Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

There is a nice FAQ section on the official Bigsby web site...and one of the questions concerns stringing. I am reprinting that question here:

"Question: Is it difficult to re-string a Bigsby?
Re-Stringing the Bigsby Vibrato
1. Crimp the string at a 45 degree angle next to the ball end.
2. Feed the string underneath, around and over the axle.
3. Place the ball end of the string onto the axle pin, keeping tension on the string to hold the ball in place.
4. Push a foam wedge into the space under the axle to keep the string in place on the pin while winding.
5. Wind the string onto the tuning machine, tune to pitch and remove the foam wedge.
6. Repeat for each string."

http://www.bigsbyguitars.com/faq.html

I've never tried the 'foam wedge' idea.

Here's kinda what I do for the end on the Bigsby; I don't need needle nose pliers anymore; usually just do the angle bend on the ball end with my thumb and index finger.

Hi Peter,

DO IT!

I'm picking up my "Lennonized" 325C58 JG this week from POTR.

It's been 7 years, maybe Peter can post a follow up to if he ever did it? And thanks for posting the vid, Paulie, despite the fact I have no Bigsby guitars.

Vibramate has a device calld a "Spoiler"--it fits over the pins on the string axle and has notches for the ball ends. Great idea!

I like the way they look on Ricks, but nothing tops the Accent.

IvanMunoz wrote:I like the way they look on Ricks, but nothing tops the Accent.

The same techniques in the video I posted work great on an Accent-equipped Rick. I highly recommend hook bending the ball end of the string so it hooks into the Accent slot. I restrung my 381/6 a couple of days ago using the technique in the video.

JakeK wrote:It's been 7 years, maybe Peter can post a follow up to if he ever did it? And thanks for posting the vid, Paulie, despite the fact I have no Bigsby guitars.

....yet.

paologregorio wrote:
The same techniques in the video I posted work great on an Accent-equipped Rick. I highly recommend hook bending the ball end of the string so it hooks into the Accent slot. I restrung my 381/6 a couple of days ago using the technique in the video.

Paulie --- slightly off the BIgsby topic, but I found your advice for "hook-bending of the ball end of the string" to be an excellent technique when re-stringing my Rickenbacker Console Steel the other day Thanks !

8mileshigher wrote:

paologregorio wrote:
The same techniques in the video I posted work great on an Accent-equipped Rick. I highly recommend hook bending the ball end of the string so it hooks into the Accent slot. I restrung my 381/6 a couple of days ago using the technique in the video.

Paulie --- slightly off the BIgsby topic, but I found your advice for "hook-bending of the ball end of the string" to be an excellent technique when re-stringing my Rickenbacker Console Steel the other day Thanks !

My pleasure. Hook bending the ball end of the string is beneficial for "locking in" the string in most any slot-type tailpiece, in my experience.

paologregorio wrote: My pleasure. Hook bending the ball end of the string is beneficial for "locking in" the string in most any slot-type tailpiece, in my experience.

Yep absolutely.

I love Bigsby's yet oddly don't own a guitar with one. I do have a guitar with Bigsby pickup thought and it's awesome!

i had a Guild Starfire III that had a modded Bigsby on it. the pins had been removed and holes drilled through and sanded smooth. it was actually great, super easy to string and never slipped.