Should I put a Bigsby on my Tele?
- Thread starter cromulent
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Spud
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I may wear two pair for safety!
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Spud
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Swapped for aluminum pickguard and Gibson Burstbucker Pro neck. Next I probably will put in the Jerry Donahue bridge pickup I have and a Warmoth boatneck.
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Spud
Guest
Well I changed it again this morning, swapped bridge pu for Donahue and different Warmoth necky. Bench filthy as dogs jumped up on it apologies!
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Spud
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Thank you sir.
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Spud
Guest
Ok updated with real Bigsby and some sweet new careless scratches! I will say it is a bit lighter, but really the function was just as good with the "Chigsby" I may go back to brass saddles too.
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Spud
Guest
Forgot to mention for anyone contemplating a different spring for their Bigsby. This Bigsby unit came with a 7/8" spring that I expected to like better than the 1" but I didn't and stuck the 1" spring fro the "Chigsby" into the new trem. It is easier to grab for me etc. feels better IMO
cromulent
Senior Member
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So you prefer the handle to sit higher above the strings?
I think I realized another benefit of the Bigsby. I do big bends (like 2.5+ steps) a lot, and have not broken a string since I installed the B5. I think it's because the bridge is able to give a little when the tension gets so high that a string could break.
Also re: saddles... I opted for stainless steel because they supposedly give better sustain. Are yours SS too? You prefer brass though? I'm wondering if I'd like brass better...
I think I realized another benefit of the Bigsby. I do big bends (like 2.5+ steps) a lot, and have not broken a string since I installed the B5. I think it's because the bridge is able to give a little when the tension gets so high that a string could break.
Also re: saddles... I opted for stainless steel because they supposedly give better sustain. Are yours SS too? You prefer brass though? I'm wondering if I'd like brass better...
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Spud
Guest
I thought wanted it to sit lower, but in practice I like it a tad higher after all. Also, the steel saddles (not stainless) seemed a little harsher to my ear. I just now swapped back to brass which seems mellower/balanced to my tin ear.
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fsb
Newbie
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Clearly I'm late to this party but the original question was a good one, to which I'd say...
If it's one of the Bigsbys with a B bender or, even better, B and G benders and you want to play that style then, since it's a Telecaster then by all means.
Otherwise I'd say get a proper Bigsby guitar. Godin 5th Ave T-Armond. PRS S2 Starla. Yamaha RS702B. New Juliet from Eastman or last year's Romeo LA Thinline Semi. I guess we all know the traditional ones.
If it's one of the Bigsbys with a B bender or, even better, B and G benders and you want to play that style then, since it's a Telecaster then by all means.
Otherwise I'd say get a proper Bigsby guitar. Godin 5th Ave T-Armond. PRS S2 Starla. Yamaha RS702B. New Juliet from Eastman or last year's Romeo LA Thinline Semi. I guess we all know the traditional ones.
cromulent
Senior Member
- Messages
- 357
I thought I posted my Bigsby install but I guess not. Maybe it was in Spud's thread? Anyway, without further ado...
Musings: Vibrate/B5 worked well and easy to install. Not for bending up or down a full step like on a strat, but great shimmer vibrato that comes in handy more than I had expected.
Callaham upgrades are great (especially the string shaft - not sure the front roller does all that much tbh). The barrel saddles seem fine - no issues with intonation. Tuning stability is better than I had expected. I frequently bend up 3+ full steps and tuning is more or less as before. Maybe anecdotal, but I've also not broken a string since installing the Bigsby. It makes sense because when you bend big, the vibrato can actually give a little to relieve tension.
Bottom line: very glad I installed this thing and couldn't imagine going back to a vibrato-less Tele.
Many thanks to everyone for the kind guidance!
Musings: Vibrate/B5 worked well and easy to install. Not for bending up or down a full step like on a strat, but great shimmer vibrato that comes in handy more than I had expected.
Callaham upgrades are great (especially the string shaft - not sure the front roller does all that much tbh). The barrel saddles seem fine - no issues with intonation. Tuning stability is better than I had expected. I frequently bend up 3+ full steps and tuning is more or less as before. Maybe anecdotal, but I've also not broken a string since installing the Bigsby. It makes sense because when you bend big, the vibrato can actually give a little to relieve tension.
Bottom line: very glad I installed this thing and couldn't imagine going back to a vibrato-less Tele.
Many thanks to everyone for the kind guidance!
