So I have had the lovely 1961 Epi Sorrento for some time now and it's a fantastic guitar. However I feel that some upgrades are in order. Top of the list is replacing the abr-1 wire bridge from 1961. It just feels cheap, sketchy, and as much as I've been able to quiet it down I can still feel it rattle. I'm torn because I was considering a direct vintage style pigtail or tonepros replacement but I recently played a Gretsch Brian Setzer with a Bigsby and it got me thinking. I know some people love them and some hate them. If I was to do a Bigsby I would also get a graphite nut, roller bridge, and locking tuners to help with the overall tuning stability. Pros and Cons of Bigsby VS. Modern Gibson style ABR-1 replacement, lets Discuss!!!

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I like the idea of a Bigsby but in practice it's the kind of thing you use once. On the end of the last song at the end of the night. Because after that your tuning is shot to hell.

But that's maybe just me.

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- IAN C. -
Rig: PRS | Schecter USA | Gibson | Axe-Fx II | empress effects
Beta tester: Fractal Audio | empress effects

Look, it's a hollowbody..... No matter what, there's gonna be some kind of rattle.... At the price of Gibson, go Tone Pros at that point, and well, graphite nut is awesome. But really. Bigsby is awesome if you complete the set, otherwise, as iaresee said, you're gonna have fun.... If anything, I'd say buy the locking bridge, and call it good, a Gibson ABR-1 is awesome, but well, I don't see why stop there. Do the bridge, and graphite nut, then see where you're at.

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ESP Eclipse Limited (3/100) or Gibson Les Paul Standard (97) - Fulltone OCD - H.B.E. Detox EQ - Laney GH50L - 80's Ibanez AD-9 (in loop) - Randall XL 4x12
Tortex "The wedge" picks, Blue Steel strings, Line 6 Moble In, Charvel Model 6 modded to a Model 5FX.... Probly other stuff as well

Don't act like you wouldn't hit this.....

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I'm just two people short of a threesome.

I don't care for Bigsbys. I don't care what nut or bridge you use they are not stable. I went to a session a while back and a guy put a Vintage perfect 1958 Black LP Custom in my hands with a factory installed Bigsby. It would not stay in tune. I ended up not using it. However, Bigsbys seem to be immensely popular again. Some people claim they increase sustain. It is possible to put an over sized spring in them and never use them. I have had real 61 SG laying around in my crap for some time. Some idiot recut the body before I got it. I just now picked up a Custom Shop body on eBay from a 61 re-issue with a schattered neck. I plan to put the old neck on the new body. Since I have a total of about $145 into it, I'm even thinking of installing an old Bigsbys or a Lyre on it for cool factor. Probably will increase the resale value. I'm have a dilemma. The guitar will have the proper serial number on the headstock, but a new body. Is it a vintage guitar?

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Stage Guitars: '80s Thin line LP Custom, '70 LP Standard, '83 Squier Black Headstock Strat w/ Dan Torres pickups, '59 Black Danelectro DC, sometimes others.

Pedal Board: Nady UHF 10 -> TU2 -> Rocktron Big Crush -> 70s MXR Phase 100 -> Cry Baby -> Bad Monkey -> Early '80s Rat -> Early '80s Ibanez CS 9 -> Ibanez DE 7 -> Behringer Dr 100 Stereo Reverb

Stage amps: '63 Blonde Tremolux w/ two original 2X10 cabinets with a '60 Ampeg Rocket/18 watt VTB Marshall clone/ Epi VJ into a Mashall 1965A

I don't have any experience with Bigsbies (is that the plural form?) but you might want to consider this since it's not as permanent:

Stetsbar

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I reject reality and substitute my own

Once. And then it'd be so out of tune I'd discard it in disgust.

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- IAN C. -
Rig: PRS | Schecter USA | Gibson | Axe-Fx II | empress effects
Beta tester: Fractal Audio | empress effects

Is the tuning really that unstable with a properly set up Bigsby? The Setzer Custom I played didn't really go out much at all when I was testing it. It went out on the G about as much as any of my Fender Strat pluses with the bridge setup. I've tinkered with Bigsbys before but I just thought that maybe the ones that were bad didn't return to pitch just like any poorly set up trem. Just hoped that in 60 years someone would have figured it out. AGHH. Anyways as to Olddawgs problem, I'd say it's a good one to have. The wood Gibson used on the necks and bodies in the old days was incredible. Definitely the case on mine anyway. At the very least you should have an amazing player that looks and feels like a true classic and nobody will be wiser.

Yeah, I've been lucky enough to own several old 50s and 60s Gibson SGs, LPs, Jrs, and MMs. I much prefer a 60s neck. I was being cheeky. I would never sell a guitar without disclosing what I knew about it. Unfortunately the body mahogany will probably not be as resonant as an old one, but worth a shot. To me Bigsbys come and go in popularity. I have a friend that used one for a lake boat anchor. I have always wanted to check out one of the palm types that have more than one bar and sound like a pedal steel. But Palms are hard to come by.

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Stage Guitars: '80s Thin line LP Custom, '70 LP Standard, '83 Squier Black Headstock Strat w/ Dan Torres pickups, '59 Black Danelectro DC, sometimes others.

Pedal Board: Nady UHF 10 -> TU2 -> Rocktron Big Crush -> 70s MXR Phase 100 -> Cry Baby -> Bad Monkey -> Early '80s Rat -> Early '80s Ibanez CS 9 -> Ibanez DE 7 -> Behringer Dr 100 Stereo Reverb

Stage amps: '63 Blonde Tremolux w/ two original 2X10 cabinets with a '60 Ampeg Rocket/18 watt VTB Marshall clone/ Epi VJ into a Mashall 1965A

Use wound Gs, god damn it! Your problems will be over.

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crew

Selling BOSS FW-3. I live in Brazil, mind you, so prepare yourself for $30-ish for shipping and waiting. Local pickup available, along with beautiful beaches and cheap bitches.

I know it's a shallow reason, but I get put off by Bigsbys purely because of the appearance of them; they look like something out of Jules Verne.

I do actually dig steampunk...just not on a guitar!

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Guitar rig: CIJ Fender Jazzmaster/CIJ Fender Mustang -> TU-3 -> RV-5 -> OD-3 -> custom IC Muff -> PS-2 -> DD-3 -> RE-20 -> LS-2 -> Fender '65 DRRI & Mesa/Boogie F-50

Bass rig: Fender MIM Jazz Bass -> TU-2 -> RAT 2 -> Sansamp BDDI -> RV-3

"...So now you know the true secret to great tone: all the espresso you can handle."

I knew you were joking olddawg! Now I am just wondering what on earth a "re-cut" SG looks like. And what rationale did the former owner have for making that "modification". Hmmm let's see I've got just about the neck heaviest guitar in the history of the earth. What to do, what to do??? Let's see, I'll just hack away at this heavy honduran mahogany body to balance this b*tch out! @UOME I checked out the stetsbar and that's not gonna fly on the Epi since it's got a trapeze tail piece leaving me with no studs to mount it. It's quite sad because it looks solid and has a good trem range. Damn, now I'm thinking maybe go with a roller bridge and a graphite nut then wait until Christmas to justify getting a Bigsby that may or may no go by the wayside. Plus that'll give me some more time to try a few more Bigsby equipped guitars. Eff it I'm just going to sell all my guitars and get a White Falcon.

But the appearance is exactly what I like the most about them!

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crew

Selling BOSS FW-3. I live in Brazil, mind you, so prepare yourself for $30-ish for shipping and waiting. Local pickup available, along with beautiful beaches and cheap bitches.

I was in Jules Verne.... We didn't use the bigby ever, was a floyd rose :O

__________________
ESP Eclipse Limited (3/100) or Gibson Les Paul Standard (97) - Fulltone OCD - H.B.E. Detox EQ - Laney GH50L - 80's Ibanez AD-9 (in loop) - Randall XL 4x12
Tortex "The wedge" picks, Blue Steel strings, Line 6 Moble In, Charvel Model 6 modded to a Model 5FX.... Probly other stuff as well

I think the looks are one of the few things the Bigsby's got going for it at this point. Every time I see a hollowbody with one it just looks right.