bigsby B7/B3 on a les paul

[LesP]

Hey everyone tried searching for the answer to this on here already but can't find it so here we go:

I want to install a bigsby onto my Burny les paul custom. It already has a stud bridge, which I will remove, but it will leave these two deep and wide screw holes in the body. I have thought of getting them professionally finished over but it comes to more expense and time than the guitars worth.

I don't like the appearance of the B5 or that vibramate that goes with it. So its either the the B3 (with the single bar and no screw in to the top of the wood) or the B7 (with the double bar and screw into the top).

The B7 is a long bigsby and would sit on top of the holes in the guitar, however it would not completely cover them (not very pleasant!)

The B3 being shorter would not cover the holes but then my plan was to get one of those black "custom made" badges ( http://guitarpartscenter.com/1/TRCS/custommade.jpg ) they have on some 335s which covers the holes neatly (sounds great). Only one issue, does a B3 work on a Les Paul????? you don't see them on a LP very often (found a pic of one though http://i40.tinypic.com/1195b4j.jpg )

[captain tightpants]

They can work on a Les Paul, but it may not due to lack of a break angle over the bridge. I tried a B-30 on my Studio, I couldn't get the strings to stay in the slots, they were all practically dead flat over the bridge, almost no break angle at all. I figure if you have a pretty steep neck angle, it will work fine, but if it's pretty shallow, it won't. YMMV

[LesP]

interesting, I've noticed B3s on Gretsch jets (http://www.12fret.com/new/Gretsch_Du...28TDS-R_b2.jpg) arn't those guitars pretty similar to Les Pauls?

[dennistruckdriver]

[LesP]

Hey, that's a really cool gold top with a B3!!!

How do you find it works? good or do you wish you had a B7?

[dennistruckdriver]

I sold that particular one. I had another just like it with a B30. Under hard use, the strings can pop out of the saddle grooves, but the Bigsby was not designed for 'hard use'. A B7 or B70 would probably work marginally better, but does require drilling two holes in the top of your beautiful guitar, and once drilled, they can't be un-drilled. Try a B30 first to see if you like a Bigsby. You can always sell it and get a B7 or B70 later.

[snaredrum]

i always wondered about this - as LesP says, the duo jet used a B3 and that's almost a les paul. i'd say do it and let us know how it works!

[LesP]

Does anyone have a good close up picture of a lp with a b7 that they have added and that still has the stud holes?


Yeh I think I will buy a B3 and let you guys know how it turns out - just one thing - does a b3 cover the right stud hole?

[LesP]

hold on a sec - b3 and b6 look the same but b3 is smaller, which is on that gold top above? as that one covers the right stud hole

[dennistruckdriver]

B6 is for deeper bodies. I'd go with the B30, which is the imported, less expensive version. They work fine.

[LesP]

is that a b3 on the gold top?

[dennistruckdriver]

B30.

[LesP]

Just had a new idea!!

Vibramate do a device to fit the B7 on the flyingV. Have a look at it (VIBRAMATE™ - Innovative Vibrato Hardware - Made in USA) surely you could just throw away the "wing bracket" and just use the fitting???????

What do you think?

[cherrick]

I put this B7 on. Don't even think about anything other than a B7, unless it's a B5 on a Vibramate. Just sayin'.

The old school fix for the two holes where the tail piece studs used to be is two mother-of-pearl disk/circles on top of the bushings.

[captain tightpants]

Originally Posted by cherrick

I put this B7 on. Don't even think about anything other than a B7, unless it's a B5 on a Vibramate. Just sayin'.

The old school fix for the two holes where the tail piece studs used to be is two mother-of-pearl disk/circles on top of the bushings.

A pair of metal plugs from True Value work pretty good, too.


Just to be clear, the B-30 Dennis is talking about is the one I tried on my Les Paul Studio. There was NOTHING wrong with the B-30 at all, but there was not nearly enough down force on the strings for even light strumming on that guitar. Not saying it won't work on other Les Pauls, but it didn't like my Gibson one bit. I'd have to go with a B5 (50) or a B-7 (70) for my Studio.

Here is Dennis' old B-30 on the Dot before I switched it to a B-70


I tried it on my G-400 before I tried it on the Studio, same result. Actually worse, the high E string completely cleared the bridge unless I raised it up to unplayable heights. Hence the reason the G-400 has a B-50 now.

[dennistruckdriver]

What's that pink triangle-shaped thing next to the pickup rings?

[captain tightpants]

That is a bonafide Gibson Les Paul pickguard that I keep meaning to replace, but I haven't gotten around to yet. Disgusting that the Allparts rings are a better color than a real Gibson guard.

[dennistruckdriver]

That's awful. I'd go with five-ply black and white with black rings before I'd have that monstrosity!

[captain tightpants]

I like the cream but that damned guard is way too pink. You should see it in person, looks like a frakkin' Salmon.

And what are you talking about, you wouldn't own one anyways, you hate the headstocks, remember?

[dennistruckdriver]

I couldn't see the headstone....I mean headstock....in the photos.

[captain tightpants]

Originally Posted by dennistruckdriver

I couldn't see the headstone....I mean headstock....in the photos.

Oh yeah I can understand your confusion, cuz every Dot is different from the other No way you could have known that my DOT had a DOT'S typical large headstock.

You really need to learn to read the WHOLE post, not just what you want to.

Back on the subject, LesP, if you do tend to play heavy, the B-7/ B-70 would probably be the way to go, it will hold the strings down a lot better than a B-30 due to much greater downforce with the B-70's tension bar.

However, keep in mind on a Lester, the B-7 puts a LOT of downforce on the bridge. When I originally mounted my B-50 on the G-400 close to the bridge like a B-70 would be, I did have some problems with tuning stablility. When I moved it back about an inch, the tuning problems went away.

Another option to consider is to using a B-5 and mount it further away from the bridge instead of right up next to it. Dan Erlewine recommends doing this on a Les Paul in his "How to Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great" book. I personally don't like the way it looks, but the way he mounted it (right on the edge of the Les Paul's body), placed it a similar distance from the bridge that my Dot's B-70 is.


I'll post some before and after shots of my G-400 so you can see the difference a little later.

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by captain tightpants

....You really need to learn to read the WHOLE post, not just what you want to....

I read what I want to, because the whole post is boring.

P.S. By 'monstrosity', I meant the pink pickguard. The guitar is rather attractive.

[captain tightpants]

As opposed to your usual tidbits of *ahem* wisdom.

I though you had me on ignore? Couldn't stand the thought of missing something about yourself, huh?

[dennistruckdriver]

Never mind, for cryin' out loud.

[captain tightpants]

Yes, I did understand you meant the "pickguard." And I agree, it is not a pretty color at all, just too lazy to fix it.

I have to say, of the 3 Bigsby's I've tried, I did like the feel of the B-30 the best. The only reason the Dot has a B-70 on it now was because of some really weird overtones that would come from the REALLY long run of string between the B-30 and the bridge. The B-70's tension bar dampens the overtones down quite a bit, but the B-30 was a LOT smoother. I was very disappointed that it didn't work on my Studio.

[captain tightpants]

OK, found my camera, here's a before and after showing the different placement of the B-50. Even with a roller bridge, it made all the difference in tuning stability. The bar feels a lot smoother further back as well.

[captain tightpants]

Originally Posted by LesP

Just had a new idea!!

Vibramate do a device to fit the B7 on the flyingV. Have a look at it (VIBRAMATE™ - Innovative Vibrato Hardware - Made in USA) surely you could just throw away the "wing bracket" and just use the fitting???????

What do you think?

Sorry, man, I missed this post, that's a hell of a good idea! Looks like they've got one in the works for a B-7, too.

[djwilbanks]

Can't we all just get along?

And for the record, I hate those Dot headstocks.

[darkr_reaver]

Originally Posted by LesP

Just had a new idea!!

Vibramate do a device to fit the B7 on the flyingV. Have a look at it (VIBRAMATE™ - Innovative Vibrato Hardware - Made in USA) surely you could just throw away the "wing bracket" and just use the fitting???????

What do you think?

Installation in minutes? Seems easy enough even for me. Hmmm... Now I can try a Bigsby...

[benjammin420]

wow ive never seen the B7 Vibramate before, i think im may get one of those for myself for xmas