hey all u guys who bigsbyed ur teles did u remove the small felt pads on the bottom of the bigsby before u put it on? what kinda prep do u need to do to the finish before u drill? what measurements should i do to make sure i get the bigsby installed correctly or can/should i eyeball it?
Last edited by itbepopples; 08-12-2004 at 12:08 PM.
I eyeballed mine. I screwed it up. Then again, it was a free guitar.....
Measure several times, drill once. Make sure that the break angle at the bridge sadlle is shallow enough that you don't hit the back side of the bridge.
Several guitars in different colors
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what do i measure? the instructions are totally useless and archaic
as offered before, contact me...I have a copy of the installation instructions for the Fender/CBS-era Fender/Bigsby Telecaster kit...be advised they're large files though...
Make sure that the vibrato rollers are perpendicular to the strings, the vibrato is centered side-to-side, and the distance allows for proper bridge clearance.
On a tele, you may need to shim the neck to get enough downward pressure on the bridge, depending on the Bigsby model.
Other folks here have installed them. Perhaps they'll chime in.
Several guitars in different colors
Things to make them fuzzy
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its a b-5....could u explain the shim to me? what material should i use and how would i install that?
OTM has got the scoop on this one.
Several guitars in different colors
Things to make them fuzzy
Things to make them louder
orange picks
Don't use the fender F logo bigsby. Use a Bigsby B-5 or B-50. Get as close to the edge of the guitar as you can. It'll will be easier to intonate with a B-5 type, as the fender bigsby is a little bigger and comes very close to the back of the bridgeplate. Shim the neck and raise the bridge pieces to help with the break angle, file notches in the rear of the bridgeplate as needed.
Last edited by fezz parka; 08-12-2004 at 05:25 PM.
What fezz sezz. I used a metal ruler on each side of the bridge tray, and drew pencil lines all the way to the butt. This helps to center the Bigs. Once you have it in position, (you can tape down the Bigs over the logo to steady it ) use an awl (or icepick) and poke holes through the finish where your screws will go. Use a drill bit smaller than the screw threads so it bites the wood good (dab a little wax on the threads)...ya don't want the Bigsby yanking out on ya... I uesd a small rat-tail file and dremel to notch the back of the tray, I did'nt have to shim my neck and the action is sweet and low. I did order threaded saddles as the smooth brass let the strings wander because of the Bigs angles. Good luck and wiggle on. :boobs
Hopeless modaholic...
does anyone else have problems stringing their bigsby? ive got it on but i cant get the strings to stay in those little tiny burrs where the ball goes. SOMEONE PLEASE HELPPPPP ARRGHHHH
Wrap the ball end around a pencil first to pre-bend the string. You can use an eraser to keep the ball on the pin until you get tension on the string.Originally Posted by itbepopples
Several guitars in different colors
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if you're feeling adventurous you can do like i do, and just pull those pins out and then drill out the holes so the string go thru the bar. it helps alot and take about 30 minutes to do. be forwarned that you will have to disassemble the bigsby though.
"don't worry, i'm a professional!"
wow genious! anyway does anyone know where i can get notched saddles for this tele?
I take dried sponge, tear it in half lengthwise and shove the tattered edge between the ball of the string ( where it sticks on the Bigsby pin) and the guitar body. That allows you to let go of the string without fear of the string becoming detached.
hehe, first time I strung it up, I was going nuts...thought I must be doing something wrong...can't be this hard?!#$*
I may drill it out like chuck, or use the pencil and eraser idea. Threaded steel and brass saddles pop up on Ebay all the time.
Hopeless modaholic...
Me too! I was getting mad frustrated. I like the sponge idea, that's pretty simple.hehe, first time I strung it up, I was going nuts...thought I must be doing something wrong...can't be this hard?!#$*
K.I.S.S. works every time!
Ok OTM-
What's the K.I.S.S. method?
Wear makeup when changing strings. Works for me!
Several guitars in different colors
Things to make them fuzzy
Things to make them louder
orange picks
As butnut said, they're on ebay all the time. Or you can get 'em new here. The threaded steel saddles are the ones to get.
You wanted the best, you got the best..............
does anyone know where i can get a replacement back bar for a bigsby? i royally fucked it up and need a new one. also i broke about 10-12 drill bits doing it. what drill bits actually fuckin work diamond? god fuckin dammit ive fucked up my only/prized guitar and now i dont know wtf to do
It'll be OK.
You did'nt mess up the guitar, just the Bigsby. Get a new Bigsby. If you don't have a drill press, don't do the chuckocaster mod. Just use the pins.
You have to be very patient when modding or messing with a guitar. Take your time and be careful.:yay
scratch that...it worked...i did it in maybe 2 hours with a standard drill. broke 13 bits cuz i didnt know u were supposed to use cobalt bits. oh well shit happens. i dont have strings to string her up but i know the strings fit thru and the balls catch. thanx to all who have helped me thru this
Well, there you go! Remember, take your time....
sorry, i guess i left out the drill press and sharp bits part. i sometimes figure everyone knows that stuff is implied.
fezz is right, modding is not easy. it's a little tedious. but after awhile you get used to it.
but it sounds like you got it done okay. i'll see if i can rustle up a pic of mine for you. mines a little crazy. balanced and blue printed. i'll also post a pic of the one on my m75t. you guys will shit yourselves.
as for k.i.s.s (keep it simple stupid). words of wisdom that i adhere to.
"don't worry, i'm a professional!"
i don't know if you care but...
here's a pic of my tele's bigsby. i don't know if you can tell in the pic but the front roller now is two seperate rollers, and the front has bee widened to make for better clearance of the strings in regards to the sides. and you can also see the holes drilled out.
"don't worry, i'm a professional!"
Looks good. Why 2 rollers?
Guitars: Teles, Strats, LP, VW Wormoth, others. Amps: Bassman LTD, Richter 5e3, 5e3 Head, Taynor Bassmaster II, Gretsch 6150 (Supro), others. Board: Guitar>Java Boost> Huckleberry>Fuzz Head>Top Fuel> SFX-03 >Keeley 4 knob Comp>EH Clone Chorus>Flanger>DD-6
I guess it's because the wound strings behave differently.
But how did you do it? Does it make a big difference?
Several guitars in different colors
Things to make them fuzzy
Things to make them louder
orange picks
the reason for the 2 rollers is because all of the strings move at different amounts. so by splitting the roller in half you get better tuning stability. my m75t is getting 6 rollers, one for each string.
i personally didn't do it, but basically all you need to do is get a machinist to make you 2 new rollers. the bar in front is 1/4", so you need 2 rollers with an inside diameter of 1/4.
it's alot like a strat trem...beings that the bar is by the treble strings, the high strings detune in pitch more so than the bas side. this doesn't equal out the amount of detune, but it does help with the return to pitch.
"don't worry, i'm a professional!"
Ahhh. I guess I had not noticed it. But, then I don't whammy a lot on mine!
Guitars: Teles, Strats, LP, VW Wormoth, others. Amps: Bassman LTD, Richter 5e3, 5e3 Head, Taynor Bassmaster II, Gretsch 6150 (Supro), others. Board: Guitar>Java Boost> Huckleberry>Fuzz Head>Top Fuel> SFX-03 >Keeley 4 knob Comp>EH Clone Chorus>Flanger>DD-6
well, pretty soon i'm getting a custom bar for mine that'll have "think neil" engraved in it. :hee (seriously though, i am.)
i don't use them a whole lot, but i like peice of mind that when i let up on the bar they are going to return to pitch. this helps a lot. also some graphite in the nut.
"don't worry, i'm a professional!"
Dig this wicked hella-cool twang-O-delic beauty.
I'm all Tele'ed up right now and my DeArmond gives me my Bigsby Duane Eddy fix, or I'd be all over this baby. (Listen to me struggle to resist)
http://www.massstreetmusic.com/show_...em=02071&img=1
"Well, I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused..."
Elvis Costello
Mighty tempting...
Damn straight, Daddyo.
If it's finished anything like my 50's MIJ, I'd probably dig the neck. My beef with the MIM maple necks is the thick finish. I feel like I'm navigating a hunk of poly rather than a piece of wood.
I do like the size of the MIM 70's Tele neck but that finish sometimes. :brr
Are you familiar with the MIJ 70's-ish stuff?
I'd offer 'em my MIJ 62 in a heartbeat if I could compare the necks.
"Well, I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused..."
Elvis Costello
I've got a MIJ 72 custom neck on my Nash Bigsby Parts-o-caster. Nice big neck, excellent feel. Almost as big as the neck on my Burton.
Eddie's got a couple of the blue florals. The neck seemed thinner than the 72 custom neck.
Significantly thinner?
That thing's cool as hell, but feel is the deal. I'll probably give 'em a call. I've talked to them before. Helpful folks.
I've given up on finding a chunky used neck for parts-o-Tele. It's in limbo right now, but I'm going with Warmoth on that one.
"Well, I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused..."
Elvis Costello
I could feel the difference, but I'm a freak.:hee
I dig.
F.A.B.
"Well, I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused..."
Elvis Costello
now if that geetar was in pink paisley...
"don't worry, i'm a professional!"
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