Maestro Vibrola or Bigsby?

I put a Vibrola on an SG once. I had so liked the idea of it, but then in reality really hated it.

Perhaps if I had never owned a Bigsby I wouldn't have known how things could be.

I didn't like the feel of the arm, I didn't like the action. I only liked the look. It has all the potential tuning issues of a Bigsby with no adjustments that can be made to it.

 

It's not the worst trem of all time, but there's a reason it wasn't widely copied. How much stick-wigglin' do you do? If it's a little shimmer at the end of a song, it can do that. If it's more like Neil Young, I'd go with the Bigsby.

 

If it ain't a Bigsby, it ain't shigsby.

I pitched that slogan to them, but I never heard back about it.

EDIT: To actually contribute something to the conversation - if you decide on the Bigsby, check out Callaham's upgrades for it. I have all of them except for the 360 degree arm, and I'll get that one too eventually.

 

One word: Stetsbar

 

Seriously consider a Les Trem II unit. It is smoooooth and in IMHO, holds tuning better than a Bigsby, given other factors (bridge and nut) constant. As cool-looking as Vibrolas are, they'll go out of tune if you even stare at them too long! Also, the Les Trem is easily reversible if you don't like it.

 

While I've no personal experience with the Vibrola, a bandmate who's opinion I absolutely trust tells me that those things are nothing but trouble.

They sure do look cool on the right instrument though,the long-tail ones, Firebirds being one and SGs another

 

Mine are equally tuning stable. Equally comfortable for me, for resting right hand on bridge.

Subtly different feel and wobble.

I love them both equally. You need a slightly higher bridge (nothing crazy) for the Vibrola to work well than a B5 or B7 though.

My local shop says the Vibrola can be a bit futzier and a bit more fiddly to troubleshoot and get right. But nothing insurmountable and knowing how to troubleshoot a Bigsby will probably help a lot.

 

How about neither? if Game Changer Audio ever releases this:

https://www.gearnews.com/gamechanger-audio-puts-a-bigsby-trem-in-a-pedal/

 

So cool.