72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

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so i recently acquired a 72 thinline reissue telecaster from my buddy in seattle. we traded guitars, he wanted a strat and i wanted a semi hollow. win win for both of us.


so now that I have this guitar, there are a few things i would like to do...

I want to put a bigsby on in, but there is limited info (in my searches) on it, some people are hesitant about it, some say I need a different bridge that would work better with the bigsby even before i do all the work...it's been a little confusing so i thought why not ask the fellas here what they think.

I definitely want a bigsby, i've looked at the other companies making similar bridges and they're just not as aesthetically pleasing as a bigsby IMO. I will definitely get locking tuners, and will eventually swap out the pickups for perhaps a TV Jones and a P90 sometime soon.

anyway...


bigsby + 72 thinline tele...


what do i do?


thanks!!!

 

[TheProphet]

Re: 72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

Floyd Rose











And EMG's

 

[StratFreak]

Re: 72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

Floyd Rose











And EMG's

Hahahahah yes, i think that is the solution !

 

[AlexR]

Re: 72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

May I suggest the bigsby website as a relatively good source of info on Bigsby

http://www.bigsby.com/vibe/products/vibratos/

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: 72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

If you desire a semi-hollow with a Bigsby vibrato and the pickups that you specified, maybe the regular '72 style Tele Thinline is not the best starting point.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: 72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

Since you now have a 72 Thinline let's make it work!

That Strat style bridge isn't going to work well for a Bigsby however...

If you find a cut down Telecaster bridge...like this:

Then notch the back edge of it like this:

After that all you need is a Bigsby!

 

[\m/(00)\m/]

Re: 72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

I guess the only "difficulty" might be going from the 3 screw mount on the reissue to the 4 screw mount on the wilkinson. I can probably just fill those in and it should work fine right?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: 72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

I guess the only "difficulty" might be going from the 3 screw mount on the reissue to the 4 screw mount on the wilkinson. I can probably just fill those in and it should work fine right?

Just get a 3 screw version and cut it down...I only used a pic of the Willinson because I found it on Google image search...

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Re: 72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

the guitarist who I tech for uses one of these as his main guitars.

I will agree on the outset with Finkfingers by saying that this guitar possibly isn;t the best one to put a bigsby on. I'm not saying it isn't possible and i'm not denying it would look cool as well but logistically it doesn't make sense to me.

However, if there is a will there is a way TGWIF has provided a suitable idea. My only concern would be string height levels after the bridge but that could be me gettin perceptions wrong.

Also remember that this is a natural finish guitar so less worry about the paintwork etc, in the case you do need to drill holes and stuff.

If this doesn;t work I can testify that these guitars are great and you could do a multitude of mods on one.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: 72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

I would be tempted to look at the GFS xtrem.

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Xtrem-Tele-Combo-package-Four-Finishes_c_378.html
http://www.vibramate.com/vibramate-v5tev2-install.php
http://stetsbar.com/t.style.html

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: 72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

The main problem with a Bigsby installation is that it needs to be securely anchored. On Gretsch hollowbody guitars, the anchor hangs over the side of the guitar. On a Telecaster, the screws go into the top of the body. Fine on a solid body. Not so clever on a semi-solid if the centre block does not extend all the way through the lower bout.

This video will explain a great deal. http://www.bigsbyguitars.com/vibe/?page_id=849 First, though, you need to tap at the body of the Tele Thinline to determine where it is solid and where it is hollow.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: 72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

A 72 Thinline is only hollow on the "wings"...same as a 69 Thinline.

MANY people have put Bigsbys on them, the only real issue is the Strat bridge...however it didn't stop these guys:

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: 72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

Now, none of the pics I found use the bridge I talked about but mine idea will work too...

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Re: 72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

for the OP: the second pic that TGWIF has posted is probably the best clean look and installation going.

the choice is ultimately yours but that is my .02c

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: 72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

All 3 pics use the same bridge, the bottom one just used a small piece of the plate to cover up screw holes...

FWIW, I HATE that floating bridge but it will work...

If it were mine I'd go with the curt down box bridge notched for Bigsby use

Here is a 3 screw that is cut down...

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: 72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

This bridge would work it's cut out to allow access for the saddles. http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/72-tele-deluxe-thinline-vibrato-space-163019751

 

[Tor]

Re: 72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

Keep us up to date on this!

I have just got a Thinline RI myself, but I won't bigsby it.

 

[\m/(00)\m/]

Re: 72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

looks like in general it will take some work, either on the end of filing (or drilling) down a bridge for the strings to go through, or drilling new holes in the body for a different bridge altogether (i've seen a lot of people using Mustang bridges with bigsby's). looks like i'll go with the 1st option in case i want to re sell.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: 72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

This bridge would work it's cut out to allow access for the saddles. http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/72-tele-deluxe-thinline-vibrato-space-163019751

BOOM!!!!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: 72 thinline reissue potential modifications...

looks like in general it will take some work, either on the end of filing (or drilling) down a bridge for the strings to go through, or drilling new holes in the body for a different bridge altogether (i've seen a lot of people using Mustang bridges with bigsby's). looks like i'll go with the 1st option in case i want to re sell.

Just buy the bridge idsnowdog linked...it's already ready to bolt right up...it's set up for a Bigsby and it looks well made.

Done and done...