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Least invasive vibrato / tremolo for Epiphone Casino


spiral

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Posted

I got a 1961 Ephiphone Casino that i am really loving but i wish i had gotten the one with the Tremotone. Barring that, what is the least invasive Bigsby i could put on the Casino? Will something like the B11 or B3 work? I just want to avoid putting screw holes in the top if possible.

 

b3-b11.jpg

Posted

A quick (non detailed) answer would be a Bigsby mounted on a "vibramate" system...........

 

I'm not sure if a vibramate system will fit on a Casino......I'll check it out.........

Posted

A quick (non detailed) answer would be a Bigsby mounted on a "vibramate" system...........

Thanks. I have seen those before but i think they are mainly for hardtail guitars. I'm just wondering if the two Bigsbys listed above will have an issue on a Casino. Actually one of the photos on the Vibramate site has a 335-style guitar with a B3 Bigsby (for the "string spoiler" product).

Posted

Hi,

 

The B3 and B6 are worth considerimg for a Casino but they're designed for guitars with traditional archtop bridges as you might find on a Gretsch, rather than the 335 style bridge that sits much closer to the body of the guitar. This leaves you with a very shallow break angle over the bridge or, if the neck set on your guitar is on the shallow side, there's a chance it may not work at all. I have B6s on my 1965 ES-330 and my '90s Japanese Casino. The 330 worked perfectly, the Casino was much more marginal and took a lot of fiddling to get set up as I wanted it, but it's ok now.

 

On the up side, on my two guitars the upper two screw holes for the original trapezes matched those on the B6, and I used a straplock button with a long screw in place of the third screw hole, so there were no modifications made to either guitar. The B6 is held against the body by string tension by the way, so no screws in the top. I also much prefer the B6 in terms of playability to the B7 - it seems more expressive and easier to use subtly.

 

I'm afraid I can't see any way of using a Vibromate on a Casino - the B7 relies on being tethered to the top of the guitar and there's nowhere on a Casino to anchor it. If the B6 doesn't work out it might be a case of gritting your teeth and fitting the B7.

Posted

Hi, The B3 and B6 are worth considerimg for a Casino but they're designed for guitars with traditional archtop bridges as you might find on a Gretsch, rather than the 335 style bridge that sits much closer to the body of the guitar.

Thanks for the reply. I decided last night that i need to just stop being such an f'n baby and just put a screw through the top. The guitar is a tool afterall, not a museum piece. I found this photo of the B12 Bigsby on a Casino and it looks top notch (from user Zer0beaT on HC):

 

casinobigsby2.jpg

Posted

I'm definitely a fan of the over/under roller bars. More of a pain in the arse to change strings, to be sure, but worth it, in my opinion.

Posted

I'm definitely a fan of the over/under roller bars. More of a pain in the arse to change strings, to be sure, but worth it, in my opinion.

+1

 

B5 and B7 series et al for me too.

Posted

I went for the B7. There was a really helpful video on YouTube that I watched; got the drill out and the rest was history.

 

Worked out pretty well.

 

I can dig out some pictures I took while doing it if you or anyone else is interested.

Posted

I went for the B7. There was a really helpful video on YouTube that I watched; got the drill out and the rest was history.

 

Worked out pretty well.

 

I can dig out some pictures I took while doing it if you or anyone else is interested.

 

Pics, yes.........That would be nice.........

Posted

I can dig out some pictures I took while doing it if you or anyone else is interested.

Pics, yes.........That would be nice.........

+1 for the pics.
Posted

And eventually I get round to posting the pictures:

 

Pretty explanatary I hope;

1. Removed tailpiece

2. Lined up position of Bigsby

3. Marked drill holes

4. Drilled holes

5. Screwed in place

 

e-c_bigsby_1.jpg

e-c_bigsby_2.jpg

e-c_bigsby_3.jpg

e-c_bigsby_4.jpg

e-c_bigsby_5.jpg

Posted

And eventually I get round to posting the pictures:

 

Pretty explanatary I hope;

1. Removed tailpiece

2. Lined up position of Bigsby

3. Marked drill holes

4. Drilled holes

5. Screwed in place

Nice little photo essay, cheers for that.

  • 1 year later...
Posted

Nice job on the install

 

Do you not have to change the bridge to a roller type of bridge. I would worry about string breakage looking at the pic unless that bridge floats head to tail..

 

Johnnie

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