Need some help with Axis setup please!

[Jammin86]

All I've heard are great things about factory setups on MM guitars but unfortunately mine wasn't set up too well. The bridge was not flush, the springs were very loose (bridge off the body at 1/2 step bend, etc.) Anyhoo I have followed the setup instructions to no avail. The action was just about right when the bridge wasn't flush, because the front of the bridge was higher, but now the action is too low and I get buzzing at many points of the fretboard depending on the amount of relief I put in the neck. A guitar tech from a dealer advised me to leave the bridge as it would mess up my action, but I know a non-flush bridge is not the solution to an action problem. I am thinking it is time to have a a professional set it up. A couple questions:

1. Does the factory do setups on their guitars after they leave the factory? (I am not too far in California)

2. If not, does anyone know a good place to have my Axis set up in Central or Northern CA? (Preferably an EBMM dealer)

3. Does anyone know a place where I might be able to watch this setup as I would prefer to work on my own guitars but am new to EBMM?

Thanks guys any opinions welcome.

 

[s6275]

You contacted Customer Service before you posted this, right? 866-823-2255. I'm in the midst of having an issue with my Axis addressed, and they have been more than accommodating so far. Plus, it's bad manners to post what you think might be a customer service issue on the message board before you've given them a chance to address it. My experience so far has been flawless. I would recommend that you call the number.

How long have you had your guitar? Did you buy it new, from an authorized dealer?

 

[Jammin86]

I apologize if I offended anyone, I just figured CS has enough to deal with besides setup issues. Anyways, yes I did buy it new about three weeks ago from an authorized dealer, but it was an online purchase so I can't really take it to them.

 

[Spudmurphy]

All I've heard are great things about factory setups on MM guitars but unfortunately mine wasn't set up too well. The bridge was not flush, the springs were very loose (bridge off the body at 1/2 step bend, etc.) Anyhoo I have followed the setup instructions to no avail. The action was just about right when the bridge wasn't flush, because the front of the bridge was higher, but now the action is too low and I get buzzing at many points of the fretboard depending on the amount of relief I put in the neck. A guitar tech from a dealer advised me to leave the bridge as it would mess up my action, but I know a non-flush bridge is not the solution to an action problem. I am thinking it is time to have a a professional set it up. A couple questions:

1. Does the factory do setups on their guitars after they leave the factory? (I am not too far in California)

2. If not, does anyone know a good place to have my Axis set up in Central or Northern CA? (Preferably an EBMM dealer)

3. Does anyone know a place where I might be able to watch this setup as I would prefer to work on my own guitars but am new to EBMM?

Thanks guys any opinions welcome.

The first thing you need to consider is "do you want the trem flush or floating?

If you want it flush then take off the back plate, and screw the claw - probably right in, if you are using 2 springs - careful - 'cos a slipped screwdriver can cause a few scratches.

If you want to add a stpring, slacken off your strings a bit first and it will help you when you add the spring to the trem block.

Once you have got the trem sorted, (and I have assumed that it is a MM trem)
you need to ensure the action is set up as low/high as you want it.
It's a misnomer that the truss rod will radically alter the string height. You need to have your saddle heights adjusted close to how you want your action and also following the radius of your neck. You would then use the truss rod adjuster to give the neck some relief ( a concave bend) to get the action set up just so.

I would also recommend you try customer service first, but any reputable guitar guy should be able to set that up for you. I wish you were in Cardiff because I could recommend the guy.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

 

[GuitarHack]

You need to have your saddle heights adjusted close to how you want your action and also following the radius of your neck.

An Axis has no saddle height adjustment...therein lies the problem. The factory setup is done with shims in the neck pocket and under the nut.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Aha - yes, my bad I overlooked that small problem!!
'Twas basing it on an AL type set up
- Wonder why the guitar was designed in such a way? - oh well nothing to do with me.

In that case, unless you want to play with some brass shimstock - or get some shims from EB CS, then leave well alone and get it done by a pro.

Ya learn something every day don't ya!!

 

[GuitarHack]

I'd try a call to Customer Service, they are fantastic about stuff like this. Who better to get your Axis squared away?

Spud, I agree with you...setting up the AL, ASS, Silo, it spoils you. I told a story here a couple weeks ago about how I tweak my guitar teacher who has to take the neck off his Tele to adjust the truss rod.

 

[Larry]

I still don't see who would buy a guitar that you have to take the neck off to adjust

 

[GuitarHack]

Well, it is an old Tele....I don't know if the new ones are still like that.

 

[candid_x]

Lot of new Fenders are that way. I was close to getting a Robert Cray Strat, despite their notoriously fat neck, but I when I discovered that the neck must come off to adjust the truss I scraped the idea. My last Warmoth/Allparts Strat was the same way. I gigged a party with it and the neck had decided to bow that night. No way I could take the time to remove and adjust while at the gig, making it extremely hard to play in the middle frets. That was the end of that for me. My next guitar was a Silo Special.

Never knew the saddle height isn't adjustable on an Axis.