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alt. solution from tavo of nocturne... posted to gdp...where heps q has gotten some attention! hah
cut that B-5 and move it to the bottom of the body, add a TK Smith shim.
cheers
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12-18-2020 06:12 PM
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No no no... the B5 Bigsby is stiff, because it has a tension bar. It's not like the "normal" Bigsby's on the big hollowbodies. Some people just cut the tension bar out, to make it LESS stiff... but that likely wouldn't work well with the ashtray bridge, as there's no break angle. So, the bridge would have to be replaced (this is what Tavo did). Yes, you could buy a different bridge, and a different Bigsby, and you could shim the neck... but now we aren't talking B5 and ashtray bridge anymore. All this is to make it squash-IER, which is not what the OP is looking for.
Originally Posted by neatomic
As for the OP: if you want it stiffer, all you can do is up the string gauge. The tension-bar Bigsbys like the B5 have a reputation for being stiff, so if it's not stuff enough for you, you'll have to up the string gauge.
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it ain't a BIGSBY, but... Originally Posted by RomanS
I'm not disputing the use of shims at all (I use them myself without any qualms, when necessary) - but mounting a B5 on a Tele definitely does not require adding a shim (unless, of course, your particular Tele already needed one without the Bigsby).
As for the OPs string gauge predicament - as I said, maybe try to see whether 10-52 sets or 10.5 sets work? Other than that - no real solution...
Same thing as when you're playing an acoustic archtop, or a big dreadnaught, and want a loud and punchy tone - there's no way you're going to get that with 10s, so you'll have to learn to adapt...
BTW, if Billy Gibbons wanted to use a Bigsby, I'd also tell him to lose the 8s, and switch to 11s - can't change the laws of physics, even for celebrities!
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Jay Leaonard J on youtube seems to really enjoy his tele with a bigsby. Of course, anything he plays sounds great.
He mentions that he uses a Vibramate String Spoiler non-intrusive attachment to the bigsby to help hold the ball of the strings.
VIBRAMATE(R) - Innovative Music Products - Made in USA
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At that point you might just as well use a B16 - which is my preferred Bigsby for a Tele, anyway (admittedly at the cost of losing a lot of the original feel & tone of a Tele). Originally Posted by neatomic
alt. solution from tavo of nocturne... posted to gdp...where heps q has gotten some attention! hah
cut that B-5 and move it to the bottom of the body, add a TK Smith shim.
cheers
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Yea, 11's felt ok, perfect for jazz/swing, and that what I was playing. Now a different job, I do a lot of rock playing and transcribing solos, and 11's and Bigsby get in the way. Since it's the only guitar I have at the moment, I try it without and see how it feels. It's really easy to take it off and put it back, just need new strings.
But if I go back to Bigsby I will put 11's again, it really feels anemic with 10's and I see from the posts it's just the way it is.
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Lol! Originally Posted by neatomic
lets keep everybody happy!....haha
cheers
Man I love the Dead.
Jesus Christmas i hate Bigsbys.
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Stop. Rewind that. Reverse it. Press play. Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
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Jesus Christmas I hate the Dead Originally Posted by ruger9
Stop. Rewind that. Reverse it. Press play.
Man I love Bigsbys
Lol
Like that?
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Working Man's Dead & American Beauty are OK, though...
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Interesting. I‘ve never heard one wanted more string tension...like RomanS mentioned above, thicker strings seems the best idea. Do you‘ve tried specially balanced gauges, e.g. from Stringjoy?
To me the B5 is a nightmare like all tension bar Bigsbys. I‘ve already found my peace of mind:
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OK? Just “OK”?? Originally Posted by RomanS
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There is no such thing as OK Grateful Dead album. They got the name misspelled, you see, it should've been either Grateful Dread or Dreadful Dead. Then it would OK. Originally Posted by Doctor Jeff
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