How well do Bigsbys stay in tune?

[wodka]

I've never played a guitar with one of these trems, but I found a Hamer Monaco with one that is very tempting. Just curious how stable they are. I would rarely use it, but for some reason I think they look really great.

[No Use]

Re: How well do Bigsbys stay in tune?

i'm with you, i dig the way they look. They're not really meant for changing pitches, they're more vibrato based. So due to that fact, i think they're tuner friendly and stay well in tune.

[j2379]

Re: How well do Bigsbys stay in tune?

i had a gretsch with one, I added Sperzels & still didnt stay in tune that well. but the gretsch bridges are very UNstable, its would actually sway when you'de use the bigsby. it helps also if you kind of wiggle it into zero position so to speak. I havent tried one on a gibby or hamer i know those bridge are more stable than the old gretsch's but they still have to go out at least a little bit.

[Sancho]

Re: How well do Bigsbys stay in tune?

They don't stay in tune. Simple as that.
I've seen the entire bridge move (and I don't mean wobble a bit, but actually shift) on Bigsby-equipped Gretsches. This would of course be better on an axe with a fixed bridge.
I have to admit I don't like em in the least. I think that they look ugly and are a bad design from a functional point of view.
For vintage RnR they can be useful, but that's about it.
Of course, it's not because there's one installed on the guitar that you'd be forced to use it.

[No Use]

Re: How well do Bigsbys stay in tune?

yeah, i forgot to add that i played a bigsby equipped les paul. so, i found it pretty nice on an lp, but i don;t own the thing so, i don't really know i guess. some people also say it adds to sustain, since its that hunk of metal keeping the strings down also, yet again i don;t know for sure.

[speed monkey]

Re: How well do Bigsbys stay in tune?

The words "Bigsby" and "stay in tune" aren't usually used in the same sentence.

[etaeniura]

Re: How well do Bigsbys stay in tune?

I guess Brian Setzer has to retune often? I think they look damn cool on those big hollowbodies and archtops, but they weren't meant for divebombing type stuff. I would imagine that if you just use them for slight vibrato type stuff, they should stay in tune at least as well as a vintage type trem.

[GiantBaba]

Re: How well do Bigsbys stay in tune?

Setzer's guitars have a delrin nut installed, and also a pro guitar tech to service them. That might have something to do with him staying in tune while using the Bigsby.

[1959burst]

Re: How well do Bigsbys stay in tune?

i use graph tech saddles and nut and my bigsby equipted gibson explorer stays in tune flawlessly! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[Jerry From Ghana]

Re: How well do Bigsbys stay in tune?

i've a hamer newport with a bigsby, lubritrak nut and replacement graphtek saddles and have no tuning problems.