Sterling AX40 setup help

[shpedly]

Hi folks. I need some help/info on a Sterling AX40. Been wanting to try a single action locking trem guitar for a while now, so I picked up a mint AX40 for cheap. Went to the Sterling website and got the setup specs. Neck relief was right on, action is now somewhere between 4 and 5/64s, and within the Sterling specs. Took it down to 4/64s and the g string buzzed pretty badly so I backed it off a hair. My question is about pickup height. Sterling says the spec for the pickup pole piece to string is 3-4mm low E and 2-3mm on the high E. They don’t say which pickup or do they mean both? I assume both like my Fenders and Gibsons. The neck pickup is significantly lower than the bridge and there is no way of getting close to that range. I backed it out to the point of the adjusting screw coming all the way out and still not close. Bridge pickup no problem. The other problem is that, both pickups are pitched/sprung forward to the neck and are far from being parallel to the strings. Lastly, and this may be my locking trem noobness, but the spring tension seems very stiff to me. Feels like if I dived and let go of the bar it would snap back like a mouse trap. I realize its not full floating so I dont suspect the spring tension should equal string tension, but whats the proper setup or tension? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[patpark]

send me an email at
patpark AT praxismusical DOT com and I can go over the set up specifics with you.

Thanks
Pat

 

[shpedly]

email sent. Thanks Pat.

 

[shpedly]

Well, Pat was "Johnny on the spot" and answered all my questions. Great customer service is just another reason to give one of these little gems a try.

 

[edhalen]

What instrument is used to measure the .010" for string relief? Conversion says that is .254 mm

I'd like to check over my new Silo30 to make sure it's within spec. I expect it is but want to check to make sure. I am getting some string buzz in spots.

thanks

 

[conan02919]

I love my AX40, and i do agree with you, the amount of force required to press down on the whammy bar seems to high, not sure why that is I bought mine brand new from GC so maybe after use it gets lighter?

 

[bazxkr]

What instrument is used to measure the .010" for string relief? Conversion says that is .254 mm

I'd like to check over my new Silo30 to make sure it's within spec. I expect it is but want to check to make sure. I am getting some string buzz in spots.

thanks

I use standard automobile feeler gauges available in most car places for measuring spark plug gaps

Cheers
Baz