Bigsby Tele Kit plus Neck Shim

[luga00]

Hi

I've recently seen on this board some advice about not using the Bigsby Tele Kit as it requires the neck to be shimmed. Is that definitely the case? Has anyone found that they didn't have to do this?

Also, if anyone can tell me why the neck has to be shimmed I would be really grateful as I'm an extreme nube on this stuff.

regards
Russ

[winny pooh]

The bigsby bridge is a fair but higher and needs the neck angle to adjust for the extra height. If you dont like the idea of the neck/body angle changing, forumite Roman S has a mod that has become popular on the tdpri where you add notches to the back of a standard bridge. Here is my guitar with the same mod see here

[indiobravo]

luga - i will respectfully disagree about the required shimming. It would be more accurate to state that some teles need their neck shimmed and some do not.

I installed the B5 kit just as per instructions and everything came out great (tho i did flip the bridge and file down the back edge later) - no shim necessary.

I can't explain why some teles need it and some don't, but you should not be afraid to try this mod just because of the shim issue. I was prepared to shim if things didn't work out with stock install.

hth

-berto

[luga00]

Thanks for the replies guys - much appreciated.

Still weighing up all the options as I have an American Deluxe which is going to need some thought. Probably, I'll end up with the Callaham American Deluxe 3 saddle bridge and file the back down as Roman S. suggested.

thanks again.

[RomanS]

BTW, this mod with the filed-down back lip on a 3-saddle bridge is NOT my own invention, plenty of guys have done it before I discovered it - I think I got the idea from this page:

http://www.xs4all.nl/~msengers/htm/gallery.htm

[nadzab]

Fear not the shim.

[varakeef]

Shims are great and somehow I'm willing to think that they very likely improve the sound of such teles that for some reason or another don't have strings thru the body.

So I'd try shimming on top loaders, Bigsby's and B-benders for example.

Little more angle over the saddles won't hurt even when it's not absolutely necessary.

It's completely removable so why not give it a try?

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by luga00

Thanks for the replies guys - much appreciated.

Still weighing up all the options as I have an American Deluxe which is going to need some thought. Probably, I'll end up with the Callaham American Deluxe 3 saddle bridge and file the back down as Roman S. suggested.

thanks again.

I suggest you check out Vince Stadler (Taipantone) in Upstate, Western New York.

The Taipantone website (last time I looked) features a special plate designed for a Tele with a Bigsby. It may be a 4 screw type, but I am confident Vince would be happy to make one exceptionally well suited for you exact needs.

That is, in a nutshell, the difference between Vince and Bill Callaham. Both are superb machinists and designers. Bill offers what he creates himself, and impeccably so. But's that about it, unless you are a guitar company and plan a big order. But Vince can take your individual order and synthesize something, and he's excited to do so.

[Bhallguitar]

Originally Posted by winny pooh

The bigsby bridge is a fair but higher and needs the neck angle to adjust for the extra height. If you dont like the idea of the neck/body angle changing, forumite Roman S has a mod that has become popular on the tdpri where you add notches to the back of a standard bridge. Here is my guitar with the same mod see here

Your post said that the string tension was more loose, how much was it changed?

[luga00]

I notice that you've done the exact mod that I need to do. Fitting a vintage style bridge on an Am std.

I have been discouraged using the longer vintage plate kits from Callaham/Glendale as apparently they don't work well with a Bigsby - probably because of their length.

Do you fill the holes that are left after putting the shorter bridge in place of the longer modern design?

Also, I'm just wondering, have you ever added a Bigsby to any of the Am std tele's featuring this mod?

[varakeef]

Originally Posted by Bhallguitar

Your post said that the string tension was more loose, how much was it changed?

I didn't, but let me answer anyway... I have a B (and G) bender in one of my teles and I use 011 gauge strings. High E string goes thru body and B and G is top loaded. D and A goes thru the body and Low E is top loaded, but that's quite irrelevant since I don't bend 'em too much.

I have a subjective* feeling that the high E feels like being from a one step heavier string set than B and G. So I'd say B and G feels like they from 010 set in my case.

I also tried a top loading bridge in regular Squier tele. I think 011 set in regular top loader tele feels lighter compared to similiar set in string thru bridge, like 010 set or something.

Actually this is funny since I didn't believe that there could be any difference at all since the tension of certain gauge string in certain pitch in a given scale is identic. I must be something to do with a longer way string travels in thru body system. There's more to bend so to say.

* meaning I didn't measure anything