eor Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 i'm getting the urge again. want to slap a bigsby on the elitist sheraton. who's done it, which did you use and what did you do with the holes? i'd like to use a b11/or b12, but: -i'm unsure about the tension bar. do i really need one? my gretsch doesn't, and i like it fine. -i haven't found a clever way to install it without drilling extra holes. vibramate doesn't make one (or return emails), and other solutions are too expensive or too ugly. -as for the stud holes on the face- i suppose a custom made "custom made" plaque (with my own sayings) might be cool, but i'd rather plug them, if possible. plugs are reversible, right? your thoughts/solutions? pics would be great. ps- i tried the search, but it was a mess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peeper Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 B-B-B-B-7, screw that Vibramate crud, put it on right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcwillow777 Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 I put a B70 on mine and had a plate made at a local trophy shop. I can't imagine not having the Bigsby on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eor Posted March 2, 2010 Author Share Posted March 2, 2010 yeah, the vibramate doesn't work for what i want, and i don't want the extra weight, either. so how do you guys like your tension bars? makes a big difference? also, does the pickguard interfere with the bigsby? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eor Posted March 3, 2010 Author Share Posted March 3, 2010 bump! lets see em, sherri/dot owners Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 bump! lets see em' date=' sherri/dot owners :)[/quote'] Not a Sherri or Dot... but it is an Epiphone (Casino) with a factory installed Epiphone Bigsby. Here she is before I took the pickguard off... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eor Posted March 3, 2010 Author Share Posted March 3, 2010 factory? that's cheating. is that an epi branded b-70 or an epi copy cat thing? i like yours better without the pickguard as well. how do you guys like the bigsby with the stock bridge? any problems? feel the need to change to a roller/bar bridge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP Posted March 4, 2010 Share Posted March 4, 2010 The stock bridge seems pretty cheap compared to my Korean Schecter with it's Tone Pro Tune-o-matic bridge. I haven't thought much about changing that but it would be a good upgrade if you use the Bigsby a bunch. As to my Epi Bigsby, I have no idea if it is just Branded or what, but it was factory installed back in 1996 on the guitar before it was ever sold so I assume it is a real Bigsby with the Epi brand on it. Likely some sort of deal between Epi adn Bigsby? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EpiSheriMan Posted March 4, 2010 Share Posted March 4, 2010 I had one installed on mine EOR,...it added alot of weight to the guitar and to be 100% honest, not sure if I would do it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lpdeluxe Posted March 4, 2010 Share Posted March 4, 2010 The Vibramate may use the Gibson stud spacing, which I've been told is different from Epi's. I have one on my Gibson SG, and it works as advertised. As to the tension bar, I think the Bigsby will work better with the standard TOM bridge with the bar. That's what I have on my SG (B5, though). Go with a B7 -- they have the right look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eor Posted March 5, 2010 Author Share Posted March 5, 2010 episheriman- you should have kept it! how bad was the weight? mine isn't the lightest guitar in the world right now- maybe 9+ lbs. which isn't a problem, but i don't want to make it worse. i thought going for the cutout version (b11) with no tension bar would help keep the weight down a little. maybe swap the bridge and pop out the studs, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcwillow777 Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 A B7 or B70 will add about 1 lb. It did on all three guitars I put them on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lpdeluxe Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 JCWillow, thanks for posting your pics! That's a great looking Epi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sickboy Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 my elite sheraton with custom EZ-Mount bigsby by ZZ Guitar Work easy to install and...yes it added alot of weight to the guitar last thing it damn expensive... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eor Posted March 7, 2010 Author Share Posted March 7, 2010 1 pound, huh. hmm... that is kinda significant. and the zz one looks too elaborate and even heavier than one pound. for reference i played around with the one on my gretsch and it didn't strike me as light, either. well, at least the minis are lighter than the full hums, i guess. still kinda want it, though. mainly to control/modulate feedback and effects, but largely for aesthetic reasons. if i had one on the sheraton (my #1 electric), maybe i'd learn to use it a little better. maybe if i replace the bridge with a popsicle stick. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Helliday Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Hey, Not too many people do this, but i have had great results with it. If you dont want to go the tension bar bigsby route you can get a B3 (I have a Gretsch Bigsby B3C). Its for smaller guitars like the Duo Jet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowbum007 Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 I have a Dot Deluxe and used a vibramate to mount a B5. It dropped right on, it took about 15 minutes, and it works great. I don't have pics right now cause I am at work but if you are interested I can post a few when I get home. I'm now in the process of getting a Schaller roller bridge to fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eor Posted March 10, 2010 Author Share Posted March 10, 2010 doc- i have the same bigsby (and knobs!) on my g6118t. i considered it, but by most accounts (and manufacturer stock) it seems that tension bars are needed for thinline archtops. since you don't have one, could you tell me the difference? i considered a b3, and leaving the sheraton tailpiece on and using that as the tension bar, but i was told that was wrong, dumb and ugly. snow- pics never hurt! since this is going to cost a shitton of money, i may wait until i get settled in my new place first. a gold bigsby with a neat handle and shipping would be close to $300, not to mention the trip to the tech Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Helliday Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 Eor, heres mine before I ditched the stopbar tailpiece. I had it on there, but at that time I didnt use the bigsby heavily. The stopbar was just another thing I had to put lube ( lol i know) on. When I went to go get the new wiring harness and TV Jones classics put in the luthier at the shop i go to just left the stop bar off. I guess he thought it was a pain. Leaving the Stopbar on Cons: -Pain to string -Looking stupid -more to lube, increased chances for binding strings Pros: -may or may not increase string tension (if it did it was so minute because i have never had a string pop outta the saddles with or without the stopbar -dont see holes that so down into the guitars private area Basically its more pain then its worth. If you absolutely have to put a tension bar on it, use a bigsby with a tension bar because those spin on a bigsby further facilitating ease of travel. Using a stopbar just increases the chance of binding or strings breaking. The cool thing about the B3 or B3C is that its shorter then a B6 so with the arched top of the 335 style bodys you get a good string angle. I have never had a string slip out of my saddles with my current setup, and I play hard and jump of stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJames Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 I just had my guitar tech install a B7 on my Sheraton. It is incredible. The B11 or B12 would be just as good. Chrome stop-bar type plugs were used for the holes. If you are putting a Bigsby on; I would suggest putting a roller bridge on as well. It improves clarity and sustain. Regular saddles put excess tension on the strings... which can cause tunning issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eor Posted March 15, 2010 Author Share Posted March 15, 2010 so this is totally going to happen in the coming month or so, after i get settled into the new place. will try to slap a tru arc bridge (brass, i thinking) on it, as well. strangely enough, i got an official reply today from vibramate. definitive answer! Hi , Thank you for your note and interest in Vibramate systems. We recommend the Vibramate V5 for your Gibson ES-355. We only offer our V5 to work in conjunction with a Bigsby B5. However check our website for we are continuing to add new product. Thank you again for your interest in Vibramate! Sincerely, so and so Customer Service Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Helliday Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 Your getting a tru-arc too. Now i know your a GDPer lol Why a B5 when the tailpieces look so much cooler? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungrycat Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 You're a mean one, Mr. Gretsch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Helliday Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 You're a mean one' date=' Mr. Gretsch.[/quote'] Lol, thank you. I need to learn that song so i can play it on there. Also had requests to play the munsters theme on it lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Flick Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 Lol' date=' thank you. [cool'] I need to learn that song so i can play it on there. Also had requests to play the munsters theme on it lol I took this photo at the 2007 Setzer Christmas Extravaganza... The Grinch plays a baritone... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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