The closer to the bridge, the steeper the angle from the saddles to the Bigsby. Does the arm sit in an accessible spot? Is it too close to the controls for your liking? The distance you place the Bigsby from the bridge makes a difference. Set it on the body, and look at it from different angles. It’s important to first place the Bigsby in a spot that looks right to you.
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For full instructions on how to use it, check out their official install instructions at The following are the steps I take and some tips you can use in addition to using this string, or without it. Typically your new Bigsby will come with an “alignment string” that you can use to ensure your Bigsby is set properly. For this example I’m installing a B50 Bigsby to an Airline Tuxedo with center block. Next you can remove the guitar’s tailpiece to get ready for the new Bigsby. Ideally you will have one that fits the old bridge posts. Once the strings are off, you can begin by swapping out the bridge if you have one. It won’t work as well as rollers, but it’s better than nothing! It would be a good idea to invest in some kind of “roller bridge” (like the one in the following picture) to allow proper use of your Bigsby:Īlternatively you can use a set of files to lightly file out the grooves in the saddles to “round” them a bit. The strings will tend to catch onto the saddles and just push and pull the bridge as you use the tremolo arm, affecting intonation and just making things sound rigid. If you’re absolutely set on installing a Bigsby on this instrument, keep in mind that you will either need to try using a model like the B70 or B3, or be willing to cover up those unsightly holes left after the installation.Īnother thing to keep in mind when making your purchase is that standard guitar bridges are not always designed to function with tremolo units. Some guitars feature a tail piece that is drilled into the face of the guitar’s body. Here’s a picture of a B70 followed by one of a B50 that mounts directly into the face of the guitar’s body: If it does not, you may have to go with a tailpiece Bigsby such as the B70, or B3. For hollow body guitars, find out if you have a center block inside the guitar that you will be able to mount screws to. This decision is mostly based on aesthetic appeal, but make sure there’s enough room on your guitar’s body if you want a larger Bigsby. There are various types, some that come attached with a tailpiece and some that just fasten right on top of the guitar. The first thing you’ll need to do is figure out which Bigsby hardware model you want. The Bigsby is not meant for extreme drops or raises in pitch, but rather subtle vibrato. With proper installation, you will have a great working tremolo unit that keeps your guitar’s tuning very well. A raise in pitch can be achieved by lifting the arm, thus rotating the bar in the opposite direction to tighten the strings. It works by wrapping the strings around a cylindrical bar, which is then rotated by pushing a lever or “arm” down to loosen the strings. The Bigsby was perhaps the earliest iteration of the now widely known “whammy bar”. This one’s all about the Bigsby tremolo system, and how to add one to your guitar. In this article I’ll go over the process I use to put a little “spring” in your “string”, to change “still” to “thrill”, and move from “turf” to “surf”. While just about anything is possible to change or fix, just about anything is possible to mess up too. The same can be said for modifications done to guitars. What should it be? Where should it go? How much do I want to pay? Will I even want to look at this 30 years from now?Īny form of permanent modification should be something that is long thought out, and carried out by someone who knows what they’re doing. If you’ve ever got (or thought about getting) a tattoo, you can probably remember the heated debate that went on in your head.