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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

bigsby!

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matt Joined: Oct 18, 2010 Posts: 656 Boston, MA	Posted on Dec 09 2010 05:34 PM After realizing that I really can't get a new guitar right now, I took the plunge and had my most excellent repair guy put a bigsby on my only guitar-a very odd, not very surfy mid 80s guild S60-D. Should have done it years ago! Works great. He set it up with a set of "jazz" strings, .12s with a wound 3rd. Love it. But sadly I'm at work instead of playing it. . . — Matt Heaton & the Electric Heaters Boston's Premier Surf/Noir Combo http://www.heatonsurf.com Top
TyPierce Joined: Oct 26, 2007 Posts: 542	Posted on Dec 09 2010 10:27 PM Congrats! Bigsbies are my favorite vibrato, with the Hallmark/Mosrite running a close second. Reliable, responsive and perfect for surfy dips and warbles. If you find you'd like a bit more movement with the 12s that are on there, they make a 1" spring that'll get your arm a bit higher off the deck and give you a little more room to dip your toes into. I found when I moved up above 11s on my Gretsch, I needed the extra string to regain some room. Viva Bigsby! — Join Australosurfecus on: The Web \| Facebook Top
killbabykill34 Joined: Apr 03, 2010 Posts: 3201 Jacksonville, AL	Posted on Dec 09 2010 10:51 PM Up until recently, I was using a semi hollowbody with a Bigsby and I still miss playing it. I also, like you, play 12s with a wound 3rd. I just love the added fullness of the wound 3rd. I only wish I could find something other than DAderrio strings that come like this. — THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary. www.thekbk.com http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/ www.reverbnation.com/thekbk www.facebook.com/thekbkal Top
rotnroby Joined: Mar 31, 2010 Posts: 877 Santa Barbara Ca... in the 805	Posted on Dec 10 2010 10:20 AM killbabykill34 Up until recently, I was using a semi hollowbody with a Bigsby and I still miss playing it. I also, like you, play 12s with a wound 3rd. I just love the added fullness of the wound 3rd. I only wish I could find something other than DAderrio strings that come like this. Go with the Thomastik mediums... you will like them as thats a very good string! http://www.juststrings.com/toi-gb112.html Top
killbabykill34 Joined: Apr 03, 2010 Posts: 3201 Jacksonville, AL	Posted on Dec 10 2010 11:03 AM I appreciate the info, rotnroby. I am just really not in to the flat wounds for the stuff we do. — THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary. www.thekbk.com http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/ www.reverbnation.com/thekbk www.facebook.com/thekbkal Top
EricB Joined: Dec 16, 2007 Posts: 193 Newport, RI	Posted on Dec 10 2010 12:37 PM +1 on good things to say about the Bigsby. I just put a Bigsby on my 10 year old Dipinto Mach IV using a Vibramate at the beginning of the week. It's the first time I ever used a Bigsby, and I'm really digging it. Stringing it was a pain in the ass though. Here's a pic of the guitar: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=694621&l=81d3685fe6&id=100000146454516 Top
EricB Joined: Dec 16, 2007 Posts: 193 Newport, RI	Posted on Dec 10 2010 12:41 PM Slightly off topic I guess, but regarding Guilds for surf: There's a local band around here my band plays with called Cliffs and Bangers, their rhythm guitarist using a Guild with humbuckers installed on it. Through a Fender amp with reverb, it sounds surfy enough. They're really good. http://www.reverbnation.com/cliffsandbangers Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Dec 10 2010 01:07 PM I have a Guild T-100D with a Bigsby B3 on it, really good guitar. Top
IvanP Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 10331 southern Michigan	Posted on Dec 10 2010 01:45 PM killbabykill34 Up until recently, I was using a semi hollowbody with a Bigsby and I still miss playing it. I also, like you, play 12s with a wound 3rd. I just love the added fullness of the wound 3rd. I only wish I could find something other than DAderrio strings that come like this. killbabykill, try Rotosound Purples - they're 12-gauge nickelwound roundwound strings that come with a wound 3rd, and my main strings for the past 10 years or something. They're AMAZING!! Very vintage sounding, and feel great, last forever, never break. I buy them on juststrings.com, and they're less than $5 a pack - I buy six at a time, which lasts me a couple of months. Give 'em a shot! — Ivan Lords of Atlantis on Facebook The Madeira Official Website The Madeira on Facebook The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook The Space Cossacks on Facebook The Madeira Channel on YouTube Top
killbabykill34 Joined: Apr 03, 2010 Posts: 3201 Jacksonville, AL	Posted on Dec 10 2010 03:58 PM Ivan, Thank you so much. I am surely going to order a few sets to try out in the next few days. I love the tone of the Dadderio's but find that they just do not have a long life. — THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary. www.thekbk.com http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/ www.reverbnation.com/thekbk www.facebook.com/thekbkal Top
Squid Joined: Aug 22, 2010 Posts: 1019 Portland, Oregon with Insanitizers	Posted on Dec 10 2010 10:16 PM There's a pleasurable feeling when pressing on a Bigsby vibrato. It's smooth, soft, and delicate. But the Bigsby doesn't travel far or give the deep twang of the Floyd, Steinberger-S, Jag-type, vintage Goya, or even the fulcrum strat type. It is twangier than the Epiphone clone, the Hallmark, and the Steinberger-R but they travel further. The Bigsby also has more overhead than these other vibratos except the Epiphone clone. I have to oil two rollers regularly or it will not stay in tune. On the other hand, string change is way faster than with a fulcrum strat or a string-through-body hardtail. It is also easy to install yourself. — Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com Top
LHR Joined: Aug 23, 2006 Posts: 2123 The jungle	Posted on Dec 10 2010 11:30 PM IvanP killbabykill34 Up until recently, I was using a semi hollowbody with a Bigsby and I still miss playing it. I also, like you, play 12s with a wound 3rd. I just love the added fullness of the wound 3rd. I only wish I could find something other than DAderrio strings that come like this. killbabykill, try Rotosound Purples - they're 12-gauge nickelwound roundwound strings that come with a wound 3rd, and my main strings for the past 10 years or something. They're AMAZING!! Very vintage sounding, and feel great, last forever, never break. I buy them on juststrings.com, and they're less than $5 a pack - I buy six at a time, which lasts me a couple of months. Give 'em a shot! Yes. And also DR Pure Blues 12s. — SSIV Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Dec 11 2010 01:03 AM LHR Yes. And also DR Pure Blues 12s. These, for me. .11s or .12s depending on the make of the guitar. Top
MrBill Joined: Sep 29, 2009 Posts: 80 Bucks County, Penna., USA	Posted on Dec 11 2010 11:09 AM Hi Matt, Methinks I'm gonna install a bigsby on one of my Les Pauls. We'el see what Sandy Claws has in store. Cheers. Top
scotstandard Joined: Nov 09, 2008 Posts: 1140 Davenport Iowa	Posted on Dec 13 2010 03:37 AM 1 on the guild T100D with bigsby! did you get that JM sold?? — Give me reverb or give me death! facebook.com/onenightstandards https://www.youtube.com/scotstandard scotstandard@yahoo.com Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Dec 13 2010 08:27 AM Nope, not sold. Top
elreydlp Joined: Sep 04, 2009 Posts: 1800 Temecula, CA	Posted on Dec 13 2010 12:23 PM EricB +1 on good things to say about the Bigsby. I just put a Bigsby on my 10 year old Dipinto Mach IV using a Vibramate at the beginning of the week. It's the first time I ever used a Bigsby, and I'm really digging it. Stringing it was a pain in the ass though. To re-string a guitar with a Bigsby, attach the ball end to the pin and through the bars. Pull it tight and clamp to the neck with a Keyser Capo. Then thread the string onto the tuner, tighten, remove the capo, and bring up to pitch. Also works with Rickenbacker "R" tailpieces. Top
elreydlp Joined: Sep 04, 2009 Posts: 1800 Temecula, CA	Posted on Dec 13 2010 12:27 PM EricB Slightly off topic I guess, but regarding Guilds for surf: There's a local band around here my band plays with called Cliffs and Bangers, their rhythm guitarist using a Guild with humbuckers installed on it. Through a Fender amp with reverb, it sounds surfy enough. They're really good. http://www.reverbnation.com/cliffsandbangers I have a DeArmond MT-77 (USA DeArmond single coils/Bigsby) that I like for Duane Eddy, Link Wray, and other non-surf instro stuff, but not so much for Surf. When I saw The Aqua Velvets, their rhythm player played a Starfire and sounded great on the leads he took. Top
EricB Joined: Dec 16, 2007 Posts: 193 Newport, RI	Posted on Dec 20 2010 11:38 AM elreydlp To re-string a guitar with a Bigsby, attach the ball end to the pin and through the bars. Pull it tight and clamp to the neck with a Keyser Capo. Then thread the string onto the tuner, tighten, remove the capo, and bring up to pitch. Also works with Rickenbacker "R" tailpieces. Great idea! I had just strung it with some old Ernie Ball 11s I had lying around. I've got some Thomastik 12s on the way, and I'll definitely use the capo trick. Top

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