How to add a Bigsby

[dbirchett]

I have a '90s Custom Telecaster in Black.



I would like to add a Bigsby.I purchased a WD Conversion kit that uses a B50 along with a Jazzmaster style bridge. I went to put it on the other night and the routing on the Japanese Tele doesn't fit the mounting plate. The pickup is too far forward (about 3/8"") to have the holes for the bridge be in the right spot.

One option is to just expand the rout for the bridge pickups so that I can move the bridge pickup back. But I am wondering if a better option would be to use a gold Wilkinson compensated bridge and notch the back for the strings, then mount the Bigsby behind it. Any ideas or thoughts?

Is there a problem with the spacing on the Wilkinson and Japanese Teles that use the modern 6-saddle bridge as mine does? Any pitfalls in installing the Wilkinson on the Japanese Tele.

Thanks for any help.

[Keyser Soze]

If it were me I'd be inclined to try the notched bridge first. But you may not be able to get enough height from the saddles to get a good break over angle. Only if that method failed would I start routing cavities.

[TNO]

Put a bridge on it that will allow you to notch the back. Put a coupla pieces of masking tape down where the bigsby will go. Lay a straight edge along each side of the bridge and mark the tape. Center the bigsby between the marks.

[djlogan33]

I have installed a Bigsby on a Les Paul and a B.B.King "Lucille".
It is important to get it perfectly aligned before drilling holes.

loosely attach the Bigsby to the end of the guitar (on Gibson guitars, where the strap peg is located).

Take strong string from the 1st tuner peg, down the neck to the
tailpiece to where the 6th string attaches,
across the tailpiece to where the 1st string attaches and
back up the neck to the last tunner peg.

Tighten both tuner pegs, then insure both strings going up/down the neck is perfectly aligned, then mark where to drill the holes.

[sgnl2nz]

Originally Posted by TNO

Put a bridge on it that will allow you to notch the back. Put a coupla pieces of masking tape down where the bigsby will go. Lay a straight edge along each side of the bridge and mark the tape. Center the bigsby between the marks.

I did exactly this just 24 hours ago and after dialing in the action today, I'm happy as a clam. I built this one up from parts two years ago with a six-saddle bridge and no Bigsby and haven't changed much until this install of an import B5, so it was kind of a leap of faith. There are some tonal changes switching from a six-saddle to a three-saddle bridge (I've never seen a production six-saddle bridge that would work easily with a Bigsby without many points of contact/friction or extensive modification), but I don't hear or feel any loss of sustain. I chose slotted chrome plated brass saddles, but it would work with compensated saddles. You may have to file a notch in the saddles with lighter gauge strings.

Machining (cutting/grinding) the notches in the ashtray bridge is easy with a hacksaw, and fast with a rotary tool with a cutting wheel- Just be prepared for some sparks.

As far as fit, it's an MIJ E-Series Squier neck. 1 5/8" nut, 7.25" radius.