Bigsby & Vibramate for ES Guitars?

[Larsongs]

Have any of you installed a Bigsby with Vibramate on your ES335, 345 or 355?

 

If so, Please give your Review. Also Would be great to see your Pics.

 

Thanks,

 

Lars

[senojnad]

Have any of you installed a Bigsby with Vibramate on your ES335, 345 or 355?

 

If so, Please give your Review. Also Would be great to see your Pics.

 

Thanks,

 

Lars

 

Yes -- I used a Vibramate on my ES335. Personally, I did not like it and I removed it and installed the Bigsby by drilling holes, etc.

 

I didn't like the look of the extra metal and the "Custom Made" plastic thing really bugged me (I put black electrical tape over it). It also added a bit of weight to the guitar (half pound?)

 

 

 

 

Here is the guitar with the Vibramate:

 

http://i129.photobuc...zps95a6d826.jpg

 

Here it is after I removed the Vibramate:

 

http://i129.photobuc...zps5cfddfbf.jpg

 

I found some metal hole plugs at Home Depot that took care of the holes for the stop bar bridge.

[Jayyj]

I've never fitted a Vibramate to one of my own guitars but I've installed a couple of the B5 type for customers and I like them as a design: they don't look as good as a proper install, but they work very well. I've learned over the years that there's simply no point me owning a 335 type guitar without a Bigsby, so if the guitar's a keeper they just go straight on for me.

[senojnad]

I agree -- All of my electric guitars have Bigsbys and I have no plans to remove any of them.

 

When installing a Bigsby diretly on an ES335, one has to run a new ground wire from a pickup to the new Bigsby. Not a big deal. In my case I ran the new ground through a small hole I drilled right behind the new hole for the screw that secures the Bigsby to the top of the guitar.I wrapped the wire around that screw.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Larsongs]

Yes -- I used a Vibramate on my ES335. Personally, I did not like it and I removed it and installed the Bigsby by drilling holes, etc.

 

I didn't like the look of the extra metal and the "Custom Made" plastic thing really bugged me (I put black electrical tape over it). It also added a bit of weight to the guitar (half pound?)

 

 

 

 

Here is the guitar with the Vibramate:

 

http://i129.photobuc...zps95a6d826.jpg

 

Here it is after I removed the Vibramate:

 

http://i129.photobuc...zps5cfddfbf.jpg

 

I found some metal hole plugs at Home Depot that took care of the holes for the stop bar bridge.

 

I agree it looks better w/o the Vibramate. Very nice Guitar by the way.

 

Yeah, I am a Bigsby guy & trying to decide whether or not to put one on my new ES335 or opt for the Rich Robinson model?

 

Thanks,

 

Lars

[jdgm]

I have a 2013 ES175 with Bigsby. Great guitar but as you may know the ES175 does not have a central block inside so there is no bar in the front of the Bigsby to pull the strings down:

 

 

Result is a very shallow break angle across the bridge and that's why I put a mute on the strings behind it.

 

 

Regards!

[Larsongs]

I have a 2013 ES175 with Bigsby. Great guitar but as you may know the ES175 does not have a central block inside so there is no bar in the front of the Bigsby to pull the strings down:

 

 

Result is a very shallow break angle across the bridge and that's why I put a mute on the strings behind it.

 

 

Regards!

 

Cool Guitar! Would be nice if Gibson offered more ES models with Bigsby's.

 

Lars