New Bigsby jam

[ddaazz85]

awesome dude

[mest1589]

hello!

is staying in tune that big a problem?

thinkin about installing one on a tele

[sminchk67]

I had some real issues keeping mine in tune, but, I've heard that you can get special springs and saddles that help...I also discovered Big Bends Nut Sauce lubricant, use it on the nut and any other points of string movement, I don't change strings without it!!!

[a1993h]

i'm thinking about getting a bigsby. i play metal and rock. would it be useful for this type music.

[sminchk67]

Hi,

I would not do it for rock or metal, unless you have a full-time tech to tune it between songs...I wish I had not done it.

Floyd Rose is the way to go for heavy rock!

[miket163]

i use them all the time for all types of music. I put an upgraded spring in mine yet i still tune about every two songs...the price you have to pay, but its worth it.

[myway43]

HI, I am kind of curious how you are running your pedal rig thru the Vox. What model are you runnuing the Vox on? Do you just bypass the modeling effects?

[sminchk67]

Hi,

My video about the TC G-System shows some of how I run the rig.

I use the most clean modeling setting, I think it's the Blackface 2x12. I go from my guitar into the G-System, the overdrive pedals are all in loops that can be switched in and out of the circuit discreetly...on this one I used an Xotic BB Preamp for the overdrive.

Thanks,

Scott.

[JoeyHawk]

Whoa! What are the specs on that guitar, as far as wood, pickup, etc? That sounded great!  And what are you using amp/effect wise? Great job with that guitar man. :)

[sminchk67]

Thanks!

It's a Warmoth swamp ash body, pretty light, the pickup is a Tom Anderson TD3-R. The neck is Warmoth, SRV contour, with stainless steel frets and locking Schaller tuners.

I bought almost all the parts on eBay, except the pickup.

The amp is a little Vox AD-30 VT, just a cheap modeling amp, but great for the bedroom jamming!!!

[sminchk67]

I have since come to hate the Bigsby, it just will not stay in tune.

It'll be gone soon in favor of a Stetsbar.

[Animatronica]

"It will not stay in tune."

Can you elaborate a bit more on that? I was thinking of getting a Bigsby for my custom Les Paul style guitar.

I play alternative rock, on the heavier side, and a touch of blues when I play in bars.

What do you think? Will butchering the top of my guitar be worth it for having a Bigsby tremolo?

[sminchk67]

Hi,

I have since learned some new ways to keep it from going out of tune as often...Big Bends Nut Sauce is KEY!!! There are several points that need to be lubed up often.

I don't know if I would do it again.

Talk to your local guitar tech and see what they think.

Good luck!

[Animatronica]

Haha well... the problem is I'm a guitar tech myself. Been repairing guitars for over 3 years, and not since have I come across a Bigsby.

The Floyd Rose is by far my preferred tremolo system. Most people simply don't understand the fundamentals of how it works, so they don't like it. But a Floyd Rose on a Les Paul looks just wrong. Also, with a Bigsby there is no routing on the underside of the guitar.

But apparently it doesn't keep in tune.

What hardware did you replace your Bigsby with?

[sminchk67]

I didn't bother messing with that guitar anymore, it's just the "home" guitar...a backup, at best...I don't gig with it.

My newest guitar is an old Ibanez that I've just refinished, back to the Floyd!!! (or, Edge)

New videos to come when it's all done!

[bloeregard]

i just made a solid body with a bigsby. mainly you just have to use either a graph-tec or slipstone nut, locking tuners, align the bigsby properly, and preferably have the accompanying roller saddles, or at least string saver graph tec saddles. however, on another note if you are used to the bends and dive bombs and so forth on a floyd rose just let me say right now the bigsby doesn't do that, a half step at most, nice for bending chords and pinch harmonics, not much else tho.

[Ian3985]

Im thinking about a bigsby on a tele as well.

I thought that with locking tuners and some graphite the thing could barely fall out of tune.

I guess I was wrong, unless you were able to work out the kinks?

[sminchk67]

If you can keep all the points of contact and motion lubed up with the Big Bends Nut Sauce, then you should be ok...no promises though, mine still won't stay in tune the way I like...I can't gig with it as a result.

Good luck!

[bloeregard]

read above.

[C7Blackjack]

Nice decorative touch with that neck hanging on the wall ;)

[sminchk67]

That's an old Ibanez RG neck that I pulled the frets from...another project in the works.

[ephixius]

badass...

but why'd you decide to nix the neck pickup?

[sminchk67]

This guitar never had a neck pickup, it's a Warmoth "Esquire". Some people think it's got more of an open and resonant sound because there's only one magnetic field pulling on the strings, I agree, it's a great guitar!

[ephixius]

I'm stuck on my neck pickup, but I can't argue with your tone.

[parkkin56]

love your tone!

[GunnarChe]

love it!!!!

greeeeeeeeeeeeaaat sound!!

bigsby rocks!

man you're good!

[sminchk67]

Thanks so much!!!

[carlguage]

Nice Guitar and playing!!

[sminchk67]

Thanks! I put that guitar together from parts I got on eBay.

[carlguage]

Thats Great!!!