Should I try a Bigsby on my Les Paul Traditional

mattdavis

Have spent the past week watching Bowie concerts on YouTube and have decided Earl Slick may be the coolest guitar slinger in the west. Keep trying to fool myself that my Trad is like an R9 - but it isn’t, so I need to be less precious about it. 
Slick got some cool tones from his Bigsby loaded LP and it’s got me thinking about putting one on mine. 
Are they a massive faff? Does it mess up tuning? Does it alter the core tone significantly? Can I still play some grunge and GnR stuff, or will Slash be terribly disappointed?
Any advice from people who’ve done this would be much appreciated. 

Whitecat

Try it out with a Vibramate first - no drilling required, and if you love it you can have it installed permanently later on which is a slightly better solution in the long run for a number of reasons that others will be able to detail better than me right now.

LPManic

No.

mattdavis

Whitecat said:

Try it out with a Vibramate first - no drilling required, and if you love it you can have it installed permanently later on which is a slightly better solution in the long run for a number of reasons that others will be able to detail better than me right now.

That is stonkingly helpful. Hadn’t heard of that system before. Thanks!

chrisj1602

I like a Bigsby on a Les Paul. I didn’t have any issues, I had graphite on the nut and saddles, and used it like a Bigsby was intended.

As Whitecat said you can try with a Vibramate. There’s also the Towner system, where you’d use a B3 with their tension bar, or you could try a Duesenberg Les Trem.

mattdavis

Cheers! oh dear - rabbit hole beckons 

mark123

no....no....and.....no

mbe

Is it pink?

mattdavis

Nearly. Lightburst - and some of plastic has a flesh coloured hue at times 

Danielsguitars

Bigsbys are for goldtops, get one of them 

Devil#20

I'd suggest getting a Gretsch with a Bigsby before demolishing and devaluing your Gib. They aren't that great when it comes to tuning stability and they can make some funny noises too. 

roberty

I had one fitted to my custom and I bloody love it. This is my fourth guitar with a Bigsby tho so I was sure I wanted it and that I'd use it. Maybe get a used electromatic and figure out if you like them first

TheMarlin

Always ‘Yes’ to a Bigsby.  

roberty

Are they a massive faff? Does it mess up tuning? Does it alter the core tone significantly? Can I still play some grunge and GnR stuff, or will Slash be terribly disappointed?

They're not a faff. Tuning depends on the nut and the break angle over the bridge. The LP/B7 angle is steep so I have tuning issues if I go down more than say a minor third, but it's stable other than that. I don't have any issues at all on my SG or 335. I play heavy styles with em it's fine

WiresDreamDisasters

They are ugly and push you into recidivist realms. Don't do it. You'll be harming your eternal soul.

TheMarlin

roberty said:

Are they a massive faff? Does it mess up tuning? Does it alter the core tone significantly? Can I still play some grunge and GnR stuff, or will Slash be terribly disappointed?

They're not a faff. Tuning depends on the nut and the break angle over the bridge. The LP/B7 angle is steep so I have tuning issues if I go down more than say a minor third, but it's stable other than that. I don't have any issues at all on my SG or 335. I play heavy styles with em it's fine

90% of Bigsby tuning issues is nut related. But, as you said, the break angle is also an issue, particularly on a tension bar model such as the B7/B70. 

This can be corrected with an easy to fit aftermarket modification

Once a Bigsby has been setup nicely, they’re joyous things to use.  

p90fool

I love Bigsbys but they do interfere with volume pot access a fair bit if that's an issue for you. 

paganskins

chrisj1602 said:

I like a Bigsby on a Les Paul. I didn’t have any issues, I had graphite on the nut and saddles, and used it like a Bigsby was intended.

As Whitecat said you can try with a Vibramate. There’s also the Towner system, where you’d use a B3 with their tension bar, or you could try a Duesenberg Les Trem.

p90fool said:

I love Bigsbys but they do interfere with volume pot access a fair bit if that's an issue for you. 

I've tried vibramate and B7, cramped the controls as @p90fool says and stability wasn't great with the original ABR or a roller bridge. Les Trem worked well but the knurled knob the arm attaches into was too close to the bridge and got in the way when palm muting.

Now my classic has the Towner system and domed thumbwheels under the original bridge, works great and controls are accessible. The only problem I had was with the raw plug (spl) holding the strap pin in which needed additional cocktail sticks to take the strain.

roberty

TheMarlin said:

roberty said:

Are they a massive faff? Does it mess up tuning? Does it alter the core tone significantly? Can I still play some grunge and GnR stuff, or will Slash be terribly disappointed?

They're not a faff. Tuning depends on the nut and the break angle over the bridge. The LP/B7 angle is steep so I have tuning issues if I go down more than say a minor third, but it's stable other than that. I don't have any issues at all on my SG or 335. I play heavy styles with em it's fine

90% of Bigsby tuning issues is nut related. But, as you said, the break angle is also an issue, particularly on a tension bar model such as the B7/B70. 

This can be corrected with an easy to fit aftermarket modification

Once a Bigsby has been setup nicely, they’re joyous things to use.  

Ha, true! I am waiting for crazyparts to get the gold domed thumbwheels back in stock - will give them a go first as less invasive

I suffer from phantom Bigsby now when I play a guitar without one

mattdavis

Hmm - sounds like definitely better to try one before cocking up my guitar due to GAS. Cheers all

roberty

mattdavis said:

Hmm - sounds like definitely better to try one before cocking up my guitar due to GAS. Cheers all

I think that's the right way about it mate. They're not for everyone