Bigsby for mooncaster?

[toasterdude]

Has anyone put together a mooncaster with a bigsby?
B5? B7? Is the moon caster top flat or curved?

 

[swarfrat]

No idea on Bigsby models, but the mooncaster is carved top, so plan accordingly

 

[Cagey]

Since the Mooncaster is a carved top, you would use the Bigsby B7 (B7G for Gold).

Also, I would recommend using a Wilkinson brass roller bridge...

You can get them here for $24.95, or $26.95 for gold.

The rollers prevent string hangup, and the thing locks to its mounting posts so it doesn't wobble around.

I would also recommend locking tuners and a low-friction (Graphtec) or roller (LSR) nut. Put all that together, and you end up with a fairly repeatable action out of the thing.

 

[mayfly]

only Cagey would say "B7G for gold" 

 

[toasterdude]

Thanks! No can do on roller bridge as I will be transplanting JTV Variax electrionics into the Mooncaster. Graphtec piezos will be necessary. There are a few guys that have put bigsbys on JTVs. I will be doing a warmoth V with bigsby first, so if any issues can do the mooncaster without bigsby.

Since the Mooncaster is a carved top, you would use the Bigsby B7 (B7G for Gold).

Also, I would recommend using a Wilkinson brass roller bridge...

You can get them here for $24.95, or $26.95 for gold.

The rollers prevent string hangup, and the thing locks to its mounting posts so it doesn't wobble around.

I would also recommend locking tuners and a low-friction (Graphtec) or roller (LSR) nut. Put all that together, and you end up with a fairly repeatable action out of the thing.

 

[Cagey]

The problem with Bigsbys is they're notoriously inconsistent about returning to neutral, so you end up out of tune a lot. Dragging strings across stationary saddles exacerbates the problem; rollers mitigate it. If you're going to use piezo saddles and you want a vibrato, you might want to consider a Wilkinson-style bridge such as a Wilkinson VS-100 or a Fender AmStd Trem. That way the saddles move with the bridge instead of acting as friction points for the strings. They're naturally more repeatable as well, and have wider range.

 

[swarfrat]

I'd urge you to think really hard about using piezos on any trem. Simply because the trem itself injects a crapload of noise. Make sure it's set up floating whether you normally use a floating trem or not, otherwise you get a slamming door every time you release the trem. Also you need to stuff the springs with something (I used an 80's sock tie cut up and pulled through the strings).

 

[Pelagaard]

Not to completely derail the topic, but I'm surprised I haven't seen any forum Mooncasters yet.