Think the Axis is designed for 9's optimumly

[Tone?]

So i am getting into my Axis more and more which is cool.

Latest tweak i did was ease off on the string tree thingy ( retainer) for the floyd.
I did this to get the fricken strings to be more loose. I play with 10's and with a floyd setup its pretty stiff compared to a vintage trem.

So easing off on the retainer did help alot. Made the strings looser and sounds warmer and thicker. The retainer was real low for 10's.
Now many people may think this is nit picky but it aint. the way the strings feel makes alot of the tone. if they are too tight they get thin and brittle. Too loose and they loose definition.

So it sounded much better after that tweak but more tuned down low to Eb.
My fingers are tired and sore from playing and tweaking due to my new guitar, so i will see if i might try out 9's on this baby. I cant mess with my fingers too much cause they have see too many miles over the years.

So i was wondering if the guitar was designed with 9's in mind more. That is what Ed uses so it makes sense.

 

[TonyEVH5150]

It's sent from the factory with 9's. To help it work with 10's, you can adjust the trem claw screws, and there may be a slight truss rod adjustment from the added tension.

The string retainer bar is there to help with string pull. the angle coming off the locking nut is a bit high, and the retainer bar is there to bring the strings down to a better height. I don't think it plays that much of a part in overall tension in a double-locking trem system.

My biggest keys in a Floyd Rose system are: 1) as few string winds as possible on the tuners, 2) action as low as I can get it, and 3) trem claw set at a happy medium - tight enough that I can bend notes, but loose enough that it will dive bomb without dislocating my arm.

 

[Bman]

I put the Hybrid Slinky's on my axis to keep the bendability of the 9's but it gets the better low end of a set of 10's. I love the Hybrids.

 

[JeffreyB]

I was having a hard time deciding between 9's and 10's, so I just ordered a ton of the hybrids.
If anyone wants to buy a case of these strings, let me know...I'll price match anybody...I just want to help out the forumites.
(can only sell in the US...sorry, tone)

 

[Larry]

Never tried Hybrids.... Do you have to re adjust the trem? Since they are half and half or does it balance out?

 

[JeffreyB]

I only had to adjust my trem a little going from 9 to 10's...so, I guess a pretty minimal adjustment going to hybrids.

 

[Tabs]

The string retainer has absolutely nothing to do with the tension on the strings. It's there to keep pressure over the full nut so that the strings don't go sharp when you lock down the pads.

Tension is solely a function of scale length and the gauge(mass actually) of the strings at a particular pitch. By mathematical definition if the tension changes, you've also changed the pitch, the mass of the strings, or both.

If none of those things happened, then you haven't changed the tension of the strings and you're seeing the famous placebo effect.

There's a lot of bad science in guitar forums for some reason relating to string tensions.

 

[Tone?]

Uh, yes string trees and retainers DO have to do with tension IMHO. As do truss rod relief, action hight, and scale length.

try it and you will see a definite change.

Try a strat with one string tree and two. The one will have a more rubbery feel which is what some people prefer including myself. The two string trees will offer more tension and a tighter feel.

 

[Jimmyb]

Can't see how string trees would have much of an effect when used with a locking nut.....

With a non-locking nut, maybe.

 

[Tone?]

Can't see how string trees would have much of an effect when used with a locking nut.....

With a non-locking nut, maybe.

now that may be true. LOL

 

[gerry d]

with a locking nut the retainer makes no difference whatsoever to the string tension... it can't... once the string is locked you could loosen the strings at the tuners and the guitar will stay IN TUNE.... Tone.. I've found that 10's work better for me on my Axis... it's a guitar thats taken me a whle to get used to but I'm glad I did....

 

[Dizzy]

The string retainer has absolutely nothing to do with the tension on the strings. It's there to keep pressure over the full nut so that the strings don't go sharp when you lock down the pads.

Tension is solely a function of scale length and the gauge(mass actually) of the strings at a particular pitch. By mathematical definition if the tension changes, you've also changed the pitch, the mass of the strings, or both.

If none of those things happened, then you haven't changed the tension of the strings and you're seeing the famous placebo effect.

There's a lot of bad science in guitar forums for some reason relating to string tensions.

+1 Billion.

Tension is fixed for a set pitch - over a given gauge - over a set scale length.
Any change in tension will alter the pitch........ Tone, how do you think bending or trems work ???

Uh, yes string trees and retainers DO have to do with tension IMHO. As do truss rod relief, action hight, and scale length.

try it and you will see a definite change.

Try a strat with one string tree and two. The one will have a more rubbery feel which is what some people prefer including myself. The two string trees will offer more tension and a tighter feel.

Monumental FAIL.

Tone,............ Uh, you're kidding yourself.

The reason string trees affect guitars with a NON-LOCKING nut (i.e your strat example) is that they increase the breakover angle/downforce of the string into the nut, making it harder to drag the string through the nut when bending.
Therefore you're mostly bending the string between the bridge and the nut, requiring less string movement to reach the desired pitch..
(ie : it feels tighter)

Where no retainer is used, the string moves more freely through the nut, therefore you're bending the string between the bridge and the tuner. Therefore it feels slacker because you actually have to bend FURTHER to reach the desired pitch.

With the 4/2 headstock on the EBMM's there's less total string length on the 2 strings you bend most, plus the design naturally increases the angle from the nut to the tuner, negating the need for a string tree (on non-locking nuts).

NONE of this applies to your AXIS !!!
When those pads are locked, what happens behind them is IRRELEVANT to tension.

Back to School, Mr.

 

[Larry]

Good post Dizzy and Tabs.

 

[Tone?]

Yeah maybe.


Anyway i think i may just need a vintage trem and am used to that kinda sound a feel anymore.

I will try putting 9's on it cause i totally dig the neck. Or else i will trade it for a Silhouette special or a axis ss

i already put it on the sales thread

 

[blackspy]

NONE of this applies to your AXIS !!!
When those pads are locked, what happens behind them is IRRELEVANT to tension.

Back to School, Mr.

Yup... he's 100% right on that. When changing strings once I cut the strings off behind the lock nut before, and the guitar stayed in tune and was perfectly playable for a while. Nothing changed.

 

[Tone?]

yeah, as i said that is correct.

I guess i am just too used to the feel of Vintage trems anymore. So its up for trade for a Silo Special. Or sale of course