Bigsby Guitars

Iamnobody

As part of a rationalisation of my guitars I’ve started thinking about what’s the best type of guitar for a Bigsby.

I’ve had:

335 with vibramate B7
SG with vibramate B5
Jap 62 Tele with factory Bigsby

I’ve got:

Gretsch 5124 Electromatic with USA B6
Gretsch Jet 6131 with factory Bigsby

The electromatic with upgraded Bigsby feels the best but I really don’t care for the big body and limited upper fret access.

So, a Bigsby or similar trem guitar, double cutaway or decent access to the dusty end, a thin body, what would you choose?

The one that jumps out to me is the players edition double cut falcon. However they are major ££s (to me). Although with a rationalisation exercise of flogging a few I could probably get close to one.

I also like the TV Jones for sale on here...

I know the Bigsby divides opinion. I’m not interested in that. I’m limited as a player and find the gentle wobble useful, you’d never see my abusing a Floyd or similar as my playing is not in that style.

rpr

Some kind of a Casino/330 suits a Bigsby imo

Winny_Pooh

You need to decide if you want a solidbody or semi hollow first.

Best bigsby experience I have had is with a rocking tuneomatic or tru-arc/compton and B3 (no tension bar), but that needs a high bridge which rules out most solidbodies apart from a duo jet.

Edit, what's wrong with the G6131?

stickyfiddle

I don't have any at the moment, but I love a bigsby, and hugely prefer the ones without the tension bar - B6 rather than B7.

The Player's Edition Falcons would be perfect if not for that. Though I see Prach have a Player’s Tennessee Rose which looks pretty excellent 

Otherwise I like them on Teles. It’s one of the few guitars where the arm doesn’t feel like it’s in the way of the controls.

axisus

I have a Bigsby on a Tele. Love it!

TheMarlin

Gretsch Panther. 

TheMarlin

Or Gretsch/TV Jones Spectrasonic 

Iamnobody

Interesting thoughts on the B6/B7 differences @stickyfiddle ;

@Winny_Pooh I think a semi but jets are semis anyway. Perhaps a new bridge on the Jet would help. The synchro-sonic is probably the issue with that particular guitar. 

@rpr I’ve never played a casino/330 but they’re lovely guitars. As a big Weller fan it’d have to be a royal tan sans bigsby.

@axisus it’s been a while since I had the Tele but I don’t recall gelling with it. Maybe I should try again.

@marlin Panthers seem few and far between. The Spectra is in my thoughts.

Winny_Pooh

Iamnobody said:

Interesting thoughts on the B6/B7 differences @stickyfiddle ;;

@Winny_Pooh I think a semi but jets are semis anyway. Perhaps a new bridge on the Jet would help. The synchro-sonic is probably the issue with that particular guitar. 

@rpr I’ve never played a casino/330 but they’re lovely guitars. As a big Weller fan it’d have to be a royal tan sans bigsby.

@axisus it’s been a while since I had the Tele but I don’t recall gelling with it. Maybe I should try again.

@marlin Panthers seem few and far between. The Spectra is in my thoughts.

Get a SS tru arc serepentune, you'll be pleased

olafgarten

If you get a B7 or B5, it's almost essential to invest in a Bricks Biggs Fix, it makes the tuning more stable and the whole system smoother. 

roberty

I prefer the feel of the B7 on my LP to the feel of the B7 on my 335

Danielsguitars

I love the b7 on my goldtop and the dogbone bridge is bloody brilliant, stays in tune really well because it rocks nicely, not sure if they make new versions of it, if not they should

ThePrettyDamned

Out of interest, have you ever tried a jazz master?

I truly believe the jazzmaster vibrato is the best in the business for gentle wobbles. Tuning stability is insane - there are some complications with set-up (ie neck angle, break angle for strings to prevent them jumping!) but once set, the tone is wonderful and the vibrato is great. 

For bigsby, how about this? 

https://www.peachguitars.com/eastman-t64v-antique-classic-varnish-finish.htm

Looks well tasty. No idea about the brand, never heard of them...

Danielsguitars

ThePrettyDamned said:

Out of interest, have you ever tried a jazz master?

I truly believe the jazzmaster vibrato is the best in the business for gentle wobbles. Tuning stability is insane - there are some complications with set-up (ie neck angle, break angle for strings to prevent them jumping!) but once set, the tone is wonderful and the vibrato is great. 

For bigsby, how about this? 

https://www.peachguitars.com/eastman-t64v-antique-classic-varnish-finish.htm

Looks well tasty. No idea about the brand, never heard of them...

I really liked my friends jazzmaster, it sounded lovely unplugged, he did have a mastery bridge and a well set up trem 

DB1

The Bigsby on the Spectra Sonic really suits it, I think. It doesn't seem to disturb the balance of the guitar, whereas I can't get on with one on an ES-330, for example, as it seems to bottom-heavy for a lightweight guitar.

I sold the TV Jones on Friday, by the way, but there's still a couple at TNAG.

Iamnobody

ThePrettyDamned said:

Out of interest, have you ever tried a jazz master?

I truly believe the jazzmaster vibrato is the best in the business for gentle wobbles. Tuning stability is insane - there are some complications with set-up (ie neck angle, break angle for strings to prevent them jumping!) but once set, the tone is wonderful and the vibrato is great. 

For bigsby, how about this? 

https://www.peachguitars.com/eastman-t64v-antique-classic-varnish-finish.htm

Looks well tasty. No idea about the brand, never heard of them...

I had a MIJ one years ago and never really bonded with the guitar. If I’m honest I didn’t give it enough of a chance to really test the vibrato.

In those days I was buying and selling at an alarming rate! I ended up selling the JM and a pink paisley Strat to a Japanese specialist seller in Yorkshire who bought them off eBay and traveled to Brum to collect!

Hence a more considered approach at the current time.

The Eastman isn’t doing it for me I’m afraid.