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Post by grayn on Mar 30, 2023 18:59:56 GMT
I bought a preowned Fender Telecaster Custom Ltd edition with Bigsby, a few weeks back. I was happy with the set up but thought the Bigsby B50 could use a little de-stiffening. I'd achieved this previously, on a Gretsch, by fitting a Vibramate String Spoiler and a roller bridge. These had been very successful but I was unsure whether a roller bridge could be found for a Tele and in any case, the individual bridges on my Tele are of the rounded thread type, so don't offer too much friction on the strings. So this time I went for another String Spoiler and a Reverend Soft Touch Spring. They arrived yesterday and today, so I fitted them this afternoon. Both were extremely simple to fit. The Vibramate Spoiler's main function is to make re-stringing with a Bigsby a doddle and this it does, very successfully. It also reduces tension on the strings a little, which helps with the Bigsby's smoothness and makes playing your guitar, even easier. If you are someone who likes to hammer away on higher tension strings, you probably wouldn't want a Bigsby in the first place. But if you did, I'd imagine raising the guitar's action a tad, would sort you out. The Reverend Soft Touch Spring, is basically a replacement for the Bigsby spring, that is slightly taller and a little less rigid. This raises the angle of your Bigsby's arm, by a degree or two and gives you a smoother, more responsive tremolo unit. So unless you are incredibly heavy handed, it really is a good thing. Fortunately the differences are not huge, so the arm is still very easy to access and use and the spring is not spongy but just better, within the confines of what a Bigsby can do. I am a happy waggler.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Mar 30, 2023 21:47:12 GMT
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Post by surfguy13 on Mar 31, 2023 7:37:31 GMT
This is really interesting! I have always avoided B7s as the springs always feel very heavy and I only use a bigsby for slight vibrato rather than heavy duty stuff. I don't think it is any real disadvantage to have the arm slightly higher and may well be an advantage. I was surprised to see how cheap the reverend soft touch spring is so it's a no brainer, particularly if it;s easy to fit!!
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Post by grayn on Apr 1, 2023 5:49:42 GMT
This is really interesting! I have always avoided B7s as the springs always feel very heavy and I only use a bigsby for slight vibrato rather than heavy duty stuff. I don't think it is any real disadvantage to have the arm slightly higher and may well be an advantage. I was surprised to see how cheap the reverend soft touch spring is so it's a no brainer, particularly if it;s easy to fit!! As you say, the Reverend Soft Touch Spring is very low cost and they threw in a Reverend plectrum with it. The tiny amount of extra height is no problem to adapt to and that little bit of extra travel length, with the less rigidity, gives a whole lot more to play with and express yourself. Changing the spring is simplicity itself. Slacken the strings right off or remove them, as I did, to fit new ones and you find the Bigsby arm will lift right up and the spring comes out, as it's only kept in by the pressure of the arm mechanism. Replace with the Soft Touch, tighten and tune strings and you are ready to waggle. Like you, I only use the Bigsby for fluttering tremolo and dips. Great for surf and vintage rock-n-roll/rockabilly.
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Post by surfguy13 on Apr 1, 2023 8:26:37 GMT
This is really interesting! I have always avoided B7s as the springs always feel very heavy and I only use a bigsby for slight vibrato rather than heavy duty stuff. I don't think it is any real disadvantage to have the arm slightly higher and may well be an advantage. I was surprised to see how cheap the reverend soft touch spring is so it's a no brainer, particularly if it;s easy to fit!! As you say, the Reverend Soft Touch Spring is very low cost and they threw in a Reverend plectrum with it. The tiny amount of extra height is no problem to adapt to and that little bit of extra travel length, with the less rigidity, gives a whole lot more to play with and express yourself. Changing the spring is simplicity itself. Slacken the strings right off or remove them, as I did, to fit new ones and you find the Bigsby arm will lift right up and the spring comes out, as it's only kept in by the pressure of the arm mechanism. Replace with the Soft Touch, tighten and tune strings and you are ready to waggle. Like you, I only use the Bigsby for fluttering tremolo and dips. Great for surf and vintage rock-n-roll/rockabilly. I think this is something even I could do!! Sounds like it's a doddle to change and well worth the fairly insignificant cost and the effort. Onward and upward!
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Post by Derick on Apr 9, 2023 9:48:07 GMT
Hi Grayn
I've never had a guitar fitted with a Bigsby, but pleased you are happy with the mod you have done. I had a Fender Stratocaster that was fitted with a Floyd Rose trem, didn't like it, ended up trading in for a MIM Fender Stratocaster with standard trem, that I much prefer.
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