Telecaster B Bender By Gregory USA

Any knows wat this is.
quality?
Value?




http://www.guitarbbender.com/presentinghonkytonkhammerpic.jpg


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=200224675128

He offered bender installation on his website and on ebay a couple of years ago... several of us made inquiries and never heard from him... his website was kind of wacky and we could never confirm if he was for real.

It looks like an interesting guitar... but my skepticism is kinda high on this one.

I agree it looks beautiful and interesting.

Did a search here for "Gregory" and the comments I found did not really recommend the bender mechanism and showed the builder/seller is sometimes a little bit slow on communications. One tdpri member was told the bender could be changed into a long-throwing one by installing a stiffer spring, which is rubbish. Bender builders should know the basics, I think.

After reading the comments, my interest disappeared. Only my $0.02, though.

Greetings -
Luther

Oki thanks.
1300 is too much to take a risk.

Im satisfied with present Bbender
But its heavy.
http://archive.pixbox.se/arkivet/synligt_24/18950000-18959999/640x480/18953305.jpg
http://archive.pixbox.se/arkivet/synligt_24/18950000-18959999/640x480/18953169.jpg

Heavy it is, but works flawlessly.

Some players don't like the P/G as it may does not work as smooth as a P/W. I am pretty satisfied with it. BTW Hipshot sells a less heavy replacement P/G bender made of aluminium which fits into the Fender Nashville Bender body for around 200 or 220 $$, don't know exactly. Don't know whether it works as well as the original P/G made of trustworthy steel.

Greetings -
Luther

Don't know whether it works as well as the original P/G made of trustworthy steel.

Works just the same and the guitar weighs about what it did without the bender. I have one installed in my Muddy Waters. The only thing I did was to replace the lower stop pad with leather (ala Fender). A very solid unit. Hipshot sells them for about $375 and it's a direct exchange for the Fender unit. I have photos both inside and out of the bender units side by side (Fender and Hipshot), if you want to see them.

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/500/medium/Bent_Muddy.JPG

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/500/medium/Bent_Muddy_2.JPG

Thank you for the infos, Dogbear! And yes, I would appreciate having a look at your photos.

I remember some weeks ago there was a (new?) Hipshot Alu-P/G for sale for a lesser amount. So if one is lucky... But also their other products are often offered by resellers for less money than they offer them on their website.

Greetings -
Luther

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/Dogbear/IMG_0695r.jpg

Fender unit on the bottom, Hipshot on the top. Click the images for a larger view. There are minor differences in the units that are readily visible to the naked eye. I find the Fender to be made of heavier parts throughout, many in places not really necessary. To me, the Hipshot is much smoother than the Fender unit. Both can be adjusted for pull by simply changing springs. The Hipshot is already drilled for a long throw clevis available from Gene Parson for $175. I've never seen them advertised anywhere cheaper.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/Dogbear/IMG_0702r.jpg

Fender on the top, Hipshot on the bottom. Notice that the screw holes on the plates line up. In fact I have been told that you can buy the aluminum plate separate and install the Fender parts on it to shed some weight.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/Dogbear/IMG_0698r2.jpg

Hipshot on the top, Fender on the bottom. Click the image for a larger view. As you can see, everything is slightly larger in the Fender. The brass blocks are also smaller in the Hipshot. I did remove the plastic button on the lower Hipshot brass stop plate and replaced it with leather like the Fender. It seems to be much more stable that way. Let me know if you have any other questions. Both units are well built and should outlast the player. Brian F, who also posts here, is an exceptional installer and is also very knowledgeable about benders. He is my go to guy when I have any technical questions.

!!! :)

Thank you very much, Dogbear! You are right, the Hipshot is obviously a good and worthy bender.

Had been sceptical about it enduring abuse (e. g. unintended brutal bends) compared to the Fender one, but seems to be as well built.

Greetings -
Luther

Heavy it is, but works flawlessly.


Oh Luther, you missed the perfect Yoda moment there!

"heavy, it is. Flawless, it works."

Sorry, couldn't help myself. Please return to your normal programming.

Caught it, but the timezone beat me to it!!

What the heck is normal anyway??

I've never seen them advertised anywhere cheaper. [...]

Ok, I may have mixed up currencies, and remembered 250 EUR instead of $$, as "my eBay" normally shows prices in EUR... which would about fit 375 $$.

On the other hand, e. g. the eBay trader "eosada" (amongst others) regularly offers new Hipshot products at a lower amount than Hipshot do on their site, see
http://cgi.ebay.de/Hipshot-String-B-Bender-W-Drop-D-G-Lever-Chrome-NEW_W0QQitemZ310053312148QQihZ021QQcategoryZ41434Q QtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

This one lists at Hipshot for 257 $$. I traded with eosada some months ago (not only on eBay), he is an honest seller and a kind guy and was able to get hold of several Hipshot products at lower prices. Didn't ask for the P/G, though.

Greetings -
Luther

The Hipshot is already drilled for a long throw clevis available from Gene Parson for $175. I've never seen them advertised anywhere cheaper.


Sorry Luther, I was referring to the long throw clevis available from Gene Parsons to convert a standard throw to a long throw. I'm sure you can find a Hipshot aluminum bender cheaper than retail if you keep looking. Make sure you specify aluminum as I have only seen the steel ones at a cheaper price.

BTW, as an experiment, I did install the aluminum Hipshot in my Fender and it went in without a hitch. Lightened it up by at least a pound - around .45 kilo.

One other thing I like about the Hipshot is the use of brass in the tower. I have never broken a string with this bender. I did have to smooth the string bearing surfaces of the Fender unit when I first got it and I do recommend that you lube both regularly as instructed by both Fender and Hipshot.

Sorry Luther, I was referring to the long throw clevis available from Gene Parsons to convert a standard throw to a long throw. [...]

Oh, sorry. I misunderstood you.

Greetings -
Luther

Wood body?
Which type.
http://archive.pixbox.se/arkivet/synligt_24/18950000-18959999/640x480/18953169.jpg

http://archive.pixbox.se/arkivet/synligt_25/20830000-20839999/640x480/20839097.jpg

N6 + 5 or 6 digits = 1996-1997

Should be Poplar.

Thanks, beer.

Couldn't stop myself to buy the latest Gregory b-bender guitar on the 'Bay. It looked too beautiful (including the bender mechanism, as far as one can tell it from looking at it).

$2.135 (the last one left for $1.300 :( )

Will tell you about the guitar and the bender as soon as I get it.

Greetings -
Luther

Will tell you about the guitar and the bender as soon as I get it.
Have you get it.?????????????????????



Thanks, beer.

Couldn't stop myself to buy the latest Gregory b-bender guitar on the 'Bay. It looked too beautiful (including the bender mechanism, as far as one can tell it from looking at it).

$2.135 (the last one left for $1.300 :( )

Will tell you about the guitar and the bender as soon as I get it.

Greetings -
Luther

It has just arrived. The delay was my own fault as I made a mistake with the PayPal transaction the first time.

Plays and sounds good. The bender is balanced to my preference (stiff enough to lift the guitar back up to the unbent string on it's own), has a very short but smooth throw but can get over-bent a little if you push the guitar down with King-Kong-power (probably due to a rubber or cork stopper which may be a little too elastic for the short way of the lever). This doesn't happen with P/W and P/G benders and not with hipshots.

The body is beautiful. The neck has a sort of 'rough' finish, which irritates me a bit (may be my fault as I am used to glossy Fender necks).

The contact with Gregory was smooth and very friendly.

Will get used to the guitar for a few days, do some fine tunings and have a look inside the mechanism tomorrow or so.

If there is interesting stuff (good or bad) to find out I will keep you informed.

Greetings -
Luther