Oops i installed it again (Bigsby B5)

[Melma]

"there would be a whole lot less 325s out there with an aftermarket Bigsby vibrato screwed on."

+1!

"If Lennon didn't play a 325, there would be no reissues to modify!"

+1!

I am biased towards the humble Bigsby, I will admit. I fitted one to my Agile Les Paul copy in September, and I love it. It was my first experience with that kind of vibrato unit, and the restringing process is a bit annoying, but it's eminently playable.
The only problem with a little Rick is that you can't just slap a Vibramate on it and then say, 'oh well, that didn't work' and take it off again. I'd understand someone who hesitated to do any drilling into their guitar, but I stopped having those worries years ago when I started fixing my own instruments.

[admin]

A gorgeous guitar Peter. Thanks for the photos. I feel like I want to go to the Star Club.

[billydlight]

Man, Colin,
When did you get to be such an old fart?

[Medicus1963]

Thanks for all the opinions positive and not such !
I think i wont look for an Phillips Screw on the Bigsby, because i am not so keen on every detail. I also tried out Hofner knobs, but then i did it with Burns Replicas and they look better !
Although both versions are not "Lennonlike" because they were only used on the black version.

Thanks

Peter

[collin]

I think Bigsbys can look pretty cool Collin.......although YMMV

Now THAT was some top notch gratuitous Combo flaunting.

I can barely see this bigsby you speak of anyways!




P.s...I think Bigsbys rule, I just wish they had a non permanent solution for the B3, like they made for the LP/ES-335 style B7.

[collin]

Man, Colin,
When did you get to be such an old fart?

What, no room for two Curmudgeons on this forum?

[billydlight]

[last]

How's it staying in tune? I did this to a Les Paul and it's pretty horrible at staying in tune now. But then again, my Mosrite with vibrato doesn't keep very well either. The price you pay to sound cool, I guess.

[Medicus1963]

Hi Mike,

It stays perfect in tune. I think it depends on strings (thicker is better) and the perfect companion is a roller Bridge, Bigsby Bowtie Bridge, Gretsch Rockin bar Bridge. Essential is that friction of the strings is to a Minimum both on the nut and the bridge. Tuneomatic Bridges can be a little bit tricky.

Peter

[johncorth]

Both the Bigsby bowtie and roller bridges are designed to work with a vibrato. Obviously the rollers roll, but the Bigsby bridge pivots on its base, like a Gretsch bar bridge. A Bigsby vibrato will return to pitch every time unless the strings are getting hung up elsewhere. If you're using a rolling or pivoting bridge, then the nut is the problem. On a Les Paul, the tune-o-matic might be the hang up. Obviously many players have successfully mated a tune-o-matic and Bigsby, so it can be done. My point is just that whatever the source of a tuning problem may be, it's unlikely to be the Bigsby unit itself.

[iiipopes]

+1000 to the above two posts. The rollers or bow tie pivot bridge are ESSENTIAL to keeping a Bigsby in tune.

Also -- one detail about the bow tie: make sure you put the "offset" saddle under the B string, and as posted above, use a heavier set with a wound 3rd, preferably at least the stock RIC 12's set or equivalent.

[bitzerguy]

I do not have a Bigsby on a Ric, but I do have one on my Dingwall C1. It is paired up with a Tone Pros Tune-O-Matic style bridge equipped with GraphTec saddles, a bone nut, and .010-.048 DRs. This combination never goes out of tune, and I am not gentle with the Bigsby. Every two or three string changes I put a very tiny swipe of petroleum jelly in the nut and saddle slots. No tuning issues ever after a year of weekly abuse.

[last]

great info. thanks!

[IHeartRics]

I think Bigsbys can look pretty cool Collin.......although YMMV

I can't tell, but are those roller bridges on there? If so, where did you get the bridges or did you just modify Ric bridges with new saddles, and of course, from where?

[jps]

They look like rollers to me. I love the white one, can I take it home with me for a while?