Gibson BFG with tremolo?

[aneyekay1]

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-USA/Les-Paul-BFG-with-Tremolo.aspx

 

[jmh151]

Re: Gibson BFG with tremolo?

Looks horrible. it's a non locking trem. On a Gibson headstock, due to the angle the strings spread at, you really need a Floyd locking nut to keep it in tune if you're going to use a trem

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Gibson BFG with tremolo?

 

[aneyekay1]

Re: Gibson BFG with tremolo?

Looks horrible. it's a non locking trem. On a Gibson headstock, due to the angle the strings spread at, you really need a Floyd locking nut to keep it in tune if you're going to use a trem

I agree,it would be killer with a floyd

 

[Diego]

Re: Gibson BFG with tremolo?

Looks horrible. it's a non locking trem. On a Gibson headstock, due to the angle the strings spread at, you really need a Floyd locking nut to keep it in tune if you're going to use a trem

Really? Could you please elaborate?

I don't really know much about this sort of thing.

 

[Coma]

Re: Gibson BFG with tremolo?

I saw that thing a few days ago. I actually really like the looks, reminds me of snake skin. That beings said, my first thought was the same. That tremolo, i wonder how well it really works. That being said, it doesn't look like a floating bridge, more like a vintage body-stopped one, like a bigsby or strat whammy, so maybe it won't be that bad?

 

[jmh151]

Re: Gibson BFG with tremolo?

Really? Could you please elaborate?

I don't really know much about this sort of thing.

The way Fender and PRS guitars tend to stay in tune without a locking nut is they have straight string pull. Guitars that have strings that angle at the headstock have a tougher time staying in tune, and even tougher if the string is being moved with tremolo usage.

Gibson just released an Explorer with a Kahler trem and locking tuners. While the tuners would do the job on an inline headstock like PRS, owners are complaining that due to the extreme angle of the string at the headstock, it's hard to keep the guitar in tune with tremolo usage. A Floyd style locking nut would eliminate that problem.

Les Paul owners always have problems keeping the G string in tune

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: Gibson BFG with tremolo?

The way Fender and PRS guitars tend to stay in tune without a locking nut is they have straight string pull. Guitars that have strings that angle at the headstock have a tougher time staying in tune, and even tougher if the string is being moved with tremolo usage.

Gibson just released an Explorer with a Kahler trem and locking tuners. While the tuners would do the job on an inline headstock like PRS, owners are complaining that due to the extreme angle of the string at the headstock, it's hard to keep the guitar in tune with tremolo usage. A Floyd style locking nut would eliminate that problem.

Les Paul owners always have problems keeping the G string in tune

I love my Les Pauls, but I agree with this. I've got the same deal going on a Jackson where I have a Floyd on it but leave the pads off the lock nut almost all the time, because I think it sounds better. Despite having locking tuners, the thing doesn't stay in tune especially well without the nut locked down.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Gibson BFG with tremolo?

I really dig the looks, but it could benefit from a Floyd.

 

[Uk Ant]

Re: Gibson BFG with tremolo?

I think it's good that Gibson are experimenting with trems a bit more, although some form of lock nut would be better as mentioned above.
I know various purists will hate it, but not think twice about a single cut PRS with a trem.
That said, I don't like the finish, then again I've never liked the look of the BFG that much.

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Gibson BFG with tremolo?

Really? Could you please elaborate?

I don't really know much about this sort of thing.

Well, any guitar, even with a good trem, slick nut, locking tuners and a good setup will still slip out of tune from time to time. I have to admit, my guitar was more stable with the Graphtech Tusq nut, than with the brass one but it still would slip out. On a Gibby type, the strings being spread out to the tuners from the nut, likens the chance of binding and wearing weird grooves in the nut over time causing tuning issues. It's really best, especially for head stocks like Gibsons, to have the string locked at the nut and at the saddles. But I suppose playing this guitar and seeing for sure is better than speculating. I just think it's fugly.

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Gibson BFG with tremolo?

I think it's good that Gibson are experimenting with trems a bit more, although some form of lock nut would be better as mentioned above.
I know various purists will hate it, but not think twice about a single cut PRS with a trem.
That said, I don't like the finish, then again I've never liked the look of the BFG that much.

Somebody needs to design a locking nut that locks and unlocks with a lever quickly and easily with one hand, so you don't need fine tuner trems. Some people prefer the look of traditional trems.

 

[Coma]

Re: Gibson BFG with tremolo?

Somebody needs to design a locking nut that locks and unlocks with a lever quickly and easily with one hand, so you don't need fine tuner trems. Some people prefer the look of traditional trems.

I wonder how well that would relaly work, though. I mean, when I tune my Floyad, I have to tune the strings slightly flat, then close the nut, and finally adjust the fine tuners, since there's always a bit if discrepancy in the string-to-string tuning once the nut is is locked.

So if you had a similar system without fine tuners and alocking nut, you'd have to know exactly how much to compensate on each individual string, wouldn't you?

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Gibson BFG with tremolo?

I wonder how well that would relaly work, though. I mean, when I tune my Floyad, I have to tune the strings slightly flat, then close the nut, and finally adjust the fine tuners, since there's always a bit if discrepancy in the string-to-string tuning once the nut is is locked.

So if you had a similar system without fine tuners and alocking nut, you'd have to know exactly how much to compensate on each individual string, wouldn't you?

I've heard this happens with OFR's but, expecting this problem, it only happened once with my Gotoh. Maybe the locking pieces or string platform is improved. But I have only had to re-tune one string after locking them down after 6 changes. Maybe get a Gotoh nut off the 'nets and see if it helps. I also lock them slowly and easily and getting them just snug. I also have locking tuners, but mostly that's for ease of string changes.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Gibson BFG with tremolo?

Somebody needs to design a locking nut that locks and unlocks with a lever quickly and easily with one hand, so you don't need fine tuner trems. Some people prefer the look of traditional trems.

Kahler used to make one that had little flaps that you could flip up and push down. It was very easy, but the flaps always broke off on them.. Great idea, poor execution. Old charvels and Carvins had them commonly

 

[Uk Ant]

Re: Gibson BFG with tremolo?

Kahler used to make one that had little flaps that you could flip up and push down. It was very easy, but the flaps always broke off on them.. Great idea, poor execution. Old charvels and Carvins had them commonly

I remember those, they were a great idea... obviously not engineered very well.
Lets face it, ya traditional lock nut is about as subtle as nailing the strings down with a rail pin.

 

[Diego]

Re: Gibson BFG with tremolo?

This gave me an idea:

Just took off the bar that gave the strings a sharper angle from the nut to the tuners on my AllParts Strat's neck.
It was creating a too sharp angle IMO and the strings were getting stuck in the nut slots, and couldn't hold it's tuning worth a ****.

Took it off, some ghost notes appeared, did the nutslots again with some 1200 grit sandpaper and the old string folding trick.

Now it sounds fine, and it holds tuning much better when using the bar.
And the tuners have a smoother action too.

I just love this forum!

 

[jmh151]

Re: Gibson BFG with tremolo?

Kramer back in the day had a solution which EVH has now adopted on his stop tail model wolfgangs, use a Schaller style TP6 tailpiece, which is a stop tailpiece with fine tuners, and a Floyd style locking nut. I don't know what could throw that out of tune, aside from the strings stretching

 

[whatshisname]

Re: Gibson BFG with tremolo?

Kahler used to make one that had little flaps that you could flip up and push down. It was very easy, but the flaps always broke off on them.. Great idea, poor execution. Old charvels and Carvins had them commonly

From what I recall, Kahler's locking nut actually worked pretty well. It was the aftermarket ones that gave them a bad name.

I was actually going to post a thread about this guitar a few days ago, but decided not to. I'm pleasantly surprised, that this hasn't turned into a Gibson bash-fest. Then again, the main offender is no longer amongst us...

 

[Coma]

Re: Gibson BFG with tremolo?

Kramer back in the day had a solution which EVH has now adopted on his stop tail model wolfgangs, use a Schaller style TP6 tailpiece, which is a stop tailpiece with fine tuners, and a Floyd style locking nut. I don't know what could throw that out of tune, aside from the strings stretching

Isn't that a tad overkill, though? I mean, my LP has the standard setup (with grover tuners though), and you relly have to work your ass off if you wanna detune it.