software

Hi all,
Here it goes: I want to mod my inexpensive SG copy with a Bigsby vibrato (or an inexpensive work-alike if I can find one). I already got a killer deal on a roller bridge (a no-name brand but decent quality as far as I can judge, having tinkered with guitars for 15 years). There are a few things that come to mind, and a few questions I cannot answer myself at the moment. Please help me and shed some light if you can. Thank you.

1. I want to get my Bigsby from StewMac. I'm positive I want the B5 model. Has anyone done the mod? What are the pitfalls of installation? What should I pay attention to? (Errr, except for making sure to align it in axis with the bridge and strings I suppose... )

2. I understand a Bigsby lets you lower as well as raise the pitch. I would much prefer a fixed stop position on the upward pull, so as to lower the pitch only. First, I assume it must be better for tuning stability, and second, I believe it would add sustain. A friend told me about a guy here in the Czech Rep who machined his own Bigsby-alike with a fixed stop on the upward pull of the arm. Now I believe sooner or later I could figure out a way to mod my B5 this way but ... can you offer some insight - I mean pros and cons of doing this? And I don't mean resale value here. The guitar is a no-name brand that actually happened to be a cool one - so cool that I found it worth modding because no one would buy it used from me at a reasonable price. I'm pretty sure I'll keep this one, not least because of the crazy mods.

3. I want to install a Graph Tech nut. (I'm currently having this done on my HWY1 Tele; my luthier told me it makes a night-and-day difference to the tone of the guitar, and if I find he's right, I suppose I can't go wrong with the SG clone either). I mean, I never make my own nuts - I have them done by him. Again, can you share any pros and cons on this subject?

4. Tone and sustain: I read somewhere that added mass in the bridge or bridge assembly makes for better sustain. If this is true, I assume the Bigsby should make a lot of a difference. Any direct experience to confirm or disprove?

Thanks for reading, and sorry for the lengthy post.
I realize I've been out of here for quite some time, and now when I do get back I usually ask for help rather than offer insights. But perhaps even I can help someone so...

Anyway, thanks again
Tony

FWIW, I'm not a tremelo lovin' kind of guy...

I've had 3 Bigsby-like guitars. Only one real Bigsby. The Bigsby copies were worse than dreadful, hate is not the word that can describe the bad feelings I have towards those guitars. The Bigsby I just hated. It didn't stay in tune for anything, and because I break a lot of strings, it's a pain in the azz to restring. I was going to get a stop tailpiece on it, but just traded the guitar. I really didn't like it. You also may want to invest in Graph Tech saddles rather than a roller bridge. I have had the best luck with those saddles.


Originally Posted by The Golden BoyFWIW, I'm not a tremelo lovin' kind of guy...

I've had 3 Bigsby-like guitars. Only one real Bigsby. The Bigsby copies were worse than dreadful, hate is not the word that can describe the bad feelings I have towards those guitars. The Bigsby I just hated. It didn't stay in tune for anything, and because I break a lot of strings, it's a pain in the azz to restring. I was going to get a stop tailpiece on it, but just traded the guitar. I really didn't like it. You also may want to invest in Graph Tech saddles rather than a roller bridge. I have had the best luck with those saddles.

Thanks, Golden Boy! Not very encouraging, eh? Well to tell the truth, a guitar shop within my reach has several Epiphone LPs. Some of them are Czech made, some Korean made, and one of the Koreans has the Bigsby on it. Trust me, it's the worst feeling guitar in the shop (they have close to 70 on display, and I tried most of them). Still, I believe you can have a Bigsby-equipped guitar that actually feels and sounds good. A friend of mine has an old Jazzmaster copy from Eastern Germany of yore with a Bigsby copy trem. The guitar actually feels quite good (except that he likes the tone of old strings that go out of tune the moment you look at them, to say nothing of picking or even working the bar).

If bigsby's are so awful, than why so I see so many people with em on their guitars?


Originally Posted by MephisIf bigsby's are so awful, than why so I see so many people with em on their guitars?

Good question. For me - and sorry for repeating myself - I believe you CAN have a Bigsby-equipped guitar that feels and sounds good. I'm just trying to learn how to do it before I screw up and learn the hard way...

I mean I love Neil Young - his playing, his tone, his music - not every album, but many. He uses old LPs with Bigsbys on them --- and his tone just KILLS. He's one of the few really big artist I actually saw live. IF HE DIGS LPs WITH BIGSBYS, THEN BIGSBY MUST BE RIGHT.

If I should judge by that Epi I saw at the shop, it would be quot;steer clear of Bigsbyquot; for me: that guitar has poor sustain, never stays in tune and the strings just don't quot;quot;feelquot;quot; right (hard to describe but y'know). Errr, I'm repeating myself. Anyone else?
Thanks
Tony

With good tuners, a quality bigsby, and a descent bone nut, I see no reason why a bigsby wouldn't hold fine tune.


Originally Posted by MephisWith good tuners, a quality bigsby, and a descent bone nut, I see no reason why a bigsby wouldn't hold fine tune.

Yep, that's what I think too, basically. A decent bone nut, maybe lubed with some pencil lead ... could GraphTech be better perhaps?


Originally Posted by Tony_HYep, that's what I think too, basically. A decent bone nut, maybe lubed with some pencil lead ... could GraphTech be better perhaps?Bone is natrualy lubing.


Originally Posted by MephisBone is natrualy lubing.

Is it? Haven't tried this but may very well be true...

Pros -

Big creaky sound. Think Neil Young or Link Wray or the Stray Cats.

Weirder harmonics than Strat tremolo do to string length between b ridge and tailpiece.

Looks cool.

If you don't use the trem, the tuning is very stable compared to Strat trem.

Cons -

If set up badly they're miserable.

Changing strings sucks.

Let me throw in a few things to make your Bigsby experience better. First, get an OEM Earvana compensated nut, that will help with your intonation even before installing the Bigsby. Second, buy only a genuine Bigsby B-5...if you don't you'll pay for it later. Third, get some nut sauce from Big Bends and have your luthier apply it when he installs the Earvana nut and then it will be as slippery as a graphite nut. Fourth, ask your luthier to try and keep the Bigsby close enough to the scale length so there won't be any tuning problems there. Fifth, rip those awful little pegs out of the string retainer bar and have someone with a drill press drill the holes all the way through so you can thread the strings right through the bar. Last but not least get a real good roller bridge with real graphite rollers. Just like any guitar related project, if it's worth doing it's worth doing right. Good luck bro!

all that advice works for a telecaster as well?


Originally Posted by Tony_HThanks, Golden Boy! Not very encouraging, eh?

Tony, Sorry!

My experiences with vibratos aren't the best, and that Bigsby'd R8 was a 'cool' guitar, but the Bigsby really made me dislike it. I do play rather hard, so that's something to take into account...

Originally Posted by MephisIf bigsby's are so awful, than why so I see so many people with em on their guitars?

Not counting Gretsch's, when I think of Bigsby's as quot;optional equipmentquot; I think of Les Pauls. If you go through the quot;Beauty Of The Burstquot; book, you'll see a lot of Les Pauls that have had them on at one time or another, but overwhelmingly they've all been removed. I would imagine it would be like
quot;hey- I want a vibrato! Bigsby!! ... Well, that wasn't so cool...quot; When I think of big '60's guitar players that had Bigsby LPs, Clapton and Page spring to mind. Clapton used that one Bigsby LP, pretty much for one show- that I've seen pictures of. His main guitar was stolen, he used that one, and then ended up with one of Andy Summers' LPs with a stop TP, and then up to the SG. Jimmy Page's #1 recording guitar during his session days was a 3 pickup LP Custom with a Bigsby. However, he didn't seem to use that live when he joined the Yardbirds. He, instead, used his Telecasters, while in Zeppelin he didn't even use the Custom on the first LP.

Originally Posted by MephisBone is natrualy lubing.

I've never heard that until coming here, and it's pretty contrary to my experience.


Originally Posted by Closed Eyeall that advice works for a telecaster as well?

More or less yeah. The first time I tried installing a Bigsby on a Tele with a vintage style bridge it was a real hit and miss kinda thing. But, I learned my lesson and if you need any help puttin' the Bigsby on a Tele just let me know and I'll be glad to help.

The beauty of Bigsby tremelos is that they can be EXTREMELY subtle; nothing else sounds quite like a Bigsby.

The guitar in my avatar is my '66 SG Standard with a B-5 Bigsby and standard Tuneomatic bridge. I bought the guitar with the Bigsby on it so I can't help you with the installation, but I can say:

- Tone and sustain are NOT a problem. With Antiquity humbuckers this guitar makes even me sound good.

- If well set up tuning should not be more of a problem than with other tremelo equipped guitars.

- String changes are initially a little tough, but after a few changes you will find that it has become easier. (Hint: putting a bend or crimp in the strings at the ball end makes it easier to get the ball ends on the posts.)

- With a Bigsby you'll never have to worry about the notorious SG neck dives!

- If you want to hear what a gifted player can do with an SG with a Bigsby check out the music of the late John Cipollina. Go to if you're interested.

- Good luck and have fun.

I'm tellin' ya...drilling those string retainer bar peg holes all the way through makes a Bigsby about 100x easier to restring.


Originally Posted by itbepopplesMore or less yeah. The first time I tried installing a Bigsby on a Tele with a vintage style bridge it was a real hit and miss kinda thing. But, I learned my lesson and if you need any help puttin' the Bigsby on a Tele just let me know and I'll be glad to help.

I was looking around online and there's actually a quot;Bigsby Telecaster Bridgequot; to go with the B-5:

from : localhost/also offers a kit with the bridge, the B5, and pretty much everything else you need:

from : localhost/was also wondering if I wanted to replace the bridge on a Tele w/ a bigsby would you still need to get a new nut and locking tuners? If you'd need to do it w/ an SG it would only seem natural that you would have to do it with any other guitar, right?

...

...oh yeah, and my apologies to Tony_H for starting a mini-thread within his thread that really has nothing to do with Bigsbys being installed SGs.

You don't NEED to do anything I mentioned above but I HIGHLY recommend it. It's definitely possible to just buy the Bigs and just put it on but in my experience the more prepared you are for the potential issues that may arise the better off you are. I'm not a big fan of those conversion bridges but mostly just because I think they're ugly as sin and technically not necessary if you do a few mods to the lip of the bridge. If you just file down the places where the strings will fall over the back of the bridge plate you'll be golden. A guy over at The Fender Forum has a great picture I'll show you just so you can get an idea of what the bridge modification would look like.
I personally don't like the way that particular bridge looks filed so when I make my dream Tele I will have a bridge custom made with holes coming though the back for the strings so the lip will look unmodded.

I've never changed the strings on one myself, but I watched someone change them on a stock Bigsby. It went just as fast or faster than most string-through type guitars. It didn't seem to be a problem at all. Maybe he had a lot of practice.

You don't need a fancy bridges or nuts (with the exception of the Earvana, which is still a personal preference, but a good upgrade to consider). This particular guitar is 40 years old, and there aren't any problems. You just have to make sure it's all set up properly.

Personally, i love bigsby's