Couple Quick Bigsby Questions

rpr

Okay, about to restring my Epiphone Black n Blues Casino for the first time- The Bigsby- a US B70 squeaks when I use it - in truth it dont bother me too much- but if there's a simple solution to stopping it, I'd be as well giving it a try. Secondly is it better to replace one string at a time or can I take them all off, guitar and fingerboard could do with a clean.  Cheers.

stickyfiddle

I would assume any squeaking would be coming from either of the 2 rods that the strings are in contact with. A drop of oil on their bearings should help. 

As for restringing method, you can do all at once, just make sure you don't lose the bigsby spring as it's only held in there by string tension

Corvus

As above it could be the bushes, or could be the main spring, it should have one nylon washer in there. If it's missing you can get odd noises happening. A dab of grease in the cup that doesn't have the washer can get rid of noise there, doesn't hurt on the washer & it's cup either. Sometimes the small spring on the arm bracket stud, the one sitting inside the main spring, can get a bit squeaky as well. Brush a bit of grease over that if so, doesn't need to be buried in it just a light go over.

TheMarlin

Also consider getting a Bigsby Tuning Stabiliser. It'll transform it, make it so much easier to use.

http://bricksbiggsfix.com/product/btsv3/

Marlin

impmann

What @TheMarlin says.

That mod with a super squishy Spring has transformed my Black n Blu's Bigsby from a piece of shit that just put the guitar out of tune into a wonderful expressive vibrato that returns to pitch beautifully.

Oh and the job including slackening the strings and retuning took less than five minutes!