Tuning problems on my axis

[Big Dainjerus]

Hey I am sure this topic has been talked about before, as I just did a search and looked over some things. But I am having trouble getting my axis to stay in tune. After I tune it I depress the whammy and when I check the tunings again they are all off again. I noticed the action was kinda high so I messed with the truss rod a bit (to lower the action you turn it clockwise right?) and i will try re-tuning it when it settles, but any ideas as to why i am having these problems? Oh yeah, i tune my guitar a half step down to get my Van Halen on, so could this be the problem? I never really had the guitar tuned to "regular" tuning, I just went straigth to EVH style. Other than this issue, the axis kicks ass.

 

[SteveLINY]

I'm assuming that you have a Floyd trem in it?????
If so...
Take the strings off, take the backplate off, then remove the tremelo springs. Pop out the tremelo and take a close look at the knife edges and the poles they sit on. Tell me if there is any wear on either.
Sometimes this area can get damaged and flatten out a bit.
Steve

 

[dwf1004]

BD, haven't seen you since before the 'Links got hacked. How are ya buddy?

+1 to what Steve said, but with a major addendum: put something between the body and the trem before you yank off the strings (I'd suggest a thin CD jewel case, or maybe even a thin piece of plastic), otherwise the tension from the strings can cause the trem to separate from the mounting studs (the black screws in the body where the trem meets, etc.) and you may end up with a very upsetting ""lack of love" mark on the front.

Wondering if this isn't a locking nut issue, like we talked about previous?

 

[jongitarz]

Sometimes with the Floyd, people tend to over tighten the nut and string retainers in the saddles. When the blocks in the saddles get over tightened, they mushroom out and don't move freely in the saddle, making it impossible to tighten on the string. Over tightening also creates a groove in that same block, and that also makes staying in tune difficult because the string slips out a bit.

If the nut is over tightened, the string makes a groove in the nut, and the string slips because of that. Or your guitar is simply possesed.

 

[Big Dainjerus]

Hey Darrell whats up bro, yeah I almost lost it when I found out the links might not exist anymore. I was in a bad accident and didnt check out the links for a while then all of a sudden when I checked it out I had no clue what I missed! But alas, its back Ok, but is it possible for this wear on the knife edges to happen without much playing? I got it new, then got injured and didnt play for a while? Can this still be the problem? I am just hesistant to take my guitar apart. And I dunno, but the tremolo seems a little "stiff" (or maybe its just a good tremolo which I am not used to), its hard to explain, but like when i want to use it i have to use a lil bit of push and then it pops right back up (no its not floating). Is this just how good tremolos behave or is mine too "tight" or something. And I know it is possible to loosen the bar up a bit so it dangles a bit, but it seems the whole tremolo system is pretty tight. I dont know, i could be tripping...

 

[dwf1004]

Yeah, good thing that the Links is back, sad to see that there was no backup in over 3 years though...

Anyhow, yeah, I remember that you got this pup new, so not to dispel what Steve was talking about, but I couldn't see the knife edges being bad unless you were REALLY tearing it up over there!

Look at your guitar as if you were checking out the neck, etc. but focus on the back of your Floyd, and the part that rests on the body itself. There's a flat piece of metal that rests on the body...is it all flush against the body?

This has got to be some kind of locking issue; I'm under that impression, based on what you're telling us. Not trying to bag on ya, but you should have used your downtime and sent it to the mighty Jon to have him check 'er out so that she would've been ready for you now, etc. Missed opportunity, and now you may have to be without your baby for a while now that you CAN play her.

As far as the tightness in the trem, how far up is the claw in the back? Did you modify the settings of that at all? It could be chalked up to just new springs, but I could be wrong on that.

All in all, since she's new, you've got the year...call EBMM and get an RMA, give Jon the heads up, and fire it off to them, so that we can get to the bottom of this and make you a happy guy.

Glad you're feeling better post-accident, and that you're still here to talk with us, brotha!