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Bigsby For Casino?


bigsbyboy

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hi guys

im vince from australia, long time lurker, first time poster.

 

first of all, i tried the search function and couldn't find anything (but please correct me if i am wrong)

i recently purchased an Epiphone "Inspired By John Lennon" Casino (Natural Finish - Revolution Model) and it is a fantastic guitar, one of the nicest i have ever come across.

i love everything about it, but one of the reasons i purchased it was to add a bigsby.

i am really unsure of which bigsby best suits the Casino

i have emailed Epiphone, Bigsby, StewMac and the shop i purchased it from and i have had varied results from each

the popular drawcards are b3 and b7, but ive also been advised on using b6's and b11's

i have no problem in drilling into the guitar, so long as it is the best option in terms of functionality and playability.

the guitar is a full hollowbody, 5ply

Epiphone Casino "Inspired By John Lennon"

 

can anyone help me?

does anyone have any experience with bigsbys and casinos?

 

thanks

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hi guys

im vince from australia

Poor bugger, LOL.

 

 

Hi Vince, welcome to the forums mate.

 

I don't have a Casino either, but I do have a full hollow L5 copy that has a B7 style trem on it, works a treat and looks a million dollars.

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hi guys

im vince from australia, long time lurker, first time poster.

 

first of all, i tried the search function and couldn't find anything (but please correct me if i am wrong)

i recently purchased an Epiphone "Inspired By John Lennon" Casino (Natural Finish - Revolution Model) and it is a fantastic guitar, one of the nicest i have ever come across.

i love everything about it, but one of the reasons i purchased it was to add a bigsby.

i am really unsure of which bigsby best suits the Casino

i have emailed Epiphone, Bigsby, StewMac and the shop i purchased it from and i have had varied results from each

the popular drawcards are b3 and b7, but ive also been advised on using b6's and b11's

i have no problem in drilling into the guitar, so long as it is the best option in terms of functionality and playability.

the guitar is a full hollowbody, 5ply

Epiphone Casino "Inspired By John Lennon"

 

can anyone help me?

does anyone have any experience with bigsbys and casinos?

 

thanks

 

 

 

 

G'day mate,

 

Hop on Google images and write 'Epiphone Casino with bigsby".

It appears that the Bigsby B7 is the most commonly used.

Should be pretty simple to put one on too.

 

Good luck mate, [thumbup]

Paul

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Poor bugger, LOL.

 

 

Hi Vince, welcome to the forums mate.

 

I don't have a Casino either, but I do have a full hollow L5 copy that has a B7 style trem on it, works a treat and looks a million dollars.

hahaha australia isnt that bad!

so your L5 has no centre block or anything?

b7 was my original option, as some casinos are factory fitted with b7s (or b70s)

but there seems to be great debate on how stable the unit is on a hollowbody like the casino.

thanks for the input guys! keep the helpful comments coming

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hahaha australia isnt that bad!

so your L5 has no centre block or anything?

b7 was my original option, as some casinos are factory fitted with b7s (or b70s)

but there seems to be great debate on how stable the unit is on a hollowbody like the casino.

thanks for the input guys! keep the helpful comments coming

No centre block Vince, fully hollow, the tuning is as stable as anything, but I've fitted a Wilkinson roller bridge and Tusq XL nut also.

 

I've done a thread on fitting the roller bridge to it, Wilkinson Roller Bridge thread.

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No centre block Vince, fully hollow, the tuning is as stable as anything, but I've fitted a Wilkinson roller bridge and Tusq XL nut also.

 

I've done a thread on fitting the roller bridge to it, Wilkinson Roller Bridge thread.

you are a legend!

any idea if the wilkinson roller bridge would match the strings up to the pole pieces of the P90s (Gibson P90s)?

thanks heaps!

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you are a legend!

any idea if the wilkinson roller bridge would match the strings up to the pole pieces of the P90s (Gibson P90s)?

thanks heaps!

Should do, they are a drop in replacement for Epi bridges, I don't think the IBJL Casino should be any different.

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Should do, they are a drop in replacement for Epi bridges, I don't think the IBJL Casino should be any different.

so just for clarification, a b7 and a wilkinson roller bridge would do the trick?

thanks heaps for the advice!

 

anyone else keen to chime in?

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so just for clarification, a b7 and a wilkinson roller bridge would do the trick?

thanks heaps for the advice!

That would be my choice mate, the Wilkinson is an awesome bridge, it clamps to the posts, the saddles sit on a solid chunk of metal and are themselves very solid, so the contact with the instrument is like a rock, and they only cost $20 - $25 too boot.

 

BTW: what part of Oz you from Vince ???

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That would be my choice mate, the Wilkinson is an awesome bridge, it clamps to the posts, the saddles sit on a solid chunk of metal and are themselves very solid, so the contact with the instrument is like a rock, and they only cost $20 - $25 too boot.

 

BTW: what part of Oz you from Vince ???

cool!

im from melbourne.

and i see you are from Mackay!

many aussies on this forum?

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What exactly is the difference between the B7 and the B70? And what's the consensus on the Vibramate adapter? Does the V7 adapter work on the B70?

the b70 is cheaper and is made somewhere other than the US. ive heard from many people that in most cases they are just as good

not too sure about the vibramate, i have a feeling the b7 and b70 have a slightly different design

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What exactly is the difference between the B7 and the B70? And what's the consensus on the Vibramate adapter? Does the V7 adapter work on the B70?

 

American Bigsbies are "sandcast" made............Imports are "drop forged".........The specs and weights are different slightly............

 

Not "much" difference..........I prefer American "sandcast" Bigsbies..........I do NOT use "vibramate" adapters............

 

Bigsbies are great, IMHO...............

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The B6/B60 is not a good choice for the Casino, as it will not provide enough break angle over the bridge. This is because the B6 is designed for a jazz-style archtop with a floating bridge on a wooden base. The Casino, as well as all 335/345/355 type guitars, have the bridge mounted directly on the face of the guitar, so the strings are much closer to the guitar's top.

 

A B3/B30 can work as long as you use heavier strings (at least .011's), but is still less than ideal. B7/B70 is the way to go. The Epi Vibra-Tone that they used to have stock on some Casinos (and the Wildkat) is based on the B7 design. See below:

 

EpiCasino.jpg

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I put a B60 on my Riviera because I didn't want to drill into the top. So the only mod with it is 2 additional holes next to the Frequensator mounting holes. And they would be covered with the Frequensator put back on. Parabar is correct that the B6/B60 are designed for the wood-base bridges. Guitars with wood-base bridges have strings that are no doubt higher off the body than those with direct-mounted bridges. Thus, the string break angle is not be as much as some other choices. I think the main concern there would be strings popping out of bridge saddles. But I have had no problems with it at all. It stays in tune, works smoothly with no perceivable loss of sustain, etc... It's the smoothest working Bigsby of all 6 my Bigsby-equipped guitars.

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Exactly my thoughts too Pat.

and my thoughts too

gave no reasoning behind it, just downright said no.

it made me worry since he's a gibson rep, but he is the only person (after extensive, ](*,) extensive research - hours and hours) that has said it wouldnt work

even my guitar tech who knows everything said it would work.

 

when i get it done, should i have any extra wood installed, or anything else in particular, or is it just a run of the mill b7 installation?

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when i get it done, should i have any extra wood installed, or anything else in particular, or is it just a run of the mill b7 installation?

I really don't think so, if you think about it the Bigsby is actually being pulled up away from the body by the strings going up and over the bridge, so there's really no downward pressure at all, quite the reverse.

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