shahrizzal
New member
Anyone has any recommendation for a place that does this cheap and good? Installing a bigsby on a les paul standard plus top. 
Les Paul Bigsby Mod.
- Thread starter shahrizzal
- Start date
Jumpin'Jellybean
New member
One of our fellow softies installed one, can't remember who... Was it Subversion or eieio? I remembered i asked about Bigsby too, once.
Anyway the advice i got was don't do it, cause it screws up your tuning and everything. Goes out of tune very fast and the trem effect is not that much. Unless you go to a very good techie, and with a REAL Bigsby.
Guitar techs, well...
TYMC, GC, GW, Mike@SV, Beez, G77...
Anyway the advice i got was don't do it, cause it screws up your tuning and everything. Goes out of tune very fast and the trem effect is not that much. Unless you go to a very good techie, and with a REAL Bigsby.
Guitar techs, well...
TYMC, GC, GW, Mike@SV, Beez, G77...
shahrizzal
New member
thanks. i'll try ask check the shops out. thank you. it should cost me below $200 right?
The original bigsby already cost more than 200 I believe. You also need to drill the body for the extra screw.
You might as well consider to install this
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges...tremolos/Les_Trem_Stop-Tailpiece_Tremolo.html
Need to order online tho
LadyInTears
Well-known member
dudelove did it.
if you havent actually tried a bigsby before, dont bother installing it.
it doesnt work like a normal trem, and goes outta tune alot
if you havent actually tried a bigsby before, dont bother installing it.
it doesnt work like a normal trem, and goes outta tune alot
ciki
New member
Price = definately more than $200, 1 bigsby alone cost more than that, not including installation...
furthermore after installing, gotta to change saddles blah blah blah to ensure better turning stablity which = more $ with not that much effect...
unless you really want a bigsby.. choice is yours.
furthermore after installing, gotta to change saddles blah blah blah to ensure better turning stablity which = more $ with not that much effect...
unless you really want a bigsby.. choice is yours.
dudelove
New member
Set aside at least 500bucks. For installation, a good PROPER set up, a well cut lubricated nut, new roller tune-o-matic bridge or a graphtech saddle bridge.
I love how Les Pauls look with Bigsbys. I wouldn't recommend people do it. Its an ancient design and its only useful for very subtle vibratoes. No seasick whammys or divebombs. The most you can go is down a full step, but confirm will go out of tune.
shahrizzal
New member
hey, that looks great too! thank you!
shahrizzal
New member
thanks bro for ur opinion. i shall consider now.. $500 is quite a bomb. hee.
dudelove
New member
Yeah spend that amount of money to create tuning problems. I've got a Bigsby on my Les Paul for more than a year and I've injected more and more and more money trying to get my guitar to stay in tune, and I've come to terms that it just won't stay in tune no matter what I do. I just have to use the bigsby with moderation. Or just don't touch it at all.
Lastly the change is PERMANENT. Unless you willing to live with holes in your guitar. OR spend even more money for this:
http://www.vibramate.com/vibramate-v7-lp-install.php
Jumpin'Jellybean
New member
Heheh sorry... When i first came i remember i asked about Bigsby mods... Can't remember who told me to give up the idea. I tried the Bigsby on an Epiphone just today. Goodness. Hardly any difference. Slightly only. Hmm i think though, Bigsbys look good on any archtops. Or most archtops. In terms of usage, well, it seems to have gotten bad reviews. Maybe i'll get one for the looks... Just like golden hardware...
junkiemanxl
Active member
TS:
I have a bigsby on my gretsch and it does go out of tune slightly when i go nuts on it. Usually stays in tune for normal vibrato's. I think it's a matter of setup. Installing a bigsby into a guitar is no easy job and it would probably set u back quite a bit to the point where you could save that little bit more to buy a new guitar with a bigsby already installed in it. I think those that come out of the factory will generally give u slightly better results in terms of installation.
think hard before committing to get it done. like dudelove mentioned, the results could cause more problems and more money in the future. It's a Hit or miss..
It may not be worth the money and effort but then again, a LP with a bigsby looks really good
I have a bigsby on my gretsch and it does go out of tune slightly when i go nuts on it. Usually stays in tune for normal vibrato's. I think it's a matter of setup. Installing a bigsby into a guitar is no easy job and it would probably set u back quite a bit to the point where you could save that little bit more to buy a new guitar with a bigsby already installed in it. I think those that come out of the factory will generally give u slightly better results in terms of installation.
think hard before committing to get it done. like dudelove mentioned, the results could cause more problems and more money in the future. It's a Hit or miss..
It may not be worth the money and effort but then again, a LP with a bigsby looks really good
dudelove
New member
junkiemanxl, the problem lies with the Les Paul itself. The first roller bar makes the break angle so steep from the tune-o-matic bridge. If you're using an ABR-1, it can still be okay since the bridge is narrower, whereas a Nashville tom will definitely cause an extra friction point. The break angle causes the strings to touch the edge of the tom bridge. Not only does this affect tuning it can produce wierd overtones so I immediately changed to a roller bridge. It did solve some problems but I did not enjoy what it did to my guitar tonally. These problems don't exist on other guitars like archtops and certain Gretschs.
My Bigsby was the one and only modification I did without thinking, and without a justifiable reason. And its the only modification I've made that has produced unsatisfactory results. When I first got it installed, and I tried it, my first impression was 'wtf thats it??!!' and then now my guitar is out of tune. My guitar looks sweet, but it wasn't worth it.
My Bigsby was the one and only modification I did without thinking, and without a justifiable reason. And its the only modification I've made that has produced unsatisfactory results. When I first got it installed, and I tried it, my first impression was 'wtf thats it??!!' and then now my guitar is out of tune. My guitar looks sweet, but it wasn't worth it.
I too wonder how Bigsby defy logic in the first place..
Possibly true on the factory installed units, Neil did one eh.. was it on his 50's gold top?
It sure look good on lp, in fact it look good on any guitars.. teles & gretsch etc. love 'em all!
Thought I share this Bigsby prototype here:
"
Bigsby has produced a very few, limited edition, prototype guitars using many of the design features and ideas originally crafted by Paul Bigsby. The Bigsby prototype guitars are unique and specifications may vary from model to model.
BY48T: - Birdseye maple flat top with amber finish - single florentine cut - walnut birdseye headstock w/12° pitch - in line Kluson style tuners - BIGSBY logo on headstock - scrolled black pickguard - mother of pearl playing card inlays on rosewood fretboard - set neck - 21 frets - polished Sorkin bridge base - tun-o-matic bridge w/mounted posts - 2 chrome control knobs vol/tone - 3 way selector switch on upper bout - 2 Bigsby single coil dog-ear style pickups - Bigsby B3 tailpiece. "
http://www.bigsbyguitars.com/vibe/?page_id=66
Possibly true on the factory installed units, Neil did one eh.. was it on his 50's gold top?
It sure look good on lp, in fact it look good on any guitars.. teles & gretsch etc. love 'em all!
Thought I share this Bigsby prototype here:
"
Bigsby has produced a very few, limited edition, prototype guitars using many of the design features and ideas originally crafted by Paul Bigsby. The Bigsby prototype guitars are unique and specifications may vary from model to model.
BY48T: - Birdseye maple flat top with amber finish - single florentine cut - walnut birdseye headstock w/12° pitch - in line Kluson style tuners - BIGSBY logo on headstock - scrolled black pickguard - mother of pearl playing card inlays on rosewood fretboard - set neck - 21 frets - polished Sorkin bridge base - tun-o-matic bridge w/mounted posts - 2 chrome control knobs vol/tone - 3 way selector switch on upper bout - 2 Bigsby single coil dog-ear style pickups - Bigsby B3 tailpiece. "
http://www.bigsbyguitars.com/vibe/?page_id=66
Last edited:
Jumpin'Jellybean
New member
Beautiful guitar! Love the maple top. Nice fat headstock as well.
