Ryder
Wholenote
Butterscotch Blues
Posts: 854
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Post by Ryder on Jan 8, 2020 11:36:28 GMT -5
Question about the bigsby.
Why and how come it detunes my guitar? I understand it pulls, but what is there to be done about the strings becoming untuned? It makes me not want to use the bigsby which I don't use a lot anyway. I bought a 2655 P90 a few weeks ago. Love the guitar but not the bigsby.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Jan 8, 2020 11:48:39 GMT -5
It's the nut. Try this:
Set the guitar flat on a table. Pick up a tiny dab of Chap Stik with the point of a toothpick. Lift a string from the nut slot and apply the dab of Chap Stik to the slot. Replace the string in the slot. Do this for all the strings.
Retune and see if that helps.
One thing about Bigsbys is they work really well for subtle wobbles. You don't see too many players doing dive bombs with 'em for a reason.
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Post by budg on Jan 8, 2020 11:50:33 GMT -5
Yep , the nut for sure. I used nut sauce when I change my strings. Some people use a stiffer spring but ymmv.
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Ryder
Wholenote
Butterscotch Blues
Posts: 854
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Post by Ryder on Jan 8, 2020 12:24:00 GMT -5
You guys are GOOD! I’ll try it!
thank you!
and the subtle touch!
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Ryder
Wholenote
Butterscotch Blues
Posts: 854
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Post by Ryder on Jan 8, 2020 13:14:41 GMT -5
Great! This guitar is only a couple of weeks old so I'm sure the strings are still NEW. But, I did the chap stick in the nut slots and used my subtle touch on the bigsby. Much better!
Thank you both! Now, how do I get the giant blob of chapstick off of the entire headstock?? Oh yuck! LOL ;-)
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Jan 8, 2020 16:39:53 GMT -5
Outstanding!
You can set up a Bigsby for extreme vibratwurst with spaetzel and red cabbage, but it usually also requires a roller bridge (or a rocking bridge done right), removal of the zero fret (if so equipped) and installation of a new nut, along with some careful attention paid to the nut slots.
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Post by LTB on Jan 8, 2020 21:18:35 GMT -5
Had one on a Gretch Tennesse Rose. I put a Chet Atkins arm that for me worked much better in that it’s shape allowed you to adjust it to fit you. Being longer 9” you have more leverage for easier use plus by being longer you could do light tremolo with ease. That in combination with nut sauce, roller bridge and .011 strings, and locking tuners it stayed in tune longer.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Jan 8, 2020 23:34:58 GMT -5
That is a great tip. The Chet arm is less flexible than the flat one and you can customize it to the length you like.
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Post by Vibroluxer on Jan 9, 2020 6:34:59 GMT -5
I can vouch for the roller bridge and rocker bar. The roller has little problem staying in tune, the rocker isn't set up right, apparently, and the bigsby knocks it out of tune.
Both are Annie's.
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Ryder
Wholenote
Butterscotch Blues
Posts: 854
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Post by Ryder on Jan 9, 2020 9:28:23 GMT -5
I play a Tele most of the time. If I played the Gretsch most, I’d put some money into it. I’m good though and I appreciate the advice!
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Post by Vibroluxer on Jan 9, 2020 9:32:48 GMT -5
Same here. Either a Baja or a Muddy. I'm in the process of making one with filtertrons.
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Post by willie on Jan 9, 2020 9:54:23 GMT -5
I've had excellent results using roller bridges with only a very minimal loss of sustain...if any.
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Post by Vibroluxer on Jan 9, 2020 10:00:41 GMT -5
Man I thought the same thing! And, like you, I was happy.
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Post by rdr on Jan 9, 2020 10:34:50 GMT -5
Another thing you might like is use of a Reverend soft spring. The Bigsby lever on my 5422T was too high and the spring pretty stiff. I installed a soft spring and the lever is lower and easier to get it wobbling. No negatives with this mod. I tried first reducing the free length of the original spring by compressing a little on a vise and heating one end with a torch. Free length was reduced but stiffness was still high. Check it out: store.reverendguitars.com/product/soft-touch-spring/ |
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Jan 9, 2020 11:18:28 GMT -5
"I'm in the process of making one with Filtertrons." Here's one I build about eight years ago. It doesn't sound exactly Gretschy, and it also doesn't sound Teley. If that's a word. I guess it is now!  But is does sound great, and it jangles and rocks really well. |
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Ryder
Wholenote
Butterscotch Blues
Posts: 854
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Post by Ryder on Jan 9, 2020 12:01:35 GMT -5
Peegoo, very nice. Love the color and the newer pickguard. I believe I may have seen that in the “old “world”?
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Post by LTB on Jan 10, 2020 20:54:40 GMT -5
That is a great tip. The Chet arm is less flexible than the flat one and you can customize it to the length you like. Plus the unique curvature of the arm allows you to rotate it to put it in the most comfortable position for your hand and use. I put a bigsby on my Gibson SG along with a Chet Atkins arm. |
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Post by insanecooker on Jan 12, 2020 20:34:55 GMT -5
Another thing you might like is use of a Reverend soft spring. The Bigsby lever on my 5422T was too high and the spring pretty stiff. I installed a soft spring and the lever is lower and easier to get it wobbling. No negatives with this mod. I tried first reducing the free length of the original spring by compressing a little on a vise and heating one end with a torch. Free length was reduced but stiffness was still high. Check it out: store.reverendguitars.com/product/soft-touch-spring/Another Reverend trick is removing the smaller spring, which is replaced by solid washers. This removes the initial dead zone in the arm. My Wolfman with Bigsby has rock-solid tuning stability. I replicated that setup (with roller bridge and a carbon nut) in the Tele with Bigsby I built. That said, I get decent stability with the stock setup on a Luther Dickinson ES-335. |
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Ryder
Wholenote
Butterscotch Blues
Posts: 854
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Post by Ryder on Jan 18, 2020 9:13:34 GMT -5
The more I play this 2655 P90, the more I like it. I don’t use the bar very much so I won’t be doing anything to it. I’d be happy if it wasn’t even there.
The p90 sounds good by itself or mixed with the neck pup. Both pickups sound great with overdrive all the to distortion.
This guitar probably wont become my number one, but it sure is fun to play. It’s nice buying a $600 guitar and not wanting to change out the pickups.
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Post by LTB on Jan 22, 2020 18:37:57 GMT -5
"I'm in the process of making one with Filtertrons." Here's one I build about eight years ago. It doesn't sound exactly Gretschy, and it also doesn't sound Teley. If that's a word. I guess it is now! View AttachmentBut is does sound great, and it jangles and rocks really well. Wow peegoo, that is beautiful! Great color That black guard sets it off nicely! |
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Ryder
Wholenote
Butterscotch Blues
Posts: 854
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Post by Ryder on Jan 22, 2020 18:47:27 GMT -5
I must say, the more I play this 2655 P90, the more I like it.
it sounds great clean or with any amount of dirt.
i just realized I said about the same thing four days ago. Ok, I still like!
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Post by mcrofutt on Jan 29, 2020 9:18:50 GMT -5
Pop each string out of the nut and roll a pencil point in there till there's some accumulation of graphite. Get locking tuners. Besides the locking action, the fact that you don't have to have multiple winds around the tuner shaft makes a big difference.
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Ryder
Wholenote
Butterscotch Blues
Posts: 854
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Post by Ryder on Feb 18, 2020 19:33:06 GMT -5
Pop each string out of the nut and roll a pencil point in there till there's some accumulation of graphite. Get locking tuners. Besides the locking action, the fact that you don't have to have multiple winds around the tuner shaft makes a big difference.
The chap stick worked well. If it wears out I'll try the pencil rolling. I probably won't buy locking tuners though. Trying not to spend any money on this one. It's great just how it is. Thanks mcrofutt. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2020 11:41:24 GMT -5
In the late 60's I traded a friend a Fender Jaguar for a Gretsch Astro Jet. The Astro had two keys on one side of the head and four on the other. I always regretted the trade.
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Post by Opie on Feb 20, 2020 12:19:36 GMT -5
I have a bigsby on all but two of my git's. I use nothing smaller than .10's, and lube the nut and bridge. Also ,the nut must be slotted to the string size. Like Peegoo, I prefer atkins arms.
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Ryder
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Butterscotch Blues
Posts: 854
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Post by Ryder on Feb 20, 2020 19:27:18 GMT -5
I have a bigsby on all but two of my git's. I use nothing smaller than .10's, and lube the nut and bridge. Also ,the nut must be slotted to the string size. Like Peegoo, I prefer atkins arms. I find, even if I have a bigsby, I don't hardly use it. Seems like a waste buy on my latest Gretsch, it came with one. No choice on the 2655 P90. |
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Post by LTB on Feb 29, 2020 1:07:20 GMT -5
Great! This guitar is only a couple of weeks old so I'm sure the strings are still NEW. But, I did the chap stick in the nut slots and used my subtle touch on the bigsby. Much better! Thank you both! Now, how do I get the giant blob of chapstick off of the entire headstock?? Oh yuck! LOL ;-) These guys got me to using chapstick a few years ago. I only do subtle moves with a Bigsby. I have also found .011's stay in tune a little better with a Vibrato but lately I just said "heck with it" I am using .010's. It stays reasonably in tune for 3 or 4 songs and then usually only 1 or 2 strings need slight tuning. |
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Post by LTB on Mar 11, 2020 16:58:45 GMT -5
Had one on a Gretch Tennesse Rose. I put a Chet Atkins arm that for me worked much better in that it’s shape allowed you to adjust it to fit you. Being longer 9” you have more leverage for easier use plus by being longer you could do light tremolo with ease. That in combination with nut sauce, roller bridge and .011 strings, and locking tuners it stayed in tune longer. If I could have played Rockabilly in 2003 when I had this very same model Gretsch Tennessee Rose I would have kept it. |
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RogerD
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Fraternity, Dedication, & Passion
Posts: 181
Formerly Known As: Roger D
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Post by RogerD on Mar 12, 2020 19:04:15 GMT -5
Here's a YouTube link to the model of my first Gretsch guitar that I just recently purchased and also my first experience with a Bigsby.
I have noticed the issue with strings sticking a bit at the nut. However, thanks to all of your suggestion, a solution is at hand.
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Post by LTB on Mar 12, 2020 21:23:57 GMT -5
Here's a YouTube link to the model of my first Gretsch guitar that I just recently purchased and also my first experience with a Bigsby. I have noticed the issue with strings sticking a bit at the nut. However, thanks to all of your suggestion, a solution is at hand. That is one cool guitar! Designed after the 1959 Gretsch 6120 with Ray Butt's TV Jones Full Fidelity Filtertrons. I am glad they have pinned down the bridge on that guitar. That drove me crazy on the Tennessee Rose and because I couldn't bring myself in 2003 to drill the needed holes to pin the bridge down I sold it. Here is a video of TV Jones and Ray Butt's daughter talking about this pickup TV Jones Ray Butt's Filtertron video |
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