I've been looking at picking up a Gibson sonex custom or deluxe and adding a phase switch. As well as a bigsby I will most likely let a pro Luther mount the bigsby as I know my limitations all to well. I've noticed two versions of the bigsby that may work the 60's style and the standard top mount. If both fit is there an advantage over one or the other?
How well will the guitar still hold tune?
I'm not a fan of bastardizing guitars in anyway!!! But I'd like a player guitar that is a playable a bit unique and not expensive yet not off the shelf new.
Adding a bigsby to a guitar
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
Adding a bigsby to a guitar
My Daughter Build Stone Henge
Re: Adding a bigsby to a guitar
Hey Selloutrr,
I'm a huge Bigsby fan. Either style of Bigsby is going to give you pretty much the same thing. They can be a HUGE pain in the ass, but once you get used to them there is nothing else like 'em. Most of the tuning issues with them, I have discovered, have to do with the nut. Most nuts are not cut right to accommodate a string moving smoothly back and forth through them. The slots need to be flared on the headstock side (as opposed to the neck side) of the nut. I would recommend having a luthier who is familiar with Bigsby's do the install and have him cut you a new nut as well. There is also a product rather hilariously called "Big Bend's Nut Sauce" (
) that is made for application directly into the slots to help lubricate the action of the string moving back and forth through the slots. I use a tiny dab of Tri-Flow on the sting right where it crosses the nut. I have three Gretsches with Bigsby's, all of which had tuning problems when I got them, and all of them behave beautifully now. But it did take a while to develop a ritual that works consistently.
All that aside, I love the subtle warble, and with a real tape delay they are just amazing! They have a certain inertia that you just can't get with anything else.
I'm a huge Bigsby fan. Either style of Bigsby is going to give you pretty much the same thing. They can be a HUGE pain in the ass, but once you get used to them there is nothing else like 'em. Most of the tuning issues with them, I have discovered, have to do with the nut. Most nuts are not cut right to accommodate a string moving smoothly back and forth through them. The slots need to be flared on the headstock side (as opposed to the neck side) of the nut. I would recommend having a luthier who is familiar with Bigsby's do the install and have him cut you a new nut as well. There is also a product rather hilariously called "Big Bend's Nut Sauce" (
) that is made for application directly into the slots to help lubricate the action of the string moving back and forth through the slots. I use a tiny dab of Tri-Flow on the sting right where it crosses the nut. I have three Gretsches with Bigsby's, all of which had tuning problems when I got them, and all of them behave beautifully now. But it did take a while to develop a ritual that works consistently. All that aside, I love the subtle warble, and with a real tape delay they are just amazing! They have a certain inertia that you just can't get with anything else.
Last edited by crbowman on Fri May 21, 2010 7:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
<i> "I've suffered for my music. Now it's your turn."</i>
Re: Adding a bigsby to a guitar
Great advice! I will make sure to get a new nut and some nut sauce! 
You must have been reading my mind I run a Roland RE201 space echo and Morley evo with an ibanez delay and Morley volume/ boost pedal. Distortion is from ch. Switching or ABY switching amplifiers.
Gretsch make some sexy axes!
You must have been reading my mind I run a Roland RE201 space echo and Morley evo with an ibanez delay and Morley volume/ boost pedal. Distortion is from ch. Switching or ABY switching amplifiers.
Gretsch make some sexy axes!
My Daughter Build Stone Henge
Re: Adding a bigsby to a guitar
Dude! I use an RE201 also. You're gonna love it!selloutrr wrote:Great advice! I will make sure to get a new nut and some nut sauce!
You must have been reading my mind I run a Roland RE201 space echo and Morley evo with an ibanez delay and Morley volume/ boost pedal. Distortion is from ch. Switching or ABY switching amplifiers.
Gretsch make some sexy axes!
Gretsches are definitely not for everyone, but I got an old beat up Rally for $200.00 back in the early 80's cos I wanted something with a Bigsby. Completely fell in love with it and used it for the better part of 15 years. For all their idiosyncrasies I think they sit quite nicely tonally between a Gibson and a Fender while still kinda having their own thing.
And as much as I respect him, I sound nothing like Setzer. (More Buffalo Springfield.
)<i> "I've suffered for my music. Now it's your turn."</i>
Re: Adding a bigsby to a guitar
I would definetly use the American made B5 not the cheaper B50.
There are some subtle and not so subtle differences. The Import model is actually smoother looking than the sand cast American made one. But the roller is much better on the Domestic B5.
Another options is the Duesenberg variant.
http://www.rockinger.com/index.php?cat= ... 5A%2F3625G
The Dusenberg is much easier to restring and the quality is very high. notches in the roller to keep strings aligned, very smooth, excellent bearings.
You might need to rework the saddles on the Sonex, they were not very good.
Sounds like a cool project.
There are some subtle and not so subtle differences. The Import model is actually smoother looking than the sand cast American made one. But the roller is much better on the Domestic B5.
Another options is the Duesenberg variant.
http://www.rockinger.com/index.php?cat= ... 5A%2F3625G
The Dusenberg is much easier to restring and the quality is very high. notches in the roller to keep strings aligned, very smooth, excellent bearings.
You might need to rework the saddles on the Sonex, they were not very good.
Sounds like a cool project.
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boldaslove6789
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Re: Adding a bigsby to a guitar
Check this guy out, http://stetsbar.com/ . He has made trems for Jimmy Page and other huge stars.
He lives right around the corner from me and I know him very well. He machines all his trems in his garage practically.
His trem system is proven to work better than others and you don't have to mount a Bigsby on a vintage or pristine instrument. ( that means NO HOLES!!! ANYWHERE!! !)
He lives right around the corner from me and I know him very well. He machines all his trems in his garage practically.
His trem system is proven to work better than others and you don't have to mount a Bigsby on a vintage or pristine instrument. ( that means NO HOLES!!! ANYWHERE!! !)
Greg D.C.
Can you dig it?
(NEW VIDS here!!) http://www.youtube.com/user/GDClarkProject
http://quinnamp.com/ http://www.prairiewoodguitars.com/
http://www.funkymunkpedals.com/
Can you dig it?
(NEW VIDS here!!) http://www.youtube.com/user/GDClarkProject
http://quinnamp.com/ http://www.prairiewoodguitars.com/
http://www.funkymunkpedals.com/
Re: Adding a bigsby to a guitar
thank you for the heads up!
on the american bigsby and other possible choices
i do like no holes!
yeah the sonex is a pretty poorly made guitar by most standards, partly the reason i'm not against customized improvements, yet it has some kind of power over me cause i keep drooling over it. i think it might be the zebra pickups and lite weight like a les paul jr i can gig with and not get super butt hurt if something happened.
on the american bigsby and other possible choices
i do like no holes!
yeah the sonex is a pretty poorly made guitar by most standards, partly the reason i'm not against customized improvements, yet it has some kind of power over me cause i keep drooling over it. i think it might be the zebra pickups and lite weight like a les paul jr i can gig with and not get super butt hurt if something happened.
My Daughter Build Stone Henge
Re: Adding a bigsby to a guitar
I just did a search for "Gibson bigsby" on eBay. It cane back with a couple B-5/50 with an "ez system" plate so no drilling is required. Would this be a better way to go? Or should the bigsby be more a piece of the wood?
It looked like it bolted the bigsby to a plate the plate bolted to the rear strap button and replaced the string nut bar and screwed into those existing holes. It wasn't cheap taking the cost for both to over $250 but to have it professionally installed isn't going to be less.
Thoughts?
It looked like it bolted the bigsby to a plate the plate bolted to the rear strap button and replaced the string nut bar and screwed into those existing holes. It wasn't cheap taking the cost for both to over $250 but to have it professionally installed isn't going to be less.
Thoughts?
My Daughter Build Stone Henge
Re: Adding a bigsby to a guitar
I had a Stetsbar and although a wonderfully tooled machine it lacked the resistance feel you get from a Bigsby. I wished he had devised a way to emulate that feel and limit its range of effect. It does stay in tune though!
Re: Adding a bigsby to a guitar
ever think of getting a whammy pedal. It's faster,cheaper, and easier. Not to mention you can whammy full octaves if you desired. Also the guitars tuning stability and tone wouldnt suffer as it could with a trem. You can also use a pedal with any of your guitars unlike a bigsby which is stuck on one.
heres david gilmour using one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeY4Jgxcswo
heres david gilmour using one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeY4Jgxcswo
It's true i've lost my marbles and i cant remember where i put them
Re: Adding a bigsby to a guitar
Interesting thought I can see the plus side but the down side isarhat would have to be stationary to use it. What happens when I go full rockstar and climb the stacks and windmill before jumping off in a triumphant heel kick then drop to my knees and feedback against the cab and invoke the magnetic feedback gods and whammy it on home... ?
Guitar tech off stage
oh yeah! Make me look good
I really like that idea for bass though! I had a kramer bass with a whammy that was really cool til the tension made the neck impossible to intonate.
Guitar tech off stage
oh yeah! Make me look good I really like that idea for bass though! I had a kramer bass with a whammy that was really cool til the tension made the neck impossible to intonate.
My Daughter Build Stone Henge