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Yeah Gavin,
It does come down to feel. The B-5 has a spongy feel making it difficult to get
the "tiny trem warble" used in surf.
-Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: Gavin Ehringer
To:
Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2004 9:47 PM
Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Re: Another bridge questions
I've only used the Gretch-style Bigsby (on a Gretsch Duo-Jet), it
wasn't the B-5 model. So, I was speaking in general. I'm sure
you're right about the Bigsby B-5, but it's all feel, isn't it?
I've had two Fender Japan off-set waist guitars, a Jag and a
Jazzmaster. Identical tremelos, right? The Jag was mushy and
the arm never stayed in place, while the Jazz is more responsive
(still not great, tho), and the arm stays right where I leave it. It
befuddles me.
Given that surf only requires a tiny trem warble, the range doesn't
seem to matter much.
My favorite trem right now is on my Retrotone Surfmaster - and
it is simply a knockoff of a Strat trem! Sucker works good,
though, and stays in tune through an entire playing session of
two hours or more.
--- In , "Marty Tippens" <mctippens@e...> wrot=
e:
> I have to give a counter-testimony, Gavin,
>
> I have the Fender '52 RI Tele with the Bigsby B-5 and the
Bigsby is not very positive in its operation. It requires significantly
more push on the bar to give the desired effect and it has maybe
half the range of pitch bending that the Strat trem has. But it
stays in tune purdy well and it looks neato!
>
> -Marty
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Gavin Ehringer
> To:
> Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2004 1:53 PM
> Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Re: Another bridge questions
>
>
> You should be able to install a Bigsby B-5 (or B-500) for solid
> body guitars - it's the model Fender is using for its Tele w/
> vibrato and on some solid-body Gretsch guitars. The body
has to
> be flat-faced for the trem to fit properly and it just screws right
to
> the face. You might want to fit it with a Tune-O-Matic type
bridge,
> although the Bronco or a Mustang bridge would probably
work
> okay and is already set correctly for the Fender neck, which is
> more curved than a Gibson-style.
>
> The feel of a Bigsby is very different from Fender's trem
systems
> - I like them compared to Fender designs. A bit smoother and
> more controlled. The Bigsby might solve the tuning problem
on
> its own, or it may not. If it doesn't, you could take Jeff's
> suggestions and try the locking tuners, different strings, or
have
> a low-friction nut like the GraphTech Tusq installed.
>
> Gavin
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I was thinking maybe a Bigsby, because that would
> > > just entail me re-filling the old trem. cavity and mounting
the
> > > bigsby system, which would mean I wouldn't have to do
> much routing
> > or
> > > carving.
> > >
> > > My other question along with that would be which Bigsby
> model would
> > I
> > > need, and would I be able to use something like a
Mustang
> bridge in
> > > there, or would I have to buy a Bigsby bridge as well.
> > >
> > > Any help or suggestions would be appreciated!!
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > ~Bill~
>
>
>
> .
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