Bigsby: Licensed or the real deal?

[ComingApart]

In my search for a Bigsby B5, I keep finding several places that have genuine Bigsby's and "Licensed" Bigsby's.
What are the functional differences in the two? Is there any quality or playability issues with the cheap ones that the genuine ones don't have? Thanks for any response.

 

[Impala]

I say you get what you pay for...

when it says "licensed" or "designed" as in Duncan designed pickups on import guitars it really means you're not getting the genuine article but a lower quality version of it. I recall that the Bigsby units on some of the Beatles' guitars (probably the Epi Casinos) were Bigsby licensed units made in the UK; they sure do look different and not as sturdy as the US made ones.

 

[da dougster]

I've got both and don't really have any problem with the licensed versions. Off-hand the one big diference is that the string post on the US model are shorter and it's harder to re-string than the licensed models.

Impala, the bigsby on John's Ric was one that was made under license by a UK firm ( Rose-Morris??) and was a bit undersized; the Beatles Epiphone's had factory installed US units. But that was 40 years ago and today's licensed units have nothing to do with that......

 

[Impala]

Check out page 151 of.....

I've got both and don't really have any problem with the licensed versions. Off-hand the one big diference is that the string post on the US model are shorter and it's harder to re-string than the licensed models.

Impala, the bigsby on John's Ric was one that was made under license by a UK firm ( Rose-Morris??) and was a bit undersized; the Beatles Epiphone's had factory installed US units. But that was 40 years ago and today's licensed units have nothing to do with that......

Beatles Gear; it shows Paul's Casino, the caption says it was equipped with a British-licensed Bigsby vibrato as well.

 

[James W]

There was a discussion on this not too long ago. You can read the thread here:

http://www.tdpri.com/viewtopic.php?t=8952&highlight=bigsby+licensed

I hope this helps.

--James W

 

[esquire_player52]

doesn't exist

at the music store i went to i was talkin to'em bout a bigsby and they said bigsby doesn't exist anymore just the name. if ya notice at bigsbys website it says somethin bout gretsch at the bottom of the page and on fenders website it has a listing of gretsch guitars. so if you ask me fender owns it.

 

[sparky]

Re: I say you get what you pay for...

when it says "licensed" or "designed" as in Duncan designed pickups on import guitars it really means you're not getting the genuine article but a lower quality version of it. I recall that the Bigsby units on some of the Beatles' guitars (probably the Epi Casinos) were Bigsby licensed units made in the UK; they sure do look different and not as sturdy as the US made ones.

I admire your patriotism, but the old UK units were/are sturdy enough for guitars - maybe not for battleships