Is this normal? Axis users please.

[blkcloud1313]

Hey guys, looking for a little advice. I usually play set neck guitars, non-trem, but recently got a nice Axis that I really love. What I am wondering is if the following is normal:

When I use the tremolo and significantly drop the strings, I hear a sort of creak or light pop at (best guess) the neck/body joint. This only happens after I haven't used the trem for a while, and doesn't do it on subsequent dives unless I wait several minutes between dives, then it occasionally does it. No cracks or finish issues at the joint, tuning doesn't seem to be an issue either.

Anyway, just wondering if this is a normal happening, or whether it warrants a call to customer service (I don't want to bug anyone unless you guys think it is worth looking into). What do you guys think? Do yours do this as well?

Thanks.

 

[TNT]

It's up to you to call CS (you didn't say if it was new or not).

It may be the truss rod "settling in" to the new tension. Did you tweak the truss rod when you dropped it down?

Whenever I adjust the truss rod, I always gently hit the neck a few times with the palm of my hand, so that the rod can get situated in the neck channel.

Could be the neck pocket bolts may be slightly loose too.

 

[beej]

Are you sure the creak is at the neck? Lots of places can make a little noise (saddles, springs, etc.), perhaps it's something else creaking?

 

[Chaka5150]

My Axis actually did the same thing....for a sometime i remember hearing a 'crack' kind of sound close to the neck joint...anytime i would bend the note higher up on the neck...it never sat well with me anyhoo, when i took my axis to replace pups (i know blasphemy, still regret it) and to get a general service done to it..voila! problem disappeared...haven't really thought about it until i saw your posting. I agree it might be a truss rod adjustment or something...

 

[blkcloud1313]

Hi all and thanks for the info. It is a new one, just received it a couple of weeks ago. I am 99% sure it is the neck that I hear the noise from. The neck pocket screws do not seem to be loose. I think the truss rod is probably the answer, but I am going to call CS today, just to get some info from them.

Thanks again.

 

[blkcloud1313]

Got it dialed in. I called Customer Service (I really didn't want to bug them), and AJ helped me out. There were a couple of neck joint screws slightly loose. Tightened them up and boom, problem solved. No more creaking/popping.

Thanks all, and thanks AJ.

 

[andynpeters]

Got it dialed in. I called Customer Service (I really didn't want to bug them), and AJ helped me out. There were a couple of neck joint screws slightly loose. Tightened them up and boom, problem solved. No more creaking/popping.

Thanks all, and thanks AJ.

It's been said before.....I'll say it again EBMM Customer Service is THE BEST (& believe me I've tried many alternatives!!!!)

 

[blkcloud1313]

I will agree with that; they helped a lot with the Axis that I had a couple of years back, and solved my issue this time with one phone call. Diezel amplification has great customer service as well (so if you can afford one of their amps, they are great guys to work with; I can't currently afford one), and I'd rank the 2 CS departments as the best I have dealt with too.

 

[lukather101]

I get the same thing when i take mine off the wall, its definatly coming from the neck pocket.
Also get it when i use the trem for the first time when i pick it up, doesn't bother me really

 

[threeminutesboy]

I get the same thing when i take mine off the wall, its definatly coming from the neck pocket.
Also get it when i use the trem for the first time when i pick it up, doesn't bother me really

if you hear that from the neck pocket it means the neck is moving

no? without over tighten the neck maybe you can tighten it a bit

 

[blkcloud1313]

It just turned out to be a couple of loose neck joint screws; didn't realize that they were loose. I tightened the screws up and the problem was solved. I guess I have a bit to learn about non-setneck guitars.

I get the same thing when i take mine off the wall, its definatly coming from the neck pocket.
Also get it when i use the trem for the first time when i pick it up, doesn't bother me really

 

[bbake1]

Just don't over tighten.

 

[ScoobySteve]

It just turned out to be a couple of loose neck joint screws; didn't realize that they were loose. I tightened the screws up and the problem was solved. I guess I have a bit to learn about non-setneck guitars.

It's not that, its just more than likely that the environmental, air, and pressure changes the wood goes through over its life can slightly affect it causing it to come loose. This is with virtually every instrument.

 

[beej]

Glad to hear it worked out. AJ is the man