John1234 Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 I understand that some people have no tuning issues with Bigsbys, but many people do. I'd be using the Bigsby more as a way to counterbalance the weight of the Grovers I just installed on my SG, but would also like to experiment with Neil Young-style vibrato. In this case, I would completely expect detuning... but here is my question: when it is NOT IN USE, does it still (even slightly) decrease tuning stability? Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 Bigsbys don't detune guitars, bad guitar playing does...... No, when not in use, Bigsbys just sit there looking perty.............................. As far as Neil Young goes, he didn't often play or stay in tune anyways, but still sounded great......( IMHO only )...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Hayden Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 I understand that some people have no tuning issues with Bigsbys, but many people do. I'd be using the Bigsby more as a way to counterbalance the weight of the Grovers I just installed on my SG, but would also like to experiment with Neil Young-style vibrato. In this case, I would completely expect detuning... but here is my question: when it is NOT IN USE, does it still (even slightly) decrease tuning stability? Thank you. I have one guitar with Bigby & have never had a tuning problem,seems to stay in tune longer to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John1234 Posted November 18, 2011 Author Share Posted November 18, 2011 Bigsbys don't detune guitars, bad guitar playing does...... No, when not in use, Bigsbys just sit there looking perty.............................. As far as Neil Young goes, he didn't often play or stay in tune anyways, but still sounded great......( IMHO only )...... All I needed to know hahha. Thanks man. As for Neil Young: I can think of very few people who have more soul when they solo than Mr. Young (opinion). Genius of a musician. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John1234 Posted November 18, 2011 Author Share Posted November 18, 2011 What do you guys think of the WD Bigsby? Also, is the "decrease" in sustain significant? Just going by what I've read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 What's a WD Bigsby ??? ( Still got that 12 string ?? ) .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John1234 Posted November 18, 2011 Author Share Posted November 18, 2011 What's a WD Bigsby ??? ( Still got that 12 string ?? ) .. Idk on musicianfriend they have the "standard" Bigsby and a WD model. I'm guessing the WD model is licensed overseas production. And actually I parted ways with the 12 string :/ You should pick one of those up though if you're into electric 12 strings cause they truly rock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 Idk on musicianfriend they have the "standard" Bigsby and a WD model. I'm guessing the WD model is licensed overseas production. And actually I parted ways with the 12 string :/ You should pick one of those up though if you're into electric 12 strings cause they truly rock. I will be getting one of those John.......Your "Trading Post" thread on Bigsbies turned into, um, [lol] ......(check it out ).... Bigsbies are USA made, or, the authorized imports...............Both work well, just skip the Vibro systems ( IMHO )........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Searcy Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 Well, I don't know what I'm doing wrong but my Gibson Chet Atkins Country Gent with it's Bigsby always has a rather strange tuning issue. It doesn't matter if it's sitting in the case or hanging on the wall when you grab the guitar it will have to be tuned because the entire guitar will be sharp. And not just a little. This is my first guitar with a Bigsby so I talked to a few Gretsch guys that have described the same issue. They say that's just how life is if you want a Bigsby. I'd love to hear how to fix this. I noticed that Chet always used fine tuners and even a locking nut on many of his Gibson Country Gents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOL! Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 A roller bridge and well cut nut will do wonders for a Bigsby equipped guitar. Tuning is a lot more stable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manse Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 I understand that some people have no tuning issues with Bigsbys, but many people do. I'd be using the Bigsby more as a way to counterbalance the weight of the Grovers I just installed on my SG, but would also like to experiment with Neil Young-style vibrato. In this case, I would completely expect detuning... but here is my question: when it is NOT IN USE, does it still (even slightly) decrease tuning stability? Thank you. I have 2 Bigsby equipped guitars - an ES-295 and a White Falcon. Tuning is rock solid on the 295 - but then I have 13's on there and they tend to stay in tune whatever you do. The White Falcon however has 10's on it and it stays in tune at least as well as my other vibrato equipped guitars. All I can say is set up properly, you should not have a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Searcy Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 My Chet is set up perfectly and never goes out of tune when I'm playing. But if a set it down for a few days the entire guitar will be sharp when I pick it up next. It can be a pain when trying to record. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manse Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 My Chet is set up perfectly and never goes out of tune when I'm playing. But if a set it down for a few days the entire guitar will be sharp when I pick it up next. It can be a pain when trying to record. That is a weird one! I have taken to checking my tuning stability between sessions with an electronic tuner recently - like I haven't noticed anything like that yet - but I am really going to pay attention over the next couple of weeks... Maybe with the temperate climate here in the South West of England there are less stresses on the tuning? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 A roller bridge and well cut nut will do wonders for a Bigsby equipped guitar. Tuning is a lot more stable. Yep very essential. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 My Casino has a bigsby with a roller bridge and a bone nut and I use a nut lubricant. In addition this guitar has a 14 degree headstock as opposed to the "standard" 17 degree Gibson headstock. The guitar still goes out of tune with use and when not in use. Like somebody said it, this is life with a bigsby, the mechanism has a spring how can you expect tuning to be stable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Searcy Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 My friend Pappy is a hard core Gretsch guy. All his Gretsch guitars have Bigsby's and he was telling me that the thing with Bigsbys going sharp is common with Gretsch guitars. He's tried roller bridges and copper bridges and all those things and while those do help with stability while playing, if you put the guitar down it will slowly go sharp just sitting there. I don't know its it's all Bigsby guitars or just ones with floating bridges but I suspect it has something to do with the tension of the spring. If that's the case then using heavier strings might help but I would rather get rid of the guitar than go back to using 11's and 12's like I used too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 . This is one of those reasons why guitarists making enough money hire a guitar wrangler/tech. . B) . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 My friend Pappy is a hard core Gretsch guy. All his Gretsch guitars have Bigsby's and he was telling me that the thing with Bigsbys going sharp is common with Gretsch guitars. He's tried roller bridges and copper bridges and all those things and while those do help with stability while playing, if you put the guitar down it will slowly go sharp just sitting there. I don't know its it's all Bigsby guitars or just ones with floating bridges but I suspect it has something to do with the tension of the spring. If that's the case then using heavier strings might help but I would rather get rid of the guitar than go back to using 11's and 12's like I used too. Yes, think about it, when the guitar is sitting the spring is pushing up...the guitar will most likely go sharp. Balancing the perfect tension between spring and string gages would be just about impossible but it could get better. I was at Joe Glaser's shop 3 weeks ago and they were telling a customer how his bigsby equipped guitar would stay in tune better, after the guitar would go sharp the tech would tune down to pitch and then the guitar would hold tune better after using the bigsby...still...you have to tune after a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JellyWheat Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 I have my own "folk theory of Bigsby physics" that I use to explain the "sharping at rest" phenomenon: With a Bigsby, there is quite a length of string behind the bridge. Apply lights and body heat to it, and this length of string will expand a lot more than the teensy-weensy length between the bridge and saddle of a Les Paul or ES 335. The guitar will go flat on account of it, but will remain stable as long as you are playing the thing and transferring some body heat to the strings. Put the guitar down for even a short break, however, and that long string between the bridge and the anchor bar cools down and contracts. Wah-LAH! One sharp guitar. I don't usually retune first thing after a break.... I pick the guitar up and hold the strings to my ample gut as I plug it in and pull the amp off standby. Then, I'll fine-tune, if necessary. [And - speaking of fine tuners - Chet generally always played Bigsby-eqipped electrics. How do you put a fine tuner on a Bigsby-equipped guitar, pray tell?] And that's what it looks like from down here in Skunk Holler, my friends! J/W B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Searcy Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 Chet used little clip on fine tuners between the bridge and the Bigsby. But these days you can get fancy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JellyWheat Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 Thank you! I never knew or noticed that before.... [i knew there were fine-tuners for fixed tailpieces, but not those clip-ons for Bigsbys.] J/W B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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