YahliP Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 hi friends, i have amazing epi dot with bigsby installed. i have ordered grover locking tuners and also want to upgrade stock tune o matic bridge what is your recommendation do i need roller bridge cause i am using bigsby? can u please post some links for bridge the can fit 100% to epi dot 2016 Thanks so much! Yahli. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt4356 Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 I installed a bigsby on my 2011 dot studio, I also upgraded the bridge to a Gotoh GE103B (I think that was the model number). I also swapped the nut for a Tusq black graphite. It's not a roller bridge but it stays in tune perfectly with the stock tuners, I personally dont see the need for a roller bridge with a bigsby without trying a new nut first, in my experience a poorly cut nut is the main cause of tuning issues. This is of course just my opinion, I understand the logic, also how it could work and wouldn't rule it out myself just because I haven't had a need for one yet, but just go and look at high end Gibson and Gretsch Bigsby equipped guitars, I dont think you will find one stock with a roller bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YahliP Posted March 20, 2019 Author Share Posted March 20, 2019 I installed a bigsby on my 2011 dot studio, I also upgraded the bridge to a Gotoh GE103B (I think that was the model number). I also swapped the nut for a Tusq black graphite. It's not a roller bridge but it stays in tune perfectly with the stock tuners, I personally dont see the need for a roller bridge with a bigsby without trying a new nut first, in my experience a poorly cut nut is the main cause of tuning issues. This is of course just my opinion, I understand the logic, also how it could work and wouldn't rule it out myself just because I haven't had a need for one yet, but just go and look at high end Gibson and Gretsch Bigsby equipped guitars, I dont think you will find one stock with a roller bridge. 1.Gotoh GE103B - was perfect fit ? 2. is there any other advantage to use roller saddles? ( in tone ? ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 is there any other advantage to use roller saddles? ( in tone ? ) Nope.. the only roller bridge I had was on a Swingster Royal I once owned. The roller bridge wasn't ideal, if you got a bit too heavy handed, the low E string would pop out. (not great) IME it did not create any more stability than my standard ABR saddles on my LP and ES135 with Bigsby's. Just get a tube of Big Bends Nut Sauce and lube all the witness points about once a month. The roller bridge, as far as I'm concerned, is an unnecessary modification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YahliP Posted March 20, 2019 Author Share Posted March 20, 2019 Nope.. the only roller bridge I had was on a Swingster Royal I once owned. The roller bridge wasn't ideal, if you got a bit too heavy handed, the low E string would pop out. (not great) IME it did not create any more stability than my standard ABR saddles on my LP and ES135 with Bigsby's. Just get a tube of Big Bends Nut Sauce and lube all the witness points about once a month. The roller bridge, as far as I'm concerned, is an unnecessary modification. don't u consider GOTOH as upgrade over the epiphone dot stock bridge ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt4356 Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 1.Gotoh GE103B - was perfect fit ? 2. is there any other advantage to use roller saddles? ( in tone ? ) It was a perfect fit for my dot studio yes, check the measurements on the spec of any bridge against your own before you buy just to be safe. I should clarify I didn't change the bridge because I added the bigsby, I had slight intonation and buzzing problems with what I thought was the stock bridge. The 'upgrade' worked to a degree but I found out it was the stock nut causing most of my problems. Epiphone stock hardware is perfectly fine, I have 5 epiphone electrics currently, 3 have been bought since the dot studio. I've only changed the bridge on the one. If it isn't broken dont fix it, I learnt that by trying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 don't u consider GOTOH as upgrade over the epiphone dot stock bridge ? hardware wise, probably yes, what my point was that the roller bridge, {ime} didn't change/improve/what ever, tuning stability when compared to other guitars with no roller bridge and a bigsby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YahliP Posted March 20, 2019 Author Share Posted March 20, 2019 Guys , What do u think about this one , is it perfect fit to epi dot 2016 ? https://www.ebay.com/itm/GOTOH-GE103B-T-Guitar-Bridge-with-large-metric-posts/113219263317?var=413514582148 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col Mustard Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 +1 on the Gotoh replacement bridge for an Epiphone guitar. Here is a link: https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/bridge-and-tailpieces/nashville-bridges/gotoh-ge103b-t-guitar-nashville-bridge-with-large-metric-posts/ These are reasonably priced, better quality than the stock Epiphone bridge and the best part for me is that they give us more travel for the saddles, so plenty of room for intonation with different sizes of strings. Philadelphia luthier supplies also sells roller bridges, but I agree that these are not necessary. Lubricate the bridge saddles and the nut slots, and your trem should work properly and not throw the guitar out of tune. I'm recommending the Gotoh bridge because I have installed it on my Epi ES-339 P-90 pro, and it works perfectly, fits precisely on the stock studs, and I wanted black hardware on my blonde ES-339, so I'm happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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