Bigsby Buffs

Just noticed - we don't have a club for lovers of the mighty Bigsby trem yet...

Here are mine:

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e323/RomanSonnleitner/teleblasterP6284.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e323/RomanSonnleitner/telebastardP6287.jpg

Then indeed, one should be started. I will begin by nominating Roman as our 1st President. Many of his posts were very helpful in getting my #1 Tele Bigsby'd (I don't like the Bigsby bridge and switched to a notched ashtray). Maybe this will motivate me to learn how to post a pic.

Roman, is there a difference in the sound of the two types of Bigsbys?

I have one on my 335 but I don't use it much.

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/529/bigmike2.jpg

The difference between the B16 and B50 is HUGE - they sound like completely different guitars (OK, my B16-Tele, is a Thinline, too, which also contributes to the different toen; but I did try the same pickups in both guitars).

Basically, the B50 & 3-saddle Tele bridge combo sounds just like a Tele without a Bigsby would, just as twangy, punchy, and snappy.

The B16 & TuneOMatic bridge combo on the other hand doesn't sound like a Tele at all; very little twang (and it is more of a Gretsch-y rather than Tel-ish twang), less punchy, less aggressive/snappy attack; a bit softer, but with more overtones, a more complex, airy tone; the sound is really closer to that of an archtop with a Bigsby (like a Gretsch), or maybe a Jazzmaster.
I believe the difference is mainly due to the different bridge types, and esp. to the lack of that extra "pressure bar" between the bridge and the actual trem bar on the B16 - because of that construction, the strings pass over the bridge at a much softer angle, and there's quite a bit of undampened length of string behind the bridge that can add overtones by sympathetic resonance (hope that's the right term) - just like eg. on a Jazzmaster...

Can't have too many pics of Bigsby's, here's mine.http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/519/medium/Mr_B_03.JPG