Bigsby guys?

[formula73]

I've fiddled with them once or twice but to be honest, I'm pretty much interested in the LOOK and a little more junk in the trunk to balance out a slight neck dive. I've decided since this particular guitar, sweet though it is, will never be worth that much, it may need a Bigsby B7.




Current setup but not as pretty pics...



I hear people talk bad about some with poor construction, pot metal, etc. Are there particular models to avoid? Will the thinner body as compared to a LP be a problem?

Thoughts?

[the guy who invented fire]

No Bigsbys are made from pot metal, even the imports are made from aluminum but the manufacturing method is different on the import models. The worst parts of the import models IMO is the small spring...adding a 1 inch spring to an import model will make them work and feel a lot better and costs about 6 bucks.

How much thinner is that guitar over a Les Paul?

In regards to using a Bigsby it really comes down to set up...the nut has to be spot on and a little graphite or nut sauce helps but a perfect nut can do w/o it.

[formula73]

It's closer to Explorer or V thickness, just with a THICK maple cap. The sides/back are 1 11/32". It's a very comfortable guitar.

[the guy who invented fire]

B7 should be fine but I'd take some measurements and check the Bigsby website just to be sure but I am pretty sure as-is you'd be fine.

If you want to leave the guitar stock (no holes) and add even more weight look at a Vibramate system for it.

[jtougas]

I happen to have a B7 I don't have a use for... Was thinking of putting it on the Artist, but I'm selling that, soooo...

[phil_104]

http://www.vibramate.com/vibramate-v7-lp-install.php

Get one of these.

[jtougas]

And a roller bridge wouldn't be a bad idea, either...

[the guy who invented fire]

And a roller bridge wouldn't be a bad idea, either...

If properly set up the guitar won't need one.

[formula73]

I happen to have a B7 I don't have a use for... Was thinking of putting it on the Artist, but I'm selling that, soooo...

PM sent.

Thanks for all the advice, guys. I'm going to go for the Vibramate and hope it works out. I figure I can make a spacer or whatever if the B7 is too long but hopefully, it won't be a problem. It *looks* pretty close to standard LP placement.

[gibson175]

If you are getting the vibramate b7, you better check the measurements carefully for your axe. It might not be right for your axe. It also raises the bigsby up so it can make getting to your volume knobs difficult. It dont sit flush either.
The vibramate B5 is a cool idea, but the same two negatives are that the trem wont sit flush, and it puts the trem arm and spring right on top of your volume knob etc.
However there is another solution that will work for sure and the bigsby will sit where it was designed and will uset he correct breeak angle.
Check out the towner retrofit kit. It works well with no drilling, and you can adjust your break angle. The B3 will be the correct size bigsby for your axe (normally a b7 would be right, but if you dont want the screw hole, then a b3 and a towner kit is the way to go).

roller bridges are not necessary for bigsbys, but a well cut nut and some lubricant make a big difference.

[che_guitarra]

http://www.vibramate.com/vibramate-v7-lp-install.php

Get one of these.

Wow, that's a brilliant idea.

[tonello]

If properly set up the guitar won't need one.

Disagree. I have a Bigsby on all of my guitars, and even with perfect setups, they need roller bridges. That might have to do with the 12-54's that I use, but not the point a roller bridge can only help. Other thing is that investing in some decent locking tuners would be helpful. I think Dean uses Grover tuners, and a set of 18:1 locking tuners is about $60 to $70. I love my Bigsbys, but I have had to change many things on my guitars, so I want you to know what I've done to accommodate them.

[the guy who invented fire]

Disagree. I have a Bigsby on all of my guitars, and even with perfect setups, they need roller bridges. That might have to do with the 12-54's that I use, but not the point a roller bridge can only help. Other thing is that investing in some decent locking tuners would be helpful. I think Dean uses Grover tuners, and a set of 18:1 locking tuners is about $60 to $70. I love my Bigsbys, but I have had to change many things on my guitars, so I want you to know what I've done to accommodate them.

And I disagree...

I have a Bigsby on my ES-335...no roller bridge needed, I set up one on an Epi Dot just last week...didn't work at all, the owner wanted a roller bridge...with a little tweaking it works fine. Set up one on a Telecaster a few months ago and it's fine.

Truth is far more Bigsby users are fine w/o roller bridges than need 'em.

If you have to have a roller bridge to use a Bigsby I suggest getting a really good set up done then see where you stand.

[gibson175]

yeh. bigsby's actually "rock" the whole bridge gently so rollers kinda defeat the design purpose. Rollers just add more moving parts to the equation. If you are happy with them then great, but its the nut where the strings stick and go sharp when you dive the bigsby. Well cut nut for your string guage and some nut sauce go a long way to sorting everything out.

this video kinda explains it a bit:

[the guy who invented fire]

That Sta-Tuned junk is the biggest joke I've ever seen...

Who in their right mind is gonna put a locking device and fine tuners on a hard tail Telecaster or Les Paul...that's just nuts!

I am amazed by the amount of money on goofy products like that people will spend trying to get a guitar to stay in tune but refuse to go and get a new nut made for it...or get a quality setup.

[formula73]

I happen to have a B7 I don't have a use for... Was thinking of putting it on the Artist, but I'm selling that, soooo...

PM sent...not replied...whatchoo want fer it?

[BTMN]

Man, dont put that on there.

On another note, how would you like two X2N pickups? One is double Black and the other is a double Cream. Make me an offer. There are both old as the hills.

[jtougas]

PM sent...not replied...whatchoo want fer it?

Sorry, thought I had...

My B7 isn't gold, sorry. I hadn't looked that closely at your pics. My bad.

[gibson175]

That Sta-Tuned junk is the biggest joke I've ever seen...

Who in their right mind is gonna put a locking device and fine tuners on a hard tail Telecaster or Les Paul...that's just nuts!

I am amazed by the amount of money on goofy products like that people will spend trying to get a guitar to stay in tune but refuse to go and get a new nut made for it...or get a quality setup.

i just posted that link to show the effect nut slippage as it pertains to bigsby use. I was agreeing with you that tuning stability for bigsbys is all about the nut and not about roller bridges.

[formula73]

Man, dont put that on there.

On another note, how would you like two X2N pickups? One is double Black and the other is a double Cream. Make me an offer. There are both old as the hills.

I appreciate the offer but I'm actually pretty solid on pups, at the moment. At the very least, I have a surplus of X2Ns, and generally more pickups than I have guitars to put them in.

Oh...and the Bigsby is a foregone conclusion. Look for it at DOA.

Sorry, thought I had...

My B7 isn't gold, sorry. I hadn't looked that closely at your pics. My bad.

I'm a friggin idiot. I don't know what happened to the message in my inbox, but now that you mention it, I remember you telling me it was the wrong color!! Thanks, and you DID reply.