Info on Bigsby experience !

[izodiak]

Hi, just finally getting my money together and thinking about getting the Gretsch Jet but I dont get the big warnings about using bigsby ?
without bigsby G5220
and the
bigsby version

Is it really so bad on the tunnig doing every day playing.
Or with the G5230, I see the Blacktop FilterTrons and the G5220 I see Broadtrons..

As I understand till now the blacktop-filtertrons are more gretschy (thats what Im looking for)

So is it worth risking the bisgby to get the better pickups or just f*ck it all and buy the cheaper one
and buy pickups latter ?

[Bacchus]

I had the use of a Danelectro Hodad for a while and I don't remember tuning being too bad.

However, they are a nightmare to restring and absolutely shite as a tremolo.

[George]

I don’t like how they work but have never owned a proper one to know about restringing.

I also really don’t like the nub which stops you moving the arm over the strings.

[izodiak]

So it is a problem to have the 'bigsby' ?

Because some lads on Youtube say You just need to put the strings over the 'second barrel' (sorry, dont know how to correctly name it all)



like in this picture is incorrect..etc etc... the strings should go over the 'second barrel' (dont know the name), less tension ?

so, so far its better without bigsby and get the better pickups later ?

[Fakir Mustache]

So it is a problem to have the 'bigsby' ?

Because some lads on Youtube say You just need to put the strings over the 'second barrel' (sorry, dont know how to correctly name it all)



like in this picture is incorrect..etc etc... the strings should go over the 'second barrel' (dont know the name), less tension ?

so, so far its better without bigsby and get the better pickups later ?

No the strings should never go over the second barrel.

It's called the "tension bar", and the tension is higher than on some Bigsby vibratos which don't have it, like some hollow body models and the one specifically made for telecasters. Hence the reason some people don't like them, in particular as with a tension bar it's harder to push down on the vibrato bar.

It's also a pain to change the strings, you have to but the string ball on a small metal thing and it often pops out when changing the strings. There are some Bigsbys where you can put the strings right through the bar, but they are rare.

[izodiak]

So this bloke just dosnt know what he is talking about. Break angles...

[Fakir Mustache]

You could do it that way if you want to try something different, but on some guitars it may raise the strings above the bridge. Some people remove that bar completely. It all depends what the guitar is.

[dezb1]

I have a Gretsch streamliner with a Bigsby I string it with 11s and don't have any tuning problems unless I go heavy on the trem - I am considering punting a roller bridge on it just for research purposes

[Thomas]

Neither of my Gretsch’s have any issue with tuning (one has the tension bar, one without). Lund the nut etc o give it some assistance and change the strings regularly and you shouldn’t have an issue.

The tremolo on them is more of a wobble than anything proper like on a Strat.

[sunshiner]

Lund the nut etc

Those Glaswegians butcher the language

[Doog]

I found the actual usage fine (I've had both B5 and B3 on my Silvertone), I hated stringing that thing, with a passion. Those little metal pins, *shudder*.

I was totally gonna do this modd, but never got around to it:

[youtube][/youtube]

Also: I wouldn't put the strings over the top of that string retainer bar unless you feel the string tension has been increased way too much.

Unless you've got the neck shimmed way up (so the bridge is sitting higher too, increasing that break angle), you'll likely have a lot of tuning problems, plus strings falling out of the saddles. It'll be just like owning a CIJ Jaguar in the 90s.

[Thomas]

Lund the nut etc

Those Glaswegians butcher the language

New “improved� autocorrect just making shit up...

[aen]

I really like a bigsby. So much so that I wrote a goddamn blog about it.

http://www.dwarfcraft.com/blog/starcas ... ts-oh-my#/

(edit) Ok I just re-read it and i dont talk much about the bigsby. If you PRACTICE A LITTLE you can develop the skill of putting fuckin strings on a bigsby. And then you can wiggle your strings around and everything is great. If you're not a baby and you don't need dive bombs a bigsby is a great idea.

[NickD]

I adore the look of a Bigsby, I had one on a P90 goldtop LP, the tuning was spot on, swapped it onto a different LP and the tuning was a nightmare. Doesn't make any sense.

I found string changes fine - I left the low E on while changing the rest to keep some tension and it wasn't a problem, more of a faff then a stop tailpiece, sure, but not the end of the world.

[Doog]

If you PRACTICE A LITTLE you can develop the skill of putting fuckin strings on a bigsby. And then you can wiggle your strings around and everything is great. If you're not a baby and you don't need dive bombs a bigsby is a great idea.

Oooooor just use a less flawed system

[aen]

U R BABY?

[ekwatts]

I bought a Vibramate string spoiler for my Gretsch baritone. Just drop it it in and never worry about restringing ever again.

[aen]

OH SHIT!
That is appealing.

[Doog]

NOW
WHOM
IST

A

BEBE

[Fakir Mustache]