Can you put a Bigsby on an ES 339?

Yes, the Vibramate is the best way to go when installing Bigsby. I also added a Bigsby to my Tele without the Vibramate but it requires drilling into your guitar. Not something I will do again but it did come out great.

What is a Bigsby B70?

The Bigsby B70 vibrato is designed to fit 1-1/2″ to 2-1/4″ (38.10mm to 57.15mm) guitar body thicknesses. The plate has a strap button hole located approximately 1″ (25.4mm) from the top of the guitar. The unit extends approximately 6-5/16″ (160.34mm) from the mounting plate to the center of the string tension bar.

What is a Bigsby bridge?

The Bigsby vibrato unit is installed on the top of the guitar and includes a ‘rocking bridge’, not a ‘roller bridge’. When the arm of the Bigsby is pushed down towards the top of the guitar, the bridge rocks forward causing the strings to loosen, lowering their pitch.

How does Bigsby tremolo work?

The Bigsby works by means of a roller bar to which the strings are anchored, which slackens the strings’ tension when you press down on the unit’s arm, producing a dip in their pitch. Because a Bigsby vibrato takes the place of a guitar’s tailpiece, you still need a bridge to go with it.

Is it hard to install a Bigsby?

I think that perhaps guitarists are a bit like lemmings – oftentimes the same kind of guitars and the same kind of work all comes in to the shop in waves. Installing a Bigsby is fairly straightforward, but it has to be done exactly right, otherwise the guitar is completely wrecked and the trem won’t function properly.

Do Bigsby tremolos stay in tune?

Tuning stability and the dreaded restring. If ever there were a vibrato system with a bad rep, it’s the venerable Bigsby. They don’t stay in tune, they don’t have as much travel as a Strat and, the no 1 complaint, they’re a nightmare to restring.

Do you need a roller bridge for a Bigsby?

Roller bridges are worth it if you have a guitar with a Bigsby style tremolo system for better tuning stability and relieving the break angle of the strings. Roller bridges also provide less resting pressure and friction than a tune-o-matic bridge. We could see these pieces on some of Gretsch and Gibson guitars.

What is a Bigsby on a guitar?

The Bigsby vibrato tailpiece (or Bigsby for short) is a type of mechanical vibrato device for electric guitar designed by Paul Bigsby and produced by the Bigsby Electric Guitar Company (currently an independently operated subsidiary of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation).

Do Bigsby bridges stay in tune?

They don’t stay in tune, they don’t have as much travel as a Strat and, the no 1 complaint, they’re a nightmare to restring. If you’re a regular to the shop, you probably already know we’re a firmly pro-Bigsby establishment, so we thought we’d spend a few moments with you to unpick the myths and give you some tips.

What does a Vibramate do?

Vibramate is designed to locate the Bigsby® vibrato in a proper orientation for most guitars. The string break over the Tune-A-Matic is usually excellent and less restrictive due to the raised position of the Bigsby vibrato.

How good is a Bigsby tremolo?

A half tone either way won’t cut much ice with Floyd Rose disciples, and a Bigsby can’t hope to compete with the pitch lowering of the Synchronized Tremolo on a Fender Stratocaster. For many, the Bigsby still ranks as the best sounding and most beautiful vibrato ever made.