aznxtasy341 Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 Sorry i had just realized that i posted in the new comments section.. but anyways.. when i installed my b7 on my sheraton i accidentally put it at about a 1/8 cm slant on the treble side. this is causing some irregualrities with the vibrato ie: when i use the vibrato, the low e string is a lower pitch than the high e. its only a minute difference, but enough to tell they are a different pitch. so my question is.. would i be able to live with this/ is this okay? if not how do i fix it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shartom Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 I'm not quite sure what you are saying. Is the Bigsby slightly off center? Stew Mac did an article that described (I think) a similar problem. When a guitar with a Bigsby was brought into his shop, it was slightly skewed, in other words, not centered on the bridge or the center line if the neck. It was crooked. He added a very thin shim to one side of the tailpiece hinged bracket where it screws onto the body. It worked like a charm. It wasn't visible. Your situation would bug me just because I knew it wasn't right. If this is the problem you are having, give it a try. You can find really thin sheet aluminum at most hardware stores. I think in the article, they painted black so that it was invisible. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznxtasy341 Posted January 30, 2008 Author Share Posted January 30, 2008 the problem is that the whole piece itself is slanted on the treble side of the guitar. I must have drilled the hinge holes in the incorrect spot (i probably needed to go about 2 mm to the left!) is probably my mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznxtasy341 Posted January 30, 2008 Author Share Posted January 30, 2008 update: ive now got even bigger issues. upon trying to put in a washer, the top left hinge screw was stripped. so it looks like im gonna have to live with this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickblues1 Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 You can always fill the holes and re-drill new ones. There is a video on you tube that shows how to set it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpach10115 Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 I posted the best way to mount a bigsby on the "Customizing a casino" thread. Remove the bigsby and remount it. Make sure you use the red string that was included. Make sure it is tight. That is important for proper alignment. Make sure everything is lined up BEFORE you drill. If the bigsby is only 2mm off, it will be able to be remounted on the tail without seeing the old holes. If the bigsby was only askew , rather than off center, you should be able to use the holes that you drilled onto the top without redrilling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznxtasy341 Posted January 30, 2008 Author Share Posted January 30, 2008 ive also got another question. its seems that my bigsby arm has loosened a little. how do i tighten it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpach10115 Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 Remove the strings, flip the arm back and tighten the bolt. The spring should hold it in place when you restring it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokestack Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 tempting to quote the old addage "...measure twice, drill once " Oops ...I just did If the unit is just a tad skewed, the solution could be even simpler. It may be that a tooth pick or cocktail stick,[ lightly coated in glue] in the opposite wall of each outer fixing hole will rotate the mounting enough to bring the Bigsby into line Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznxtasy341 Posted January 31, 2008 Author Share Posted January 31, 2008 so your suggesting that i do this to the two body holes? this would be kind of hard for me since the 4 hinges on the side of the body are keeping it where it is. Do you just suggest that i force it into alignment and fill the holes with simple toothpicks? it is truly, only offcentered by about 1/8 of a cm so this may work but i am a little sketical because of the 4 hinge screws also will just a toothpick provide enough tension to hold the 6 strings?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznxtasy341 Posted January 31, 2008 Author Share Posted January 31, 2008 edit- here is a picture for refernce if any of you are interested as you can see it tilts slightly to the right only very slightly, but still enough to cause some mis tuning between the high e and low E when i use the vibrato Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpach10115 Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 YIKES!!!!!! From the looks of this, there appears only one way to fix this so that no holes show. You shound shim the tail pies where it attaches to the back of the guitar. You will need to get longer screws for the tail piece. I hope you still have the red string that came with it, if not you need one approx 2 1/2 times the length of your neck. string up the bigsby. Leave the screw that is closest to the bridge in. Don't take that one out, just loosen it enough so you can move the bigsby. . Take out the screw that is on the left. Straighten out the bigsby with the shims. It might be a good idea to paint the shim the same color of you guitar before putting it in. Replace the screws on the tail. MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS STRAIGHT . yOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE THE SAME HOLES THAT YOU DRILLED ON THE TAIL, JUST USE THE LONGER SCREWS. If all looks good, you can then REDRILL the screw hole on the left. The bigsby should cover up the existing hole. MAKE SURE it is lined up before you drill this hole. This is your last shot before really doing damage to you guitar. Make sure that everything is semi-tight. Drill the hole on the left and replace the screw. Tighten up all the screws and this should work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpach10115 Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 YIKES!!! This can be fixed. Remove the screws on the tail piece and the screws on top. Put the strap pin screw in semi tight.The bigsby should be "floating" now. Just held in with the strap pin screw. Use the red cloth string that it came with and string it up. Tie it to the low e tuner, down the fret board to the low e pin on the bigsby. Make sure it is tight, then over to the high e string and back down the fretboard. Tie it to the hig e tuner. make sure it is tight also. Now line up the bigsby. The strings should be centered on the fretboard. If so, re install the bigsby. MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS LINED UP. As stated above "Measure twice, cut once!" Start with the tail screws one at a time. Drill the hole, and put the screw in semi tight. Move on to the next one until all four are done. During this process, make sure everything is straight. Take a sighting after every step. Then drill the top holes. BE CAREFUL, THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE BEFORE YOU REALLY DO SOME NOTICIABLE DAMAGE. Here's another trick, If your old stop tail is a "String through", and has set screws to hole it in place, you can put it back on. Just run the sgtrings through it after it comes off the bigsby. I have done this in the past and it makes for a more seemless installation. It makes it look better, like something is not missing. It really works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bug music Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Ooh, unfortunately the holes will probably be visible when you are done. I've never used the string to align them myself. I've always mounted the bottom (strap pin end) holes, put on the 2 outer E strings and tensioned them just enough to pull the unit exactly straight, then I push the top straight down drill the 2 top holes. I've done a few like that and never had a problem, hopefully you are able to fix it without it showing too badly. Say didn't I see a post on one of the Fender boards too too, was that you ? Good luck. - Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznxtasy341 Posted January 31, 2008 Author Share Posted January 31, 2008 ha yea well i like to post on the TDPRI sometimes too, but i decided it was a little absurd to ask about a hollowbody on a telecaster forum so i made a thread here too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznxtasy341 Posted January 31, 2008 Author Share Posted January 31, 2008 YIKES!!! This can be fixed. Remove the screws on the tail piece and the screws on top. Put the strap pin screw in semi tight.The bigsby should be "floating" now. Just held in with the strap pin screw. Use the red cloth string that it came with and string it up. Tie it to the low e tuner' date=' down the fret board to the low e pin on the bigsby. Make sure it is tight, then over to the high e string and back down the fretboard. Tie it to the hig e tuner. make sure it is tight also. Now line up the bigsby. The strings should be centered on the fretboard. If so, re install the bigsby. MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS LINED UP. As stated above "Measure twice, cut once!" Start with the tail screws one at a time. Drill the hole, and put the screw in semi tight. Move on to the next one until all four are done. During this process, make sure everything is straight. Take a sighting after every step. Then drill the top holes. BE CAREFUL, THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE BEFORE YOU REALLY DO SOME NOTICIABLE DAMAGE. Here's another trick, If your old stop tail is a "String through", and has set screws to hole it in place, you can put it back on. Just run the sgtrings through it after it comes off the bigsby. I have done this in the past and it makes for a more seemless installation. It makes it look better, like something is not missing. It really works.[/quote'] are you sure that i will have sufficient space to make a brand new set of holes? i dont think so the 4 hinge screws are only off by about 2 mm and the body screws are quite big. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bug music Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Here's another trick' date=' If your old stop tail is a "String through", and has set screws to hole it in place, you can put it back on. Just run the sgtrings through it after it comes off the bigsby. I have done this in the past and it makes for a more seemless installation. It makes it look better, like something is not missing. It really works.[/quote'] Wow that's a pretty slick idea ! I've used chrome allen head plugs (not the screws just the plugs) to cover the tailpiece holes, it looks pretty good, but your right it still looks like something is missing. I'm gonna try to post a pic of the caps I mean, any good hardware store should carry something like this : Hey it worked ! Try that on the old board !! - Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bug music Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 ha yea well i like to post on the TDPRI sometimes too' date=' but i decided it was a little absurd to ask about a hollowbody on a telecaster forum so i made a thread here too.[/quote'] He He, I'm a Tele guy too, and I've asked a few Epi questions over there myself. There's a lot of traffic over there so during all those times I couldn't log into the old forum , I would look there for technical advise. You'll usually get a quick response over there, but now this new forum is hoppin' ! He he. - Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shartom Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 The plugs look like a great idea. I have a blonde Sheraton II and am looking at adding a gold Bigsby. I have seen a couple of 335's with after market added Bigsbys. The holes were covered with a black piece "sign material...can't remember what it is called" that had been engraved with "Custom Built.......". Looked a little tacky. I'm suprised Stu Mac hasen'y come out with a solution. I am also a Tele guy. With four Epi's in my fleet, I find this to be a great forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoloTy Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Here's another trick' date=' If your old stop tail is a "String through", and has set screws to hole it in place, you can put it back on. Just run the sgtrings through it after it comes off the bigsby. I have done this in the past and it makes for a more seemless installation. It makes it look better, like something is not missing. It really works.[/quote'] rpach, do you have a pic of this?? I would love to see it! Sounds like it would look pretty cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bug music Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 The plugs look like a great idea. I have a blonde Sheraton II and am looking at adding a gold Bigsby. I have seen a couple of 335's with after market added Bigsbys. The holes were covered with a black piece "sign material...can't remember what it is called" that had been engraved with "Custom Built.......". Looked a little tacky.I'm suprised Stu Mac hasen'y come out with a solution. I am also a Tele guy. With four Epi's in my fleet' date=' I find this to be a great forum.[/quote'] Yeah I've seen those plates, and I think they looked a little cheezy too. The gold plug caps are a little tougher to find, but a custom motorcycle shop should have a big assortment of sizes in chrome or gold. Those guys who can afford the custom bikes don't like any visible holes anywhere on their machines. Ah, I wish I could afford to be one of those guys. - Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpach10115 Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Look at the avatar. This is a B3. I used the existing tail piece. You can do this with any bigsby. B7's work great with this . I coated the inside of the holes in the tailpiece with graphite. It does not bind at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznxtasy341 Posted February 1, 2008 Author Share Posted February 1, 2008 just a question i want to ask you all.. who here would be able to live with a slanted bigsby like the picture i gave? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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