Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Rob: As I understand it, Bigsby has American-made and overseas manufacturing. I think most of the units I'm seeing were made overseas (like my Epiphone Bigsbys) and are very nice. I'm pretty picky, but I think if it were me, I'd go with the more cost-effective choice (let's not say 'cheap'). If the guitar was vintage (and I dared to modify it), I might go for the American-made Bigsby.

The B7 worked fine on my Casino.

Peter: If I'm installing a Bigsby on an Epiphone, I prefer the B70 because it requires fewer screw holes. My Japanese Casino Elite came with a rare factory-supplied B7. They both work fine, but the B70 mounting holes are an exact match for the trapeze on the end of the guitar. I get nervous drilling holes in guitars, so fewer is better for me!

So Randy, you've held in your hands, as it were, both the B7 and the B70? If the strap button mounting plates of the 2 were covered, would you be able to tell them apart?

Rob: To be precise, I've got the Epiphone Bigsby's (made overseas like the B70's) with the same mounting brackets as the B70's. I'm fairly certain they come off the same assembly line as the B70's, and they are comparable in quality to B7 that came on my Elite. All Bigsby's I own (old, new, domestic, imported) are very similar in quality.

Rob: I'll try to post some photos when I get home tonight, so you can see both kinds.

Thanks Randy!

I think I have a vision of my future...and it is a B-70...

The USA made Bigsbys are still sand cast like the vintage ones. The imported Bigsbys are die cast.

I hear you Randy. Fewer holes can be better. I just wanted the more traditional look like the Bigsby on McCartney's Casino.

Rob: Here is a view of my Sorrento with Epiphone Bigsby-

And another view-

And here's my Elite with factory Bigsby (not exactly like George Harrison's)-

that's gorgeous Randy - I love the colour. Is it a standard option or did you find some fantastic rarity?

Rob: It's a rather dark variation on their standard vintage sunburst, and they don't offer a vibrato as a standard option. I bought this guitar used (but never played) on Ebay about a year ago. It was $850 with BIN and I snapped it up about 5 minutes after it was listed. The seller said that this was a presentation guitar awarded to someone at Musician's Friend for being a top Gibson retailer. He decided to trade it away, and I got it from the guy he traded with. It's perfect and plays like a dream. I sold my beloved '66 Casino (sunburst, single P90) that I had been playing for twenty years, because this guitar is better. I'd like to get another Elite in a natural finish, because I really like these guitars!

Sorry Randy - you beat me with your next post. I meant the orange finish of your Sorrento.

You did well getting your elite at that price!