Bowen Handle?

Re: Bowen Handle?

Wow, I haven't heard of those things for years. I bought one back in about 1982/3. The idea is good, but i seem to remember in practice it wasn't that great. I traded it back to the shop where i bought it a few days later. It might be a bit better nowdays because you could get a TOM bridge with rollers....but then again, those things are tone killers. So for my money, i wouldn't bother with them. Just my obnoxious opinion.
 
Re: Bowen Handle?

In '96,I visited the Bowen Bros. Freedom Guitars store in LA.
Nice blokes.
I gave them one of our shop T shirts and they gave me one of theirs and a chrome Bowen Handle.
(They also gave us 60% off all marked prices on guitars!!!:eek2: Almost killed the MasterCard that day!)
The Handle is still in it's wrapping,in the shed.
I figure I've already got plenty of other ways to go out of tune. ;)

Cheers,PJ
 
Re: Bowen Handle?

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Re: Bowen Handle?

Looks like Allen Collins used one. Check out the Explorer.

 
Re: Bowen Handle?

Looks like Allen Collins used one. Check out the Explorer.


I don't think that's a Bowen Handle. It's the stock "short trem" that Gibson used back then
 
Re: Bowen Handle?

I've got one in my 75LP case. I got it in the way early 80s and the darn thing caused the ball of the strings to make depressions in my guitar when I pulled the whammy back. I didn't notice a big affect on my tone, but the chrome with all gold didn't look right so I yanked it off. I don't remember any really big tuning problems. My LP used to stay in tune no matter what I did as far as bends, dive bombs etc.
 
Re: Bowen Handle?

Wow this thread got bumped?

Anyone have one that would let me test it out for a few days?
 
Re: Bowen Handle?

I also had one of those in the early 80's. I could only get about a 1/2 step dive out of it. I bought it because it was cheaper than the Floyd Rose trems made for Les Pauls.
 
Re: Bowen Handle?

I have one installed on my EPI LP and it has performed very well once you understand its limitation, it is what it is, fun stuff with no modification or holes on your guitar, I use a roller saddle too and file the nut properly so it won't stick in the groove.
Anyone else have tried that? Let me know...Cheers
 
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