Les Pauls with Bigsby's - a few questions

G

Grandor

New member
Ok So I'm after a new guitar! yay.

At the moment I'm playing a peavey wolfgang special with a floyd rose system.
I'm after something with better upper fret access, no floyd rose and a slightly smaller neck.
I like the neck on my wolfie but its tiring to play after a while but I like the feel of a big hunk of wood in my hands much more than a small paper neck like a ibanez (although when I do play stuff like RG's I shred all over them, i dont like the feel).

I'm thinking of going with a les paul (duncans of course), and a bigsby. I still like to get some nice vibrato happening with chords and such, so I thought of a bigsby.
My question is, is it hard to put a bigsby on a les paul, or is it better to buy one with a bigsby? Also what models come stock with bigsbys, and are they hard to come by/expensive?

On another note,
I'm unsure of what pickups I'm after- I think I want Alnico II's, maybe a CC in the bridge, perhaps a PG in the neck...
 
Re: Les Pauls with Bigsby's - a few questions

I've owned one LP with a Bigsby. It was a 97 R8, it sounded great, but I hated that damn Bigsby. I have a ham fist and it didn't stay in tune for me. It also was a pain in the rear end to restring. Some people have it down to a science. I owned the guitar for around 6 months and didn't get used to it. For as much as I use a vibrato, it was infinitely more hassle than it was worth to me.

If you're used to a Floyd, and you're thinking of adding a Bigsby to a guitar you like already- you might wish to re-think that. The Bigsby isn't going to do that Floyd thing. It's not meant to. It's great for what it's designed for, and it works well inside that- but IME it doesn't venture well beyond what it's designed to do.
 
Re: Les Pauls with Bigsby's - a few questions

I know its no floyd, I won't dive-bomb it or anything.
My mate owns 3 gretsch's and I like the bigsby on those. My main use it to do small vibratos on chords rather than harmonic dives (though I like to do it every now and again).

I didnt think the bigsby was that hard to handle? I thought it was only a little more time on a string change than a stoptail?
 
Re: Les Pauls with Bigsby's - a few questions

You could get a standard LP and put a Kahler on it, you have to route a bit of the top though.
 
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Re: Les Pauls with Bigsby's - a few questions

I have a Bigsby on 2 Gretsch guitars. As far as putting one on I would take to a good guitar tech and have him do it. I like a Bigsby and have no problems with it. If you use a heavier string gage it stays in tune better. I use D'Addario 11-49. I've been thinking about putting one on my LP.
 
Re: Les Pauls with Bigsby's - a few questions

If you want to do so many modification to a Les Paul I would go with a good Epiphone any other good LP copy... I wouldn't start chaning the stop tail into a bigsby to a Gibson Les Paul I just baught (new or used).

Using your friends' guitar isn't like owning your own guitar... with time you might notice the different intonation the guitar might have because of the bridge, the tunning problems... you might also want to install a new nut tuners etc... I own a guitar which after a few weeks of using I've started noticing too many things about it... some related to the Wilkinson bridge...
I say- buy a relativly expensive Epiphone (which in quality might be as good as a cheap Gibson and would never be as expensive)... modify everything and if you still like the Bigsby on a LP buy a Gibson.
 
Re: Les Pauls with Bigsby's - a few questions

jazzerlbn said:
I say- buy a relativly expensive Epiphone (which in quality might be as good as a cheap Gibson and would never be as expensive)... modify everything and if you still like the Bigsby on a LP buy a Gibson.
Click to expand...

What a complete and utter waste of money.
I've done the do-up epiphone thing before...

If theres one thing I don't skimp on, its gear. If I'm buying something- it ain't gonna be a POS epiphone that needs mods before it even starts becoming decent.
 
Re: Les Pauls with Bigsby's - a few questions

It's your choice... I think you should buy a good one, they do have a few really good models...

Drilling into a Gibson just to put a Bigsby seems like a really big waste of money...

But that's just me...
 
Re: Les Pauls with Bigsby's - a few questions

Aren't the bigsby holes only real small and next to the strap locks on the bridge end?
 
Re: Les Pauls with Bigsby's - a few questions

The biggest issue here is not the Bigsby IMO. I've palyed a couple and surprisingly like them way more than khaler/floyds (I'm not a dive bomber either...). And since you don't skimp, a 57 reissue black beauty is the axe of choice. Non-stock bridge mods just suck usually (IMO). And I like the CC/PG.

But upper fret access. LP's blow big hairy moose chunks! Neck playability ain't gonna be there!!!!!! SO what I would consider the most important thing here seems to be the deal breaker...no LP for you - Bigsby or not!
 
Re: Les Pauls with Bigsby's - a few questions

On soldbody models, you have to drill into the top as well.

If you want better upper fret access than the wolf, I'd look at other guitars than a LP. Check out Hamer's Newport and Newport Pro. Those are double cuts with great access and a stock Bigsby that's very well set up.
 
Re: Les Pauls with Bigsby's - a few questions

If you're looking for better upper fret access, man you need to be looking into an SG with a bigsby, not a les paul!
a5077.jpg
 
Re: Les Pauls with Bigsby's - a few questions

Bigsby's on any guitar = gay!

Or my new phrase that means the same as gay, "Panic at the Disco" I will use it in a sentance, Bigsby's in any guitar are so, "Panic at the Disco"
 
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Re: Les Pauls with Bigsby's - a few questions

theodie said:
OK, that trem is not as much "Panic at the Disco" as the Bigsby!:laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:
Click to expand...
It's still Panic at the Disco enough to get arrested in Texas.
 
Re: Les Pauls with Bigsby's - a few questions

A stetsbar is a really expensive choice... but from all that I know they are good trems... and you don't have to drill anywhere for them usually.

About the access to the upper frets... Les Pauls are NOT that bad... but they are also not the best choice...
If you want fret access+Les Paul body+a guitar then you can abuse with a Bigsby :)... Try the Yamaha or ESP Les Paul styled guitars... they have cuts in their bodies for better access + they look cool + you can abuse them without (me) feeling bad about it.
 
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