Bigsby and Tuning

[TheMadGypsyBaron]

Do Bigsbys have trouble maintaining tuning when used, in this case on a Les Paul? Also, are they similar to floating bridges on strats in the sense that if I tune one string, they all go out?
I tend to tune to a drop D or open G a bunch during shows, so if it takes 20 minutes to tune for that like a floating strat does, I'm not all that interested.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Bigsby and Tuning

They certainly can have trouble maintaining tuning when used. With most Gibsons the biggest deal are the nut slots, if they bind at all forget about staying in tune. Bridge saddles are another possible binding point, which is why roller bridges are so popular with Bigsbys.

Regarding your tuning question, they seem to be less effected than a floating Strat bridge, but I can't say that there is no affect. I have Bigsbys on two of my guitars, but I don't change turnings very often.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Bigsby and Tuning

Any guitar that does not have proper maintenance and setup will have tuning issues. Bob Hartman of a band called Petra said to always remember to floss your nut between string changes–oiling it is good also...so I would say as long as you do that along with properly setting it up, you should be fine with the Bigsby.

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Bigsby and Tuning

Any guitar that does not have proper maintenance and setup will have tuning issues. Bob Hartman of a band called Petra said to always remember to floss your nut between string changes–oiling it is good also...so I would say as long as you do that along with properly setting it up, you should be fine with the Bigsby.

Big plus 1 to this. I've found that locking tuning pegs are helpful, but not a requirement.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Bigsby and Tuning

Bob Hartman of a band called Petra said to always remember to floss your nut between string changes–oiling it is good also

Yeah, but I don't think he was talking about guitars.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Bigsby and Tuning

Regarding tuning...a Bigsby isn't the best choice if you are going to be changing tunings a lot. It's not as bad as a Strat floating bridge, but it is similar. It will be a big source of frustration to you. I can say this even though I really like Bigsby's.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Bigsby and Tuning

Yeah, but I don't think he was talking about guitars.

A perfectly setup Bigsby with a messed up nut will have tuning issues while a perfectly setup Bigsby with all parts of the guitar setup and well maintained will not have the tuning issues as the aforementioned.

 

[Liam1963]

Re: Bigsby and Tuning

Regarding tuning...a Bigsby isn't the best choice if you are going to be changing tunings a lot. It's not as bad as a Strat floating bridge, but it is similar. It will be a big source of frustration to you. I can say this even though I really like Bigsby's.

+1, and I own 3 Bigsby equipped guitars, never thought of changing tunings on them during a show...Keep the setup as good as you can, including keeping the Bigsby in good working order, and the tuning issues should be minimal at best.....

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Bigsby and Tuning

A perfectly setup Bigsby with a messed up nut will have tuning issues while a perfectly setup Bigsby with all parts of the guitar setup and well maintained will not have the tuning issues as the aforementioned.

I think you missed that.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Bigsby and Tuning

Do Bigsbys have trouble maintaining tuning when used, in this case on a Les Paul? Also, are they similar to floating bridges on strats in the sense that if I tune one string, they all go out?
I tend to tune to a drop D or open G a bunch during shows, so if it takes 20 minutes to tune for that like a floating strat does, I'm not all that interested.

I think you missed that.

Don't see your beef is with me dude. :kabong:

The OP asked about tuning issues with a Bigsby and mentioned tuning issues of a Floating Strat Tremolo. I responded by saying "Any guitar that does not have proper maintenance and setup will have tuning issues. Bob Hartman of a band called Petra said to always remember to floss your nut between string changes–oiling it is good also...so I would say as long as you do that along with properly setting it up, you should be fine with the Bigsby."

It doesn't take me 20 minutes to tune my Strat with a Floating Tremolo regardless of detuning a string and my Strat does not have tuning issues. It is properly setup from the nut to the springs–I hardly ever have to tune.

My whole point to the OP was that any tremolo will have tuning issues if not setup properly and that if you go with the Bigsby and have the guitar setup properly then you will most likely not have any tuning issues.

Again, don't understand what your beef is with my comment, it actually has more to do with the OP than your multiple posts against mine.

 

[Pilatvs]

Re: Bigsby and Tuning

Bigsby OR Tuning

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Bigsby and Tuning

If your are constantly changing tuning during the show
You should have more than one guitar at said show

*(Sent from my durned phone!)*

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Bigsby and Tuning

Properly set up and maintained, a Bigsby works just fine, and can actually handle standard<->dropped D better than any other floating trem on the market specifically becasue the design is not as sentitive as knife edge or roller cam systems. The tradeoff is that a more modern trem has a much larger range, but you don´t get a bigsby for extreme dive bombing in teh first place, that´s what Floyds and Kahlers are for.

Any larger change will, however, bring with it the same retuning pitfalls as any other floating trem system.

Bring a second guitar for open G, keep the bigsby and the rest of the guitar it´s on maintained properly ( especially the nut, tuners, and bridge saddles), and you should be fine.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Bigsby and Tuning

Don't see your beef is with me dude. :kabong:

. . .

Again, don't understand what your beef is with my comment, it actually has more to do with the OP than your multiple posts against mine.

He just cracked a joke and I think he was saying you missed the joke. That's all.

(Man, this place has no sense of humor any more.)

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Bigsby and Tuning

Big Bends Nut Sauce is your friend; use it on both nut and saddles. And consider locking tuners.

Bill

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Bigsby and Tuning

Big Bends Nut Sauce is your friend; use it on both nut and saddles. And consider locking tuners.

Bill

This and a quality roller bridge helps too

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Bigsby and Tuning

Yeah, but I don't think he was talking about guitars.

I think you missed that.

He just cracked a joke and I think he was saying you missed the joke. That's all.
(Man, this place has no sense of humor any more.)

Ooops...apologies for being slow :smash:

View attachment 67863

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Bigsby and Tuning

Nah they work fine for dropping the low E to D and back as well as doing chord/pedal bends. I've been doing exactly that for ages. They are a very different mechanism to strat trems and that big old spring in a bigsby is a beast.
Just make sure you keep the nut well lubricated (chapstick works great) and spend a little extra time stretching your strings before you go onstage.
Bigsbys are the business.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Bigsby and Tuning

With all due respect to the others, 2 things should be added.

1. While products like nut sauce do work, simply rubbing pencil lead on the bottom of the nut slot is endlessly cheaper and time tested.

and

2. In over 25 years, I have never seen a properly cut nut need any form of lubricant to avoid going out of tune in any concievable real world scenario, including insane Floyd whammyage with locking tuners instead of a locking nut. If you´re getting tuning issues stemmuing from the nut, the cause is always either an improper cut or long term wear. Neither is IMO an excuse to sell someone a 10$ bottle of funkly fluid that will at best only mitigate the problem, but can never alleviate it.

I regard nut lubricants as a crutch for people who do not have easy access to a competent tech, and expensive ones as snake oil capitalizing on the ignorance of teh customer and the incompetence of most of the people that like to call themselves "techs".

In my professional opinion the only reason there is to pay anything at all for nut lubricants (especially more than a few cents in your lifetime for a simple pencil) is being swayed by flashy marketing and the parroting of other people that simply don´t understand the subject as well as they think they do.

The same holds true for roller bridges being "necessary" in Bigsby guitars according to some.. Again, total hogwash, just get your bridge saddles cut and deburred by a professional and save money in the long run

I don´t judge people for using nut sauce or similar products, they just want their guitar to stay in tune and every store in the world will gladly sell you some without telling you there are dirt cheap alternatives. But if someone "needs"it, that tells me they either don´t know or they can't afford /refuse to adequately pay a competent tech. And if they refuse to pay a competent tech but would rather use a crutch-product, they entirely deserve to waste money in this fashion. Everyone else just needs to try the pencil and /or find a tech worthy of the title.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Bigsby and Tuning

With all due respect to the others, 2 things should be added.

1. While products like nut sauce do work, simply rubbing pencil lead on the bottom of the nut slot is endlessly cheaper and time tested.

and

2. In over 25 years, I have never seen a properly cut nut need any form of lubricant to avoid going out of tune in any concievable real world scenario, including insane Floyd whammyage with locking tuners instead of a locking nut. If you´re getting tuning issues stemmuing from the nut, the cause is always either an improper cut or long term wear. Neither is IMO an excuse to sell someone a 10$ bottle of funkly fluid that will at best only mitigate the problem, but can never alleviate it.

I regard nut lubricants as a crutch for people who do not have easy access to a competent tech, and expensive ones as snake oil capitalizing on the ignorance of teh customer and the incompetence of most of the people that like to call themselves "techs".

In my professional opinion the only reason there is to pay anything at all for nut lubricants (especially more than a few cents in your lifetime for a simple pencil) is being swayed by flashy marketing and the parroting of other people that simply don´t understand the subject as well as they think they do.

The same holds true for roller bridges being "necessary" in Bigsby guitars according to some.. Again, total hogwash, just get your bridge saddles cut and deburred by a professional and save money in the long run

I don´t judge people for using nut sauce or similar products, they just want their guitar to stay in tune and every store in the world will gladly sell you some without telling you there are dirt cheap alternatives. But if someone "needs"it, that tells me they either don´t know or they can't afford /refuse to adequately pay a competent tech. And if they refuse to pay a competent tech but would rather use a crutch-product, they entirely deserve to waste money in this fashion. Everyone else just needs to try the pencil and /or find a tech worthy of the title.

It's amazing what a great setup can do to a "problem" guitar.

I have not tried the lubricant sauces/stuff on the nut/saddle but I floss them with waxed floss everytime I change the strings. I've heard of using the pencil lead as well but haven't tried it. Not doubting those and do--just have not had any tuning issues with my Strat after a complete and thorough setup.