Do Bigsbys kill sustain or tone?

[TwelveGauge-GT]

Especially on solid body guitars.
I was thinking of fitting one to an SG Standard, but there's no going back once you've drilled those holes...

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Do Bigsbys kill sustain or tone?

I had a Bigsby'd Les Paul. I hated it. The guitar sounded fine- in fact it sounded really good. I hated that it didn't stay in tune well- I have a heavy right hand, and I rarely used the bar. I also hated stringing it. It was in the way, and it just didn't justify it's existence on a guitar of mine.

YMMV

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Do Bigsbys kill sustain or tone?

it shouldn't. it doesn't affect the string angle significantly...

I think they would stay in tune better with a well cut nut and a roller bridge (like a Jag )

But don't do it. They're ugly as hell, and don't really have enough range to make it worthwhile IMO.

 

[Truant]

Re: Do Bigsbys kill sustain or tone?

My experience followed that of TGB's. I had an Epi LP with a bigsby on it (stock).

Supposedly, the extra mass of the bigsby unit (it's a big piece of metal) should increase sustain. But in most cases, you'll need to upgrade/replace the bridge for it to be useable as far as tuning stability goes.

I remember from Earlwine's book that guitars originally designed for bigsby's had 'rocker' bridges. The bridges literally rocked forwards and backwards, as opposed to the strings sliding back and forth across the saddles. I have no idea where you'd find something like this, but there are newer options that probably work better anyways.

Another very sucessful option is the rolling saddle bridges like you find on a Gretsch. I believe schaller makes a version of this which replaces a standard TOM.

Lastly, you could just try and get some saddles and a nut cut from a very slippery material.

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Do Bigsbys kill sustain or tone?

well... a Jag bridge works on exactly that principle.

But I think most people would be more comfortable with a roller bridge

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Do Bigsbys kill sustain or tone?

Bigsby's are awesome dangles. I just don't understand you sometimes! Maybe it's the Riverside air/water.

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Do Bigsbys kill sustain or tone?

who drinks water?

Gin. You gotta if you live here.

 

[mixedmedia]

Re: Do Bigsbys kill sustain or tone?

Would a Les Trem be comparable to a Bigsby or just marketing hype?

 

[Thurisarz]

Re: Do Bigsbys kill sustain or tone?

Where is theodie when we need him?

 

[midnite_man]

Re: Do Bigsbys kill sustain or tone?

I have a Bigsby "licensed" trem on my Schecter semihollow guitar and it stays in tune just fine. In regards to putting a real Bigsby on a SG, I thought about and wanted to put one on my Epi G400 for two reasons; one for the obvious effect itself, and the other for adding weight to the body to balance the guitar out a little better. If I let my G hang by the strap without using my hands the neck always drops towards the floor. It's the only thing I don't like about the guitar.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Do Bigsbys kill sustain or tone?

A well set up Bigsby should not affect the sustain of a guitar. it will change the tone, for better or worse depends on your taste. The Schaller roller bridge would help with tuning stability as would a graphite/properly cut bone nut and locking tuners. Also, you got to keep a Bigsby clean and lubed and you have to find the proper spring to use on your guitar.

Don't excpect to dive bomb with it, but if you set it up right, it should work well.

BTW, LP's with Bigsby's look like poo. Get a semi or hollow body to do that to. An SG is OK, I guess.....

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Do Bigsbys kill sustain or tone?

I dunno man I wouldn't do it. Buying a Bigsby is like $200, then i'd be too scared to drill the holes myself so having a luthier do it would be at least $50 probably more like $100 tho...and then you'll have an SG with a tremelo that barely works and you'll still be able to see the holes from the stop tail piece. I'd take that same $300 and just get a guitar (used Fender Strat, cheap Squier or something from www.rondomusic.net) with a decent whammy bar system...better to have a way nice guitar and an okay cheap guitar, than a way nice guitar you butchered and totally blew the resale value on, if you ask me.

to each his own tho. bigsby's definitely LOOK cool they just seem like a lot of 'bar' for not a lot of 'whammy'.

-X

 

[TwelveGauge-GT]

Re: Do Bigsbys kill sustain or tone?

Haha! Okay, I probably wont do it. Seems like a lot of money to get it right, which I could spend on something much more useful to the guitar, bearing in ming that it's stock. A set of '59s would be cool!
No nasty butchering to be done with a new set of pups!