swampash Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 I’ve had a Gibson SG 61 reissue with the awful sideways vibrola for over a year now. I’ve been exploring replacement options like a maestro or a Bigsby B7 as both would either hide or mostly hide any screw holes from the sideways vibrola. Both are almost impossible to source, and usually show up in gold or left handed. There are lots of Maestro copies out there for a fraction of the price of the original. My question is this: is there any other alternatives out there that look as good as the maestro, B7 or sideways vibrola with tuning stability to match that will mostly cover up any screw holds when the sideways one is removed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twang Gang Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 The main distinguishing feature of a '61 reissue with sideways vibrola is the sideways vibrola. If you don't like the guitar's main feature, I'd say trade it for something you do like. There are millions of SGs available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swampash Posted September 21, 2022 Author Share Posted September 21, 2022 6 minutes ago, Twang Gang said: The main distinguishing feature of a '61 reissue with sideways vibrola is the sideways vibrola. If you don't like the guitar's main feature, I'd say trade it for something you do like. There are millions of SGs available. Actually where I am, they are very hard to come by and when I got it in the middle of covid, there were none available. It was a fluke I got this one and actually got €400 off the price because the vibrola is set too low on the guitar causing the trem arm to obscure the Jack. With the €400 saved I’d planned to use that to either buy a Bigsby B7 or a Maestro. Finding the Bigsby in the EU is next to impossible and buying it outside the EU incurs huge customs charges. The only Maestro’s I’ve seen are in the US. So I’m keeping the Guitar. As I said, I’d appreciate any suggestions on alternative trem units befitting the SG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twang Gang Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 (edited) Sorry, I apologize. I overlooked the fact that you are in Ireland. Also sorry I have no suggestion on how to solve your problem. I played an SG for several years, but it had no trem at all so not familiar with what might work. There is a fellow on this forum (Mihcmac) who puts a non-invasive (easy to reverse) trem on all his guitars, maybe PM him. Edited September 21, 2022 by Twang Gang 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twang Gang Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 Here's one of Mihcmac guitars. From the big D on the tailpiece I'd guess it's made by Dunlap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swampash Posted September 21, 2022 Author Share Posted September 21, 2022 33 minutes ago, Twang Gang said: Here's one of Mihcmac guitars. From the big D on the tailpiece I'd guess it's made by Dunlap? I think that’s a Duesenberg. They make great guitars out of Germany and specialise in making excellent trem units as well. I think they even make one that fits on a stock Les Paul called a “Les Trem”. I may have to check them out. You may have pointed me in a direction I wasn’t considering… 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swampash Posted September 21, 2022 Author Share Posted September 21, 2022 44 minutes ago, Twang Gang said: Here's one of Mihcmac guitars. From the big D on the tailpiece I'd guess it's made by Dunlap? Check this out! https://store.duesenberg.de/en/tremolo-systems/33/duesenberg-diamond-deluxe-tremola could be the answer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twang Gang Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 Yes, it's Duesenberg and the guys that use them swear by them. From what I understand they use the existing holes in the guitar top and you can take it off and put the original bridge back on if you like and there is no damage to the guitar. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dub-T-123 Posted September 24, 2022 Share Posted September 24, 2022 The duesenberg tailpieces shown in the pic and link are screwed into the guitar like a bigsby, not using stopbar holes Keep in mind the guitar in question does not have stopbar holes so there are no options for a non invasive replacement vibrato. The most reliable and best looking option would be to block the sideways vibrola. That way you aren’t making new holes but you can actually play the guitar Any maestro or bigsby style tailpiece is also a compromise in tuning stability, albeit nowhere nearly as bad as the sideways vibrola. I’d be hesitant to drill new holes on an expensive guitar just to get a different inferior system imo it is by far the best option to just block the thing. B7 is the wrong choice for an SG, maestro kinda sucks, B5 doesn’t cover up holes and makes new ones.. etc etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swampash Posted September 26, 2022 Author Share Posted September 26, 2022 On 9/24/2022 at 6:16 PM, Dub-T-123 said: The duesenberg tailpieces shown in the pic and link are screwed into the guitar like a bigsby, not using stopbar holes Keep in mind the guitar in question does not have stopbar holes so there are no options for a non invasive replacement vibrato. The most reliable and best looking option would be to block the sideways vibrola. That way you aren’t making new holes but you can actually play the guitar Any maestro or bigsby style tailpiece is also a compromise in tuning stability, albeit nowhere nearly as bad as the sideways vibrola. I’d be hesitant to drill new holes on an expensive guitar just to get a different inferior system imo it is by far the best option to just block the thing. B7 is the wrong choice for an SG, maestro kinda sucks, B5 doesn’t cover up holes and makes new ones.. etc etc The guitar actually stays in tune if you don't use the vibrato. Blocking it would be unnecessary. My issue is that it cannot be used, one touch of it and the guitar goes out of tune because it doesn't return back to it's original position when you let go of it. I'm a player that likes to use the vibrato arm, whether it's a Bigsby, a Stratocaster, a Jazzmaster or a Gibson. It's part of my playing. The only Guitars in my collection that don't have a trem unit are my Telecaster, a Rickenbacker 12 string electric and my Martin acoustic. I've actually put a Bigsby B7 on my Les Paul Traditional and a Bigsby B3C on my Duo Jet. Both are fantastic and always return to pitch. I have a Custom Shop 355 with a gold maestro that also works perfectly and the Maestro would be the preferred option as it would be a direct drop in replacement for the sideways vibrola and any holes that had to be made would be hidden. The B7 is still a strong contender and I have a luthier that can make it work. Just look at Nick Perri's SG. Whatever one goes on the guitar is staying on the guitar forever, but it has to function. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swampash Posted October 6, 2022 Author Share Posted October 6, 2022 I pulled the trigger on a new Bigsby B7. Hopefully it will arrive from Germany next week and will then go to my luthier for installation. Might then sell the sideways vibrola. Someone may want a nice looking tailpiece on their SG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted October 8, 2022 Share Posted October 8, 2022 (edited) On 9/21/2022 at 8:14 AM, Twang Gang said: Here's one of Mihcmac guitars. From the big D on the tailpiece I'd guess it's made by Dunlap? Yes it is a Duesenberg Short similar to a B5 except it has an adjustable dive bar held in place by a set screw, so you never have to worry about replacing the spring because you have tremendous amount of adjustable dive, much more than a Bigsby. There is also a Duesenberg "Radiator" or "Diamond Deluxe" with a long tailpiece more like a B7. The Duesenbergs stay in tune very well as long as you have a good slippery nut. My tremolo of choice is the Duesenberg Les Trem II, just replacing the stop bar. I have few of these on my other guitars. Edited October 8, 2022 by mihcmac 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swampash Posted November 14, 2022 Author Share Posted November 14, 2022 (edited) Edited November 14, 2022 by swampash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 On 11/14/2022 at 6:06 AM, swampash said: Looks Great! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkntrashman Posted February 18, 2023 Share Posted February 18, 2023 On 11/14/2022 at 7:06 AM, swampash said: Did you have to add risers or anything to get clearance to the bridge? Or did you just bolt it on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swampash Posted March 3, 2023 Author Share Posted March 3, 2023 On 2/18/2023 at 7:38 PM, junkntrashman said: Did you have to add risers or anything to get clearance to the bridge? Or did you just bolt it on? I brought it into one of Dublin's best Vintage Guitar dealers to do the work on it and it looks like they bolted it on and then set it up. They'd previously done a bridge pinning, fret dress and setup on a Gretsch Duo Jet for me which was done to the highest standards and now I wouldn't have anyone else but them do this kind of work on my Guitars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.