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Post subject: How does a Bigsby affect overall tone?
Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 11:29 am
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Hi all, was wondering if installing a bigsby changes the overall tone of a tele? I've never used one before...a bigsby that is. Seems like it might be kind of fun to try one out but I still want that traditional tele tone...any thoughts?


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Post subject: Re: How does a Bigsby affect overall tone?
Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 1:07 pm
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I don't think that it would have a major effect on your tone although it may increase your sustain a bit.A Bigsby on a Tele is a great idea and Pete Townshend used them quite a bit when he was on his Tele kick in the late 60s.

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Post subject: Re: How does a Bigsby affect overall tone?
Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 8:12 pm
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I owned a Tele with a Bigsby and I felt that it changed the tone and hurt the sustain because the strings didn't go through the body. This maybe all in my head, but there were other things I didn't like about using it.

I also didn't like the fact that it was a pain to change the strings. Most of all I hated the bridge that Fender uses with the Bigsby. When I played the guitar there was an annoying buzz I couldn't get rid of no matter what I did. In the end I sold the guitar in less than a year after purchasing it.

If you decide to go with the Bigsby I recommend that you use a Gibson style bridge. It's more stable than the Fender one.

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Post subject: Re: How does a Bigsby affect overall tone?
Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 5:33 am
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mine increased the sustain because I don't use the "body pads" that can go under the contact points......(really, pad it to eliminate blemishes, but nevermind that I drilled holes all in the body?)
the tone is still crisp and twangy and it's quite a usefull device

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Post subject: Re: How does a Bigsby affect overall tone?
Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 1:45 pm
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Thanks for the input... I'd hate to install one only to find I don't like it or it rattles. I was also wondering if it really throws the balance of the instrument off because of its weight?

I still like the idea of having a trem and have always thought they look pretty cool... they seem pretty easy to install...hmm, I'll have to keep simmering on it. :mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: How does a Bigsby affect overall tone?
Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 1:59 pm
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JamGuy wrote:
Thanks for the input... I'd hate to install one only to find I don't like it or it rattles. I was also wondering if it really throws the balance of the instrument off because of its weight?

I still like the idea of having a trem and have always thought they look pretty cool... they seem pretty easy to install...hmm, I'll have to keep simmering on it. :mrgreen:


It didn't seem to change the balance of the guitar. I will say that the action of the vibrato was very smooth. It's the one thing I liked about the guitar. I feel like if the pins that hold the strings on the vibrato were longer or curved it would make changing strings easier.


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Post subject: Re: How does a Bigsby affect overall tone?
Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 5:43 pm
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I love your Tele Bender.

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Post subject: Re: How does a Bigsby affect overall tone?
Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 6:11 pm
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paris wrote:
I owned a Tele with a Bigsby and I felt that it changed the tone and hurt the sustain because the strings didn't go through the body. This maybe all in my head...

I've played an '83 Toploader Tele since '83.
In '83, people complained that the Toploader bridge compromised tone (and possibly sustain) because the strings didn't go through the body.

In my opinion, this "conventional" thinking is a figment of the imagination.
I don't think that the strings passing through the body has any affect on tone.
This is due to the fact that string vibration ends at the bridge saddle contact point.

To test this theory, place your Tele in your lap, across your legs.
Take two picks, one in each hand.

First, take one of the picks and rest it against the side of one of the strings in front of the bridge saddle, and with the other hand, pick the string acoustically. You will feel the string vibrate.

Next, take one of the picks, and again, rest it against the side of one of the strings behind the bridge saddle, and with the other hand, pick the string acoustically. You will NOT feel the string vibrate.

If there is no vibration in the string behind the bridge saddle, the string passing through the body can have no affect on tone.

IMHO, the string holes through modern Telecaster bodies are there only due to historical significance, and not for any tone factor.


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Post subject: Re: How does a Bigsby affect overall tone?
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 3:20 am
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paris wrote:
JamGuy wrote:
Thanks for the input... I'd hate to install one only to find I don't like it or it rattles. I was also wondering if it really throws the balance of the instrument off because of its weight?

I still like the idea of having a trem and have always thought they look pretty cool... they seem pretty easy to install...hmm, I'll have to keep simmering on it. :mrgreen:


It didn't seem to change the balance of the guitar. I will say that the action of the vibrato was very smooth. It's the one thing I liked about the guitar. I feel like if the pins that hold the strings on the vibrato were longer or curved it would make changing strings easier.


I tired quickly with trying to string it over the tiny little pins while wrestling the tuners(Bigz only real flaw IMO) and put a set of Fender/Shaller lockers on it......now it strings quicker than a LP or SG !

it didn't effect the balance before or after the new tuners....Teles are body heavy anyhow.
i've always thought the "sustain issue" is a bit overblown anyhow......doe's anybody actually want/need to sustain one note/chord into infinity?
my Tele appreciates the luv there 'slinger ! it's one of my favorites.

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Post subject: Re: How does a Bigsby affect overall tone?
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 10:36 am
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MickJagger wrote:
paris wrote:
I owned a Tele with a Bigsby and I felt that it changed the tone and hurt the sustain because the strings didn't go through the body. This maybe all in my head...

I've played an '83 Toploader Tele since '83.
In '83, people complained that the Toploader bridge compromised tone (and possibly sustain) because the strings didn't go through the body.

First, take one of the picks and rest it against the side of one of the strings in front of the bridge saddle, and with the other hand, pick the string acoustically. You will feel the string vibrate.

Next, take one of the picks, and again, rest it against the side of one of the strings behind the bridge saddle, and with the other hand, pick the string acoustically. You will NOT feel the string vibrate.

If there is no vibration in the string behind the bridge saddle, the string passing through the body can have no affect on tone.

IMHO, the string holes through modern Telecaster bodies are there only due to historical significance, and not for any tone factor.


In my opinion, this "conventional" thinking is a figment of the imagination.
I don't think that the strings passing through the body has any affect on tone.
This is due to the fact that string vibration ends at the bridge saddle contact point.

To test this theory, place your Tele in your lap, across your legs.
Take two picks, one in each hand.

I've always felt that all things effect tone and sustain, either good, different or bad. The combinations can be infinite, subtle or extreme from guitar to guitar (even guitars that are the same model). The truth is we all have an ideal idea of what a guitar should sound like; some of it in our head and some of it real. We'll love or hate a guitar based on our own preconceived ideas. In fact the very Tele I wrote about my lead guitarist really liked. I would have kept the guitar if not for the technical problems I was having.

By the way I put together an Andy Summer Tele and it doesn't sound like a regular Tele, but I love it. It sounds very unique.


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Post subject: Re: How does a Bigsby affect overall tone?
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 9:27 am
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Hmm...that's all very interesting.

I wondered about the balance just because the bigsby looks like it's bulky and might weigh a ton. I have an Epi SG and that guitar is really neck heavy and drives me nuts... I don't think I'd mind as much to have a guitar be body heavy.

I think it might be fun to try out the bigsby... installation seems pretty straight forward and I'm terrible about changing strings so I won't have to deal with that too often... sounds like that's the biggest gripe folks have with it.

Thanks all...I'll keep y'all posted and get some pics up once it arrives.(I know how everyone on here loves pics!) It's a 3tsb HWY 1 body, first step will be adding a bit o'shine to it... I like the matte finish ok but really prefer a little polishing up. I had a similar body once before and really liked it better once I polished it. I know there's the whole orange peel thing but the finishes are so thin and soft that after it gets played a bit and a bit beat up, it's not so obvious. Anyhoo...


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Post subject: Re: How does a Bigsby affect overall tone?
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 10:20 am
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I've been considering getting one over the past few days too. I wanted to know if there's any limits to how far down it goes or does it have the same travel as a normal vibrato. Some of the cheaper copies like the Mojo B5 vibrato are limited im told.


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Post subject: Re: How does a Bigsby affect overall tone?
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 3:28 pm
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Affects tone by making you sound bendy!

Otherwise Mick said it.


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Post subject: Re: How does a Bigsby affect overall tone?
Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:58 am
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fuzzdemon wrote:
I've been considering getting one over the past few days too. I wanted to know if there's any limits to how far down it goes or does it have the same travel as a normal vibrato. Some of the cheaper copies like the Mojo B5 vibrato are limited im told.


it'll completely "slacken the strings" quite easily, but the beauty of the Bigz is that if it doesn't dive deep enough to suit (it does though) placing an appropriately sized coin/washer under the spring raises the bar, allowing more dive.
i'm in the US so I use a nickel, but I use it only to give the bar a touch more clearance for normal play.

conversely, if you desire a lower bar-height, simply grind a little off the spring, or purchase a shorter spring at an industrial supply-house.

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