Anyone Have a B11 Bigsby on a Guitar?

Wondering if anyone can help.

http://www.bigsbyguitars.com/vibe/wp-content/uploads/trem_b11_l.jpg

I'm about to make a thickness decision on a guitar design that will take a Bigsby B11 and this is the only spec sheet I can find.

http://www.bigsbyguitars.com/vibe/wp-content/uploads/BigsbyPrint-B11-1200.jpg

As you can see, they've put a measurement for the attachment piece that's measured past the hinge (no idea why!).

It says 44.4mm - I'm looking for the distance between the top surface of the guitar and the end of the hinge. The actual length that touches the side of the guitar. Can someone measure their B11 for me? :grin:

I have an old 335 with a Bigsby like that. Is the model of Bigsby you need measured?

http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb345/dogchicken/IMG_20110505_232337.jpg

I cannot help you with a real example to take a measurement from, but from looking at the drawing the piece that is hinged at the end is 44.4 mm overall, or 1 3/4". If the thickness of the body is 1 3/4" then the piece would not extend to across the entire thickness, but would be somewhat less than the 1 3/4" (or 44.4mm) span. Part of the 44.4mm of the end piece would be above the face of the guitar to accommodate the hinge. I suppose if you wish to make the thickness of the body less than a standard Telecaster thickness then you would need the exact measurements to make it fit, but based on the drawing it would fit a standard thickness telecaster.

However, I am guessing you plan on recessing the unit into the body a little so that you can get better tension on the strings across the saddles in which case, I understand fully your concern and you would need to know the exact measurement before proceeding.

edit: I am making a big assumption that you are building a T style guitar. Sorry, I should not assume anything about another person's work.

It sort of makes sense to measure it like that because the hinge would have to extend past the body, right?

Hey Nick. I have unmounted B3 and B7 here before me. As you can see from the picture below, they have a slightly different hinge than the B11 but I'll bet the dimension you want is close to the same. The dimension from the guitar front surface to the end of the hinge on the B3 is 39.5 mm. I measure 40 mm on the B7.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v208/jwells393/NewAlbum2/FirstString1280.jpg

Thanks all!

I just checked out the blueprint for the B3, Jack - it also says 44.4mm (like the B11 blueprint). I reckon they'd all use roughly the same hinge barrel.

Will go with a 40mm side thickness.