Question Sterling AX40D owners or anyone that has any experience with one?

[Gomnana]

Yeh, it's over 1000 dollars in Korea! I got mine second hand, for 450 dollars. Really happy with my purchase.

The AX4's finish is also nothing like the AX40's. It just has a rather cheap looking photo quilt top. They are essentially just AX3 subs + a floyd. I actually own an AX3 sub, and it's a nice and versatile little guitar, but it's just not as good as the AX40D.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Yeh, it's over 1000 dollars in Korea! I got mine second hand, for 450 dollars. Really happy with my purchase.

The AX4's finish is also nothing like the AX40's. It just has a rather cheap looking photo quilt top. They are essentially just AX3 subs + a floyd. I actually own an AX3 sub, and it's a nice and versatile little guitar, but it's just not as good as the AX40D.

$450 used in your country was a very good deal! you were lucky since they go for $1000 new in your country!
Yes i prefer the AX40's maple veneer to the photo top on the AX4. it may not effect the tone since its veneer and is so thin but at least it is a piece of wood and the grain pattern will be more organic i would think compared to a photo top?

 

[Gomnana]

Yeh the finish looks lovely. The photo tops are not so great.

 

[SBMM]

AX40 and AX40D have sold quite amazing, actually.

There is no new finish for the AX40D this year, but AX40D-RRB (Ruby Red Burst) remains in the lineup for 2017.
It does indeed include a gig bag. The only version of AX40/AX40D that did not include a gig bag was the Guitar Center model AX40NB-TP, which is the "Fuscia" color model, although it's technical coloring was "Transparent Purple". The shading/color on that was chosen by upper management at GC as an exclusive model for GC/MF.

 

[Ed Hunter]

AX40 and AX40D have sold quite amazing, actually.

There is no new finish for the AX40D this year, but AX40D-RRB (Ruby Red Burst) remains in the lineup for 2017.

I just placed my order for one of the they had left so it will be here in a few days.
They are located in FL and i am very close in NJ so i wont take too long to get to me.
Cant wait to check it out.

 

[Ed Hunter]

It does indeed include a gig bag. The only version of AX40/AX40D that did not include a gig bag was the Guitar Center model AX40NB-TP

Hmmm??? The salesman JIM did NOT say anything about a gig bag?
Maybe because of the super low price($444.88 shipped!) they are not including one?
I am certainly not heartbroken over it.
I have a few gig bags here and will be getting EBMM case for it shortly.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Replay is a good dealer of ours. I'm sure you're gonna love it! Post pics when it arrives

Are the AX40D's tested and set up in the USA facility or where they are manufactured?
My concern for any guitar is fret work because that is the ONLY thing i do not work on myself.
Hopefully the AX40's have good fret work and a decent leveling and crowning.
The actual set up i do myself as i do with all my guitars(string height,intonation,neck relief,etc)

 

[Ed Hunter]

Seeing this pic, I have changed my statement from earlier!
The RED RUBY BURST is indeed VERY NICE! When seeing it next to the other finishes i actually do like it the most now!
Not that i don't still love that trans black one
in some of the other pics it looked more brownish and that is what was turning me off to it
in this pic it looks like it has more of a cranberry look to the red not brown.

 

[SBMM]

Ed, we do a full and complete setup here at our facility in Orange, CA on all the SBMM instruments.
It *should* come with a gigbag, but, at that price, I can't vouch for them selling it with the gigbag.
If you are getting an EBMM HSC for it, the part is 5983, same as the Axis.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Ed, we do a full and complete setup here at our facility in Orange, CA on all the SBMM instruments.
It *should* come with a gigbag, but, at that price, I can't vouch for them selling it with the gigbag.
If you are getting an EBMM HSC for it, the part is 5983, same as the Axis.

Great to hear they are given a once over in the USA and
Yeah that's what i figured about no gigbag beong included at $445 shipped i am not even worrying about a gigbag
I mean it would have cost me $750 if i had dealt with another retailer so a gig bag
is not a concern. Even if i had to buy the GB it would still only come to $545 total($100 for EBMM gigbag + $445 for the AX40)
I would have not taken the guitar out to jam with friends or whatever without a Hard case anyway.
That is a no no in my world. no guitar leaves my room without a HSC. Thanks for the reply and part number for the case

 

[SBMM]

That's how we roll! You're very welcome!

 

[Ed Hunter]

That's how we roll! You're very welcome!

Well those two ruby red's Replay had left are now gone! someone grabbed the last one right after i ordered mine!
Mine should be here by saturday,cant wait.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Well i got the AX40D on saturday and am just now getting around to posting about it because
all did not go that great and to be honest was not really in the best of moods to be posting about it.
Bottom line is,
The guitar needs work I probably should send it back but it is fixable and i only paid $455 shipped.
First thing i noticed right off was is even with the floyd bridge set to its lowest height the action was unacceptably high.
low E was 5mm and high E 4mm off the board at the 22nd fret.
That may be Ok for stevie ray vaughan but i play with a much lower action than that.
This was caused by the neck not having any angle off the body but was a very easy fix with a shim.
But the point is it should not have been shipped like that in the first place.
I am very disappointed that this was allowed to slip through QC in this state
Second issue the frets , There is excessive fret buzzing and dead chocked notes even with the action set higher.
The neck is going to need a light fret level and dressing, there is no other way around it.
I do all my own work on guitars except frets so i have a tech that will do that for $100.
other than those two things the guitar is pretty good overall.
The dimarzio's sound incredible as they should and it has a nice comfortable neck with a bare wood feel(so glad there was no gloss on the neck!) The floyd licensed trem appears to be of very good quality,very solid looking and feeling and is a copy of the Gotoh i think. The string height at the nut are good and that was a plus.
finish is excellent as is the binding and has a nice quilt pattern.
Overall it is a very good guitar and had it not had those two issues i would have given this a 5 out of 5 star rating easily!
Once i get the frets leveled and dressed it will be a killer playing guitar.
it did come with a Gigbag so would i pay $750? No not a chance! but for what i will wind up paying total($550)
It will be a really amazing guitar.

 

[beej]

Did you adjust the truss rod first? Sometimes the change in humidity from shipping locations necessitates a slight adjustment, rather than touching the bridge height or neck position. What you're suggesting is pretty major.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Did you adjust the truss rod first? Sometimes the change in humidity from shipping locations necessitates a slight adjustment, rather than touching the bridge height or neck position. What you're suggesting is pretty major.

Yes, I adjusted the neck to my prefered amount of relief as i do with all my guitars.
I prefer to have about 0.11 relief at the 7th-9th fret area.
and when the floyd was set to its lowest height the action was still much too high.
Shimming the neck solved this but not the fret buzz and choked notes that will require a minor fret level+ polish
Since they are new frets and not worn at all the tech will only have to do a "Light" level and then repolish them.
They will not need to be re-crowned since he will not be taking much off the tops of the frets.
it is a very easy job for any tech that does fret work.

 

[DrKev]

I would imagine if the frets needed work that you'd have it fixed under warranty. Get in touch with your dealer or SBMM customer service.

 

[Ed Hunter]

I would imagine if the frets needed work that you'd have it fixed under warranty. Get in touch with your dealer or SBMM customer service.

I can call the dealer and see what he say's. Thanks

 

[SBMM]

Ed, I'll be more than happy to take care of you directly if the need arises. Please keep me in the loop. You can email me directly at [email protected] I don't want your experience with SBMM to be any less than stunning.

 

[pmcfee]

Just bought one, I will definitely be removing at least 1 spring off the tremelo, WAY too stiff. Looks awesome, will update once I get my guy to set it up properly.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Just bought one, I will definitely be removing at least 1 spring off the tremelo, WAY too stiff. Looks awesome, will update once I get my guy to set it up properly.

yes i have the same issue and removing a spring helped a little BUT the trem is still not as Loose feeling and silky as a Gotoh or standard FR.
Maybe i am spoiled by the feel of the original edge on my old RG's or
Maybe it is the springs that are used by sterling? They may be the extra stiff types which ironically enough are actually offered now for FR systems.
Guitar Spring Upgrades
I am considering going to the "Light style springs and using 3 with the outer two making the V shape IF it feels too loose.