Lerxst1281733995 Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 When I got my Dot a couple months ago, I was planning to install a Bigsby as a matter of course.. Just seemed like a natural thing to do... But I've been giving it some more thought and I'm wondering if it might be better to first solicit some opinions from those of you out there who have done this mod on a Dot... Seeing as this is not a reversible mod.. What can y'all tell me about how it'll affect the tone and sustain? Any major tuning issues? I know I can expect it to go out of tune with aggressive use, but have any of you found that your Dot goes out of tune more than you expected? I've already replaced the awful, black plastic nut (didn't need a Bigsby to have tuning issues with that nut!) And I put a roller bridge on it, in anticipation of getting the Bigsby.. Anybody regret putting a Bigsby on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubstar Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 well, harrison and mccartney had them on their casinos and macca still does...you might also consider a vibrola: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenn1281733995 Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 I dont have a Dot but I have an Ibanez Artcore with a Bigsby. I havent suffered any tuning difficulties with it at all. It has a roller bridge like you have incorporated into your Dot (good move). I cant say how it affects the sustain as it has always been fitted to the guitar. The irony is that I didnt want a Bigsby, I wanted the same tailpiece as you have on your avatar guitar. I use it occassionally only but cant fault it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcwillow777 Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 I put a Bigsby B-70 on my Dot. It did help a little on the sustain, but not nearly as much as using my compressor. I use the Bigsby a lot, in fact I am really only playing three guitars now when I play live - the ones that have tremolos on them. The Bigsby really doesn't throw my guitar out of tune, and like I said, I use it a lot when I play. I didn't have the nut changed on my Dot, it really wasn't an issue, other than I really don't like the looks of a black nut. I put a roller bridge on it too, but I put in on at the time I put the Bigsby on, so I really can't say if that helped all that much as far as staying in tune. It probably did. I have a Vibrola on my G-400 and no roller bridge, in fact I still have the original bridge on it. But, I took it in for a setup and the tech files the saddles so I haven't had any problems with that guitar going out of tune either. I like the looks of the Vibrola in the post by dubstar. I will say that I like the feel and resonse of the Vibrola over the Bigsby. It just feels more solid. I have a Shearton also, I like the feel of the neck on my Sherry much better, but I have to say when I have both of the them out, but Dot is my go to guitar. The post holes were an issue for me. I put a plate over them. I have read many post on different ideas, a lot don't like the looks of a plate. For me, I just didn't like the looks of just plugging the holes. I think one of the ideas that I may have tried had I heard it earlier was to leave the tailpiece on. File the holes so there were no burrs, and run the strings through the tailpiece. I'm not sure how that would effect the Bigbsy though. But alas, I got rid on mine thinking I was never gonna put it back on so that isn't an option cause I'm not gonna buy one just to run the strings though now. One thing that I really like with the Bigsby is the loose feel fo the strings. I used to use .009s, but I have .010s on it now and it has a really great feel for bending strings. I'm not really sure how much the Bigsby changed the tone cause I put a set of Vintage 59s in it right away, and they sound great. Everytime I see it sitting out it just shouts,"Grab me!" Mine is actually a darker cherry than the picture shows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zerostreet Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 When I saw this "How To" on installing a Bigsby on a Dot Studio I immediately wanted to do so.....haven't gotten around to it yet tho'. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wastra Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 If you don't mind spending a bit more, you can always try on of these (they're not permanent mods): Bigsby EZ mount (no drilling) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muskank Sally Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 I would do a B-70 or the modded version Westra is telling you about. B-50's can be troublesome. I've owned guitars with both and the B-70 is just made better of better steel. It seems to hold up better under extreme playing conditions. That B-50 will wear out if pushed to the same limits as the B-70. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznxtasy341 Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 .............. Do it to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colimodio Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 Gibsy is good Factory. Otherwise there's 2 holes left from the bridge. Don't do it.:- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznxtasy341 Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 Gibsy is good Factory. Otherwise there's 2 holes left from the bridge. Don't do it.:- late 60's factory installed bigsbys also had bridge holes still in them, the factories merely covered it with a "custom made" plate similar to willows Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerxst1281733995 Posted March 23, 2008 Author Share Posted March 23, 2008 If you don't mind spending a bit more' date=' you can always try on of these (they're not permanent mods): Bigsby EZ mount (no drilling) That looks interesting, Wastra.. Is that made by Bigsby, or is it after-market? How much more does that cost? I would do a B-70 or the modded version Westra is telling you about. I've been told the B-70' date=' (or was it the B-700?) was the best bet for the Dot... I keep getting the model numbers mixed up.. But what I hear is the B-7, B-70, and B-700 are all best suited for the Dot... Just different price brackets.. Gibsy is good Factory. Otherwise there's 2 holes left from the bridge. Don't do it I don't care much about the holes that'll be left behind... I intend to leave them uncovered with the bushings in... I'm mainly concerned about tone and sustain... Some say a Bigsby greatly improves sustain... Others say, not so much.. Some say a Bigsby improves the tone... Others say it deadens it.. I just wanted to get some first-hand opinions from some folks who have actually installed one on their Dot... I'll probably end up doing it, because that's just how I am... But it's interesting to get other people's opinions.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted March 24, 2008 Share Posted March 24, 2008 I installed a Bigsby B-700 on my Riff ES-345 copy. It's essentially the same guitar as my Samick SAT-650, and before the Bigsby, the two guitars played and sounded VERY similar. After the Bigsby, the Riff has a slightly different tone --- I wouldn't say it's better or worse, just different. It has slightly less sustain than the stop tailpiece (a Bigsby ADDED sustain to my Casino vs the original trapeze tailpiece) and I would describe the tone apres-Bigsby as a little brighter and crisper, with a bit more definition and a bit less sustain. A different section of the high mid-range seems emphasized, but the overall balance of highs and lows is still good. The two guitars still sound similar, but more distinct and different from each other than before the change. In my book that's a good thing --- more colors to choose from in the sonic palette. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poshua Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 If you don't mind spending a bit more' date=' you can always try on of these (they're not permanent mods):[/quote'] http://www.zzguitarworks.com/servlet/the-66/bigsby-vibrato-guitar-tremolo/Detail I'd love to put it on my Dot! Has anybody bought one of these and has it worked for you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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