taking off the shim on an Axis

[Tone?]

OK guys, a question for my new Axis guitar.

When i took the neck off to clean the neck i noticed that it had a metal shim on it.

The neck angle on the guitar is a tad too pronounced i think because of this. and as a result the guitar is a bit stiffer than i would like.

Of course the sucky thing is that taking it off would mean that i couldnt lower the action on the floyd cause it is set flush to the body.

Any ideas on how to take it off.

Before anyone goes into a shim doesnt alter the sound of a guitar it does and i totally believe it does. The more of the shim the tighter stronger and a bit more trebly the guitar is. The opposite makes the guitar a bit looser and losses a tad bit treble.

thanks guys!

 

[gerry d]

Tone, my Axis has the same shim.... and I took it out... but I couldn't get the action the way I wanted so back it went... what string guage are you using..??

 

[TonyEVH5150]

I wouldn't recommend removing the shim. It has a purpose there, and it's to help adjust the neck angle. If you remove it, it could make the action worse instead of better.

That's not to say that adjusting it's placement wouldn't improve the neck angle, or make the action more to your liking. I'd try some truss rod adjustments before I started messing with the shim. I'd only move the shim (not remove) if adjusting its placement improved the action.

 

[TonyEVH5150]

Edit and addition to the above post.

Most flush mounted Floyd guitars need a neck angle of at least 2 degrees, just to allow for the breaking angle of the strings coming off the saddles and going toward the nut. Without that angle, the strings fret out.

I know this from personal experience in a neck swap with another brand of guitar. Without the shim, the strings fretted out all the way up the neck. It sounded like a child's toy. I put in a couple of shims in the right spots, and whammo, my guitar sounded great. The action was dead on, and I could actually use all 22 frets.

 

[TNT]

Tony's right, and in addition, the Floyd Rose doesn't REALLY have a height adjustment mechanism!!

i.e., the trem "posts" are mainly to hold back the trem, and for wammy use. Yes, you can raise and lower the posts (but that actually only really SLANTS the trem plate back or forward). And, the trem plate should be level so that the strings sit in the saddle cradle correctly!

The Floyd Rose trem should always sit level at the post and while resting on the body (at the same time).

Shims in the neck pocket and/or shims under the individual saddles is what adjusts the string height action (also sanding the body where the trem plate rests if skilled.)

In conclusion, the "trem posts" are only for making the trem plate "level" while resting the rear of the trem on the body of the guitar.

 

[Tone?]

Yeah i dont think i will be able to take the shim off. I wonder if EBMM uses them on all Axis guitars??

Gerry i play with 10's. D'addarios.

 

[TonyEVH5150]

I think several others have taken their necks off and found those metal shims. Common practice, even with CNC machined bodies/necks. Even with the most precise cuts, small adjustments need to be made.

I have heard of people using everything from cardstock, razor blades, even cut up credit cards for shims. Tonally, I doubt it makes much difference what kind of shim is in there. I've heard several schools of thought on what to use for a shim in the neck pocket. Wood, metal, plastic.

 

[Tone?]

Yeah, i hear ya with the technical part. Even if things are done precisely those are awfully close tolerances you are playing with.

Just wanted the guitar to be a bit slinkier.

The shim is done totally precise as well so i wont mess with it or the material. it is top notch.

That is what wowed me so much about these guitars as well. The workmanship is top notch. Up there with any custom made instrument.
I am real anal retentive when it comes to finding flaws etc....and i could find a single one on the guitar. with the finish, the electronics, the setup or anything. really well done.
The neck pocket was almost perfectly tight. Not too much and not too little. really impressive.

I have a really good tech here that does real precise stuff for me and this was spot on.

Gibsons and fenders that are much more expensive dont nearly have the workmanship that the EBMM has. Hope EBMM never changes that. Cause over the time these things tend to slip sometimes.

Great work man! I feels like a handmade instrument.

 

[gerry d]

Yeah i dont think i will be able to take the shim off. I wonder if EBMM uses them on all Axis guitars??

Gerry i play with 10's. D'addarios.

Thats exactly what I use on my Axis... if anything I find the guitar too easy to play.... I think the shim is normal on EBMM's... I had one on my Luke... but I took it out and was able to get the action really good... my Axis is really light as well.. much lighter than my Luke...

 

[Tone?]

well i gave the neck some relief cause it had a bit of a upwards bow and it is slinkier now.

Some more tweaking and it will be great.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I have never taken any of my own necks off, so I dont know if the hard tail versions of these guitars have any shims.

 

[Astrofreq]

All my Axis SS's have a shim. I usually add a small slice of business card as well, to get action even lower. I usually remove one of the springs also, so bending is a breeze.

 

[TNT]

Tone,

Try some EB Slinky 10's, you'll love the difference between that and the brand you use!!