Thinline with a B5

[Toulouse_Tuhles]

Seriously thinking about adding a Bigsby B5 to my Thinline

Was looking at the Warmoth image of the chambering... the rear screws on the B5 concern me.
I want to mount the B5 as rearward as possible anyway, but was wondering about what those rear screws are gonna grab, or encounter.
Thoughts?

 

[stratamania]

Check out a Vibramate mounting kit.

 

[Verne Bunsen]

This one is mounted right to the wood and is sporting a heavy-ish 10-50 string set, no problems. I honestly don't remember what the drill did or didn't bite into when I was installing it, but I went back to the build thread I did on it and I didn't make any mention at that time about concerns, so there's that.

 

[rgand]

This is the image of Tele chambering on the Warmoth website. It looks like the front two screws on VB's Tele would be in solid wood. That would certainly help. But then, maybe his is one of the ones made before honeycomb chambering.

 

[Verne Bunsen]

Probing around with my finger in the F-hole (sorry, there was no less vulgar way to phrase that...) it certainly feels different from what that shows. It feels like one big cavity and I can reach all the way to the center block. This is the case on both of my Thinlines.

 

[rgand]

That would probably indicate the earlier chambering. I wonder if the heel was solid when they were made that way. Or maybe a solid heel was an option then.

 

[stratamania]

A thin line is different to a chambered body. Two different things.

They look like this inside.

Or they can be ordered in the builder without the chamber behind the bridge.

https://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/BodyBuilder.aspx?style=3

 

[Toulouse_Tuhles]

Since I already have the body... its a built up guitar, and because its a Thinline, not chambered with F-hole....

I'm guessing the screws are going to be into the top and maybe the body itself on the front screws.

The forces applied are shearing not tension... (gulp)... so, I guess I'll go with it.
I'm not a big fan of Vibramate "no hole" solution, sorry.  However... I think a Vibramate V5-JAM plate, which fits the bottom of the B5 perfectly, can be used.  It's made for the Jazzmaster and/or Jaguar, but, is the exact outline of the B5.  Reason for using?  To raise up the B5 just a bit, to get the string angle over the bridge a bit better.

(edit in)

And, if need be, I can modify the V5 to take additional screws for fastening.... (gulp).

I really liked the B3 on my old ES-333.  Went on perfectly, worked perfectly... zero issues, but... the break angle over the TOM was fairly shallow.  Trying to get the same with the Tele.

Not sure exactly how I'm going to notch the Tele bridge.  Might get a cheapo plate to practice on.
This is a Work In Progress....

 

[Fat Pete]

Warmoth offer the option of omitting that chamber behind the bridge, specifically to make it more suitable for B5s and similar. I've never noticed mention of its presence or absence on showcase listings.  :dontknow:

 

[Toulouse_Tuhles]

Well, the body is already gotten, all assembled....

 

[Toulouse_Tuhles]

The Bigsby came in today, looks nice.  Will get it mounted, and the bridge relieved this weekend.