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Author Topic: Installing a tremelo on a Flying V and other bits  (Read 5901 times)

Twaddlefish

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Installing a tremelo on a Flying V and other bits
« on: March 01, 2009, 02:11:53 PM »
New to the board, so I'll say hi to everyone and get to the point. Hi!  :D

Right, so I've got a gorgeous Gibson Faded V, and I was thinking about installing a tremelo system on it. Obviously, Floyd Roses are out, and I'm not sure there's room for a Bigsby. I know Andy Powell from Wishbone Ash has one, and I'd really like that versatility as an option too. Can anybody suggest me a decent system?

Additionally, anyone know where I can pickup a black scratchplate for the V? Can't find the damn things anywhere. I'm thinking that eventually I'll get a set of VHII's, so I'll just ask them to move everything bar the pups to the black one from the white one, and pop the pups in. I'm not really down with circuitry and all that!
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gwEm

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Re: Installing a tremelo on a Flying V and other bits
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2009, 04:37:38 PM »
Quote from: Twaddlefish on March 01, 2009, 02:11:53 PM
Right, so I've got a gorgeous Gibson Faded V, and I was thinking about installing a tremelo system on it. Obviously, Floyd Roses are out, and I'm not sure there's room for a Bigsby. I know Andy Powell from Wishbone Ash has one, and I'd really like that versatility as an option too. Can anybody suggest me a decent system?

buy a epi gothic with a floyd and swap it for an ofr, or buy an 80s gibson one with a kahler. the stop tail on a V is a beautiful thing. hamer and edwards also do/did trem Vs
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Philly Q

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Re: Installing a tremelo on a Flying V and other bits
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2009, 05:11:46 PM »
Welcome to the forum!  :D

You can get a black V scratchplate here:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Black-Gibson-67-Reissue-Flying-V-Pickguard_W0QQitemZ270348821034QQihZ017QQcategoryZ41424QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262

I think the Faded is the same as the '67 reissue, but if it's not he can make you one for the Faded.

And there are loads of fancy V scratchplates on eBay!

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/__flying-v-pickguard?LH_AvailTo=3&_trkparms=72%253A1683%257C66%253A2%257C65%253A12%257C39%253A1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_pgn=1

Andy Powell uses Maestro tremolos which are available from Allparts, but they're quite pricey.  The guitar wouldn't require any major modifications, but you would  have to drill 3 holes in the body.

For a more modern, high performance trem you could fit a Kahler - it would fit OK on the shallow V body, but you'd need to rout a cavity an inch deep.

Or there's the Stetsbar:

http://stetsbar.com/
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Will

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Re: Installing a tremelo on a Flying V and other bits
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2009, 05:12:04 PM »
What are you looking for with the trem? Dive bombs or vibrato?
If its vibrato, then maybe find a vibramate (no mods) and B5  Bigsby and live with the overhang
Dive bombs would best be serviced by a Kahler I think though
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Twaddlefish

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Re: Installing a tremelo on a Flying V and other bits
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2009, 07:52:59 PM »
Thanks for the welcome and replies! I searched 'scratchplate' on ebay, didn't even think about 'pickguard'! I am dumb.

I was only after ones for vibrato, divebombs aren't really my thing. Those Stetsbars look very nice, which might be a bit closer to my price range, but I'm beginning to think that I might just keep my hard tail, haha! But I'll bookmark all those links for sure. I have my Epi Gothic Explorer for divebombs! There's no way I'd want more routing on my V, especially if I wanted change back.

I wasn't sure about how a black pickguard would look until I saw the opening pic in the 'show us your gear' thread. But that is the most awesome thing I ever saw.
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Andrew W

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Re: Installing a tremelo on a Flying V and other bits
« Reply #5 on: March 03, 2009, 06:05:45 PM »
Lonnie Mack has a Bigsby on his Flying V with a little extra metal work to attach it.  See here and here.  It sounds amazing, listen to the start of "Cincinnati Jail" on his "Attack of the Killer V" album for a demo.  Hope that helps.
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Ratrod

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Re: Installing a tremelo on a Flying V and other bits
« Reply #6 on: March 03, 2009, 06:07:30 PM »
Most would put a Bigsby B5 on a V.

To make things super easy for you, check this site: http://www.vibramate.com/

Simply get a B5 (or B50, cheaper but just as good) and one of those vibramate thingies and you can simply bolt the whole thing on without drilling and such.
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Twaddlefish

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Re: Installing a tremelo on a Flying V and other bits
« Reply #7 on: March 03, 2009, 07:16:51 PM »
Wow, that looks ace. I shall definitely consider that, just concerned that the part of the base at near the tun-o-matic might conflict with my scratchplate.
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Philly Q

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Re: Installing a tremelo on a Flying V and other bits
« Reply #8 on: March 03, 2009, 09:43:54 PM »
Quote from: Ratrod on March 03, 2009, 06:07:30 PM
Most would put a Bigsby B5 on a V.

To make things super easy for you, check this site: http://www.vibramate.com/

Simply get a B5 (or B50, cheaper but just as good) and one of those vibramate thingies and you can simply bolt the whole thing on without drilling and such.


Well golly gosh, that's incredibly cool!  :)   I love gadgets like that.  I'm very tempted to put one of those on my LP Special.
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Twaddlefish

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Re: Installing a tremelo on a Flying V and other bits
« Reply #9 on: March 03, 2009, 10:04:24 PM »
I guess it'll come right off if you want to go back to a stopbar as well!
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Will

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Re: Installing a tremelo on a Flying V and other bits
« Reply #10 on: March 03, 2009, 10:48:58 PM »
Quote from: Twaddlefish on March 03, 2009, 07:16:51 PM
Wow, that looks ace. I shall definitely consider that, just concerned that the part of the base at near the tun-o-matic might conflict with my scratchplate.

I think they have an updated model with something moved so it fits on SGs with pickguards, maybe email them?
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Twaddlefish

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Re: Installing a tremelo on a Flying V and other bits
« Reply #11 on: March 03, 2009, 11:46:06 PM »
Yeah, it's a shorter version, or something. I emailed them about it, waiting for a reply.
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FELINEGUITARS

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Re: Installing a tremelo on a Flying V and other bits
« Reply #12 on: March 04, 2009, 11:58:43 AM »
I have one of these going spare


It fits on like a stopbar /wrapover type bridge , but has all the features of a tunamatic , and the strings anchor on the trem bit . There are a series of springs between the two
Works well - similar-ish feel to the Gibson Vibrola!

My colleague Chris used to have one on his Gibson V
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