60's Tele custom reissue w/Bigsby mystery!!??

W.G · July 28th, 2005, 04:53 AM

Hello,
I've recently picked up this candy apple red MIJ 60's reissue custom w/Bigsby (on ebay) & have noticed a few differences from the ones I've seen in stores & reviewed in the U.K August 2005 edition of guitar buyer & was wondering if anyone could shed any light on this.

SPEC:
Body: Alder (Bound Body)
Neck: Maple, Oval Shape, 324mm Scale
Fretboard: Rosewood, 184R
Frets: 21, Vintage Style
Nut Width: 42mm
Pickups: Texas Special Tele (U.S.A.) x 2
Control & Switch: 1 Vol, 1 Tone, 3 Way Switch
Bridge/Tail Piece: Bigsby B-5 Chrome
Machine Heads: Kluson Type
Hardware: Chrome
Pickguard: 3-Ply Aged White & White Pearl

Firstly the trem on mine has the bigsby logo yet others I've seen have the fender F.
There's ferrules in the back of mine (even though it's strung via the Bigsby) yet the example in Guitar buyer has none.
& the last thing i've noticed is the bridge pick-up is listed as having flush pole pieces whilst mine are staggered.

It's a beautiful guitar but playabillity is sadly pretty poor.
I know vintage knecks are notorious for having higher actions but this example appears to be way out there. Despite the already high action I was still getting a lot of buzz on the top 2 strings so put it in for a pro set-up & all the guy could do to remedy this was to highten this even more.
The bigsby is also a little creaky compared to others I have.

I've bought numerous guitars on ebay before & have had no problems but this lovely thing appears to a bit of a Frankenstein, outining the disadvantage of not being able to 'try before you buy'.

Any thoughts or ideas on the differences greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Poppatwang · July 28th, 2005, 08:15 AM

It's an aftermarket Bigsby. Looks just like mine except
mine has lots of dings in the finish.

Poppatwang · July 28th, 2005, 08:18 AM

I had to shim the neck on mine to get the action right.
Sounds like you may have neck issues too. Bring it to
another luthier for a second opinion. No reason it shouldn't
play as nice as a non-Bigsby Tele.

W.G · July 28th, 2005, 09:32 AM

Cheers Mr Poppatwang,
the fact that there's ferrules in the body still has me puzzled & thinking the Bigsby had been grafted onto a diff Tele re-issue & the ebay listing a little misleading.

I've one of these MIJ 90's custom re-issues which is an stunning guitar so in my naivety assumed the bigsby boy would be similar with regards to playability.
http://electricguitar.50megs.com/tele.htm

bo · July 28th, 2005, 10:05 AM

Nonetheless, with a little tweaking I'd bet that it would be a fine guitar. If yer happy with the price just take it to a good shop and have the neck shimmed and maybe a set up done.

Poppatwang · July 28th, 2005, 10:12 AM

mean it's originally non-Bigsby. "F" branded Bigsbys,
until recently, were impossible to get. So the previous
owner did what I did, drilled a bunch of holes & put a
Bigsby labeled whammy bar on. It's been my #1
player for years now.

jwells393 · July 28th, 2005, 11:20 AM

No doubt about it ...................It didn't come that way from Fender Japan.

elvisronhubbard · July 28th, 2005, 12:44 PM

mine, a 50s reish w/bigsby, (MIM) also has the ferrules. obviously they just slap the bigsby on the same body. mine plays great. bigsby is great. no tuning problems. peace out, yo.

jwells393 · July 28th, 2005, 01:35 PM

I'd be willing to bet money that yours didn't leave the Ensenada plant with the Bigsby on it........... another aftermarket add on by the previous owner.

W.G · July 28th, 2005, 01:50 PM

Cheers to evryone for all the info.
I've been onto the guy from whom I bought the guitar & he's admitted to fitting the Bigsby himself & is spouting all the 'well the listing never said' tripe as expected, although the listing did include Quote: These are currently being sold new for around £750 so grab yourself a bargain because this is as good as new!!!!".
Rather misleading to say the least!!
Although it is a beautiful guitar when I say the action is high I mean practically unplayable, most definitely not worth the £600 + set-up fees i've already forked out.

RichardL · July 29th, 2005, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwells393

I'd be willing to bet money that yours didn't leave the Ensenada plant with the Bigsby on it........... another aftermarket add on by the previous owner.

Going by the Crafted in Japan sticker on the neck I'm willing the bet this guitar never saw the inside of the Ensenada plant period.

Wiredman · July 29th, 2005, 07:50 AM

I have a Bigsby added to my old Tele. I did it myself a number of years ago and the neck shim made the whole thing come together, as others have said. If you like the guitar otherwise it shouldn't be that difficult. You might even mess with it yourself and see if it starts working for you. Try something credit card thickness first and try to figure out if you need the whole neck pocket or the front or back only to have the shim. Good luck with the set-up. There is an answer.

jwells393 · July 29th, 2005, 07:55 AM

I was replying to elvisronhubbard's post about his MIM 50's RI Fender. His post is right above mine that you quoted.

July 28th, 2005, 04:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
W.G NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: U.K Posts: 3	60's Tele custom reissue w/Bigsby mystery!!?? Hello, I've recently picked up this candy apple red MIJ 60's reissue custom w/Bigsby (on ebay) & have noticed a few differences from the ones I've seen in stores & reviewed in the U.K August 2005 edition of guitar buyer & was wondering if anyone could shed any light on this. SPEC: Body: Alder (Bound Body) Neck: Maple, Oval Shape, 324mm Scale Fretboard: Rosewood, 184R Frets: 21, Vintage Style Nut Width: 42mm Pickups: Texas Special Tele (U.S.A.) x 2 Control & Switch: 1 Vol, 1 Tone, 3 Way Switch Bridge/Tail Piece: Bigsby B-5 Chrome Machine Heads: Kluson Type Hardware: Chrome Pickguard: 3-Ply Aged White & White Pearl Firstly the trem on mine has the bigsby logo yet others I've seen have the fender F. There's ferrules in the back of mine (even though it's strung via the Bigsby) yet the example in Guitar buyer has none. & the last thing i've noticed is the bridge pick-up is listed as having flush pole pieces whilst mine are staggered. It's a beautiful guitar but playabillity is sadly pretty poor. I know vintage knecks are notorious for having higher actions but this example appears to be way out there. Despite the already high action I was still getting a lot of buzz on the top 2 strings so put it in for a pro set-up & all the guy could do to remedy this was to highten this even more. The bigsby is also a little creaky compared to others I have. I've bought numerous guitars on ebay before & have had no problems but this lovely thing appears to a bit of a Frankenstein, outining the disadvantage of not being able to 'try before you buy'. Any thoughts or ideas on the differences greatly appreciated. Thanks

July 28th, 2005, 08:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
Poppatwang Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 1,822 13 Photos	Easy... It's an aftermarket Bigsby. Looks just like mine except mine has lots of dings in the finish. __________________ The Dieselfitters http://www.dieselfitters.com Roy Hubbs http://www.royhubbs.com

July 28th, 2005, 08:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
Poppatwang Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 1,822 13 Photos	And... I had to shim the neck on mine to get the action right. Sounds like you may have neck issues too. Bring it to another luthier for a second opinion. No reason it shouldn't play as nice as a non-Bigsby Tele. __________________ The Dieselfitters http://www.dieselfitters.com Roy Hubbs http://www.royhubbs.com

July 28th, 2005, 10:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
Poppatwang Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 1,822 13 Photos	The ferrules... mean it's originally non-Bigsby. "F" branded Bigsbys, until recently, were impossible to get. So the previous owner did what I did, drilled a bunch of holes & put a Bigsby labeled whammy bar on. It's been my #1 player for years now. __________________ The Dieselfitters http://www.dieselfitters.com Roy Hubbs http://www.royhubbs.com

July 28th, 2005, 11:20 AM	#7 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 10,857 101 Photos	No doubt about it ...................It didn't come that way from Fender Japan. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

July 28th, 2005, 09:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
W.G NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: U.K Posts: 3	Cheers Mr Poppatwang, the fact that there's ferrules in the body still has me puzzled & thinking the Bigsby had been grafted onto a diff Tele re-issue & the ebay listing a little misleading. I've one of these MIJ 90's custom re-issues which is an stunning guitar so in my naivety assumed the bigsby boy would be similar with regards to playability. http://electricguitar.50megs.com/tele.htm

July 28th, 2005, 10:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
bo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 1,658	Nonetheless, with a little tweaking I'd bet that it would be a fine guitar. If yer happy with the price just take it to a good shop and have the neck shimmed and maybe a set up done.

July 28th, 2005, 12:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
elvisronhubbard NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2	TELE W/BIGSBY mine, a 50s reish w/bigsby, (MIM) also has the ferrules. obviously they just slap the bigsby on the same body. mine plays great. bigsby is great. no tuning problems. peace out, yo.

July 28th, 2005, 01:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 10,857 101 Photos	elvisronhubbard........................... I'd be willing to bet money that yours didn't leave the Ensenada plant with the Bigsby on it........... another aftermarket add on by the previous owner. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

July 28th, 2005, 01:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
W.G NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: U.K Posts: 3	Cheers to evryone for all the info. I've been onto the guy from whom I bought the guitar & he's admitted to fitting the Bigsby himself & is spouting all the 'well the listing never said' tripe as expected, although the listing did include Quote: These are currently being sold new for around £750 so grab yourself a bargain because this is as good as new!!!!". Rather misleading to say the least!! Although it is a beautiful guitar when I say the action is high I mean practically unplayable, most definitely not worth the £600 + set-up fees i've already forked out.

July 29th, 2005, 07:50 AM	#12 (permalink)
Wiredman TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 30	I think you must shim the neck... I have a Bigsby added to my old Tele. I did it myself a number of years ago and the neck shim made the whole thing come together, as others have said. If you like the guitar otherwise it shouldn't be that difficult. You might even mess with it yourself and see if it starts working for you. Try something credit card thickness first and try to figure out if you need the whole neck pocket or the front or back only to have the shim. Good luck with the set-up. There is an answer.

July 29th, 2005, 07:55 AM	#13 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 10,857 101 Photos	RichardL................... I was replying to elvisronhubbard's post about his MIM 50's RI Fender. His post is right above mine that you quoted. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.