here that this was a very recent change. I'm not sure about the Morse Y2D; it might still be dive only so they don't have to route into the maple top.

And while they aren't a Floyd bridge, the original Schaller trem used on Silhouettes in the 1980s also was set to have some movement to raise the bridge, but that is one of those Kahler-style single locking trems with roller saddles.

 

[Ripper]

^ Adding on to what John is sayin, some special issue of silo and silo spec with floyd in Japan..

 

[Adamr]

ive had my axis setup to float mate if it helps any it can be done pretty easily although i was to cowardly to try it myself. u have to put a shim in the neck i believe and then raise it up from there. but its very stable when done. but to be honest with you. im thinking of getting it set back to original. you do loose the sustain a bit more than i thought and ive got a bit of excessive string buzz. but it still sounds great but maybe not as good as it used to . but u will see when u get it. i have a jp6 now aswell so that takes care of my pull up metal shreddy stuff.

 

[tommydude]

Welcome !

I posted some pics of the routing job I had done to my Axis to get it to "float". As you mentioned, can get the Vai sounds!! The work done to my Axis makes it unique, but my other Axis/EVH will not have that done.

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-guitars/40275-overdue-introduction.html

Don't forget to post some pics of your Axis when it arrives !!

 

[gearjunkie]

Hey guys thanks for all the replies! Let me clarify: I don't intend to do anything to the guitar and I don't mind the floyd being blocked or whatever. I've always used Floyd equipped guitars so I like the feel they have and the tuning stability. I never was a dive bomb/pull up kind of guy. With most of my guitars I took the bar out altogether. I was just wondering because the specs say "Dive only" so I was wondering if it was blocked in some way thats all. I'm pretty stoked!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll post pics when I get it.

 

[tornandfrayed]

welcome gearjunkie, your on the right track leave it like it is and you will be happy!