Snork Posted February 28, 2004 Report Share Posted February 28, 2004 i deduced that i am not going to be using a floyd rose bridge. There are just too many tuning issues. what about a bigsby i saw that it runs through a tune o matic plus it has a retention bar. so when a string breaks im sure the whole guitar wont go out. or when you bend or pick near the bridge you wont go out either. right? can someone list out the benefits of a bigsby trem? or should I just not bother with the trem. as it is quite expensive. plus i think it would be really funny to post a carved top jem with a bigsby trem on jemsite and seeing their reactions. anyway thats besides the point im nearing completion and i need to order my hardware pickups are here (thank god drak) and body is routed...etc. just if i could get some last minute opinions. Thanks, Sam Fisher PS: i have a spare tune o matic and stop tail so no need to rush the decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Litchfield Custom Gutars Posted February 28, 2004 Report Share Posted February 28, 2004 I'd say do the bigsby if you want a trem, or do an EVH style floyd....bend down only, and add a D-tuna. I prefer that setup. The bigsby will still go out of tune and doesnt have a very big range, whereas a Floyd does. They bigby is a virbrato, and floyd is a trem. Go into GC and check out a Gretsch 6120. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickleweaseler Posted February 28, 2004 Report Share Posted February 28, 2004 Lots of people like bigsby trems. I don't. I have one on a 335 copy. It's ok for wailing feedback controlling, unless you want to play in tune afterwwards. Not much pitch change. It might work better if you use a roller bridge and nut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckguitarist Posted February 28, 2004 Report Share Posted February 28, 2004 If you're worried about bigsby's being too expensive, here's got 'em cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snork Posted February 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 29, 2004 thanks for the link canuck! but does it stay in tune???? does anyone know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Litchfield Custom Gutars Posted February 29, 2004 Report Share Posted February 29, 2004 it doesnt stay in tune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Mailloux Posted February 29, 2004 Report Share Posted February 29, 2004 I had a Bigsby in a mid-seventies Gibson SG I had and I hated the thing! Just touching the thing garantees to detune your guitar and it really didn't sound that nice to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68 lost souls Posted August 12, 2004 Report Share Posted August 12, 2004 Wouldnt a roller TOM, locking tuners and either a graphite, slipstone or roller nut solve the tuning problom? Also would it be hard to make an arm for a bigsby. I dont like the chunky standard one and the others ones dont come in black. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatchets Posted August 12, 2004 Report Share Posted August 12, 2004 I have several bigsbys....including my '58 gretsch. If you have a roller bridge and a proper sized nut (I prefer bone)...the thing does stay in tune. It is NOT a dive bomber and you can pull up (tight) on the strings enough to stretch them out of tune. You can get a nice wavy tone from a bar chord...like kicking in a vintage fender (amp) tremolo (with out the click). I have a b6, b5 and b16 and the Gretsch. red Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar_ed Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 I have a factory Gretsch, a modded Les Paul, and Tele that I built myself, all with Bigsby's. No tuning problems. Maybe I just don't play hard enough? Guitar Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a bicycle made of anarchy Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 i think it comes down to playing style.. if you need to play "pad horsie" all day, get a floyd. if you only ever need subtle touches, or even just want the "refined" look that comes with a bigsby, go bigsby. I like bigsby's because I think they look great.. I've got one on a 335 and it is just so cool looking.. although i'm sure some will disagree! i think they look fantastic on SGs and smaller guitars too, but the arm is just in the way. all that said and done, give me a hardtail TOM any day of the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vendelcrow Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 Anyone know where to buy cheap B5 Bigsbys? Vendelcrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68 lost souls Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 Or a nice cheap B500 would be nice aswel, aswel as a tutorial as too how to fit one properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68 lost souls Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 Anyone got any thoughts on making the bigsby arm. I know there held on with just a nut, screw and a washer so would I be able to just make a hole the right size in an arm I make or even get like a floyd arm, weld on a washer so it has a flat surface with a hole in it and fit that on? Any thoughts on my way or another way of doing it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky1 Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 (edited) Edited September 19, 2004 by lucky1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68 lost souls Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 Yeah well I was looking at them but if in the end I do go with the bigsby it will be black and I cant find them in black. They would be great otherwise. I have emailed stewmac about ordering in different colours but they said it isnt possible. I was trying out a bigsby today, (doubt it was a genuine cause it was on a Vintage) it seemed realy stiff, is this normal? I dont realy want a stiff trem but my choices are limited because I need a black on floating trem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sindlei Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 what's the problem with a floyd? it really isn't as much of a hassle as everyone says, and when you break a string at the bridge, you just put it back in and relock, locking is the best, why would you want anything else? you wouldn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLS Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 Why not go Kahler?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axo151 Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/B500L-BLK.htm http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/B700L-BLK.htm who's the man? this guy. retention bars are somewhat useless, they only delay the thing going out. have it professionally installed by someone who knows exactly what they are doing, its worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68 lost souls Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 Yeah I saw that when when I read on the bigsby site that elderly is a good supplier. I was thinking of getting the b500. I just want to know if they are stiff and if you can losen them? Where can I get a thinner handle and possibly longer? How exactly you fit it (spacing wise)? I cant get a floating trem like a floyd or anything because the body wont be thick enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axo151 Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 someone has a signature handle thats longer. chet atkins maybe? its all on elderly, they are the best supplier, cheapest too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sindlei Posted August 15, 2004 Report Share Posted August 15, 2004 pretty sure you could cut the block on the floyd to make it shorter, you have to for some bodys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68 lost souls Posted August 15, 2004 Report Share Posted August 15, 2004 When I was taking to the tech in a guitar shop he said that that would be realy hard to do if not impossible. I live in Ireland and there arent very many good techs here. There is also a 9 1/2" handle which is 1/2" longer than the chet atkins handle. Ill probably replace the stock handle with one of these. Any ideas on how to make them match black hardware as they only come in chrome. Also any idea on the stiffness of them. Can you losen it up a bit to be as easy to use as a floyd? Lucky1 what are your opinions on the les rem? Is that the one they sell on stew mac? How easy is it to use? I was originaly thinking about these but couldnt find any opinions on them. Any way to make these black? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted August 15, 2004 Report Share Posted August 15, 2004 paint it black? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68 lost souls Posted August 15, 2004 Report Share Posted August 15, 2004 I thought of that but someone said that it would just flake off, if I where to paint it would I just use black autopaint and sand the metal first to give the paint something to grip to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.