crust Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 To me, if the case is too shallow and the whammy bar keeps the case from completely closing up, in a "free state", well, that may not be a bad thing. If the whammy/tremolo bar gets pushed in/down a bit, when the case is closed up, that will take the tension off of the strings and possibly keep the neck from getting "bowed" after the guitar has been sitting in the case for a while. If all that is "wrong" with the case, is that the whammy bar gets depressed a little bit, when setting inside the closed up case, that may not be, in the long run, a "bad" thing, maybe... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 On principal I think it's best for all guitars being correctly in tune when in their cases. It may also depend on positioning during storage to a certain degree. With the case lying horizontally, my Floyd Rose Les Paul is perfectly balanced. The strings of my Floyd Rose Strats are slightly bent up, E6th and G3rd about one step, the others considerably less. When moving the flat bar of the Lyra on soem of my SGs straight across the string suspension, they are nicely balanced, too. They also came that way stock. All in all I recommend to minimize the whammy bar's effect by finding an appropriate position for storage. Most original cases allow for that I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteWilson Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 I only have a couple guitars with Bigsby whammy bars. I turn the bar all the way back, so it is facing, if you will, the tailpiece. At that point, they are at their lowest relative to the body of the guitar, and they do not interfere with the top of the case closing. Hope that helps. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 depends... the Swinsgters are a bit unusual where, you have to position the bar (aka: chet wire) over the tone controls for the case to close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 To me, if the case is too shallow and the whammy bar keeps the case from completely closing up, in a "free state", well, that may not be a bad thing. If the whammy/tremolo bar gets pushed in/down a bit, when the case is closed up, that will take the tension off of the strings and possibly keep the neck from getting "bowed" after the guitar has been sitting in the case for a while. If all that is "wrong" with the case, is that the whammy bar gets depressed a little bit, when setting inside the closed up case, that may not be, in the long run, a "bad" thing, maybe... Actually it is a VERY bad thing. If there is pressure on the handle when the case is closed, not only are the strings being loosened, but there is extra pressure on the top of the guitar. In the case of a semi-hollow like a Sheraton, Wildkat or Dot, this might not be horrible, but with a hollow body like a Casino, Swingster, or Broadway, the added pressure over time could collapse or crack the top of the guitar, and any impact to the case will be transmitted DIRECTLY to the top of the guitar, thereby creating exactly the situation the case is supposed to protect the guitar from. A properly fitting case should close easily without adding ANY pressure or tension to the Bigsby handle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 I only have a couple guitars with Bigsby whammy bars. I turn the bar all the way back, so it is facing, if you will, the tailpiece. At that point, they are at their lowest relative to the body of the guitar, and they do not interfere with the top of the case closing. Hope that helps. Pete This is what I do, but I should note that the only time my stuff leaves the house is to go to the luthier for work I can't do, so time in the case is minimal. If they aren't out on a stand, they ain't gettin' played! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Actually it is a VERY bad thing. If there is pressure on the handle when the case is closed, not only are the strings being loosened, but there is extra pressure on the top of the guitar. In the case of a semi-hollow like a Sheraton, Wildkat or Dot, this might not be horrible, but with a hollow body like a Casino, Swingster, or Broadway, the added pressure over time could collapse or crack the top of the guitar, and any impact to the case will be transmitted DIRECTLY to the top of the guitar, thereby creating exactly the situation the case is supposed to protect the guitar from. A properly fitting case should close easily without adding ANY pressure or tension to the Bigsby handle. as mentioned, in the case of the Swingster, if you buy the right case, it all fits ok providing you position the bar properly I've had mine for a few years now, and you can see in the case where the outline of all the components are, and the area in the case where the bigsby is shows no more wear and pressure spots than the toggle switch, or neck. there is no pressure you have to apply to close the case Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crust Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 Actually it is a VERY bad thing. If there is pressure on the handle when the case is closed, not only are the strings being loosened, but there is extra pressure on the top of the guitar. In the case of a semi-hollow like a Sheraton, Wildkat or Dot, this might not be horrible, but with a hollow body like a Casino, Swingster, or Broadway, the added pressure over time could collapse or crack the top of the guitar, and any impact to the case will be transmitted DIRECTLY to the top of the guitar, thereby creating exactly the situation the case is supposed to protect the guitar from. A properly fitting case should close easily without adding ANY pressure or tension to the Bigsby handle. To me, if the Bigsby is being used, while the guitar is being played, the chances of the top being collapsed in, is just as great as leaving it in the case, with the whammy bar depressed. Depression is depression, whether from getting played, or just sitting in the case. To me, if you "dive bomb" a lot with the whammy, there would be more of a chance that top would collapse than there would be by having the bar depressed enough to get the cover closed...but that's just my impression.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPS1976 Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I would think the best thing to do is put it in the case the proper way (no pressure on the bar). why risk a chance at damaging the instrument or the Bigsby or whatever tremolo you have? this isn't amateur hour. properly store your guitar!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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