Took the Bigsby off my SG... and...

[fitz]

Decided to return the SG 50th anniversary back to the stock look and take the Bigsby off.





Easily reversable with the Vibramate no-drill adapter plate.



The felt pads left some circular marks in the nitro near the tail piece inserts.
Really only visible with the light at a certain angle.

 

[fitz]

Original stop bar re-installed and a fresh set of DR 9-42's.



...and, decided to put the Bigsby set-up on the Firebird.



I've seen a few FB's with a Bigsby.
Not as common as the Maestro, but I kinda like how it looks.



Used up my last set of spare strings on the SG, but I have a 3-pack inbound.
Here's a side-by-side.



Also decided to get one of these string spoiler gizmos to put on the Bigsby.
Supposed to just lock on to the string ball pins on the Bigsby and make string changes easier.
Should be here in a few days, along with the strings.

 

[Hackmaster]

I love Bigsbys.

 

[DirtySteve]

I've never tried a Bigsby. Did the sound of the SG change when you took it off?

 

[dmatthews]

Beauty, nicely done mate!

 

[fitz]

I've never tried a Bigsby. Did the sound of the SG change when you took it off?

No real change in tone (as far as I can notice), just no wiggle stick anymore.
One thing it did change, when I put it on, was cut down on the neck dive a bit.
Not even an issue anymore with a Well-Hung strap.

 

[TVvoodoo]

Mix and match! Once you get the Xtra strings, it'll be almost a double NGD! Both are beauties by the way!

 

[fitz]

Mix and match! Once you get the Xtra strings, it'll be almost a double NGD! Both are beauties by the way!

Thanks!
2 of my older (to me) guitars actually.
I'd been contemplating doing this for a while, and well, they both needed new strings anyway...

 

[ibmorjamn]

Thanks!
2 of my older (to me) guitars actually.
I'd been contemplating doing this for a while, and well, they both needed new strings anyway...

100% improvement , my old 70’s SG deluxe had the bigsby and it had been removed. It’s a real improvement.
Looks great.

 

[fitz]

100% improvement , my old 70’s SG deluxe had the bigsby and it had been removed. It’s a real improvement.
Looks great.

Thanks, I'm happy with the SG being back to stock.
Being kinda a limited edition from 2011, I never wanted to do any sort of permanent changes to it.
AFAIK, there were only about 6-700 made with the 50th badge and the 24 fret board.
Still makes me chuckle a little when I think back on GC selling it as a plain old '61 RI because the logo was covered by a string butler.
I got a ridiculous deal on it...

I'm looking forward to seeing how the FB plays with the Bigsby.
Saw this recent Reverb listing that got the gears turning again...

 

[fitz]

Here's an old klunker with a stock Bigsby that can be had for pocket change...

https://reverb.com/item/81531686-1964-gibson-firebird-includes-hardshell-case-614-173174

 

[DirtySteve]

Now I want a Bigsby...

 

[fitz]

Now I want a Bigsby...

Whadda ya puttin it on?

 

[DirtySteve]

Whadda ya puttin it on?

That's a good question. I might need another guitar.

 

[Thatbastarddon]

That's a good question. I might need another guitar.

Yep….there it is.

 

[fitz]

Now I want a Bigsby...

You know, it's not a Floyd Rose / Kahler dive bomb & 4 step squeal hair metal kind of whammy bar - more of an old school subtle tremolo thing...
If you pull up on it enough, the spring might fall out.

 

[DirtySteve]

You know, it's not a Floyd Rose / Kahler dive bomb & 4 step squeal hair metal kind of whammy bar - more of an old school subtle tremolo thing...
If you pull up on it enough, the spring might fall out.

Yeah, that's what's cool about it to me. That and it looks cool on the right guitar.

 

[Thatbastarddon]

If you pull up on it enough, the spring might fall out.

This is why I like my Stetsbars…they can dive a bit, but pull-ups have a certain, spooky, satisfaction level…no worries…that’s how we get back in tune…a little upward pull will drag the strings back over the nut, to their harmonious home…and there’s no worry over an ejected spring. Ride it gently, and the shimmers are there…super smooth…but I digress. What’s the next guitar?

 

[fitz]

What’s the next guitar?

Bigsby usually make me think Gretsch.

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[Thatbastarddon]

Bigsby usually make me think Gretsch.

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Ooooh! That’s a sweet one!!! Right up my alley with that bridge humbucker, P90 neck, combo…well played sir!!!