any reasonable alternatives for bigsby type vibrato system?

marktheharp

 Hi Peeps.

as above, found GFS floating trem for my epi dot.just sits on top with attachment to end pin! $53.00 then p&p and maybe import/customs etc.

but as far as I know just usa based?

any uk based companies selling similar?

thanks in advance.

cheers Mark.

koneguitarist

Stetsbar ? nothing cheap that I know of ?

OilCityPickups

marktheharp

thanks guys,love my ambient type stuff with my zoom ms70 cdr and learning chris Isaak-  blue hotel etc.

alternatively might be cheaper to get my strat trem set up?

or might have to save and just buy a squire cabronita with bigsby fitted ! ha

dedcisions, decisions.

Gassage

I had a Reverend Gabrels Sig with a Stets.

It was great cos you can fit into the holes without fucking the top up. It has the crazy 'random' feel of a bigsby- great for Neil Young type vibrato, but you won't bomb it much. Good if, like me, your finger vibe sucks.

They're about £160 though

OilCityPickups

ThePrettyDamned

Wigsby!

Seriously. I think they'd look good on right guitar, though I've no Idea what that might be...

marktheharp

Looked at wigsby and think you have to route into guitar were springs sit .so will pass on that .thanks though ;-)

marktheharp

Hi Guys found this on the bay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190990491570?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 half the price of an original bigsby, or should I SAVE AND BUY ORIGINAL?

JookyChap

I've not tried the B7 one, but I put one of the B5-alikes from there on an Epi SG and it worked perfectly well. The finish was fine - bit rougher on the base, but unseen so who cares, and it was perfectly stable. In fact the spikey bits of metal (talking technical, like) that you put the strings onto are slightly thicker than the ones on a Bigsby which means the string doesn't fall off everytime you breathe when you are stringing it up.

The only downside I could see was that it was a bit heavier, but nowt drastic or noticeable when you are playing.

As for whether you should wait and get the real thing, I guess it depends on the guitar.  A real one would have trebled the guitar value on my Epi, so it didn't seem worth it. On others I've gone for a proper one, but not really sure it makes any great difference,  tbh

marktheharp

Thanks for reply Jooky :-)
thinks I will take a punt on the bigsby copy . Only a Chinese epi dot in cherry but plays and sounds the bomb!
Not quite got the funds but have a bday coming up.so will update when I get it...... And love your offsets you do,shame your not nearer Leeds ,as I am gonna build a Telemaster (well wudtone a body and get my tech to assemble it).
All the best
cheers Mark.

jd0272

Dude, get out of denial.

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/jd0272/Gitfiddles/IMG_4831_zps6d899104.jpg

Creed_Clicks

Hi all. I was going to start a new thread, but maybe no need?

I just bagged a Korean Epi Goldtop 56 with P90s, and plan on putting a bigsby style vibrato on it.

Now, thing is, a Bigsby would probably cost as much, if not more than the guitar is worth! A vibramate would cost more than what it's worth!

So, anything along the same lines as a Bigsby, that style, it doesn't have to look exactly the same, that I could get for the Epi?

rlw

http://www.gretsch-talk.com/forum/guitar-gear-reviews/68306-xtrem-floating-tailpiece-vibrato.html

The GFS trem can only cost about £85 with import duty and VAT so must be worth a go.

ICBM

I'm sure there was another thread here recently which mentioned some that are as cheap as about £25.

Can't find it now though!

ThePrettyDamned

Calling @jookychap!

hobbio

I'm debating this one for my tele kit build.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/B5-STYLE-GUITAR-TREMOLO-HORSESHOE-FOR-FLAT-BODY-GUITAR-TELE-SG-Etc-CHROME-/281441635868?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item41873a8e1c

Jeremiah

Duesenberg make various Bigsby style vibratos, though I'm not sure if they're that much cheaper than an actual Bigsby.

JookyChap

Yep. I just got one of these to go on a Harley Benton LP - price has gone up to a shocking £27.

They are heavier than the real thing and obv. chrome but the B5 equivalent worked perfectly and this looks like it will too. One thing, the screws aren't in exactly the same position as the real deal, so a Vibramate wouldn't work I wouldn't have thought.

The only thing I found with the other model was that the spring is 1/2" bigger than a Bigsby one height-wise, but you can pick up a Bigsby spring for a couple of quid and it is worth it