Bigsby on your tele? How do you like it?

[blakejcan]

In the process of refinishing my MIM tele and I'm considering the following:

• Replacing MIM bridge with 3 barrel vintage
• Replacing MIM bridge with 6 barrel vintage
• Replacing with a Bigsby B5 (with vibramate? Maybe)

What am I hoping to achieve?


Vintage bridge--I just like the vintage bridge look. Any added sonic benefits would be a nice to have but I'd be happy w/ just not losing what I got in a big way.

Bigsby-Just looks fun. Never had one and my biggest concern would be keeping it in tune and how drastically it would change the overall sound.

Thanks!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Bigsby on your tele? How do you like it?

Check the alignment of all of the screw and string holes!!!

If your MIM Tele has the conventional Modern machined bridge plate and nasty saddles with a centrally aligned intonation screw, simply get vintage style Stratocaster saddles. This is what Fender themselves do on the current Am Std Tele. I find it an acceptable compromise.

 

[blakejcan]

Re: Bigsby on your tele? How do you like it?

Mine is a 2001. Not sure where that puts it in terms of the bridge.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Bigsby on your tele? How do you like it?

To me, Bigsbys just don't do enough to make them worthwhile for anything other than looks. I don't say this because I expect a Bigsby to be able to dive bomb or any of that crap. My main use of a vibrato is to actually use it as a mild vibrato, and also to bend up a half step or a whole step sometimes. However, when I use vibrato, I go up and neutral, not down and neutral .The latter is more goofy sounding to me. So, for me, Bigsbys are effectively useless, since all they really do is go a little bit down. Going up with a Bigsby can really throw the whole deal out of whack.

As for six saddle ashtray versus three saddle ashtray, each have their advantages. I prefer the brass saddles of the three saddle, but if you use a plain 3rd string (like 98 percent of guitarists), intonation can be pretty grim on the D and G. So I generally go for the six saddle ashtray bridge if I am using a plain G.

However, the G&L ASAT Classic bridge gives you the best of both worlds. Old-style ashtray bridge, but with six saddles made of brass. The only drawback is that a Fender bridge cover won't work on the G&L bridge.

 

[jimijames]

Re: Bigsby on your tele? How do you like it?

To me, Bigsbys just don't do enough to make them worthwhile for anything other than looks. I don't say this because I expect a Bigsby to be able to dive bomb or any of that crap. My main use of a vibrato is to actually use it as a mild vibrato, and also to bend up a half step or a whole step sometimes. However, when I use vibrato, I go up and neutral, not down and neutral .The latter is more goofy sounding to me. So, for me, Bigsbys are effectively useless, since all they really do is go a little bit down. Going up with a Bigsby can really throw the whole deal out of whack.

As for six saddle ashtray versus three saddle ashtray, each have their advantages. I prefer the brass saddles of the three saddle, but if you use a plain 3rd string (like 98 percent of guitarists), intonation can be pretty grim on the D and G. So I generally go for the six saddle ashtray bridge if I am using a plain G.

However, the G&L ASAT Classic bridge gives you the best of both worlds. Old-style ashtray bridge, but with six saddles made of brass. The only drawback is that a Fender bridge cover won't work on the G&L bridge.

I actually had a bigsby that I played with .11s - which meant that you could pull up on it about a half-step before the spring would come flying out lol.

FWIW, I switched back to a regular 3-saddle bridge, and while there was a difference in sound - IMO they both sound very good - the biggest difference I noticed was in sustain. The hardtail ash bridge doesn't sustain like the bigsby did. Now, it could be that I had to fill the two holes in the body I drilled out for posts, or any number of other things, but that was just my experience.

The Bigsby is going on an esquire built I'm currently collecting parts for. I really like how it sounds, but (1) it only does subtle vibrato, and (2) is kind of a lot of money for something with limited functionality. TBH, if you're considering paying like $150 or whatever one of the aluminum ones go for, it's probably better spent on a fat finger or other such thing that increases sustain, and pocket the difference.

Edit: IME, even though I use a plain 3rd intonation isn't that bad on the D/G pair. And I actually just now took it off the rack to look at it, and it turns out I angled the saddle somehow so the D and G strings are not exactly the same, in terms of length of string. Dunno how I did that.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Bigsby on your tele? How do you like it?

I didn't care for a Bigsby on my Tele, so I removed it and put it on my SG with a vibramate instead.

 

[elelpe]

Re: Bigsby on your tele? How do you like it?

I removed it. It did make my tele look good but also made it heavier thus uncomfortable. Combined it with Sperzel, I didn't have tuning problem though.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Bigsby on your tele? How do you like it?

I've owned multiple guitars with Bigsbys. None would ever stay in tune.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Bigsby on your tele? How do you like it?

Bigsbys are GREAT for what they are and if set up stay in tune just fine. I have one on my ES-335 and it stays in tune better than many hard tail guitars I've played!

My issue with a Bigsby on a Tele is the arm is in the way of the controls.

Not saying it is a deal breaker but it should be thought about.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Bigsby on your tele? How do you like it?

I'm in the process of building a "surf Tele" using a MIM mutt, and adding a GFS Xtrem. Since it's in process, I can't give a review or comment on tuning stability yet.

However, I can share some of the wisdom I picked up in researching this project. The consensus seems to be that a Bigsby alone doesn't change the Tele's tone much, if used with a vintage-style 3-barrel bridge. Changing the bridge to a tune-o-matic style rocker or roller bridge is what changes the tone, making it more Gretsch-y.

Tuning stability is not really a function of the vibrato tailpiece. ANY vibrato will say in tune, if the guitar is set up well. This includes everything: tailpiece, break angle, bridge, saddles, nut, string trees, tuners.

If you think (as I do) that a real-deal Bigsby is a lot of money for a cheapo experimental guitar, look at the Xtrem. My initial impression is that it's a well-engineered piece of hardware, which addresses a couple of the Bigby's shortcomings. Seems to be built well, except for some bubbled plating on the bottom side. Some people say it's ugly, but I disagree. It's no uglier than a Bigbsy, it's just more Teisco- or Moserite-ish than Gretsch-y.

If you search for Xtrem or Bigsby over at the TDPRI, there's a wealth of information and pictures.

 

[blakejcan]

Re: Bigsby on your tele? How do you like it?

I just found a good deal on a 6 saddle vintage bridge. Since it was about $20 I'll start with that and if I still want to go Bigsby down the road maybe I'll use a vibramate so I don't have to drill.

Thanks everyone!