Vibrato on T-style: Bigsby vs. Stetsbar

The Stetsbar looks weird, works well, and has a “soft” action, IMO.
I’ve installed two on friend’s guitars.
I personally prefer the Bigsby.

 

Push on the back of the neck while stabilizing the body’s upper bout, like Redd.

 

Buy a complete Rondo Furrian with the trem for the price of a Bigsby & be done.

 

I have wanted to build a tele with a strat style trem system for a long time. I love the ratio of the strat trem. It has as distinct a sound as the Bigsby. Even when somebody is just ‘shaking’ a chord you can identify either trem instantly. The Stets bar seems to fall between the two ratio wise. There is a trem called the Sofia trem system which is a hyper refined strat style trem of exception quality. I think it would be worth routing a tele body for it.

Man, GAS just never ends, does it...

https://sophiatremolos.com/collections/sophia-2-22-complete-series

 

I (finally !) wait for a Fender SQ CV 50s Tele LH MN BB just like this one for Nov. to come :



If I put a tremolo on it, sure it will be a Bigsby B5LH, due to the vintage look...

-tbln

 

GO BIGSBY! Way classier than the alternatives!

But then, which one will it be?
Bigsby B5 or a B16?

With a B5 you can use a regular 3 saddle Tele bridge and file notches in the back so the strings can get from bigsby to saddles
OR get a B5 tele kit and use a jag/jazzmaster style rocking bridge. That’s what I have with my B5. You can use a mustang bridge too. (or spend a lot of money on a mastery bridge. I tried one of those, and found it to be unreliable. The saddles kept sinking and I was not about to use super glue on a $185 bridge!)

Also, with a B5 you have a tension roller bar on the bigsby. This creates the break angle from bigs to bridge. It makes the B5 a very subtle tool. You can’t move it as freely as a Bigsby B16, which has no tension roller bar.

With a B16, you need to shim the neck (which is really no big deal) and use a rocking bar bridge.

I have both styles, and I prefer the B16. It changes the feel of the guitar far more than a B5, but it’s an incredible device. Also, it’s the easiest Bigsby install I’ve ever done, and I’ve installed at least 6 bigsby’s.

Here’s what mine look like
B5 tele kit:

B16:

 

I pondered Bigsby or not... which type, bridge etc...

End up with plain ol B5 and the "Allparts Bridge with Gotoh saddles". Works great. Bigsby's generally don't divebomb, but for wiggles... no issues.

 

I have three Teles with Bigsbys--two are in my avatar--and they work, and look cool.
Go Bigsby, with a Mastery bridge.