winterland Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 Hello Everyone - I recently purchased a Wildkat - This is my first guitar with a Bigsby Vibrato ! I have a DOT that is one of my favorite guitars to play, but have longed for a semi-hollow with a small body. I have read through several posts on this site regarding ways to help keep guitars with vibratos in tune (e.g. locking tuners, roller bridge, quality nut); however, I was wondering how much string gauge might come into play here. I am currently using 9 - 42 which I use on all of my electrics, but none of the others have trem bar on-board. Tuning is definitely a problem if I use the vibrato on the Wildkat even once - three strings are out of tune the second I release the bar. The strings are new and will settle a bit as they are stretched and contracted over time, but I am wondering if a heavier gauge string may help(or hurt)the tuning issue ? Any suggestions/experience on string gauges for the Wildkat are very much appreciated ... Thanks in advance ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 Any suggestions/experience on string gauges for the Wildkat are very much appreciated ... Thanks in advance ! I use 10-46's on all my elec's. I have three guitars with a Bigsby (Wildkat, Casino, Gretsch 5122) and have absolutely NO issues with tuning on any of them. Then again, I'm not dive bombing with the whammy, just slight use now and then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonG Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 I use elixir 10s on my Wildkat. I also installed a tusq nut (I do that on all of my Epi's) and a Wilkonson roller bridge. My Wildkat stays in tune regardless of how hard I use the Bigsby. Hello Everyone - I recently purchased a Wildkat - This is my first guitar with a Bigsby Vibrato ! I have a DOT that is one of my favorite guitars to play, but have longed for a semi-hollow with a small body. I have read through several posts on this site regarding ways to help keep guitars with vibratos in tune (e.g. locking tuners, roller bridge, quality nut); however, I was wondering how much string gauge might come into play here. I am currently using 9 - 42 which I use on all of my electrics, but none of the others have trem bar on-board. Tuning is definitely a problem if I use the vibrato on the Wildkat even once - three strings are out of tune the second I release the bar. The strings are new and will settle a bit as they are stretched and contracted over time, but I am wondering if a heavier gauge string may help(or hurt)the tuning issue ? Any suggestions/experience on string gauges for the Wildkat are very much appreciated ... Thanks in advance ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomse Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 I put 11s on my kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poopcicle Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 I also run 10's on mine and she plays like a dream!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterland Posted April 20, 2013 Author Share Posted April 20, 2013 Thanks guys - I am going to replace the nut and put on some 10s and see how she does. I have wanted this guitar since the day I first saw one, but have always been hesitant because of the Bigsby. My Strats have soft tails, but I struggled to keep them in tune when using the trem bar so I just gave up and put 5 springs in the tail and stopped using the trem bar all together. I would really love to make this work on the Wildkat though - I prefer the look and feel of the Bigsby over the Fender tremolo by far. I might consider replacing the spring at some point as well - the stock spring requires me to be a little more heavy handed than I would prefer. Thanks again for the help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldhippie Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 I have 9s on mine and I do not have tuning problems except using the bigsby too hard. But all in all....no problem. Most Wildkaters have a look on a roller bridge. I guess that helps to stay in tune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemans335 Posted April 21, 2013 Share Posted April 21, 2013 I think roller bridges are a big help with Bigsby's, strings can't bind in the saddles. You can replace the nut, but putting graphite powder (the kind used for padlocks) in the nut slots usually cures any sticking problems. 10's will stay in tune a little better than 9's, but I bend a lot and need 9's for that. Do you use the Dan Erlewine 'double lock' method for wrapping strings around the tuner string posts? Any slack there will cause tuning problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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