Show me ES-335 / 345 / 355s with Bigsbys

Petepassion · September 2023

digitalkettle said:

sweepy said:

There are neater alternatives to a Bigsby on a 335

https://i.imgur.com/6F8eksc.jpg

Works a treat and zero modifications

I've never had nylon saddles...how do they stand up to whammy action under the wound strings?

obviously the Bigsby is a lot more subtle than a modern trem, but I have no issues with the nylon saddles other than when a string breaks and the saddle makes a break for freedom.
I broke a string at rehearsal a few weeks back and stuck the 335 straight back in the case, forgetting about the saddle. Next day went to change the strings and noticed the saddle missing. No need to tell you what an early ‘60’s Gibson nylon saddle/bridge is worth…if you can find one.
Phoned the rehearsal room and they got back to me an hour later…found it!

gotta change that bridge at some stage and keep the original tucked away me thinks.

elstoof · September 2023

impmann said:

I'm no fan of the Bigsby and wear cargo shorts. Is there a correlation?

However, I make an exception for *one* guitar owned by one person. This guitar and this person:

I remember hearing it for the first time in a small club in London plugged into a Vox AC30 back in the early 90s before Suede were particularly well known... magic.

It wouldn’t have been that guitar, the 355 was picked up in LA while touring the first album after his 345(I think?) was stolen in Toronto

elstoof · September 2023

stickyfiddle said:

I've just turned 39 so naturally my attention has immediately focused on the next birthday and the only way to console myself is in knowing that I can definitely justify one proper guitar purchase, and our next trip to Japan (hopefully spring next year) may bring me some really decent opportunities for gear perusal...

I did the exact same thing last year, in anticipation of being 40 right now I put an order in for a 355 with factory Bigsby instead of the stoptail that’s standard now, because of Bernard Butler. Little did I know that Peach would get 3 or 4 of the same guitar in stock between then and now, and I’m still bloody waiting for mine

impmann · September 2023

elstoof said:

impmann said:

I'm no fan of the Bigsby and wear cargo shorts. Is there a correlation?

However, I make an exception for *one* guitar owned by one person. This guitar and this person:

I remember hearing it for the first time in a small club in London plugged into a Vox AC30 back in the early 90s before Suede were particularly well known... magic.

It wouldn’t have been that guitar, the 355 was picked up in LA while touring the first album after his 345(I think?) was stolen in Toronto

Good point, well made.

It would have been the one that got nicked at that first gig.

Seen it/him a few times since he got it ('94, IIRC).

elstoof · September 2023

I’m a massive unrepentant fanboy of his so apologies for the pedantry!

digitalkettle · September 2023

Petepassion said:

digitalkettle said:
I've never had nylon saddles...how do they stand up to whammy action under the wound strings?

obviously the Bigsby is a lot more subtle than a modern term, but I have no issues with the nylon saddles other than when a string breaks and the saddle makes a break for freedom.
...

I was thinking of the string sawing itself deeper into the saddle over time.

digitalkettle · September 2023

stickyfiddle said:
Oh god yes. I've played a bunch of Collingses but never one of these. They're just so much money though...!

@stickyfiddle ;Yep...but it was my 50th (last year) and I traded the 'keeper' that I bought for my 40th!

I know you see how this works

stickyfiddle · September 2023

digitalkettle said:

stickyfiddle said:
Oh god yes. I've played a bunch of Collingses but never one of these. They're just so much money though...!

@stickyfiddle ;Yep...but it was my 50th (last year) and I traded the 'keeper' that I bought for my 40th!

I know you see how this works

Haha! Nicely done.

The big question is.. are you happy with that decision?

digitalkettle · September 2023

stickyfiddle said:

digitalkettle said:

stickyfiddle said:
Oh god yes. I've played a bunch of Collingses but never one of these. They're just so much money though...!

@stickyfiddle ;Yep...but it was my 50th (last year) and I traded the 'keeper' that I bought for my 40th!

I know you see how this works

Haha! Nicely done.

The big question is.. are you happy with that decision?

Oh yes...it hasn't been back in its case since I got it home!

stickyfiddle · September 2023

Excellent!

fretmeister · September 2023

UnclePsychosis · September 2023

stickyfiddle said:

GavRichList said:

Can’t. Haven’t got one.

#SADFACE

These 7-string tuning systems get stranger and stranger...

Petepassion · September 2023

digitalkettle said:

Petepassion said:

digitalkettle said:
I've never had nylon saddles...how do they stand up to whammy action under the wound strings?

obviously the Bigsby is a lot more subtle than a modern term, but I have no issues with the nylon saddles other than when a string breaks and the saddle makes a break for freedom.
...

I was thinking of the string sawing itself deeper into the saddle over time.

Well I guess inevitably it will, but how quick, I couldn't say. I've had mine about three years and play it on average maybe about 10 hours a week, plus it takes a beating at weekly rehearsals and the odd gig and haven't noticed any difference in wear.

stickyfiddle · September 2023

fretmeister said:

You know he lost in the end, right? Died twice in one film!

#bigsbyforever

ElectricXII · September 2023

Mine has a Towner / B6 arrangement too.

Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53003223320_9e2d6d369b_b.jpg

roberty · September 2023

Petepassion said:

1962, best guitar I've ever owned/played...could do with a damn good clean.

Weyy Selmer club. Cool amps

roberty · September 2023

Don't know what I was thinking when I sold this lol

I just got a black Heritage H-535 which is a candidate for a B7 abomination, and is a nicer guitar than my Gibbo was. I wonder if you can get those anchor studs anywhere

swiller · September 2023

Kylef said:

And my ES-345 from 1972 in Walnut:

That is nicest 3x5 ive ever seen. Birth year for me. First dibs pls if ever selling. Congrats. Dont usually like the non reds, but that is completely stunning.

davros · September 2023

TDubs · September 2023

stickyfiddle said:

Wows duly awarded. These are all awesome

TDubs said:

How is that Bisgbsy attached? Looks like no screws in the top?

Standard spec, this has a maestro vibrola.

There are various screw holes under the vibrola. I used some existing screw holes to mount magnetic pieces and then stuck some magnetic pieces to the underside of the bigsby so it’s held in place by the magnet
force, a Vibramate tailpiece adapter and string force.

Works pretty well but have a better idea for to little lugs to be added to the bigsby and then it will screw on to the body using two other existing holes. Bigsby is with a local fabricator being modified but it’s taking forever!

All this for a no extra holes mod!

stickyfiddle · September 2023

TDubs said:

stickyfiddle said:

Wows duly awarded. These are all awesome

TDubs said:

How is that Bisgbsy attached? Looks like no screws in the top?

Standard spec, this has a maestro vibrola.

There are various screw holes under the vibrola. I used some existing screw holes to mount magnetic pieces and then stuck some magnetic pieces to the underside of the bigsby so it’s held in place by the magnet
force, a Vibramate tailpiece adapter and string force.

Works pretty well but have a better idea for to little lugs to be added to the bigsby and then it will screw on to the body using two other existing holes. Bigsby is with a local fabricator being modified but it’s taking forever!

All this for a no extra holes mod!

Nice - that's a neat solution. I don't get the Maestro thing on a guitar where a B7 will fit. It's a worse vibrato and looks awful on 355s, but Gibson seem to be very keen on it in recent years. Better kept on Firebirds and SGs

impmann · September 2023

stickyfiddle said:

TDubs said:

stickyfiddle said:

Wows duly awarded. These are all awesome

TDubs said:

How is that Bisgbsy attached? Looks like no screws in the top?

Standard spec, this has a maestro vibrola.

There are various screw holes under the vibrola. I used some existing screw holes to mount magnetic pieces and then stuck some magnetic pieces to the underside of the bigsby so it’s held in place by the magnet
force, a Vibramate tailpiece adapter and string force.

Works pretty well but have a better idea for to little lugs to be added to the bigsby and then it will screw on to the body using two other existing holes. Bigsby is with a local fabricator being modified but it’s taking forever!

All this for a no extra holes mod!

Nice - that's a neat solution. I don't get the Maestro thing on a guitar where a B7 will fit. It's a worse vibrato and looks awful on 355s, but Gibson seem to be very keen on it in recent years. Better kept on Firebirds and SGs

Hmmm… it’s not a ‘worse’ trem it’s a different one. Personally speaking I prefer them - when they are set correctly, they work very well (refer Alex Lifeson’s white 355).
Each to their own I say.

stickyfiddle · September 2023

impmann said:

stickyfiddle said:

TDubs said:

stickyfiddle said:

Wows duly awarded. These are all awesome

TDubs said:

How is that Bisgbsy attached? Looks like no screws in the top?

Standard spec, this has a maestro vibrola.

There are various screw holes under the vibrola. I used some existing screw holes to mount magnetic pieces and then stuck some magnetic pieces to the underside of the bigsby so it’s held in place by the magnet
force, a Vibramate tailpiece adapter and string force.

Works pretty well but have a better idea for to little lugs to be added to the bigsby and then it will screw on to the body using two other existing holes. Bigsby is with a local fabricator being modified but it’s taking forever!

All this for a no extra holes mod!

Nice - that's a neat solution. I don't get the Maestro thing on a guitar where a B7 will fit. It's a worse vibrato and looks awful on 355s, but Gibson seem to be very keen on it in recent years. Better kept on Firebirds and SGs

Hmmm… it’s not a ‘worse’ trem it’s a different one. Personally speaking I prefer them - when they are set correctly, they work very well (refer Alex Lifeson’s white 355).
Each to their own I say.

I've bolded the important bit. They have no ability for adjustment without taking them off and physically bending the spring, and they're often made wrong - that's why they're shite.

They can be great when you get a good one, but it's not reliable. I played 3 different brand new CS SGs back in June and only 1 had a Maestro could you actually use properly. I was really disappointed

Petepassion · September 2023

roberty said:

Petepassion said:

1962, best guitar I've ever owned/played...could do with a damn good clean.

Weyy Selmer club. Cool amps

Yeah, they’re nice amps, I’ve seen a few 50w ones about, but this is the only 100w one I’ve seen.

AMCDON27 · September 2023

chrisj1602 · September 2023

AMCDON27 said:

Nice. Noel Gallagher sig on the right?

chrisj1602 · September 2023

Ok, not a Gibson but it was assembled in the Gibson factory…

I added a vintage 60s Bigsby to it. Unfortunately I no longer have it, but on reflection I’d say it’s the possibly best guitar I’ve ever had, definitely up there with Gibson and Fender CS guitars I’ve had.

AMCDON27 · September 2023

chrisj1602 said:

AMCDON27 said:

Nice. Noel Gallagher sig on the right?

Thank you. Yes.....NG 355 on the right and the one on the left is a 2009 from Memphis.

AMCDON27 · September 2023

chrisj1602 said:

Ok, not a Gibson but it was assembled in the Gibson factory…

I added a vintage 60s Bigsby to it. Unfortunately I no longer have it, but on reflection I’d say it’s the possibly best guitar I’ve ever had, definitely up there with Gibson and Fender CS guitars I’ve had.

Is this the 64' reissue? Had always been on the lookout for one of these but no joy so far.
I do have the Elite version in the same finish which is lovely, but these were of even higher quality.

yocky · September 2023

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Show me ES-335 / 345 / 355s with Bigsbys

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