Moving trem "bolt" question

[spkirby]

See photo to see what I'm talking about...

http://kirbysite.users.btopenworld.com/trembolt.jpg

The "bolt" that holds the trem bar onto the main body of the floyd rose seems slightly loose on my axis. When the trem bar is rotated (ie when swiveling the bar from lying dormant into normal playing position) the "bolt" swivels slightly too, when I lower or raise the bar there is a fraction of an inch movement back/forth there too.

I forced the bridge down and attempted to tighten the bolt on the underside of the bridge but it is real tight and I dont want to force it.

Is this normal? What can be done if it isnt?

Thanks
Steve

 

[PurpleSport]

Steve, my Axis Sport is a hardtail, but what you describe sounds quite familiar based on my experience with my own Floyd-ed guitars.

I believe the EVHs and Axes use a Gotoh version of the Floyd Rose, which uses an arm like the original units, which were notorius for being sloppy like this. I believe this was done by design at EVH's request - I understand he likes that annoying play in there, I guess from habit, but I always hated it like you apparently do.

My suggestion is to head down to your nearest music store with a good supply of retrofit guitar parts and get a screw-in replacement arm - it has a metal cap on the end that screws onto a corresponding anchor that stays permanently attached to the trem. Should set you back only about ten bucks more or less. It's probably easy to install on your own if the holes on the trem baseplate are the same diameters (you might have to use a drill bit or have a luthier open the hole up a fraction to make it fit).

I know Schaller makes these, and I think some other manufacturers like AllParts do too (dunno about EB/MM), as I had this done on my Ibanez JEM. Next to the D-Tuna, it's probably one of the best aftermarket mods for the Floyd, and I think most guitars with FR-based trems out there have this feature now. If you can't find the part, or can't figure out what I'm describing here, just look on any new shredder guitar and I'm sure you'll probably find one with it.

Good luck!

 

[spkirby]

Thanks for the reply PurpleSport...yep I sure hate that play too. I have one other "floyded" guitar, a washburn (eeek I know!), but there is no play and I guess thats what I'm used too!

So Q1: This might be a simple question, but maybe I'm simple ...how do you remove the trem bar from the axis.

Q2: Any other floyd-ed axis owners out there can confirm or deny "play" in the bolt at the bottom of the bar?

Thanks
Steve

 

[Jimi D]

Yes, there is supposed to be play in the trem arm - it was designed that way so you could palm it while playing and not move the tremolo, and since the trem was set against the top of the guitar (no up pull), it doesn't really affect the trem's performance... This is what EVH wanted, and we live with that legacy today

To remove the arm you have to go into the trem cavity in the back of the guitar and loosen the bolt fixed to the bottom of the trem arm support... or so I've been told - I've never actually bothered to do it myself.

 

[hendmik]

I don't think he's talking about the play in the bar itself, but in the casing that resembles a bolt, around it.

I had the same thing on my Axis too. I removed the Floyd and cranked the sucker down, so when I move the bar, the bolt doesn't move either. It felt tight, but I felt bold and gave it an extra crank.

It didn't effect playability nor does it effect the bar swing in the least bit, but it's nice to know all your hardware is securly fastened.