Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

[Jl2112]

I just wanted to see if all of the striped guitars are made this way or just mine. I played one in the store that had the bridge cocked back raised in the front. No big deal it just needs a set up I thought. I ordered two, they came set up the same way, on the deck of the guitar in back but cocked up in the front. You can't adjust the bridges anywhere near parallel and flat on the guitar without the strings laying on the neck. They don't shim these I found so there's no way to get the neck profile lower and adjust the action with shims like most non floating floyds, so it seems all I can do is maybe get a trem stop to get the bridge level since it won't be able to sit on the body. Interesting that the specs call for 1.5mm action at the 12th fret and that's exactly what they are set to with the bridges like that. I think now it's no mistake the bridge comes set up unleveled like they do. Just wanted to see what you guys are doing with these. Maybe they aren't supposed to be level like my axis guitars.

Interesting note I switched necks on the two I ordered(circles guitar) and one of the necks when put on the other guitar immediately fretted out the strings were laying on all frets, you couldn't raise the front of the bridge enough to clear it. I even checked for any gaps when screwing the neck down. Put them back on the guitars they came from and they all worked. That shows that their tolerances are off from guitar to guitar at the neck from the connection part and that they are making the neck pocket fit the neck. One neck works on the guitar and the other neck doesn't. That's the only explanation I can find for that.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

yeah, Floyd intended his bridges to be level.

don't sweat the 1.5mm spec TOO much. you also have to balance with what works for you.

consider a shim. StewMac has pre-dimensioned shims that are worth looking at - HERE. from .25° to .50° to 1.0°

that's just one option.

maybe play around and see what works best for you.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

would prolly drive me nuts. If my floyds arent level, or aweful close, it drives me batty and will try hard to even it out..

 

[Jl2112]

Re: Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

yeah, Floyd intended his bridges to be level.

don't sweat the 1.5mm spec TOO much. you also have to balance with what works for you.

consider a shim. StewMac has pre-dimensioned shims that are worth looking at - HERE. from .25° to .50° to 1.0°

that's just one option.

maybe play around and see what works best for you.

The problem is the neck profile is too high with no shim, shimming would make it worse. I don't think you could shim the saddles enough either. It appears the only option to a level bridge is trem stop or route the neck pocket. Just wondering if all three guitars were made out of spec or it's the way they are making all of them.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

I'll take a look at mine tomorrow. When I bought it, the front was up off the face of the guitar, but the back was down on it. I've never really set it up. I want it decked, but I want the baseplate level. I've considered coins or other currency between the baseplate and the face.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

The problem is the neck profile is too high with no shim, shimming would make it worse. I don't think you could shim the saddles enough either. It appears the only option to a level bridge is trem stop or route the neck pocket. Just wondering if all three guitars were made out of spec or it's the way they are making all of them.

Is that also with a shim installed with the thick part toward the nut and the thin part toward the bridge?

Wouldn't the deal with the bridge being level an issue with the springs? Then it would just be an action issue. Perhaps I'm not tracking with the full scope of the issue.

 

[Jl2112]

Re: Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

Is that also with a shim installed with the thick part toward the nut and the thin part toward the bridge?

Wouldn't the deal with the bridge being level an issue with the springs? Then it would just be an action issue. Perhaps I'm not tracking with the full scope of the issue.

There is no shim installed on these guitars, I was hoping there had been in which case I would have removed them. Tightening the springs to bring the back of the bridge down so that the Floyd is flat on the guitar as a non floating Floyd brings the strings almost to the neck making it fret out. Typically you level the Floyd and raise and lower the action with neck shimming only, for non floating set ups. That's not what I'm seeing on the ones I have.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

Generally, when the Floyd is set parallel and it is fretting out, the entire unit is raised via the trem posts (loosening tension first, of course). Is that not an option?

Have you taken it to a qualified tech for suggestions?

 

[Jl2112]

Re: Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

Generally, when the Floyd is set parallel and it is fretting out, the entire unit is raised via the trem posts (loosening tension first, of course). Is that not an option?

Have you taken it to a qualified tech for suggestions?

Raising the trem posts will continue to raise the front further off the guitar and the back still sitting on the guitar a Floyd shou.d be parallel to the body regardless of floating or not. On a non floating setup you adjust the springs and post until the entire bridge is flat on the body and then use shimming of the neck to adjust string action. The neck pocket is already to shallow for that on mine.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

If these are new and not working out, have you called FMIC? Or the point of purchase?

Were you able to play these specific guitars before buying them?

Sounds like you might be best served by dealing with wherever you got these from or a reputable repair shop near you.

 

[Jl2112]

Re: Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

I ordered online but everyone of them I've seen in stores is set up the same way, but I thought they were probably shimmed and needed a set up. I believe at this point they are making them all this way and essentially have incredibly bad building specs on these guitars. I'm trying to see if everyone else's is like that to, which I suspect they are, and what they have done. If anyone has the action of 1.5mm at the 12th fret as the specs from evh call for and a flat bridge on the guitar as well that would be interesting that some may be correct. That gets way too low of a string action with a flat bridge from what I see on these.

I am going to call FMIC and ask them if they expect the bridges to be parallel as it should be. If so they have a serious manufacturing flaw going on with the neck pockets on the striped series being produced in that plant.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

I always thought a floating Floyd had to be parallel so that it would float properly and come back to center in tune. If a bridge is't floating, is there a reason why it needs to be parallel to the face of the guitar?

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

I always thought a floating Floyd had to be parallel so that it would float properly and come back to center in tune. If a bridge is't floating, is there a reason why it needs to be parallel to the face of the guitar?

Ideally, how the string breaks over the saddle.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

Ideally, how the string breaks over the saddle.

Oh. That's a good one.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

I called Fender today and reviewed a document they sent me.

 

[Jl2112]

Re: Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

I called Fender today and reviewed a document they sent me.

Did they say anything in the document to answer any of this?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

Did they say anything in the document to answer any of this?

First of all, the document I received was a two-page PDF with the second page blank. I am not sure if that blank page was intentional or if there was supposed to be more information there.

Second, the document was titled, "Revised Setup Specifications for all Import EVH Wolfgang models". Dated 8/18/2016. It bears pointing out that I did mention I have a Striped series guitar; the gentleman who took my call indicated this was the closest thing he had to send me.

I'll quote relevant content:

Bridge Setup:
All EVH Wolfgang models should have the bridge setup "flat" or parallel with the top of the guitar. Slightly raised on the front edge is acceptable but no more than 1/8 of an inch or 3.2mm.

Tremelo Spring Tension:
The tension of the 2-spring setup is as follows. Once the guitar is tuned to pitch (E flat with .009-.042 strings), the back edge of the tremolo should rest firmly against the body of the guitar and should not "float". The spring claw needs to be adjusted so the bridge starts to slightly lift of the top of the body under extreme string bending.

"Extreme" string bending is best standardized by bending the Low E string to the center of the fingerboard at the 12th fret. When the Low E string is bent that far, the back edge of the tremolo should lift slightly.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

The problem is the neck profile is too high with no shim, shimming would make it worse. I don't think you could shim the saddles enough either. It appears the only option to a level bridge is trem stop or route the neck pocket. Just wondering if all three guitars were made out of spec or it's the way they are making all of them.

U R posed'ta turn that .5 degree shim around to where the bigger part is towards the headstock. This lowers the neck( for me just the right amount) and may solve your issue.

 

[Jl2112]

Re: Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

U R posed'ta turn that .5 degree shim around to where the bigger part is towards the headstock. This lowers the neck( for me just the right amount) and may solve your issue.

I see the point now of the discussion of reversing a shim, I've never thought about shimming to lower the neck profile in relationship to the strings. Are you saying you have one that came shimmed? I haven't seen them attempt to include a shim, though I know I can do it myself.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Evh Striped Neck Pocket Issue

^ No, I have assembled a few Jackson /Floyded Mutts ,so they never came shimmed .I have had to shim some necks, becasue of the fact I assemble odds and ends. Try the Stew Mac .5 degree shim reversed. Get two .5 ( or one .5 and one .25 ) in case one .5 isn't enuf, but i think it probably would be. You'll blow about 20 bucks for these shipped.