NGD - Well yesterday was really. Ebony '57RI LPC content!

Nunogilberto

Beast of a guitar!

Deijavoo

ICBM said:

Loobs said:

Please don't put a fucking bigsby on it.

Be warned that if you do fit one even using a Vibramate, it will still mark the finish. My friend just found that out on his 3-pickup 57RI… the finish is soft enough that just the pressure of the felt pads has left dulled imprints. Luckily the guitar was not even close to pristine anyway.

Hhhmmm.... it is pretty clean this guitar other than one small indentation where a Bigsby would go, but I have to admit, I though a vibramate would stop any further marks.

Trotter said:

Dibs!!!!

Great work man, it's a beaut

Deal.

:-)

ICBM

Deijavoo said:

Hhhmmm.... it is pretty clean this guitar other than one small indentation where a Bigsby would go, but I have to admit, I though a vibramate would stop any further marks.

So did I. It was only on for about a month too.

It's a shame, since the Vibramate also gives a better set-up than screwing the Bigsby directly to the guitar, because the front roller is raised about 1/4" which lessens the string angle under it and over the saddles.

The Bigbsy also adds about a pound to an already heavy guitar...

Deijavoo

But it looks and sounds soooooo cool!

Deijavoo

Ala 0:25

Deijavoo

and sort of:

ICBM

I would definitely want one too. Just be aware that it's a commitment and not as reversible as you may think.

I'm not sure if I'd want to use a Vibramate or not… I did prefer the setup with it, but it looked wrong somehow. In particular I didn't like the Bigbsy being set back about 1/8" due to the thickness of the endpin mounting plate - you wouldn't think such a small difference would be noticeable, but it is.

Deijavoo

Food for thought mate. Thanks.

jeztone2

That is lovely. Enjoy! My mate Paul has a Cherry LP Custom from 2000. So they've always been on my "list "

redrighthand

Lovely! Here's another "reversible" way to fit a bigsby I recently came across - looks interesting, and an improvement on the vibramate in some ways. http://townerusa.com

andy1839

That is a very sweet guitar. Always loved those RI customs. Green eyes over here.

Neil

That is gorge!

ICBM

redrighthand said:

Lovely! Here's another "reversible" way to fit a bigsby I recently came across - looks interesting, and an improvement on the vibramate in some ways. http://townerusa.com

Not bad, but you're totally relying on that one screw which holds the strap button on to take the whole tension of the strings. I know the 'hinge' aspect of the Bigsby reduces the force and it's mainly in shear, but the screw has to be relatively small by necessity or it won't go through the strap button. (Even the original Gibson one, which does take a larger one.) If something bad happens to the strap and the screw gets pulled out or snapped off, the Bigsby will fly off and probably cause a lot of damage to the top as the strings try to pull it under the tension bar.

The advantage of the Vibramate is that it puts most of the load on the stop tailpiece inserts, where it's meant to be.

What really baffles me is why Bigbsy have never made the proper solution to all this - a B7 that simply has two notches at the front to fit onto the tailpiece studs. That would remove any pressure from the top, any need to drill holes, and still leave the front end of the Bigsby height-adjustable for the best set-up.

Deijavoo

Hhhmmm, I thought a Bigsby with vibramate was a done deal in my head. Maybe more thought needed.

fretfinder

Excellent buy! 

Now if I could only find one of these weighing 9lbs or under...

ICBM

Deijavoo said:

Hhhmmm, I thought a Bigsby with vibramate was a done deal in my head.

It still can be as long as you accept it's permanent or that you will have marks if you remove it. It still makes a better job than screwing the Bigsby directly to the guitar with the old tailpiece stud holes visible, I think. It also takes care of the ground connection, which is a problem with the traditional way of doing it.

Unfortunately I don't think it will fit if you don't use the endpin plate - the dimensions are very carefully worked out and the front end wouldn't line up with the stud mounts.

Deijavoo

I guess I should see how much I "need" a Bigsby then.

Gassage

Utterly awesome.

Deijavoo

Gassage said:

Utterly awesome.

Cheers mate. Hence my lack of funds. :-)

geepers0677

That is beautiful. Nice one.