Thinking about a Bigsby for my Les Paul...Opinions?

Corbic

Corbic

New member
So, lately I've been very much incorporating the tremolo arm on my Strat even more into my playing. Nothing crazy, just stuff like a Gilmour or Beck-styled vocal vibrato on certain notes, sliding into notes, sliding notes down half or whole steps, just little things. Its mostly been spurred on by a Jeff Beck kick I've been on for the past few months or so, and these aspects have just slowly and slowly worked their way into my playing.

The only problem is, I miss doing these things when I strap on my Les Paul. Not to the point that I don't play it or anything like that, but it makes me cater my playing differently per each guitar. I would love to be able to do some of those little tricks and things on my Les Paul, and I think it would just help in my overall search for a style of playing that is, in the end, my own.

So, I started looking at Bigsby units. I love the look of a Bigsby on a Les Paul, like on Gilmour's Goldtop or Jimmy Page's Black Beauty, so I know I'll love the look on mine. I just wanted to ask any forum bros who've had more experience with them: Is the Bigsby going to work for the things I want to do with it? The light vibrato, the sliding into note sound, and just a little bit of diving (whole step or less)? And how is the tuning stability? I'm not one of those crazy whammy bar guys who uses it every other note, but every now and then my Strat goes out of tune, so I want to know how common this problem will be on a Bigsby.

To install it, I'll be using the Vibramate Carved-Top installation system, which lets me install a Bigsby B7 on my Les Paul without drilling any holes or things like that. Thanks very much guys!
 
Re: Thinking about a Bigsby for my Les Paul...Opinions?

I used to have a hollowbody with a Bigsby copy, and I found that a roller bridge or a TonePros TOM brought a lot to the table.
 
Re: Thinking about a Bigsby for my Les Paul...Opinions?

I've heard locking tuners are a good idea too
 
Re: Thinking about a Bigsby for my Les Paul...Opinions?

No holes...whats to loose!?

Jeff and David both make great use of a Strat trem...a Bigsby won't have nearly that same response but it's a lot closer than a hardtail!

Just try it and see...if you don't like it just take it off!
 
Re: Thinking about a Bigsby for my Les Paul...Opinions?

Bigsbys look nice but they don't really do a lot. Try a guitar with one before you choose to add it to your Les Paul.

There are other options. Heard Snowy White using the Stets Bar live. They are kind of expensive but they don't require routing and they can get you deeper dives than the Bigsby.
http://stetsbar.com/
 
Re: Thinking about a Bigsby for my Les Paul...Opinions?

I have had 3 Les Paul's over the years with the Bigsby, did nothing for me and was ugly as all sin but if you like the look, it's your guitar and money. I like them best on semi-hollow larger bodies. Tuning stability? It's always a crap shoot with a non-locking trem. Roller bridges do help though
 
Re: Thinking about a Bigsby for my Les Paul...Opinions?

I don't really dig the idea of a bigsby on MY les pauls, but if you honestly want to try it, give it a shot. try the ones that are for stopbars, not bigsby, but that other company...

its always reversible.
 
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