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 Post subject: Installing a Bigsby Whammy Bar
PostPosted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 8:31 pm 

Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2011 3:13 am
Posts: 368
Has anyone done this modification, and do you have any tips? I have an old black Les Paul I'd like to add a Bigsby to. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

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 Post subject: Re: Installing a Bigsby Whammy Bar
PostPosted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 8:45 pm 

Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2010 7:36 pm
Posts: 189
http://www.amazon.com/Bigsby-B7-Vibrato-Kit-Hollow/dp/B001LUTF2W

Sure have, Dingy. They may make one specifically for your Paul, what series? Custom? Standard? Studio? All of the arches are slightly different, so it matters which kit you get. Basically, you measure and bolt that baby in. It's no biggie, if it has stock tuners, you may want to upgrade to Grovers, and get yourself some nut lube, Bigsby trems ain't the most stable, if you know what I mean. You may need some modification to your nut to get it to slide right. Just sayin'.


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 Post subject: Re: Installing a Bigsby Whammy Bar
PostPosted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 9:10 pm 

Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2011 3:13 am
Posts: 368
Dingy is an acceptable name if you wish to call me that, it is a small boat, not a syringe. I try to love boats, but I am actually afraid of the open sea. I would like to learn to sail someday. Back on topic, it's an old Electra Les Paul, a Japanese copy from the mid 70's. I have a new nut for it already, I have some Gibson tuners for it, the stock tuners are completely inadequate. I have also considered Grovers, that is what I have on my favorite guitar, my SG. I use nut lube. Since this is a copy, identifying that arch type is going to be a bit more tricky, do you have any suggestions in this area? I appreciate your help so far. I have used a Bigsby before, so I am aware of the stability issues. In a way, that is part of their charm. I want a rough around the edges sound, kind of like those first few Neil Young albums with Crazy Horse. I plan to use the LP for some songs, and the SG for others.

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 Post subject: Re: Installing a Bigsby Whammy Bar
PostPosted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 10:35 am 

Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2010 7:36 pm
Posts: 189
I was referring more to what children call their penis, but I like your definition, too.

Is it a bolty, or a set neck? Th curves on those Electras are somewhat steep, at least on the ones I've laid hands on. Is it the one that came with those effects modules? 4 in-line knobs? Those are the most true to a real LP, so that bigsby kit I posted should fit it... You could always find one locally, and match it up. Eyeballing it is good enough to see if the contour is close.


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 Post subject: Re: Installing a Bigsby Whammy Bar
PostPosted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 1:56 pm 

Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2011 3:13 am
Posts: 368
It's a bolt on neck. There are no effects modules. It does have two tone and two volume potentiometers, like any other Les Paul. I could take it to a luthier to have it done, but honestly I was hoping to use this guitar as a type of project for learning how to do some of these things myself.

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 Post subject: Re: Installing a Bigsby Whammy Bar
PostPosted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 2:43 pm 

Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2010 7:36 pm
Posts: 189
Image

This is what I was referring to, the "gem" of that line.

Just eyeball it, don't have someone else do it. You can, it isn't hard. Long as you measure everything correctly.


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 Post subject: Re: Installing a Bigsby Whammy Bar
PostPosted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 2:48 pm 

Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2011 3:13 am
Posts: 368
That is not the model that I own. The potentiometers are not in line like that, it looks more akin to a Les Paul Standard. The potentiometers are staggered.

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 Post subject: Re: Installing a Bigsby Whammy Bar
PostPosted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 3:42 pm 
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Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2010 11:38 am
Posts: 652
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Try drilling random holes in the Electra's tailpiece region with a 3/4" wood drill bit, and then see whether the Bigsby will mount into those. If not, buy another guitar.

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 Post subject: Re: Installing a Bigsby Whammy Bar
PostPosted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 5:05 pm 

Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2011 3:13 am
Posts: 368
RacerX wrote:
Try drilling random holes in the Electra's tailpiece region with a 3/4" wood drill bit, and then see whether the Bigsby will mount into those. If not, buy another guitar.


I have plenty of guitars. None sound as good as this one. I have no need for others at the moment.

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 Post subject: Re: Installing a Bigsby Whammy Bar
PostPosted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 5:40 pm 
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Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2010 11:38 am
Posts: 652
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Drill 'em all and let Buddha sort them out, then, Acrapa.

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 Post subject: Re: Installing a Bigsby Whammy Bar
PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 3:34 am 

Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2011 3:13 am
Posts: 368
RacerX wrote:
Drill 'em all and let Buddha sort them out, then, Acrapa.



I would suggest you take your own advice, and leave mine to me.

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 Post subject: Re: Installing a Bigsby Whammy Bar
PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:36 am 
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Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2010 11:38 am
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Location: Albuquerque, NM
I spurn your advice even as I welcome it, grasshopper.

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 Post subject: Re: Installing a Bigsby Whammy Bar
PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:46 am 

Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2011 3:13 am
Posts: 368
RacerX wrote:
I spurn your advice even as I welcome it, grasshopper.



Sounds like you've got all the answers then, do you not? Have at it.

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 Post subject: Re: Installing a Bigsby Whammy Bar
PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 2:38 pm 
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Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2010 11:38 am
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Location: Albuquerque, NM
Anapa wrote:
RacerX wrote:
I spurn your advice even as I welcome it, grasshopper.



Sounds like you've got all the answers then, do you not? Have at it.


I both have all the answers and none of them.

Therefore, I/not I will/will not have/not have at/not at it/not it.

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 Post subject: Re: Installing a Bigsby Whammy Bar
PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 2:54 pm 

Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2011 3:13 am
Posts: 368
RacerX wrote:
Anapa wrote:
RacerX wrote:
I spurn your advice even as I welcome it, grasshopper.



Sounds like you've got all the answers then, do you not? Have at it.


I both have all the answers and none of them.

Therefore, I/not I will/will not have/not have at/not at it/not it.



Tough words to live by, since you neither believe in them nor understand the logic behind them. I doubt a Bigsby Whammy is going to solve all of your problems, but you could try it.

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 Post subject: Re: Installing a Bigsby Whammy Bar
PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 6:35 pm 
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Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2010 11:38 am
Posts: 652
Location: Albuquerque, NM
hehehe...

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 Post subject: Re: Installing a Bigsby Whammy Bar
PostPosted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 3:17 am 
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Location: Shermer, IL
http://www.vibramate.com/

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 Post subject: Re: Installing a Bigsby Whammy Bar
PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 10:33 am 

Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2010 9:58 pm
Posts: 30
Um, if you think this guitar is your best sounding one, I wouldn't put the Bigsby on it. I'd buy another Electra and try it on that one instead of risking altering the current sound of the one you really dig.


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