Question about Bigsby's

[lucascathey]

Hey guys, I'm new here. I'm thinking about putting a Bigsby B5 on my Tele. This is the kit I'm looking to get: http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ter?sku=300202

The kit comes with the new bridge and saddle set and everything. I was wondering if anyone might be able to answer this question...I really like the saddle set I'm using right now (it's a six-saddle set), so I was wondering if it's something I could use with the B5. Can you swap saddle sets or are you stuck with the ones that come with the kit?

Any thoughts are appreciated.

[KokoTele]

You can't tell it in that picture, but there's a tall lip on the front and back edge of that bridge. It's unlikely that your saddles will work there.

What saddles are you using?

[lucascathey]

I'm using the Graph Tech barrel saddles

[TNO]

There's going to be less string angle with the bigsby setup. I don't know that it would work well with a six saddle bridge. Most people find that the setup you linked to loses the classic tele tone. The simplest/best-sounding way to go is to notch out the back of a traditional tele bridge plate.

[lucascathey]

So what you suggest is to just buy the tailpiece kit (like the one they have for Les Pauls), and just cut out the back of my current bridge plate. Could I use my Grap Tech saddles that way?

[KokoTele]

If your graphtech saddles will fit, there's no reason not to use them with the replacement bridge.

You'll need to shim your neck a little because of the replacement height of the bridge. Personally, I think that look is a lot cleaner than a home-notched bridge.

[lucascathey]

I'm kind of torn. I'm not necessarily about looking clean (I got my Tele on a trade, and the previous owner more or less abused the thing...will post pictures later). I just dig the way the tailpiece looks on the Tele, I think it's sweet. And I heard they're supposed to balance out the tone, make it sound smoother, etc. I'm not worried about looking DIY.

I'm torn though. Part of me wants to chop up my bridge plate because it would be cheaper, but part of me wants to do it the "right" way and buy the whole kit...

[lucascathey]

I did a little bit of nosing around on the forums and the way it seems is that you can't really cut out the bridge plate with a six saddle set, there's not enough room. I've tried three saddle sets and I'm not a fan, I could never get the intonation to my liking. So it looks like my only real option here is to buy the whole kit...unless I'm missing something?

[KokoTele]

You could go with a 3 saddle bridge and compensated saddles, though the Bigsby really needs a rocking saddle.

[Robbied_216]

Rocking saddles? I want a "rockin' Bigsby"

[lucascathey]

Yeah, I think I'm just gonna go with the full kit. Though I decided to go with the B50, I like the look better, and it costs a little less. $130 for the full kit on ebay. Thanks for the help!

[KokoTele]