Accent vs Bigsby B5, pros and cons?

[Marn99]

So I've decided for my Jetglo 360 (or 370, I haven't decided yet) capri build that I would like to have a vibrato (I guess making it a 365 or 375 build), but I'd like some input into which one would be best for the guitar I am building. A historically correct Kauffman Vibrola is definitely out of the question for me, not only are they hard to find, both originals and reissues, but they're quite frankly not a great design, and one could argue that they were outdated even by 1958. However, I do believe that some later Capri's had the Accent Vibrato, which to my understanding, is much more reliable and functions in a manner similar to the Gibson Maestro Vibrola. However, I am also weighing a third option, and that is a Bigsby B5, which is also a very good choice. Which one do you all think I should go with? Which do you find to be more reliable, and what are their individual pro's and cons?

[collin]

There is a reason for the similarity between the Accent & Gibson Maestro - they were both invented by the same man (Paul Butts). They are covered under the same patent filing and functionally they’re the same concept.

I don’t recommend bolting a Bigsby B5 to any Rickenbacker because of the screw holes but you’re building a copy so it doesn’t really matter. That the best possible vibrato you can use, from a player perspective.

The Accent vibrato looks really nice, I just don’t find it very useful as a vibrato unit. Good for impaling your hand on the sharp arm.... that’s about it.

[jdogric12]

Bigsby

[stringsncords]

Fewer injuries with a Bigsby.

[Marn99]

Okay, so yesterday, I got a chance to play a 1967 fireglo 375, and I have to say, I didn't find the accent obtrusive at all. Never hit it or really noticed it that much, so I think I will go for a accent for my Capri build!

[Clifton]

Okay, so yesterday, I got a chance to play a 1967 fireglo 375, and I have to say, I didn't find the accent obtrusive at all. Never hit it or really noticed it that much, so I think I will go for a accent for my Capri build!

I think the older Ac'cents are much better than the modern ones. I had original 60s Model 1997 in the 80s, and the Ac'cent on it was great. I sold that guitar to a friend, and bought a Model 1997 reissue in 1994 with a new Ac'cent. Boy, did it suck! No matter what I did to it, even buying a new spring section from Winfield Vintage, nothing helped. It was stiff and awkward. So I ended up putting a B5 on that guitar--problem solved! What a great change it made in the guitar!

[girllennon76]

There is a reason for the similarity between the Accent & Gibson Maestro - they were both invented by the same man (Paul Butts). They are covered under the same patent filing and functionally they’re the same concept.

I don’t recommend bolting a Bigsby B5 to any Rickenbacker because of the screw holes but you’re building a copy so it doesn’t really matter. That the best possible vibrato you can use, from a player perspective.

The Accent vibrato looks really nice, I just don’t find it very useful as a vibrato unit. Good for impaling your hand on the sharp arm.... that’s about it.

That's a myth.I don't know why people think they can "impale" on an Accent. I've been playing 325s and now 320 [with an Accent] since '97. Never hurt myself on it. Unless you're windmilling like Pete Townsend, you can't realistically injure yourself on it. If one does, then they have no business playing guitar.

[maxwell]

“Impale” is being used in a facetious manner. When I first got mine, I accidentally poked myself too many times; no blood, of course, but annoying enough that I slipped a short section of tubing over that sharp end. A real PITA if there ever was one.

[collin]

“Impale” is being used in a facetious manner. When I first got mine, I accidentally poked myself too many times; no blood, of course, but annoying enough that I slipped a short section of tubing over that sharp end. A real PITA if there ever was one.

Yep, exactly. Being facetious... but it’s no surprise that when the Accent was reborn as the Gibson Maesteo, it suddenly had a big plastic safety tip on the end.

While not “impaling” my hand literally, I have painfully poked myself on an Accent many time.