Bigsby Experience?
- Thread starter Big Monk
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Harry Klippton
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Big Monk
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What did you not like about? Tuning stability? Limited semitone up/down?
I’m contemplating the B7 with a Vibramate adapter for a no-drill option, but $200 is a lot of scratch to try one out.
Harry Klippton
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With some customization it could be ok. The bar is always in the way of the controls, sits too low and it's just not something I'd use.
Do you use the bar on your strat? I don't. The only time I want a floating bridge is if it's a kahler
Do you use the bar on your strat? I don't. The only time I want a floating bridge is if it's a kahler
Harry Klippton
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On the plus side, a bigsby looks cool and that's worth something
Big Monk
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I do use the vibrato on my Strat.
I’m rewiring my Les Paul now like I spoke about in the thread where you had the guitar work you did. The goal is to get some single-coily tones.
I’ve always been curious about the Bigsby so I was just curious if it could do the same light-medium duty wiggles like my Strat does.
I’m trying to be a one guitar guy…
Harry Klippton
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Big Monk
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Welp, that settles it then. I’m not a big vibrato bar user to begin with and can’t see spending $200 to look marginally cooler than I already do…
Big Monk
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Harry Klippton
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Kahler's good enough for slayer, it's good enough for me
Big Monk
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Most of the Gretsches have the controls in an accessible spot with the Bigsby.
I was thinking mostly about up/down travel and tuning and forgot about controls being blocked. As much as I use the controls, having a big hunk of metal in the way would be a pain in the balls.
Mentaltossflycoon
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A friend of mine put one on an old beat up white Greco lp that he kept in our shared shop space. I always enjoyed that instrument and picked it up often, had an old dearmond gold foil in the neck too. I'm not a big trem user so it was quite novel to me at the time. It's part of the reason I finally acquired a bass vi.
Bricksnbeatles
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Kahlers are my favorite because they have the tuning stability of a locking system without as much hassle, and they have the fun bouncy/gliding feel of a Jaguar vibrato or a Bigsby instead of the industrial-feeling clunk of a Floyd rose or other pivoting fulcrum system.
I quite like Bigsbys and don’t really get the tuning issues people complain about. If you’re not going to use it, don’t bother, but it is a nice system and if well set up, it’s great for smooth subtle vibrato and it feels fantastic to use!
I quite like Bigsbys and don’t really get the tuning issues people complain about. If you’re not going to use it, don’t bother, but it is a nice system and if well set up, it’s great for smooth subtle vibrato and it feels fantastic to use!
MichaelW
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I have a Bigsby on my PRS Starla. If you approach each tremolo type within the scope of it's limits then you'll be less likely to be disappointed. For the Bigsby, there is a particular range of travel and thus a "Bigsby sound". You can't really do dive bombs or play advanced shredder trem techniques with it. I use mine to add a bit of shimmer or warble to chords and stuff. But it's not the same as a 6 point vintage Strat trem, which isn't the same as a 2 point Strat trem, which isn't the same as a Floyd, etc. Each do their own thing. Tuning stability on ALL trems suck......just the nature of the beast. There are mods that folks do with their Bigsby's, like changing out the main trem spring can give you much better action and a little more range. @Big Monk I wouldn't put a Bigsby on that Les Paul. You're already too cool for school and any more coolness would be blinding.......
MichaelW
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Unfortunately some of the very mods that can make a Bigsby play better also changes "the sound". Like roller saddles or delrin saddles. Ugh, sounds good on paper but it feels like throwing a wet blanket over the guitar. I have mine stock with the TOM saddles. I don't use it very much, and as mentioned in this thread, the arm always seems to be in the way of the controls.
jeffwhitfield
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I have a Gretsch Electromatic Jet and upgraded the bridge with a Les Trem II. It's a fantastic drop-in them that doesn't require all the hassle that a Bigsby requires in terms of installation. Had mine for a while and I really, really like it. Might consider one of those. Do need to consider the bridge though. The guy on Reverb I got mine from made sure to include a roller saddle bridge that was compatible with my guitar. No doubt that makes all the difference in the world in terms of maintaining tuning.
Big Monk
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I'll check into these. Looks like they are backordered direct from Duesenberg but i'm sure aftermarket/used units are available.
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