kidblast Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I just .. could... not... help myself.. really did try to talk myself off the ledge but, jump I did! LOL!!! http://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Parts/All_Hardware_and_Parts_by_Instrument/Archtop_Guitar/Bridges_and_Tailpieces/Bigsby_B7_with_Vibramate_Polished_Aluminum.html Installation review post haste! -- update -- Installation done, took about 20 minutes. It was very easy, with nothing really unexpected. So far, I kind a like it. and because rules are rules... Pictures - cuz yes,, it did happen! Before: After: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billymagnum Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 i installed a bigsby on my 2014 LP signature last year. super simple and damage-free to install. i did end up buying a spoiler too because keeping those string end on those little posts was a huge pain. i also eventually changed out the bridge for a schaller roller bridge. one thing i will say is i bought everything except for the roller (got it off ebay) from amazon and saved a very serious amount of money. i think you'll enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Great looking stuff! That mounting adaptor is a smart idea, indeed! Cheers... Bence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 Billy, did the addition of this change anything that you noticed? (string tension, tone, etc) Bence, I know, it is practically genius! They have adapters for many guitars listed on the web site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billymagnum Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Billy, did the addition of this change anything that you noticed? (string tension, tone, etc) Acoustically the guitar sounded even more alive than it did before. I worried that I'd lose treble or attack but not at all. I very frequently jump genres from jazzy to metal to whatever. Tension feels the same or at least no noticeable difference. The bigsby handles the most minetune well too. Over all it just sounds and looks that much nicer while affording the vibrato effects. Bonus is you can take it off and go back to stock at any time with no mod holes or anything to uncover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fromnabulax Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I've installed the B7 with the Vibramate on two Gibson LPs and one Epi LP. I've never regretted the decision. Installation from start to finish in under 20 minutes with absolutely not a mark anywhere on the body. I did have a bit of a tuning issue at first. I expected to see the strings go flat, but they instead went sharp from not returning to their position after being pulled tight, but a touch of graphite at the nut fixed that right up. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 To be honest, I don't find any kind of vibrato devices useful, but Bigsby's...well...noone can deny, they look great on a guitar. :) I am curious about the new Floyd Rose, though. Is it as reliable as the traditional version? Cheers... Bence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 Acoustically the guitar sounded even more alive than it did before. I worried that I'd lose treble or attack but not at all. This was also my experience when I put a B7 on my ES-135 (it had the stock trapeze tail piece which was nothing more than a rattle trap) I'm very encouraged to here you had similar experience with the Vibramte/B7 fit up on your LP! Installation from start to finish in under 20 minutes with absolutely not a mark anywhere on the body. Exactly! after watching several installation videos, it's a no brainer. I did have a bit of a tuning issue at first. I expected to see the strings go flat, but they instead went sharp from not returning to their position after being pulled tight, but a touch of graphite at the nut fixed that right up. I already have 3 guitars with Bigsby's, big bends nut sauce definitely helps stabilize tuning. KB is psyched! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Autumn Light&Shade Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I've been thinking about putting a Bigsby on my SG. But didn't like the idea of drilling holes. Now I know about the Vibramate, I'm going to order one. Thank you Kidblast for putting the link up , looking forward to seeing the end result :) Emma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 I've been thinking about putting a Bigsby on my SG. But didn't like the idea of drilling holes. Now I know about the Vibramate, I'm going to order one. Thank you Kidblast for putting the link up , looking forward to seeing the end result :) Emma Emma, check out this page, gives you some more info on what you'd be looking for: http://www.vibramate.com/vibramate-model-chart.php but basically you want the B5 Bigsby w/the V5 Vibramate: http://www.vibramate.com/vibramate-v5-install.php if you go to stew mac, you can get the kit (the Bigsby and the Vibramte): http://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Parts/All_Hardware_and_Parts_by_Instrument/Archtop_Guitar/Bridges_and_Tailpieces/Bigsby_B5_with_Vibramate_V5_Polished_Aluminum.html Cheers! /Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 . Big fan of trems here. Looking forward to seeing the results. . B) . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Autumn Light&Shade Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Emma, check out this page, gives you some more info on what you'd be looking for: http://www.vibramate.com/vibramate-model-chart.php but basically you want the B5 Bigsby w/the V5 Vibramate: http://www.vibramate.com/vibramate-v5-install.php if you go to stew mac, you can get the kit (the Bigsby and the Vibramte): http://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Parts/All_Hardware_and_Parts_by_Instrument/Archtop_Guitar/Bridges_and_Tailpieces/Bigsby_B5_with_Vibramate_V5_Polished_Aluminum.html Cheers! /Ray Thank you Ray for the info links. Looking forward to getting this. :) Kind regards, Emma :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I am meek of heart, and I should have heeded your dire warnings. My sadness grows, but I take comfort in the mission statement of my studio: Friends Don't Let Friends Bigsby. Paul was a great guy I'm sure, and I would have loved nothing more than a beer with him and Leo. But his works were evil, and remain in this world for some unknown reason. Good luck brutha. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 Friends Don't Let Friends Bigsby. LOL! I never thought I'd like them either, then I tried one,, turns out.. they grow on you,, not like warts mind you.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 To be fair, full disclosure and all that, I haven't whacked at a Beegsbeed guitar in about, oh, 25 years or so. Hated them when I was a kid, it stayed with me I guess. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 ^-- yep, same here, I thought they were abominations. But the real issue was the guitar I tried it on was a dog. Years later,,, I played a well setup one, and it was a totally different experience. I had a Kahler years back that I installed on a really nice Ibanez MC400(the 80s,, we all did it) that decision was a disaster. The guy who installed it did a horrible job, and I was going through high E strings like crazy. And if you loose a string, mid song during a set, with one of those.. you're porked... (come to think of it I haven't broken a string in -- never mind,, not going to go there...) anyways,,, if this thing meant that I had to drill ONE hole anywhere on the guitar it's going on (95 LP Stnd that is pretty mint for it's age) we would not be doing this. I'll post b4 and after pics,, cuz well I know how you guys all dig the guitar porn! Woot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 . BTW KB - Last year I noticed you ran across this little gem - I attended a recent guitar show in Ft. Washington Pa. I stopped by the Reverend Guitar booth to play a Pete Anderson PA-1 B-7 Bigsby equipped hollow body guitar. The first thing I noticed was how soft the feel of the Bigsby was compared to the one on my Gibson ES-335. I found out that Reverend uses a special soft tension spring for this particular guitar. I quickly purchased one and installed it on my ES-335. This spring changed everything, it's unbelievable how good the Bigby responds. The tension of the Bigsby is amazingly soft and responsive. I know this is a small modification but it made this guitar so much more versatile and more musical in my opinion. If your wanting a softer more responsive feel with your Bigsby this is the way to go. Don335 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I have 2 F-hole guitars with Bigsbys. A 2013 ES175 with P94s and factory Bigsby, and a Korean Shine (Gretsch copy) with a Bigsby-licensed trem...won't post pics as we are in the LP thread. Clicking on the links here I found that Vibramate also do a 'Spoiler' which I probably will order as it makes stringing up 99% easier...thanks for the heads-up. I also got 2 soft-touch (low-tension) springs from Reverend guitars. There was a thread some months ago in the ES/archtops area. These are really worth it....were described - accurately - as a "game-changer". (EDIT - I see Big K has beaten me to it!) http://store.reverendguitars.com/product-category/parts/ IMO the Bigsby does affect the guitar sound a bit, I think this would be less pronounced on a solid-body. Regards! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 yea that is right the spring slipped my mind completely, I should pick a few up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billymagnum Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 i dont mind the spring that came with it. it feels solid and secure. id try another though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share Posted April 10, 2015 i dont mind the spring that came with it. it feels solid and secure. id try another though... after installing the new B7 today, (pics in first post), I agree, the spring does seem fine, but I'd be interesting in trying one of the ones from Reverb,, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaygl Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 I almost took the plunge and put a B5 on my SG....almost.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 . Looks great. How's it working? . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 I almost took the plunge and put a B5 on my SG....almost.... I'm right here for you Brother. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fromnabulax Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 after installing the new B7 today, (pics in first post), I agree, the spring does seem fine, but I'd be interesting in trying one of the ones from Reverb,, I thought about a stronger feeling spring in mine. I wanted more resistance and control of the arm. I took the strings off the guitar, pulled the arm up releasing the existing spring, popped the spring and plastic washer out, popped a penny into the well, replaced the spring and put the washer on top of the spring instead of the bottom, and bang! Instant gratification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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