Anthony_J Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Hey fellas, Been a Gibson fan for awhile already and I was a regular on the Epiphone forums. I just got my first Gibson and it's a BEAUTIFUL ES-335. Great finish, plays great, and those of you who own semi-hollowbodied guitars now what I mean when I say that it's "lively" unplugged. I'm contemplating on putting a Bigsby on it. I want to put it on for aesthetic and functional reasons. I have a Strat and I use the tremolo frequently. I guess what concerns me is drilling in holes in a VERY nice guitar. I've put a Bigsby on my Casino before so I know what the process entails.. Can anyone chime in with their experiences? Most appreciated! Oh and here's some guitar porn: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deacon Blue Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 what a beauty! Check out ZZ Guitar Works. It's a way to put a bigsby on without modifying the guitar. I've never tried one but it looks pretty sweet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krock Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 My advice would be to wait a while since you say the guitar is still new. Then see if you really need it on there.Also, are you planning on selling the guitar in the future, because adding a bigsby will lower the value Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zigzag Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Prepare to deal with holes where the tailpiece was. Edit: Looks like ZZ Guitar Works may have solved that problem, although I didn't see one on a 335. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5uqNoPKynI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinspain Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Congrtas on a beautiful guitar!! I wouldn't touch it, leave it as is... When you need a tremolo use your strat.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfox14 Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Man, that ZZ guitar works system is way cool. Great invention for an otherwise complicated modification process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOL! Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Oh, just do it. Both of my Gibsons have Bigsbys and I had one on my Korean Sheraton (poor man's ES335). Could not imagine owning a guitar without one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlashPerryBurst Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 My advice would be to wait a while since you say the guitar is still new. Then see if you really need it on there.Also, are you planning on selling the guitar in the future, because adding a bigsby will lower the value This. When I got my first les paul, I was adamant that I needed to put a bigsby on it. I had the money lying around, but a friend told me to wait. 7 years later, the guitar still has no bigsby and never will. I want a les paul with a bigsby and will definitely buy one at some point, but I'll buy one with a bigsby already installed so I don't have to regret drilling holes in my beauty. I'm not too keen on the ZZ guitar works "screwless" bigsby either. Nice guitar by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony_J Posted January 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 I really don't mind the studs where the stop-bar was because I would have gotten a "Custom Made" plaque made for it anyway. I think I'll wait on it a bit and see how I feel. It's not too convenient for me to only use my Strat when I want tremolo/vibrato as I like both the single coiled sound and the humbucker sound. More than likely..it's getting a Bigsby slapped on. Just not right now. Thanks for the insight guys! She sounds better than she looks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versatile Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Welcome to the ES 335 club Very nice indeed Personal opinion...leave it as it is... Save up for a Gretsch...they seem to be made for Bigsbys.... V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlashPerryBurst Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Welcome to the ES 335 club Very nice indeed Personal opinion...leave it as it is... Save up for a Gretsch...they seem to be made for Bigsbys.... V This. Gretsch make phenomenal guitars. But they don't suit all styles of music like a Gibson will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riley1098 Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Take a look at vibramate they have a no drilling mount for almost any guitar even most ES-335 models. I love a guitar with a bigsby, I too am saving up for a Les Paul with a Bigsby. Here's the link. Good Luck! http://www.vibramate.com/index.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjtowner Posted February 26, 2012 Report Share Posted February 26, 2012 Anthony, look at this down tension bar www.townerusa.com Install a Bigsby B3, B6 or B11 and drill NO holes in the body Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar dog Posted February 26, 2012 Report Share Posted February 26, 2012 Good looking ES-335. I like that ZZ Guitar Works system - I just ordered one for my Les Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vega1 Posted February 26, 2012 Report Share Posted February 26, 2012 That's a great looking 335! Very nice. That's the next model I'm saving for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony_J Posted February 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 Sooooo.. Yeah; I caved. I slapped a Bigsby on it this past Friday. I gotta say it looks FRIGGIN' sweet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar dog Posted February 27, 2012 Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 Don't forget the pics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony_J Posted February 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 Fine! Since you asked.. Ain't she gorgeous? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOL! Posted February 27, 2012 Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 Ain't she gorgeous? Hell yes. She's a beauty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted February 27, 2012 Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 Nice!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hudsonsaul Posted March 19, 2012 Report Share Posted March 19, 2012 Looks good. I've a similar finish on my 335, and use a bigsby a fair amount on my other guitar. Whereas the 335 is my main go to guitar, i miss the bigsby (plus they look mean as hell as well :) ) Only thing that is stopping me is what to do about the holes from the tail piece. Cannot think, nor have seen, a way to plug the holes while leaving the guitar looking sweet. My tastes swing away from the custom shop plaque (although yours looks great). Any ideas on how to plug the holes, on a very similar finish as Anthonys guitar. One I'm contemplating is leaving the current studs/screws but no actual tail piece bar. Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brundaddy Posted March 19, 2012 Report Share Posted March 19, 2012 I'm starting to feel like a broken record, saying this but... You do NOT need to drill holes and you do NOT need to buy a 'Vibramate' either. Unless you just want to throw your money away, or else drill holes in your guitar all willy nilly. The strap button screw alone anchors the tailpiece very securely. I have a B12 on my es 137 Custom in this manner and after almost 4 years of playing shows around the country, I have never had a problem of any kind. When installing the Bigsby, you string up the guitar while there is still some wiggle room on the strap button screw so that the string tension aligns everything nicely, then you tighten the screw down and you're good to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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