Confused.Com.... Telecaster Bigsby options

tone1

Oh Yes, I hear you all cry... another Telecaster Bigsby thread... yes I’ve read through all the threads from the forum’s history. I had toyed with selling my Tokai, but I think a Bigsby may well be the way to go..
What’s the experience now after many of you have done various mods etc?
Do I leave bridge plate and go B5 and dremel the bridge plate or go full replacement? 
Has anybody got a Bigsby up for sale?

Here is the offending article in question..


https://imgur.com/gallery/SeBXE

Winny_Pooh

best overall is the aluminium fender bigsby setup with the solid rocker bridge. It's pricey and with the neck shim changes the feel a lot. 2nd best is a B5 and a notched bridge, less of a big change but tuning can be a bit worse with less effect on the feel of the low string tension. 

Might be better to try a bigsby tele first (you will be underwhelmed) or a filtertron Gretsch with a B3 Bigsby (no tension bar) and possibly be delighted. 

axisus

Winny_Pooh said:

Might be better to try a bigsby tele first (you will be underwhelmed) 

??? absolutely love my Tele with a B5. Awesome!!! 

tone1

Thanks guys....I'm thinking a B5 and slight modification of existing bridge plate.

robinbowes

I've got a Tele with Bigsby & a Vibramate.

Looks like this:

tone1

@robinbowes  it might be just me, but I can’t see the pic in the link.... and I’d love to see it 

robinbowes

tone1 said:

@robinbowes  it might be just me, but I can’t see the pic in the link.... and I’d love to see it 

Ah yes - sorry. I tried to do it on my phone, and failed.

One sec...

R.

robinbowes

I also fitted Graphtec compensated saddles, which was bit of a faff because it's MIJ and has a narrower bridge than US models so I had to modify them to fit (file the ends down, basically).

I think I also bent the Bigsby arm up slightly.

R.

tone1

Does the vibromate mean no drilling? I don’t really want to drill if I can help it...Thanks 

robinbowes

tone1 said:

Does the vibromate mean no drilling? I don’t really want to drill if I can help it...Thanks 

Correct. No drilling.

http://www.vibramate.com/vibramate-v5tev2-install.php

R.

axisus

@robinbowes Same colour scheme as mine!

equalsql

Hi @tone1 , I have a complete Bigsby B5 + Vibramate kit that I'm looking to shift. PM me if you're intested