Anybody fitted a bigsby to an epi les paul?

[trelf]

Been toying with the idea of buying a bigsby b7 with the vibramate fitting kit for a while now.

 

Any thoughts folks?

 

Ps I still have the original tuners on mine Epi Les Paul goldtop which are getting changed for grovers (it's about time!)

 

Thanks

[bigneil]

It's been done successfully many times. I would suggest that you fit a roller saddle bridge and a tusq xl self lubricating top nut whale you are at it. Good luck, and keep us updated.

[trelf]

Sounds good - this is hopefully what I'm ordering (funds permitting!)

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bigsby-B7-Tremolo-and-Vibramate-V7-LP-Adapter-Set-b-7-/160938080747?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2578a839eb#ht_335wt_975

[bigneil]

I wish I could offer more advice on the best bigsby for the job. But I do know that some models require you to drill or screw the top of the body or the bottom edge, but some require no new holes and anchor through a hole that lines with the strap button. Also I have seen some with a tensioner bar fitted to the old stop tail studs.

[gingernuts]

I fitted a "Bigsby B5" style trem to my 339Pro see here…. http://forum.gibson...._1#entry1229239 Fitting one to a Les Paul should be the same as they are both carved tops. Being a tight old git, I saw little benefit in fitting a bit of hardware that was over 50% of what I paid for the guitar so I opted for the Bigsby "tribute" approach, rather like Epiphone is to Gibson I suppose.

 

Got myself on of these http://www.ebay.co.u...=p2047675.l2562 and since I didn't want to drill any holes in the guitar I had a Vibramate B5 "tribute" mounting plate Laser cut from aluminium plate. You could get an original one but being an engineer and tight I objected to paying about £40 for a bit of flat plate with a few holes in it, plus I wasn't sure that the Ebay "Bigsby" has the same fixing holes as the genuine article.

 

The Ebay trem unit itself was fine, no issues with it other than the arm being a bit too long and high. It has needle roller bearings in the important bit.

 

After fitting, the guitar tuning was variable to say the least and I quickly realised that a roller bridge is a must, not sure about the need for a Tusq nut but It would probably help a bit. These were my findings..

 

1) Pushing down on the trem arm relaxes the strings (obviously). The wound strings are located tightly in the V-grooves in the saddles, so as the string shortens the Bridge will pivot forward due to clearance between the top bar and the posts and also the play in the threads where the posts screw into the body inserts. When the arm is released the bridge and saddles don't return to their original positions. Lifting the trem arm has the opposite effect (obviously). You can clearly see the bridge waggling back and forth when the Bigsby is used, maybe it will return to it's original position….maybe not.

 

2) Most of the play seemed to be in the bridge post / body screw threads so I measured the height from the body inserts to the underside of the bridge height adjusting screws, then fitted spacer washers and screwed the posts down hard against them. This stopped the bridge waggling back and forth but brought to light 2 other problems…

 

a. Play in the saddle adjusting screws and

 

b. The windings on the bass strings "skipping over" the V slots in their saddles and not necessarily returning to the same position because of (a) above.

 

3) A roller bridge seemed to be the only solution, so I got one of these.. http://www.axetec.co...chrome-1000.gif. (£16.50) This solved most of the bridge problems but not 100%. Play in the Post threads still allowed the bridge to waggle back and forth (to a lesser extent) so the gap was measured after setting the string heights and the spacer washers were refitted.

 

4) I now have a functioning trem that stays in tune and only the deepest dive-bombs upset it.

[jcwillow777]

Not a Les Paul, but I put a B7 and Vibramate on a Les Paul type of guitar, and Agile AL-3000M neckthru. The guitar came with a Tusq nut and Graph Tech saddle savers. I did put a Wilkinson roller bridge on it, but decided to put the original bridge back on and save the Wilkinson for another guitar. I haven't had any tuning issues with it. Installing the B7 was a breeze with the Vibramate.

 

I will say that I put a B7 on another Agile AL-3100 and I needed the Wilkinson because of the steep angle from the top of the saddles to the bottom of the front roller on the B70. The high E and B strings hit the back of the bridge and caused the guitar to go out of tune constantly. The Wilkinson took care of that.

 

Here is a pic of the Wilkinson and B70. You can see that there is no fear of the strings touching the back of the bridge.

 

 

Here is a pic of my AL-3000M with the Wilkinson, Vibramate and B7. I didn't take any more pics since I put the original bridge back on.

 

 

I put B70s on a Dot and a Sheraton. Both have the same Wilkinson bridge and the original nuts. I haven't had any tuning issues with either of them.

[trelf]

Not a Les Paul, but I put a B7 and Vibramate on a Les Paul type of guitar, and Agile AL-3000M neckthru. The guitar came with a Tusq nut and Graph Tech saddle savers. I did put a Wilkinson roller bridge on it, but decided to put the original bridge back on and save the Wilkinson for another guitar. I haven't had any tuning issues with it. Installing the B7 was a breeze with the Vibramate.

 

I will say that I put a B7 on another Agile AL-3100 and I needed the Wilkinson because of the steep angle from the top of the saddles to the bottom of the front roller on the B70. The high E and B strings hit the back of the bridge and caused the guitar to go out of tune constantly. The Wilkinson took care of that.

 

Here is a pic of the Wilkinson and B70. You can see that there is no fear of the strings touching the back of the bridge.

 

 

Here is a pic of my AL-3000M with the Wilkinson, Vibramate and B7. I didn't take any more pics since I put the original bridge back on.

 

 

I put B70s on a Dot and a Sheraton. Both have the same Wilkinson bridge and the original nuts. I haven't had any tuning issues with either of them.

 

Thanks for the info folks - just ordered - will let you know how I get on