Bridges on a Tele Bigsby
hailhail82
Posts: 330
Has anyone put a B5 Bigsby on their tele? I did recently and the bridge that came with it seems like it sits way too high. Right now I have the poles for the saddle-rollers taken out completely. When they are in, it seems unless the strings sit exactly in the middle one of the poles will unscrew on it's own while I'm playing. Overall it seems like a poorly designed piece. I'm thinking of putting the original bridge plate back on and filing the back down as much as I can (unfortunate since I drilled new holes and filled the old ones up).
Thanks for any advice.
Thanks for any advice.
Using the word "methinks" in your message board posts doesn't make you look smart.
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option 2: get the back of the neck shaved down where it sits in the pocket.
Hopefully I won't have any of those problems tonight.
First, check and make sure the strings are on right. That's the number one thing I see wrong with Bigsby's. The string ball should be on that little nub at the moving roller, go under the roller towards the rear, then over the roller and under the stationary tension bar then over the bridge. That puts downward pressure on the bridge saddles.
You probably have that right, but, just checking.
If you mean the height adjustment screws come loose, it sounds like not enough tension on them. If you have the screws all the way out, no worries. Don't shave the neck, but you can put a shim to let the neck sit a little farther backwards to get the rise so the strings can bend over the bridge saddles a bit more.
Put a capo on the strings at the F fret, and tie a rag or something around the bridge end so the strings don't come off the bridge and you won't have strings popping out all over. Then remove the neck and put a small shim of wood in the neck pocket towards the bridge end of the guitar and put the neck back on and see how it is.
After approximately 7000 times taking the neck off and putting it on again, you'll have it!
I have a lot of experience with it, so it only takes me 2000 or so times!
When you get it right and the saddles are a little higher and you're happy with it, then you can make a permanent wedge shaped shim for the neck pocket and you're good to go.
One thing that you have to remember is that if the string tension is tighter on the saddles, after you shim the neck, the strings may not come back to tune. Make sure your nut slots are smooth and lubed and happy as well as the saddle slots.
There's no getting around the fact that you have to play with it a bit to get it right, but a Tele with a Bigsby is a great thing!
After there's more downward tension on the saddles, the height screws (Posts) should stay better. If not, try a little Loctite on the screws. it keeps them from moving.
Fix it and twang that thang!
Don't be mankind. ~Captain Beefheart
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