L1Picker Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 My Riviera P93 sports the first Bigsby I've ever had. I've never been a trem user...took the trem arms off the few Strats I've owned, and didn't think I'd get much use out of this one either. Boy was I wrong. I love the subtlety of it. It's mild effect sprinkled about here and there adds some nice character. And the roller bridge I put on does wonders for keeping it in tune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcelo1281734115 Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 I cannot comprehend how a such a nice guitar, with so many features sells for that cheap. Enjoy it while it lasts, I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcwillow777 Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 I couldn't agree with you more. I love my Bigsby equipped guitars. I can't imagine playing live with out a trem of some kind on a guitar. If I would have been a P90 fan I would have jumped all over one of those Riviera P93s. It will be interesting to see how much they run when they are available again. That defintely was a lot of guitar for $500. Glad to hear you are enjoying it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWANG Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Not in the new mf catalog. man.. wish I had the cash when they were. congrats.. ! TWANG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emetry Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Wow...I've been drooling over Bigsby equipped guitars since I started CONSIDERING learning guitar. Well done. Hopefully I can join the ranks soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesman345 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 I have had 4 Bigsby equipped guitars since the early 70's (a Gibson SG, an Epi EmperorII Joe Pass, an Epi Zephyr Blues Deluxe and an Epi 56 Goldtop LP). I had a red Gibson ES335TD that I wish I had put a Bigsby on. I love the sound they make and they look so incredibly cool!!! BTW 6 string, your Riviera is beautiful...don't ever let it go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stig Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 My Riviera P93 sports the first Bigsby I've ever had. I've never been a trem user...took the trem arms off the few Strats I've owned' date=' and didn't think I'd get much use out of this one either. Boy was I wrong. I love the subtlety of it. It's mild effect sprinkled about here and there adds some nice character. And the roller bridge I put on does wonders for keeping it in tune.[/quote'] Try putting one of the taller, American-made Bigsby springs in it. It's even better. More travel, and it snaps back into position better. Did wonders for my Casino! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwhi2001 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 My least-favourite trem. I love the look but not the spongy feel and the hassle involved in re-stringing. I put one on my Tele and it's coming off again soon. Big mistake. Had a Bigsby "copy" on an Epi LP Custom too, and didn't like that. I much prefer the maestro; firmer, more direct action, and I find I can get much more control over the pitch, with more subtle movement of the arm. On a Bigsby it seems to take lots of travel to achieve similar bends, and a very exaggerated movement to get a rapid shimmer effect. Much easier with a maestro. I even prefer the Strat system, although it's usually less stable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcwillow777 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 I much prefer the maestro; firmer' date=' more direct action, and I find I can get much more control over the pitch, with more subtle movement of the arm. On a Bigsby it seems to take lots of travel to achieve similar bends, and a very exaggerated movement to get a rapid shimmer effect. Much easier with a maestro. [/quote'] I gotta agree with you here. I have a G-400 with a Maestro, and I like the feel of the Maestro over the Bigsby, or any other trem that I use. The Maestro takes less movement to get the effect you are after and the Bigsby is a little spongier feeling. Another thing I like about the Maestro is I can move the arm around 360 degrees, the Bigsby is limited. But, I wouldn't throw the baby out with the bath wash. It just takes a little getting used to the feel of the Bigsby over the Maestro. The Maestro is a cool looking trem though. I have a Strat with a trem and it feels different too, but I get the results I want with it. I had it set up when I bought the guitar so the trem wouldn't throw the guitar out of tune, and it works great for me. I also put a Stetsbar on my Gibby LP and get great results with that also, again a totally different feel and it takes time to get used to each. Lots of choices. It seems to be either a love or hate relationship with a Bigsby. A roller bridge is definitely a must with one IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulsaslim Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 6string- what roller bridge did you buy? Wanna make sure I get the right one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stig Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 My least-favourite trem. I love the look but not the spongy feel and the hassle involved in re-stringing. I put one on my Tele and it's coming off again soon. Big mistake. Had a Bigsby "copy" on an Epi LP Custom too' date=' and didn't like that. I much prefer the maestro; firmer, more direct action, and I find I can get much more control over the pitch, with more subtle movement of the arm. On a Bigsby it seems to take lots of travel to achieve similar bends, and a very exaggerated movement to get a rapid shimmer effect. Much easier with a maestro. I even prefer the Strat system, although it's usually less stable. [/quote'] The knife-edge one on my '04 American Strat actually stays in tune really well. Until you break a string, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lpdeluxe Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 My one and only Bigsby (so far): I just bought a Gibson SG to go with my LP and 335, specifically so I could put a Bigsby on it. If the Palm Pedal goes into production I'll go with that (I'm an old pedal steel player) but as the OP said, I love the subtlety of the Bigsby vibrato. I owned the Country Gent for 25, and restringing was no problem, nor was staying in tune, once I realized that, every time you tune one of the strings up, that rotated the bar and detuned the others. It also did not like slinkies...but I don't like 'em either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L1Picker Posted December 23, 2008 Author Share Posted December 23, 2008 6string- what roller bridge did you buy? Wanna make sure I get the right one. I got it off Ebay. Here's a link to the seller with some more of the same... Roller Bridge The measurements he gives in the listing matched up so I gave it a shot. It was a direct replacement, is of good quality, and does a fine job for much less than others I've seen available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 I had Bigsby envy throughout the '60's and '70's. The only trem' I had was on a loaner Firebird, and I really never used it. Now I have one on three Gretsches and a Riviera. Maybe I should play with one for a while. Naw! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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