BIGSBY... Discuss...

andrizzle

andrizzle

New member
I've got a hawt :32:Nashville Tele that I absolutely LOVE! Now I am a huge fan of how Bigsby's look on a tele. I am also really into having the curved de-tuned sound that you can get out of them after some raunchy chords. (if that doesn't help I don't know how to explain further... just note that I like how they sound)... Anyway, I've heard mixed emotions from people about slapping one on the ol' tele. Please let me know what you think about them in general. AND any experiences good/bad you've had.

Thanks for any input!

Now let the dueling begin... :sword:
 
Re: BIGSBY... Discuss...

I hate Bigsbys. Pain in the ass to keep in tune and even more of a pain in the ass to re-string. The effect is subtle, for whatever it's worth- you can neck bend with the same effect and about the same expenditure of energy.

Had one guitar with a real Bigsby, that got shipped off within a few months- two others with Bigsby-like units. They both sucked.
 
Re: BIGSBY... Discuss...

Philcguitars said:
Love the look of a Bigsby, but most everyone I know whose had one said it had tuning issues.
Click to expand...

The Golden Boy said:
I hate Bigsbys. Pain in the ass to keep in tune and even more of a pain in the ass to re-string. The effect is subtle, for whatever it's worth- you can neck bend with the same effect and about the same expenditure of energy.
Click to expand...

About tuning, my Green guitar has not gone out of tune in weeks. That is to say, I haven't touched a tuning peg in weeks, and I'm all over the Bigsby when I play. A good roller bridge and a properly cut nut are all you really need. The roller bridge effectively eliminates tuning problems.

About stringing it up, it's harder than a Tele or LP, but still easier than a Strat. Hate those.

About bending the neck, the Bigsby (at least for me) works about 10 times better. I've never bent necks well. But the real point of a Bigsby is the ease at which you can both bend down and up quickly, for true vibrato effect. Can't bend a neck easily that way.
 
Re: BIGSBY... Discuss...

love em, haven't had any tuning issues with mine

in fact my strat goes out of tune more than my gretsch

buy one
 
Re: BIGSBY... Discuss...

It's the only vibrato unit that is acceptable on a tele, however, it is only marginally acceptable. They seldom look great, but do tend to look OK on Teles. For other applications they can be appropriate or disgustingly inappropriate. By most accounts they hold tune poorly and offer little range.
 
Re: BIGSBY... Discuss...

I agree with the range thing, because that was the original intent. I actually love the 'range' thing more than anything. The fact that they only bend a couple of frets at most (whereas any other tremolo WAY overbends) really hones the use down for vibrato, what it was meant for. I've got no problems with strat tremolo systems of that's what you need, but that's a different animal entirely.
 
Re: BIGSBY... Discuss...

And c'mon, this looks like it could absolutely eat your face off:

62customri2_big.jpg

71tl2_big.jpg
 
Re: BIGSBY... Discuss...

both beautiful guitars

tv jones has a tele bridge now that fits their pickups

still trying to figure out why they don't offer one compatable with a bigsby
 
Re: BIGSBY... Discuss...

Hey Driz,
If you can recall I used to have 2 Gretsches both with Bigsbys. It was wayyyy back when you and I 1st started to play together at Southside. I used it for the same kind of stuff you want to use yours for and I remember you always digging it. I rarely had tuning issues. If anything after a long while it would go a touch sharp. that was my SilverJet that had a nice roller bridge and nice nut.

Now my Brian Setzer 6120SSU was bone stock and was less stable. I have never used a tele w/ a Bigsby, but you can have a Gretsch set up to be more stable with them. I assume the same for a Tele.

Oh BTW..... Remember these?!?!?! Boy if only I still had the SilverJet!!!


6f78.jpg


6add.jpg
 
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Re: BIGSBY... Discuss...

small range + poor stability + crappy look = POS

Floyds and Kahlers both look better and are capable of way more fun.
 
Re: BIGSBY... Discuss...

B Bent said:
So no one has busted your chops for posting in the wrong room???
Click to expand...


oops... I actually thought I was in the Off-Topic section

Thanks everyone else for the input...

OH... Greg, that silverjet is to DIE for! shame on you for getting rid of it!!! You can have a tele too!


Any other info would be greatly appreciated. I've pretty much decided to pull the trigger sometime in the future with the Bigsby... BUT all the info I can get is helpful.
 
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