BIGSBY Tremolos

[mikey5]

Hi there everyone. I have recently as some of you know begun learning how to build guitars. Right now I am mostly practicing with my newly acquired tools on scr@p wood, but will begin building a real one soon. Being that I will actually be building one soon I will be buying parts. Pickups tuners etc. I want a tremolo on it and I like the way the Bigsby looks. I have of course no Idea how they Play tune or how versatile they are say compared to a Kahler floyd style. Anyone out there know anything about them. The model I have been looking at is this one

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Bigsby_vibrato_tailpieces/4/Bigsby_Vibrato_Tailpieces.html

I like this one better though not the gold

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Bigsby_vibrato_tailpieces/3/Bigsby_Vibrato_Tailpieces.html 

[WezV]

they are good for a subtle vintage wobble, but nothing more

they are a bugger to string up but that can be helped with a clever little tool

they do not compare to a kahler, floyd or even a vintage fender style trem - they are a completely different animal and just not capable of the abuse and effects that those other trems can do

having said all that, i do quite like them  ;)

[Will]

I also want to try one. Something to bear in mind, I think you will want the B7, as the B70 and the like are made in the far east.
If you want a reversible option, there is the Vibramate, which is a little mounting plate that goes into standard Gibson tailpiece studs, so if you don't like it, could swap to standard tailpiece

[Philly Q]

Or the Stetsbar:

http://stetsbar.com/

No permanent modifications required, and apparently it has more range than a Bigsby.

[Bob Johnson]

If you're building a flat top like a Tele or similar the B5 is also a good option. Because the B7 wraps over the edge of the body you're tied to siting the trem a specific distance from the edge which to a certain extent limits your design options. The B7 is really more at home on an arch top. You also need really slick bridge saddles or a floating bridge if you want to get the best out of a Bigsby in terms of tuning stability. If you are new to the guitar making game it's worth taking a good look at Kahler trems; the rout for them is very simple so they're ideal for a first build.

[mikey5]

Or the Stetsbar:

http://stetsbar.com/

No permanent modifications required, and apparently it has more range than a Bigsby.

Would it be closer to the versatility of a kahler?? I like the stetsbar better for looks

[mikey5]

OH yea Locking tuners would be a good Idea right??

[Philly Q]

Or the Stetsbar:

http://stetsbar.com/

No permanent modifications required, and apparently it has more range than a Bigsby.

Would it be closer to the versatility of a kahler?? I like the stetsbar better for looks

I don't know for sure, I've owned several Kahlers but never a Stetsbar.  The Kahler has a massive range - depending on how it's set up, you can drop the strings all the way down to nothing so they're flapping on the fingerboard, and you can pull up a fair bit too.  With the Stetsbar there's no routing of the body under the unit so - I assume - its range is much more limited.

OH yea Locking tuners would be a good Idea right??

Locking tuners would be a good idea if you get a non-locking trem, but with a Floyd or Kahler they're unnecessary because the strings are usually locked at (or just behind) the nut.

What kind of guitar design do you have in mind?  Different tremolos suit different types of guitars.

[Ted 'N' Leo]

Or the Stetsbar:

http://stetsbar.com/

No permanent modifications required, and apparently it has more range than a Bigsby.

I have NEVER seen that before! Quite a strange looking design. Has anyone used one?

The only thing closed to a bigsby ive used are the ones that come on Duesenberg guitars. Thought it would quite nice.

For strat style guitars you can also get this http://www.super-vee.com/

[Philly Q]

Or the Stetsbar:

http://stetsbar.com/

No permanent modifications required, and apparently it has more range than a Bigsby.

I have NEVER seen that before! Quite a strange looking design. Has anyone used one?

I'm fairly sure forum member Blue has one. 

[mikey5]

I would be making a Zemaitis style ron wood guitar with it. I dont do wild stuff. I just wanted something a bit better than a fender tremolo, and with that nice vintage large look to it.

[Philly Q]

I would be making a Zemaitis style ron wood guitar with it. I dont do wild stuff. I just wanted something a bit better than a fender tremolo, and with that nice vintage large look to it.

I think a Bigsby would suit that type of guitar!  :)

[Ratrod]

Nothing sounds like a Bigsby. The Fender Jaguar vibrato is the only one that comes close.

They are for subtle vibrato, not dive bombs. You still have a proper bridge for palm muting without the risk of going sharp. A Bigsby can bend up as well as down.

The difference between a B7 and a B70 is: B7 is made in the USA and is polished aluminum, the B70 is an import model and chromed. The import models are just as good in quality.

If you're building a guitar like an arch top with a base mounted (floating) bridge you won't need the tension bar of the B7. If you build one like a Les Paul or an ES335 with a bolt-in bridge, go for one with the tension bar.

If it's a short guitar like a Les Paul or Duo Jet, get a shorter Bigsby like a B3 or B7, if it's a large guitar go for a longer Bigsby like the B6

More info here: http://www.bigsbyguitars.com/intro.html

[mikey5]

Thanks to all. Great information. Couple last questions here. I heard that heavier bridges and tailpieces can increase sustain by a few seconds even. Being that the Bigsby is a big peice of metal like that would it help at all? And about the stets bar that tremolo can handle more abuse right? Not talking about steve vai type stuff but a bit more than a subtle vibrato if its needed.

[Ratrod]

It adds mass to the guitar wich adds sustain.

edit: Another thing. More string behind the bridge adds jangle.