Bigsby B5 (USA) doesn't fit my 325C58!

[mixey]

Hi everyone - I've been reading the forum messages for many weeks now and have just purchased a new 325C58 JG with a view to 'Lennonising' it. I'm new and this is my first post!

The many posts regarding fitting a B5 Bigsy have been really interesting, but my own problem is that the Bigsby doesn't fit FLAT on the Ric - it has about a 1/4" gap at the pickup end when it's resting on the tail.

The picture below shows the 'lift' I have and I just wondered if anyone had come across this before and how they might have fixed it? I've seen a number of pictures of 325C58's with what seems to be B5's fitted fine?

Any thoughts would be very much appreciated - please help!

[wj350]

There was a thread a while back on this. Some of the comments, IIRC, focused on differences between the current reissue Bigsbys--the US models being a bit larger than the Selmer editions. I can't recall if they said you can still get the Selmer or not.

I have two 325s with Bigsbys, both the same (US) Bigsby. My JG it fits perfectly flush, my MG is not quite flush on the lower forward mount, though it's not anywhere near a 1/4". You can notice the black washer, whereas on the JG it's perfectly flat.

Not sure if it's a variance in the guitar or the Bigsby. Doesn't affect the play at all, and the unit is nice and tight.

Bill

[silvergp05]

Try the B50...I've always found that the B50 looks better, fits better, and performs better than the USA made B5...

[doctorno]

Try the B50...I've always found that the B50 looks better, fits better, and performs better than the USA made B5...

That´s interesting. How much smaller is the B50 compared to the B5? Is it so small that it would fit onto a 325C64 as well? Are the B50s still available?

[wj350]

From my limited experience, the B-50 and B-5 are nearly identical in size and appearance. Major difference I found was the spacing of the butt end--the "Bigsby" logo part--the two screws in this area were spaced slightly differently. I converted a 2003 MG I scored on a BIN that was discussed here at the time--I didn't notice the B-50 in the photos (it has an added script line under "Bigsby"--Bigsby Licensed or something like that)--so I got a B-5 and swapped them. IIRC, I had to refill the two holes at the bottom and redrill/tap for the B-5. The two upper holes matched.

[tennis_nick]

Don't worry about... Rickenbackers usually have tailpiece lift anyways....













Ok... that was just a cruel joke!

I think a company had reissued the selmer Bigsby at some point, I don't recall.

[beatle_bry]

The "modern" B-5 is indeed larger than the one Lennon had. There's a simple fix though: Under the screw hole on the plate of the Bigsby (upper right side, facing the bottom), place a small washer, preferably black between the plate and the guitar. This will stabilize the mount. See the pic below to illustrate this:
http://thestringguy.com/PhotoAlbums/alb ... 0_0729.jpg

[deaconblues]

Is that your guitar Brian? Where did you find those knobs?

[beatle_bry]

Hi Daniel,
No, this was a client's guitar that I took from stock C to "Lennon Cavern" spec. The radio knobs were ToneWorks reproductions from Japan.

Very hard to get for sure!

[deaconblues]

You're tellin' me!

Thanks Brian