Mounting a Bigsby B5 on a 330?

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LenMinNJ
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Mounting a Bigsby B5 on a 330?

Post by LenMinNJ »

Does anyone have advice about mounting a Bigsby B5 on a 330?

How far from the bottom edge of the guitar should it go?

Is the ramp flat enough so that it goes on easily?

What do you do about the original tailpiece mounting holes?

Has anyone used a Vibramate so that no holes need to be drilled?
xpitt
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Re: Mounting a Bigsby B5 on a 330?

Post by xpitt »

I have done it. It's perfectly made for a 330. The holes from the tailpiece can be touched up easyly, depending on the strap you use you won't see them anyway.
viewtopic.php?f=51&t=392301&hilit=+modified+330
Still kicking my a** for selling that one.
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LenMinNJ
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Re: Mounting a Bigsby B5 on a 330?

Post by LenMinNJ »

Nice photos.

I see that you only used three of the B5's mounting screws. Was there a reason for that?
xpitt
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Re: Mounting a Bigsby B5 on a 330?

Post by xpitt »

Originally there was an alu B5 mounted before I went with gold hardware. The "nose" for the 4th screw was cut away and the cut surface polished. The 4th screw was placed under the spring. You can easyly drill a hole for the screw through the alu. It looks much nicer without this "nose", more view on the beautiful finish.
I picked up this idea from a JJ PW project I saw in some of his pics found here. When changing to the gold B5 I didn't want to cut this "nose" as the cut surface wouldn't have looked golden any longer, the golden alloy might have suffered from chipping. The 4th screw is under the spring as well. Good luck !
Last edited by xpitt on Fri Feb 15, 2013 6:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Medicus1963
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Re: Mounting a Bigsby B5 on a 330?

Post by Medicus1963 »

@Alex,
I wished i was the buyer of this beauty ! But i am not. Very good work !
@Len,
Just do it B5 is very nice on Ricks, but remember it is a permanent mod on your guitar !
Bu i have done this a few times too, and did not regret anything.

Peter
All you need is love and a rick !
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LenMinNJ
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Re: Mounting a Bigsby B5 on a 330?

Post by LenMinNJ »

Has anyone tried using a VibraMate TEV with a Bigsby B5 and a 330. It's designed for use on a Telecaster, but looks like it should work on a 330 too, though the screw for the strap knob is placed a bit differently on the 330, and it might require a bit of trimming of the two tabs that face the bridge.

That would allow the B5 to be mounted without drilling any holes in the 330's top, which would be nice.
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LenMinNJ
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Re: Mounting a Bigsby B5 on a 330?

Post by LenMinNJ »

Has anyone tried using a B50 "Licensed" Bigsby vibrato rather than the "Made In USA" B5?
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LenMinNJ
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Re: Mounting a Bigsby B5 on a 330?

Post by LenMinNJ »

I mounted a Bigsby B5 on my 330JG.

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=408501#p792041
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