*Musicman Axis Help (Please Help)*

[Kokanee]

Hello, I'm new here.

I did some search on the net but I couldn't find any answers to my problems. Also, it's kind of hard to search when you have half of your search results turning out to be for Axis SS when typing "Musicman Axis xxxxx".

Anyways, I have two problems with my Musicman Axis guitar.

After months and months of delaying, I just recently got it professionally set-up. After I brought it home, I noticed that the 1st position (left) of the tone switch has major a volume drop when compared to other positions; I just don't remember it being that drastic.

So, I've tried to compare with other guitarists playing the Axis in youtube clips and found their guitars to have the drop but not as drastic as mine. It could have been the clip, but it didn't sound that drastic. On high gain settings, I can't even get a descent, thick tone on the 1st position.

This another problem is with the other positions on the tone switch. On high gain setting, have any you Axis owners felt that there were not much tonal differences between the middle (2nd) position and the right (3rd) position?

My final problem is with the whammy bar. It's very hard to push down, is this normal? I haven't played this guitar for a while... So I cannot remember what it was like. The push has to be quite forceful to achieve any kind of pitch drop and subtle whammy vibrato is extremely hard to pull off.

I was going to phone the shop and ask them these same questions, but they aren't open on Saturdays and Sundays.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long read, and thanks in advance.

Have a great day guys.


ps. Does anyone know whether a Peavey Wolfgang hard-case can hold a Musicman Axis? If not, anyone know whether I could buy a smaller hard-case for my Axis? I'm trying to bring the guitar out of the country and on-board a plane. Has anyone tried that before?

pps. I, stupidly, broke off the fine tuning screws on my floyd-rose bridge, the guitar tech. said, the only way to fix it was to replace the whole bridge. I remember seeing a TV commercial selling a screw-driver specifically designed to take out broken bolts or screws out of a surface. Anyone know anything about it? Is there another way to take those broken screws out of the bridge?

 

[Jack FFR1846]

You broke the fine tuner screws??

I have noticed no volume drop going from the bridge to neck pickup. None. The middle position is both pickups and yes, I hear a huge difference.

The amount of effort to push the trem bar is directly related to the number and tension of the springs. With the decked trem, you can get really high tension because tuning isn't screwed up like a floating bridge would be. I see lots of people go to 2 springs. I almost never use the trem, so am at 3, tightened down a bit more than normal so I can bend 2 tones with no trem movement.

A tech didn't ask you about adjusting the springs or replacing the screws before he set up your guitar? I would wonder if someone changed the wiring on your guitar at some point (assuming you bought it new) and maybe made the neck a split, so only one coil is putting out.

As for the screws, I would think that you could remove them with your fingers. They don't tend to be really tightly in there. Bring the guitar to a good hardware store and get some kind of screws to replace what's there. Bring a picture of a floyd trem with you. I've found some pretty great stuff at good hardware stores.

 

[beej]

As mentioned ... the trem tension is easily adjusted. That's something you can do yourself.

On the electronics ... something is wrong. I would start with your tech, but something isn't right.

You can always contact the MM customer service dept, they can help you diagnose the problem, and potentially hook you up with a better repair facility in your area (as it sounds you might need a new tech).

 

[tommydude]

Wiring for pickups could have been messed with by previous owner. Sounds like pickup out-of-phase...

Call Customer Service for Authorized Technition.

 

[Kokanee]

Thanks again to all of you.

I took my Axis to the same technician yesterday.

The front, bridge pickup was broken. Specifically, half of it was damaged. The output isn't totally gone, but it's probably half of the original output. I bought this guitar new and never had/heard of that particular problem even a month ago, at least with my Axis.

So it could have been my fault for tampering with the height of the front pickup; actually tilting it to the side some time ago. The technician mentioned that by doing so, I could have screwed up; however I think that's hardly the case.

This guitar is an excellent guitar and very well constructed too, so I don't know how this could have happened.

I don't want to blame the guy, as I don't have any proof of his mistakes. Also, I didn't say anything to his face in regards to my suspicion, but he didn't even mention that half of my front pickup was broken. He, as an experience guitar technician, definitely could have told me this as he was calling me before I picked up the guitar.

The way he checked my front pickup's magnetic output was so simple, he touched the tip of the screwdriver onto the magnetic poles to actually hear the noise level difference in the output. So, I think, this is a kind of thing that couldn't have been overlooked. My request very was simple; check everything, including the electronics.

What do you guys think?

 

[Spudmurphy]

Issues with a New guitar should be taken up with the EB dealer first, then if that can't be resolved the issue should be taken up with Ernie Ball Customer Service. If I was you, I would definately contact CS before you do anything else

 

[Kokanee]

I bought this guitar new in 2001 or 2002. So, warranty is void, lol.

I visited three different guitar techs, so far they could not identity what is happening with my guitar. Yes, I will contact Ernie Ball about this but I'm not sure if they can give me a different answer.

Anyways, I heard Axis pickups cannot be purchased separately without the guitar, is this true? If so, anyone know how I can just purchase the original front pickup only?

Thanks and happy new year.

 

[beej]

Though you can't buy extra parts, you can replace broken ones. You have to send the originals in, but they'll send suitable replacements back. Talk to the Cust Serv guys about it.

 

[fatkatz77]

Hello, I'm new here.

I did some search on the net but I couldn't find any answers to my problems. Also, it's kind of hard to search when you have half of your search results turning out to be for Axis SS when typing "Musicman Axis xxxxx".

Anyways, I have two problems with my Musicman Axis guitar.

After months and months of delaying, I just recently got it professionally set-up. After I brought it home, I noticed that the 1st position (left) of the tone switch has major a volume drop when compared to other positions; I just don't remember it being that drastic.

So, I've tried to compare with other guitarists playing the Axis in youtube clips and found their guitars to have the drop but not as drastic as mine. It could have been the clip, but it didn't sound that drastic. On high gain settings, I can't even get a descent, thick tone on the 1st position.

This another problem is with the other positions on the tone switch. On high gain setting, have any you Axis owners felt that there were not much tonal differences between the middle (2nd) position and the right (3rd) position?

My final problem is with the whammy bar. It's very hard to push down, is this normal? I haven't played this guitar for a while... So I cannot remember what it was like. The push has to be quite forceful to achieve any kind of pitch drop and subtle whammy vibrato is extremely hard to pull off.

I was going to phone the shop and ask them these same questions, but they aren't open on Saturdays and Sundays.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long read, and thanks in advance.

Have a great day guys.


ps. Does anyone know whether a Peavey Wolfgang hard-case can hold a Musicman Axis? If not, anyone know whether I could buy a smaller hard-case for my Axis? I'm trying to bring the guitar out of the country and on-board a plane. Has anyone tried that before?

pps. I, stupidly, broke off the fine tuning screws on my floyd-rose bridge, the guitar tech. said, the only way to fix it was to replace the whole bridge. I remember seeing a TV commercial selling a screw-driver specifically designed to take out broken bolts or screws out of a surface. Anyone know anything about it? Is there another way to take those broken screws out of the bridge?

Definitely something wrong with your electronics. I have never noticed a volume drop on any settings of the pickup selector on any of my Axis guitars. As others have said for the wammy bar make adjustments to your springs that should help make it easier to push down.