Bigsby with Piezo Bridge... Bad Idea?

Started by Rhcole, May 08, 2014, 11:50:18 PM

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Rhcole

I did a quick search, and didn't find what I was looking for. I recall somebody saying that a Bigsby on a GraphTech piezo bridge can damage the saddles or create poor tracking.

Am I right on this?

Jim Williams

I don't know about damaging the saddles but a fix for the cross talk and the overtones behind the bridge is to stuff a small piece of foam under the strings behind the bridge to dampen the strings will help. As far as the other issue unless you use the bar all the time you shouldn't have an issue. That is only my opinion and a guess about that issue from what I know and I would recommend further research. If you are using it with a GR-55 I recommend an internal GK3 system, I have both and the GK3 works much better than the Ghost system..... something to think about. By the way an internal GK3 is about 1/2 the price of a Ghost or RMC system.
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rolandvg99

Bigsby tremolos tend to wear down piezo systems. The strings rock the saddles and will make a lot of noise and might even (or certainly will) damage the piezos. GK all the way on this one.
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Elantric

#3
A Guitar with a Bigsby is always a battle just to stay in tune - add trying to get it to work with a hex Piezo Bridge PU 13 pin preamp. . .
If you have money to burn - go ahead.

Remember Gibson style Tuno-o-matic Bridges with Piezo saddles are equally sensitive to both the length of string you want to hear (Bridge to Nut) AND the length of string you do not want to hear (Bridge to Tailpiece)

The high pitched ringing strings  (Bridge to Tailpiece) wreak havoc and deliver a huge hurdle and battle for Guitar to MIDI or DSP Alt Tunings.

Suggest read the excellent article  / interview of Richard McClish of RMC pickups
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=8187.0

I have several guitars with Bigsbys, and not going trying to start any arguments, but bulk of the info spread on forums is flat wrong.
If you want an "always OUT of tune guitar"  - buy the
Graph Tech Supercharger Kit
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Graph-Tech-Supercharger-Kit-NV-for-4mm-Posts-109602250-i1887015.gc


Been there, done that - Its worthless - because its based on a philosophy of a permanently locked fixed T-O-M Bridge similar to the Tone Pro's , and relies on the moving strings (anytime the Tremolo is being used) to "glide" in the Graphtech saddles = problem is in reality the strings always get hung up in the  Graphtech saddles during and after any Bigsby Trem arm use, and strings go sharp.  Then play some blues String bending and the Strings go Flat.

The Bigsby Gurus know the secret to a working Bigsby is a pivoting "rocking Bridge" that pivots during any Bigsby Trem arm use.

IMHO Leo Fender got it right with the pivot design of the Jazzmaster Bridge.
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/19736-titans-of-tremolo?page=2


Back in the 1960s Gibson used "domed" T-O-M Height adjusters that allowed the T-O-M Bridge base to "wobble"  and pivot during any Bigsby Tremolo use -and this action avoids the problem of the strings getting hung up in the Bridge saddles and allows the guitar to stay in tune





More details here

http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/13160-looking-for-written-detailed-app-info-for-bigsby/
 

And of course with care and very shortened string length "behind the bridge" - many things are possible


https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=9291.0


Rhcole

Just wondering if we have any members using a Bigsby on a Vguitar who love it? There are "some manufacturers" who offer it as an option- it sounds like they may be actually unclear on the technology...

Elantric

#5
A Guitar with Bigsby and  Piezo Bridge saddle Bridge can be a major problem (read above)

Meanwhile Guitar's with Bigsby and GK-3 can be set up to work very well