Axis Owners: D-Tuna Not Working Right

[nast2112]

Well... I hate to start another D-Tuna thread but my problem may be related just to the Axis tremolo unit. So....

I got my Axis today so I will update my neck thread question in the next day or two. I tried to install a D-Tuna but it's not working right (and I have experience with 2 other guitars and the trem is flush on the body :-) I'm wondering if there's a trick with the Axis (something specific with the Music Man tremolo)? I tune to D, clamp, slide the D-Tuna up (which is very hard, even with the fine tuner for the E string backed almost all the way out and the fine allen screw on the D-Tuna backed off/loose). The note is not then a E but almost an F! And the little allen screw on the D-Tuna is loose and not affecting the note at all let alone any where to back it off to try to get to E. Anyone else have this happen and could help me out?

Thanks in advance
Chris

[A&Z Guitar Repair]

Well... I hate to start another D-Tuna thread but my problem may be related just to the Axis tremolo unit. So....

I got my Axis today so I will update my neck thread question in the next day or two. I tried to install a D-Tuna but it's not working right (and I have experience with 2 other guitars and the trem is flush on the body :-) I'm wondering if there's a trick with the Axis (something specific with the Music Man tremolo)? I tune to D, clamp, slide the D-Tuna up (which is very hard, even with the fine tuner for the E string backed almost all the way out and the fine allen screw on the D-Tuna backed off/loose). The note is not then a E but almost an F! And the little allen screw on the D-Tuna is loose and not affecting the note at all let alone any where to back it off to try to get to E. Anyone else have this happen and could help me out?

Thanks in advance
Chris

Chris take a look at the other thread. It's discussed in detail. You shouldn't have any compatability problems with D-Tuna on the Axis. Make sure the screw/shaft is properly lubed. It will aid in the movement of D-Tuna. Also make sure the string retainer on head stock is screwed down enough that the locking of the strings don't pull the string sharp.

[nast2112]

Chris take a look at the other thread. It's discussed in detail. You shouldn't have any compatability problems with D-Tuna on the Axis. Make sure the screw/shaft is properly lubed. It will aid in the movement of D-Tuna. Also make sure the string retainer on head stock is screwed down enough that the locking of the strings don't pull the string sharp.

Thanks, Scott. I put a drop of 3-in-1 oil on the long screw. This will help with it sticking a bit, but not the other issue. Note that the fine tuners on my Axis come into the long screw/shaft/D-Tuna at an angle from behind slightly. On my Schaller floyd, they come in from the top straight down. It's like the D-Tuna is too thick (with the note being between E and F when it's pushed in). I have the tiny allen screw on the D-Tuna not tightened at all (backed out); what I should be able to do is back this little screw off to lower the note back to E, but there's no where to go since it's not 'too tight' to begin with. I'm thinking of making th D-Tuna slightly thinner with a Dremel tool. That's what Ed would do, wouldn't he? :-)

Chris

[AT]

Thanks, Scott. I put a drop of 3-in-1 oil on the long screw. This will help with it sticking a bit, but not the other issue. Note that the fine tuners on my Axis come into the long screw/shaft/D-Tuna at an angle from behind slightly. On my Schaller floyd, they come in from the top straight down. It's like the D-Tuna is too thick (with the note being between E and F when it's pushed in). I have the tiny allen screw on the D-Tuna not tightened at all (backed out); what I should be able to do is back this little screw off to lower the note back to E, but there's no where to go since it's not 'too tight' to begin with. I'm thinking of making th D-Tuna slightly thinner with a Dremel tool. That's what Ed would do, wouldn't he? :-)

Chris

Chris:

I've got a Gotoh licensed Floyd Rose identical to those used on the Axis sitting on the desk next to me now, and if I understand you correctly the angle on the long screws you're describing is normal. It's exactly like the Peavey licensed Floyd where the D-Tuna functions just fine.

Try this: Unlock the nut. Loosen the fine tuner on the low string so it is almost completely out (lowest tuning setting). Pull out the D-Tuna and tighten the adjustment screw in almost all the way. Tune the whole guitar, including the low string in the 'D' position. Push the D-Tuna in and see where the 'E' is at. You'll likely be rather sharp, but this way you should have some room to work with on the adjustment screw. Loosen it in small increments and see where the tuning is at.

[nast2112]

Chris:

I've got a Gotoh licensed Floyd Rose identical to those used on the Axis sitting on the desk next to me now, and if I understand you correctly the angle on the long screws you're describing is normal. It's exactly like the Peavey licensed Floyd where the D-Tuna functions just fine.

Here's some other info that may play into this:

When the D-Tuna is pushed in (and note too sharp- between E and F), the D-Tuna is not pointed straight to the back of the guitar but toward the body at an angle somewhat (almost touches the body). I'm thinking it should be straight? This could be increasing the 'thickness' of the D-Tuna since it's at angle. But the fine tuner screw is backed out all the way (or almost); There's a 'stop' on the end of the fine tuner screw to make sure the screw doesn't come out I think. I don't see how to adjust it so it's not pointed down toward the body. I'm sure this is where the issue is but I don't see what I can do to change it. Maybe it has something to do with the E string saddle. Looks normal/straight and worked fine without the D-Tuna, though. Thoughts?

THANK YOU everyone for your help. I'm sure we can get this solved!
Chris

[AT]

Here's some other info that may play into this:

When the D-Tuna is pushed in (and note too sharp- between E and F), the D-Tuna is not pointed straight to the back of the guitar but toward the body at an angle somewhat (almost touches the body). I'm thinking it should be straight? This could be increasing the 'thickness' of the D-Tuna since it's at angle. But the fine tuner screw is backed out all the way (or almost); There's a 'stop' on the end of the fine tuner screw to make sure the screw doesn't come out I think. I don't see how to adjust it so it's not pointed down toward the body. I'm sure this is where the issue is but I don't see what I can do to change it. Maybe it has something to do with the E string saddle. Looks normal/straight and worked fine without the D-Tuna, though. Thoughts?

THANK YOU everyone for your help. I'm sure we can get this solved!
Chris

Yes, the D-Tuna should be mostly straight, not angled. And that angle has everything to do with the adjustment screw being out most of the way, hence my suggestion for tightening it in and basically starting from zero. When screwed all the way out, that adjustment screw is no longer providing a function. I've noticed the adjustment screws on all the D-Tunas on all of my guitars are sitting about mid-way in. Go through the process I described earlier and see if that doesn't fix the problem.

[nast2112]

Yes, the D-Tuna should be mostly straight, not angled. And that angle has everything to do with the adjustment screw being out most of the way, hence my suggestion for tightening it in and basically starting from zero. When screwed all the way out, that adjustment screw is no longer providing a function. I've noticed the adjustment screws on all the D-Tunas on all of my guitars are sitting about mid-way in. Go through the process I described earlier and see if that doesn't fix the problem.

Thanks. If the allen adjustment screw is in all the way, it seems to actually impeded the D-Tuna from moving forward or back (almost gets stuck). Are you saying that if the little allen screw is screwed in all the way it shouldn't affect how the D-Tuna moves in and out??
Chris

[nast2112]

Problem solved! There was something wrong with the knurled chrome D-Tuna part (that has the EVH on it). There is a 'U' channel in that part that the long floyd screws is supposed to sit flush in. It was either pinched a little bit at the end or a little too much chroming (or both); the long screw was not sitting flushing in it since the channel was not wide enough toward the tip. That is also why the D-Tuna was angled down and not straight. I had to use a drill bit (similar diameter as the channel) as sort of a 'reamer' to clear the channel out toward this pinched tip. The chrome gone in the area (looks like brass underneath the chrome). Now the long screw fits in the channel flush like it should and everything moves smoothly and aligns streaight. The D-Tuna works perfectly now. I'm a happy guy.

THANKS to everyone for your input. As you could tell, I was starting to decompensate...
Chris

[AT]

Glad it worked out. That's gotta be frustrating that there was a flaw with the D-Tuna.