Need advice on Axis

[guitfiddle]

Helluva top on that one. Congrats!

 

[OU812]

Thanks a lot guys for the comments. I'm really enjoying this one. Lots of tones in it and it sounds huge when you open it up. She's not just a looker

 

[straycat113]

Real nice purchase=enjoy.

 

[OU812]

Quick question for anyone within EB/MM or some of the members who own Axis guitars that might know.

There is a shim underneath the locking nut pushing up the treble side, mainly B and high e strings. I'm experienced with Floyds as all my guitars have them and I know shims under the nut are sometimes common place, my other guitar has one as well. I'm wondering if these are installed at the factory or was this done after.

The shim is fairly thin and looks to be copper'ish in color what what I can see and is folded over (2 layers) right underneath the B and e strings and runs till about the A string or so. So its not covering the entire nut. The low E side is fine and the action is great, but I can tell the action on the high e is slightly higher then it should be, this is comparing it to my other guitar which has a flush mounted Floyd as well and is set up really well for me. It feels like the strings aren't where they should be, the last 2 anyways and sit up just slightly higher. I'm being very picky here, in no way do I have high action or anything like that but its noticeable and the shim being folded over like that makes me wonder whats up.

Anyways, some further info the Floyd on the Axis is sitting dead flat as it should and the guitar plays fine but that high e and B do feel higher and I'd like to get it lower. Is this common to do in the factory during setup? and if so just curious as to why.

I will try and take a good photo tomorrow and show what I'm talking about, much easier then to explain it.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

music-man-guitars | faq

There's a good starting point. As far as setting nut height, it would be best to contact customer service. You can call or email. I always email and get responses very quickly.

music-man-customer-service | contact-us
there's the email link

 

[OU812]

I will email customer service once I get some photos as well. The FAQ didn't have anything, but appreciate the help

 

[Slingy]

On the neck being really smooth, you can always re-sand and reapply the original wax blend to get the original feel. There's an official video around here somewhere on how to do it.

 

[Spudmurphy]

I'm late to this thread
I've refinished a couple of EB necks and I find that if too much Birchwood Casey wax is applied it will give a sheen that is not like the factory standard.

What I do now is just use the Bircwood Casey Gunstock Oil (not the wax) and I seem to get a finish much closer to the factory spec.

Looks a really nice guitar.

 

[dfrady]

Pacific Blueburst is one of my top 5 most liked colors. Awesome geetar friend!

 

[OU812]

The neck is fine actually, just need help with the nut. I might just take off the nut next time I restring and see whats really underneath try without it, if it doesn't work I can always put the shim back in.

 

[OU812]

Here's the shim in question. Sensitive camera, picked up every bit of dust as well and I hate that, I like to keep my guitars clean, time for a cleaning I guess lol.
Anyways you can see the shim being folded over right below the G string and the shim ending below the A string. Weird indeed.

 

[dfrady]

Interesting

 

[beej]

Ya, that's weird. Doesn't look like anything I've seen from the factory. If you feel comfortable, I'd certainly have a go at removing it and seeing how you make out.

 

[OU812]

Ya, that's weird. Doesn't look like anything I've seen from the factory. If you feel comfortable, I'd certainly have a go at removing it and seeing how you make out.

Yea that was my assumption as well, and very weird indeed. I'm sure you guys use shims in the factory, sometimes its necessary but I think in this case someone was messing around with it.

I took off the nut and uncovered 2 shims. Both shiny gold in colour. One was normal and the one on top was folded in half. That was the one placed underneath the treble side.
I removed both and started stringing it back up to see if it would work but no go, way too low at the D and G strings. I then added back one of the shims and put a fresh set of strings on. Its now very close to where I like it, actually a tad too low however no fret buzz (or very very minimal and normal for a low action electric). I might experiment further tomorrow and put back the second shim and see what it does to the action but have it unfolded like it should be. I think thats how it was originally.

 

[Colin]

How did I miss this thread? Great score!!!

 

[OU812]

Thanks Colin

My first EB/MM. I wanted an Axis for a while, then when I wasn't even looking for one (or any guitar for that matter) I randomly walked in a local music store and there she was hanging on the wall, second hand, clean as if she was new and at a good price. My jaw dropped and a few days later I bought it

 

[beej]

Worst case, you should be able to get a shim that's the right size. Give the CS folks a call, they can probably help you out.

I recall making a wooden shim years ago for one of my Floyd nuts- just sanded it down until it was exactly the right size with a belt sander. There's probably a better way to do it tho ...

 

[fatkatz77]

That is one beautiful guitar. Congrats on your purchase.

 

[Colin]

while those shims look a little crude they are doing the job.

 

[OU812]

while those shims look a little crude they are doing the job.

Yea a shim definitely needs to be there, but the second folded over one was screwing up the action. Now its perfect