Music Man Frequently Asked Questions
Guitar F.A.Q.
Q: How do I clean and maintain my Music Man neck?
A: To clean the neck, use a high-grade of lemon oil. If the neck is very dirty, try Murphy's Oil Soap diluted 3:1. Some players have found that using a toothbrush for cleaning is very effective.Since the neck is finished only with the gunstock oil/wax blend, it is more susceptible to humidity changes. A very infrequent dose of gunstock oil will help to keep the neck maintained; we recommend Birchwood-Casey Tru-Oil, but any good quality gunstock oil will work. Use a small amount, leave it on for just 5 minutes, then it off with a paper towel. After that, apply Birchwood-Casey Gunstock Wax. Be sure to douse the paper towel with water before disposing of it! Read the wax and oil manufacturer's instructions regarding disposal of these used paper towels.
Birchwood-Casey products are available at most sporting goods or gun stores or directly. Their web address is www.birchwoodcasey.com
Rosewood fingerboards should not be treated with the gunstock oil; instead they should be treated with a high grade of lemon oil. Again, for cleaning, try using the same high grade of lemon oil to clean the entire neck, both maple and rosewood fretboards. Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes Fretboard Conditioner are excellent for frequent cleaning and maintenance as they are very effective and string removal is not necessary.
If the neck is very dirty, you can use a small amount of Murphy's Oil Soap, diluted 3:1 to clean it. Keep in mind that if the dirt has gotten into the wood, it cannot be removed except by sanding it down, which we do not recommend. It is better to keep it clean in the first place. Washing your hands first helps! On an unfinished neck, some discoloration after many hours of playing is normal. Be sure to follow all of the manufacturers recommended safety precautions when using any of these oils or waxes.
Q: what is the minimum voltage needed in a battery for the electronics to work properly?
A: The minimum voltage needed is about 7.8 volts under load. Lower than that and your guitar may distort, even clean and even magnetic - and it is not an entirely "good" type of distortion. Time to change the battery!Q: How is the trussrod inserted into a maple neck? Is it one piece of wood?
A: When we make a solid maple neck, the neck is cut horizontally lengthwise, routed for the trussrod, the trussrod is inserted. Then the neck is carefully glued back together so it is barely detectable that it was ever apart.Q: How should I change the strings on my guitar?
A: The best way to restring your guitar is one at a time to keep tension on the neck. It is not recommended to take all of the strings off at once. If you need to remove them for cleaning or to do some repair work, you will probably need to readjust the neck and re-intonate the guitar.FOR SCHALLER LOCKING TUNERS:
After removing the old string, loosen the thumbwheel screw in the back of the tuner of the string you are going to change. After inserting the string into the back of the tremolo plate in back and over the saddle (it is not necessary to remove the trem plate), run the string all the way up to the correct tuner. Re-tighten the thumbwheel screw until the string does not move out of the hole in the tuner (do not over-tighten) With a good pair of wire cutters, cut the excess string. Tune the string to pitch.
FOR FLOYD ROSE BRIDGES:
When replacing a string on a guitar with a Floyd Rose bridge, it is very important that the bridge should sit parallel to the body so as not to damage the finish. It is recommended to change strings one or two at a time; certainly leave at least one of the strings tuned to pitch while changing the rest, and place a soft towel or cloth under the back of the bridge to protect the finish.
Care must be taker not to over-tighten the saddle clamps. Push new strings through the saddle first with the ball end toward the nut so that you may fish the ball end under the string retainer to avoid damaging the finish. Strings should come off of the retainer toward the nut to assure that the string is touching the entire surface of the nut in order to keep the string from changing pitch when installing the nut clamp. You are now ready to tighten the strings at each end.
Q: I own an Axis guitar and I have the action low about 1/16 and the neck is straight but I get some buzzing above the 12th fret. What can I do?
A: It sounds like your guitar needs to be setup. A neck doesn't need to be perfectly straight to be setup properly. Sometimes depending on fret height, fret wear, etc., the neck will need a bit of relief. A good local repair person should be able to get rid of the buzzing.Q: I would like to know what your "silent circuit" is.
A: The Silent Circuit ™ is a Music Man exclusive system allowing great sound through single-coil pickups while almost eliminating the 60 cycle noise normally associated with single coils.Q: If I change my string set gauge to 10's or 11's will I need to reset the intonation?
A: Most likely, yes, you will.Q: Is it possible to tighten the trem arm on your Vintage Tremolo to stop it from swinging around?
A: Depress the tremolo arm like you are dive bombing. Looking up from the lower strap button, inside on the trem block on the right, you will find a 1.5mm hex key adjustment screw. You can adjust the arm's swing there.Q: What can I do about my squeaky tremolo arm?
A: 1 Drop of 3-N'-1 oil should take away the squeak.Q: What is the string height off the neck supposed to be?
A: The approximate factory settings are 1/16" or 1.5875mm from the bottom of the string to the top of the 12th fret.Players can adjust the action lower or higher to fit their playing style. Clockwise to raise the fretboard, counter clockwise to lower it.
Q: Why does Music Man use Polyester finishes on instrument bodies instead of Nitrocellulose finishes?
A: Nitrocellulose finishes are really the rare breed today. Because of the environmental hazards of spraying this material it is becoming regulated or outlawed in more and more areas, beginning with California. We all like the way it looks on vintage instruments, but it does shrink, crack and scratch much worse than either polyester or polyurethane finishes. These are qualities that many people used to live with, but now feel are unacceptable. Most guitar companies now use either polyester or polyurethane finishes, as do cars. They are tougher, and do not shrink, chip, crack or scratch nearly as easy as nitrocellulose. They are also much more expensive than nitrocellulose. There is really not that much difference between guitar and auto finishes, except that the products made for autos must withstand cold temperatures, not fade with constant exposure to sunlight, rain, etc.- things you would never want to expose a guitar to. Polyester is the hardest of all the topcoat materials. It is quite resistant to yellowing and cracking. It will protect your guitar better than anything else.Q: How do the piezo pickups work on your electric guitars?
A: Piezo pickups use crystals that generate a signal when you pick the string. Our piezo pickups are built into each saddle. The piezo transducers create an acoustic tone by picking up on the vibration of the wood. Electric guitarists who want that acoustic sound can now order an Axis SuperSport, Silhouette Special, as well as a John Petrucci, Luke or Albert Lee signature model guitar with piezo pickups to add a whole dimension in their sound.Also available with piezo pickups are all of our basses (except the SUBs).
Q: Some of your guitars come with a battery. What is it for? Are the electronics active?
A: The battery is either used to power the Silent Circuit™, which will allow single-coil pickups to be heard without the 60 cycle hum, or it is also used to power the piezo electronics, or both.The only guitar we make with active electronics is the Luke, which is made to Steve Lukather's exact specifications.
Q: Why does the Axis scale seem so much shorter? Is it really 25.5 inches?
A: Yes. The neck scale on all of our guitars is 25.5", the same as a Fender Stratocaster. It may appear shorter because the overall length of the guitar is shorter. The 4+2 headstock cuts off an inch or so, and it is also trimmer at the bridge end. We cut some of the "fat" so that our guitars have a better balance and are more comfortable to play. It makes the entire instrument shorter without changing the scale length.Q: Can I add a piezo bridge to my Music Man guitar?
A: No, we are not able to add a piezo sytem to an existing Music Man instrument.Q: What size hex (Allen-type) wrench will fit into my truss rod wheel?
A: It doesn't have to be any particular tool - in fact we purposefully made it to where you can use almost anything to adjust it, such as a small screwdriver, hex wrench, or even a nail. At the factory, we typically use 3mm size hex wrenches.Q: Can I get the Axis with a stop-tailpiece or a rosewood fretboard?
A: The Axis is only available with a Floyd Rose bridge - howeverm it IS now available with a rosewood fretboard.It is also available with a rosewood top and an ALL-rosewood neck.
The Axis Super Sport has a wider variety of options, check our spec page for information.
Q: What guitars are available left-handed?
A: These guitars are available in left-handed versions:Axis SuperSport
Silhouette Special
Luke
John Petrucci
John Petrucci Ball Family Reserve
Not all options may be available on left-handed versions. Please ask your Music Man dealer.
Q: Is the pickup spacing on the Axis guitar F spaced or regular?
A: The bridge pickup is F spaced the neck pickup is not.Q: What should I know about changing guitar strings on my Axis with the Floyd Rose?
A: When replacing a string on a guitar with a Floyd Rose bridge, it is very important that the bridge should sit parallel to the body so as not to damage the finish. It is recommended to change strings one or two at a time;leave at least one of the strings tuned to pitch while changing the rest, and place a soft towel or cloth under the back of the bridge to protect the finish.Care must be taken not to over-tighten the saddle clamps. Push new guitar strings through the saddle first with the ball end toward the nut so that you may fish the ball end under the string retainer to avoid damaging the finish. Strings should come off of the retainer toward the nut to assure that the guitar string is touching the entire surface of the nut in order to keep the string from changing pitch when installing the nut clamp. You are now ready to tighten the strings at each end.
Q: Which strings do you use at the factory to string up your guitars?
A: The Ernie Ball strings we use on all of our guitars is as follows:Silhouette and Silhouette Special: RPS-9 Slinkys (9-42) catalog #2239
Axis: RPS-9 Slinkys (9-42) catalog #2239
Axis SuperSport with DiMarzio humbuckers: RPS-9 Slinkys (9-42) catalog #2239
Axis SuperSport with MM-90 pickups: RPS-10 Slinky (10-46) catalog #2240
Steve Morse: 10-13-16(all RPS)-26-32-42, available in single strings only
Albert Lee: 10-13-16(all RPS)-26-36-46 available in single strings only
Luke: RPS-9 Slinkys (9-42) catalog #2239
John Petrucci: RPS-10 Slinkys (10-46) catalog #2239
Benji Madden: 12-16-(RPS) - 24w-32-42-52 available in single strings only
SUB-1 guitar: RPS-9 Slinkys (9-42) catalog #2239
The John Petrucci 7-string guitar uses RPS-9's with an added .56 nickelwound for the low B string. To build this set, use catalog #2239 with an added catalog #1156.
Q: What is the best way to adjust the action on my Music Man guitar?
A: The best and easiest way to adjust your action is to use the truss rod. To lower your action, turn the wheel clockwise. To raise your action, particularly if you have fret buzz, turn the wheel counter clockwise. It is always a good idea to make just one or two turns at a time, then play it and see if it needs more adjustment. It normally doesn't take many turns of the wheel to notice a difference.A "turn" as defined here is inserting an adjustment tool and moving a spoke of the wheel from one side of the opening at the body at the neck to the other side.
Q: I plan to use a lower tuning. Do I need to do anything special if I tune to, say an E flat or D?
A: For alternate tunings: typically for every 1/2 step that you tune down, you need to increase your string gauge from the standard set, or gauge that you currently use. For example, if you currently use 9's and your guitar is properly set up, you would switch to 10's to tune to E flat. Increasing your string gauge will also increase pressure at the nut, so the nut slots need to be cut wider. This is best done using a file. It will change the tension of the neck, so the trussrod will need adjustment, it will also change the intonation (how to adjust intonation is discussed in another FAQ).Q: How do I setup my Music Man Axis SuperSport?
A: First, check relief in the neck by holding the lowest (bass) string down on the second fret with your fretting hand, then hold it down on the 12th fret with your right thumb and tap on the string in the middle to show how straight the string is. It should be no more than the thickness of a thick business card. If there is no relief in the neck, applying a little pressure in the middle of the neck (downward) after adjusting the trussrod wheel should take care of it. If not, please contact us as it may be necessary to send the instrument in to the factory.Factory string setting for standard tuning starts at the bass side 2/32" (0.0254m) to 5/64" (0.127m) and the treble side is 3/64" (0.0762m) to 2/32" (.0254m) measured from the 12th fret to the bottom of the strings. The top of the strings should have the radius of the fretboard when you are looking at the strings in the playing position and by rotating the instrument while at the same time bringing strings into view one at a time. Remember, string height is ultimately determined by your preference and playing style.
Now, you are ready to play your guitar. If a string buzzes on an open string to the 5th fret and no higher, more relief is needed. If there is more buzz from the 5th to the 12th fret, the neck needs to be straighter. You should check the string height after every adjustment. If the buzzing happens throughout the neck, the string height needs to be increased.
Experiment a little to get the exact action you want.
Q: How do I set the intonation on my guitar?
A: After your strings are tuned to pitch, check the tuning on the fretted note on the twelfth fret. If the fretted note is sharp, it is necessary to make the playable string longer by turning the screw at the base of the bridge clockwise. Then re-tune the open note to pitch, and start again. If you play much above the 12th fret, you should also check the harmonics at the 19th fret after the twelfth fret is set. Make sure that the string is coming off of the saddle is straight and not in an arch. After you finish that, go over every step again until the intonation is correct at all points.Q: If I switch strings and go to a heavier gauge, do I need to make any adjustments to the guitar?
A: Make the nut slots slightly wider. Not doing this will cause extra pressure on the nut, which can cause the nut to crack, particularly on the lower strings. This is best accomplished by using a file. Be careful not to widen it too much!You should also check the intonation, which will probably need to be adjusted. That is covered in another FAQ.
Q: How do I set up my '99 Luke with the floating tremolo?
A: First, check relief in the neck by holding the lowest (bass) string down on the second fret with your fretting hand, then hold it down on the 12th fret with your right thumb and tap on the string in the middle to show how straight the string is. It should be no more than the thickness of a thick business card. If there is no relief in the neck, apply a little pressure in the middle of the neck (downward) after adjusting the trussrod wheel,it should take care of it. If not, please contact us.Factory string setting for standard tuning starts at the bass side 2/32" (0.0254m) to 5/64" (0.127m) and the treble side is 3/64" (0.0762m) to 2/32" (.0254m) measured from the 12th fret to the bottom of the strings. The top of the strings should have the radius of the fretboard when you are looking at the strings in the playing position and by rotating the instrument while at the same time bringing strings into view one at a time. String height is determined by your preference and playing style.
If a string buzzes on the open note to the 5th fret and no higher, more relief is needed in the neck. If there is more buzz from the 5th fret to the 12th fret, the neck needs to be straighter (less relief). Check the string height at every adjustment. If buzzing is present throughout the neck, the string height needs to increase. After every adjustment it is necessary to re-tune the guitar.
The standard float height is measured at 1 1/2 steps on the G-string. If you set this first at 440 tuning, it may make it easier to keep the bridge close to the same angle while making all of the other adjustments. You may want a different amount of float - many players prefer 1/2 or only 1 step of float.
After each adjustment, return to step one, and start again.
Q: How do I set up my guitar with the Floyd Rose bridge?
A: First, check relief in the neck by holding the lowest (bass) string down on the second fret with your fretting hand, then hold it down on the 12th fret with your right thumb and tap on the string in the middle to show how straight the string is. It should be no more than the thickness of a thick business card, and no more than that. It can be less than that, however, down to practically nothing. If there is no relief in the neck, apply a little pressure in the middle of the neck (downward) after adjusting the trussrod wheel should take care of it. If not, please contact us as it may be necessary to send the instrument in.The bridge should sit parallel to the body, both from the bass and treble side to the front and back of the bridge. Anything other than that will damage the finish - very important! It is recommended to change strings at least one string still tuned to pitch, and if it is only one, it should be the lowest string. Do not remove all the strings at one time! Install strings with ball end toward the nut in order to fish the ball end under the string retainer in order to avoid scratching the finish. Strings should come off the retainer toward the nut so that the string is touching all of the nut to keep the string from changing pitch when installing the nut clamp.
Factory string setting for standard tuning starts at the bass side 2/32" (0.0254m) to 5/64" (0.127m) and the treble side is 3/64" (0.0762m) to 2/32" (.0254m) measured from the 12th fret to the bottom of the strings. The top of the strings should have the radius of the fretboard when you are looking at the strings in the playing position and by rotating the instrument while at the same time bringing strings into view one at a time. Remember, string height is ultimately determined by your preference and playing style.
String height should be determined by each player's individual playing style. To adjust string height, the guitar needs to be disassembled to replace, remove or add shims in the neck (not recommended for the inexperienced or faint of heart). Remember to always protect the finish around the bridge by holding it firmly while removing the tremolo springs. After assembly, start back at step one.
Now, you are ready to play your guitar. If a string buzzes on an open string to the 5th fret and no higher, more relief is needed. If there is more buzz from the 5th to the 12th fret, the neck needs to be straighter. You should check the string height after every adjustment. If the buzzing happens throughout the neck, the string height needs to be increased.
To test the tension of the springs: This is measured by bending the G string two steps (notes) or as many steps as you normally would plan to bend. Do the bend at the 12th fret or so. There should be just enough spring tension to keep the bridge flush to the body while bending the G string 2 whole steps. Be careful not to apply too much tension, or damage to the finish may occur. To tighten the spring tension, turn the screws holding the tremolo claw clockwise - lessen the tension by turning the screws counterclockwise. The tremolo claw is located under the tremolo back plate.
Q: How do I set up my John Petrucci guitar?
A: When restringing, turn the tuner's holes toward the corresponding nut slots. This will keep the strings as short as possible for more stable tuning.The next step is to check the relief in the neck by holding the lowest string down on the second fret with your fretting hand; then hold it down on the 12th fret with your right thumb and tap on the string on the middle of these two points to show how straight the neck is. It should be no more than the thickness of a thick business card, no more than that, though it can be less. If there is no relief a little pressure in the middle of the neck should take care of it. If it does not, feel free to contact us.
With the guitar tuned to pitch in the playing position and looking down the body, the top of the body, the top of the bridge should be parallel (both front to back, bass to treble side) to or slightly higher than the body with the bottom still recessed. The saddles should not come in contact with the cover and the intonation screws. If this occurs, lower the saddles and raise the bridge. After every adjustment, it is necessary to re-tune the guitar.
Factory string setting for standard tuning starts at the bass side 2/32" (0.0254m) to 5/64" (0.127m) and the treble side is 3/64" (0.0762m) to 2/32" (.254m) measured from the 12th fret to the bottom of the strings. The top of the strings should have the radius of the fretboard when you are looking at the strings in the playing position and by rotating the instrument while at the same time bringing strings into view one at a time. Remember, string height is ultimately determined by your preference and playing style, as well as the string gauge and tuning (if you you use an alternate tuning). Again, after every adjustment it is necessary to re-tune the guitar, to give you a starting reference.
Now, you are ready to play your guitar. If a string buzzes on an open string to the 5th fret and no higher, more relief is needed. If there is more buzz from the 5th to the 12th fret, the neck needs to be straighter. You should check the string height after every adjustment. If the buzzing happens throughout the neck, the string height needs to be increased.
When setting up, always consider all of the other changes that will occur with every adjustment, starting with step one, tuning up after each step you take.
For intonation, check the harmonics to the fretted note on the twelfth fret If the fretted note is sharp, you need to make the string longer by turning the intonation screw for that string (located on the tail end of the bridge) clockwise, counter-clockwise if the fretted note is flat.If you turn the screw counter-clockwise, always turn the screw clockwise afterwards. (If you don't play much above that fret, you can skip the next step). Also check the harmonics at the 19th fret after the twelfth fret is set, repeating the procedure above. Make sure that the string is coming off of the saddle straight and not at an arch.
Q: How do I maintain the neck on my new Music Man guitar?
A: Since the neck is unfinished, it can be more susceptible to humidity changes. An annual (or so) dose of gunstock oil will help to keep the neck maintained; we use and recommend Birchwood-Casey Tru-oil, but any good quality gunstock oil will work.Clean the neck first. Use a small amount of Tru-oil, leave it on for 5 minutes, then wipe it off with a paper towel. After that, apply Birchwood-Casey Gunstock Wax. Be sure to douse the paper towel with water before disposing of it! Read the wax and oil manufacturer's instructions regarding disposal of these used paper towels.Birchwood-Casey products are available at most sporting goods or gun stores, or now you can order them direct. Their web address is http://www.birchwoodcasey.com.
Rosewood fingerboards should not be treated with the gunstock oil; instead they should be treated with a high grade of lemon oil, or even better, with Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes Fretboard Conditioner. These wipes really work.
For cleaning, try using the same high grade of lemon oil to clean the entire neck, both maple and rosewood fretboards, and again our Wopnder Wipes Fretboard Conditioner. If the neck is very dirty, you can use a small amount of Murphy's Oil Soap, diluted 3:1, to clean it. Keep in mind that if the dirt has gotten into the wood, it cannot be removed except by sanding it down, which we do not recommend a lot of. It is better to keep it clean in the first place. Washing your hands first helps!
On an maple neck, some discoloration after many hours of playing is normal.
Q: How do I remove the knobs on the John Petrucci guitar? There is a grommet over the knob that is difficult to remove.
A: Push the grommet down towards the body (be careful not to scratch the finish). The set screw for the knob will be exposed. Loosen the set screw, remove the knob, then remove the grommet.Q: How do I remove the trem arm on the Floyd Rose bridge?
A: You must first remove the back plate. Remove the hex screw with an allen wrench to remove the arm.Q: I want to got to a heavier gauge string set. Do I need to add a spring to the tremolo?
A: You should not have to add an additional spring. You will need to adjust the springs, truss rod, and intonation when changing string gauges.There is detail information on setting up your instrument elsewhere in the FAQ section.
Q: What are the differences between the old Edward Van Halen signature guitar and the model that took its place, the Axis?
A: When Eddie left Ernie Ball/Music Man in 1995, the decision was made to keep the guitar in production pretty much the same as when it was the Eddie Van Halen guitar. All of the design, including the neck, pickups, and woods used are the same, but we made a few improvements:1. The neck was widened slightly (1/32") at the body end. This was to correct problems for players who were having trouble with the high E string slipping off the neck on the 12th fret and up.
2. The switch was moved near the volume knob. This was done to help prevent accidental hitting of the switch, especially while strumming.
3. The "tone" knob was replaced by a volume knob (NOTE: it was always a volume pot - the "tone" knob was a sort of joke).
4. We added a comfort contour (a belly cut) to the top and back of the body.
Q: What are the differences between the Axis and the Axis SuperSport?
A: One difference is that the Axis is only available with a Floyd Rose bridge.This is what is on the Axis SuperSport that is not available on the Axis:
1. It comes with a tone control.
2. It is available with either a stop-tailpiece or a vintage tremolo with locking tuners, but not with a Floyd Rose bridge.
3. It is available with MM-90 pickups or the standard Axis humbucking pickups.
4. It is available with a piezo (acoustic) bridge (right-hand only - extra charge).
5. It is available left-handed (extra charge).
6. The SuperSport has a 5-way selector switch to employ coil-tapping, while the Axis uses a 3-way toggle switch.
7. The base price of the SuperSport is somewhat less than that of the Axis.
Q: What is the best way to hook up one of your guitars equipped with the piezo bridge?
A: The Music Man models with piezo are designed to run out to two separate systems. That's what we consider the best option - the electric goes through the regular on-stage rig and the piezo runs direct through the house mains. To do this, you can either use both outputs at once with mono cables or you can run a single stereo cable out of the "magnetic/stereo" output and use a stereo-to-mono splitter box (such as our Ernie Ball catalog # 6190). Then, you take each respective lead where it is to go. Or, instead of running the piezo signal through the house mains, you could use an acoustic amplifier first and then run it to the house mains - or not.Of course, you can always just run the signal out of the "piezo/mono" output jack and have it run to to a standard guitar amp and mix the signal on your guitar alone - but to get the real potential of the piezo bridge, we know that running it through separate systems as described above works best.
Q: Your guitars now have a different kind of nut. What is it called and what is its purpose?
A: The new nut is called a Compensated Nut. We have a patent on this design.The purpose of this new nut design is to improve note accuracy all over the fretboard. This is most apparent at the lower frets.
There is no special tuner, setup, or intonation required.
This nut is standard on all Music Man guitars and basses (of course except guitars equipped with Floyd Rose tremolo systems).
The Compensated Nut has been engineered to improve your Music Man instrument's potential to play perfectly in tune up an down the fretboard. Each string has an individual intonation pocket that slightly changes the effective string length, causing notes that traditionally play sharp to be more in tune.
The design has been optimized for standard string gauges and tunings, but will be of benefit when used with alternate tunings, string gauges, and playing styles.