Bigsby or not Bigsby?

[sylnau]

How would a Bigsby with a roller bridge would affect the tone of a guitar compared to a regular tailpiece & bridge?
More sustain, less sustain?
Brighter tone, darker tone?

[rustywire]

I've never personally put a guitar through the torment of a bigsby-transplant...but FME, less sustain is noticeable in instruments I've played @various music stores, that have been bigsby'd, when alongside hardtails and even trapeze examples. Could be coincidence...but if you break strings often, not Bigsby. Ever.

[Holy Schnikes]

I have a Bigsby on my EGC Chessie and that guitar sustains for days but I've never compared it to a hardtail version. I'd imagine a hardtail would add a little extra sustain in most cases. Bigsby equipped guitars ring out a little different and add some warble to tail end of chords at times. I like this about them but some may not.

Tuning stability on my Chessie is very good but I use heavier strings, clean and lube the nut, and have a Schaller bridge with roller saddles. A regular TOM-style bridge (I assume you're referring to the Maton, syl) could lead to some tuning problems but again, no firsthand experience.

Lastly, string changes on a Bigsby can be a bitch but just get yourself a capo to use as a third hand and after a little practice it's no big deal.

[grygrx]

My experience with bigsby's is that they are a bit of a pain, and not very versatile compared to other trem designs. If all you want it vibe washes, I'm sure they are great... but the string changing and weight just don't seem worth it.

[ALLisNOISE]

Find a Deusenberg Tremola. They're easier to restring, and they move way smoother than any Bigsby I've ever played.

[sylnau]

Find a Deusenberg Tremola. They're easier to restring, and they move way smoother than any Bigsby I've ever played.

Yep! Last year I tried a Duesenberg CC... the trem was awesome!

[ChetMagongalo]

I personally hate Bigsbys because they're annoying to restring. I prefer jaguar/jazzmaster style vibratos more

[kbit]

Find a Deusenberg Tremola. They're easier to restring, and they move way smoother than any Bigsby I've ever played.

Yep! Last year I tried a Duesenberg CC... the trem was awesome!

+2 Dunno if they have the same difficulty in restringing but yeah. They're like butter.

[Mudfuzz]

They add a little sustain, but over all they don't change the sound of the guitar much. And like anything they work better with some guitars better than others… but not for any real reason… I had one on my sg and didn't like it… for no other reason than it messed with the mojo somehow of the sg being a very raw barebones guitar that stays in tune well… having a trem messed with those things even though the sound and feel was the same and the thing balanced better.. I ended up putting in on my mocking bird and it seems right on that guitar

[culturejam]

My main objection to Bigsby trems is that they sort of look like the door handle on a 1950s refrigerator.

[Chankgeez]

Bigsby is rolling in his grave.

[tim]

My main objection to Bigsby trems is that they sort of look like the door handle on a 1950s refrigerator.

And what's wrong with that? Do you have something against refrigerators from the 1950s?

[UglyCasanova]

My main objection to Bigsby trems is that they sort of look like the door handle on a 1950s refrigerator.

And what's wrong with that? Do you have something against refrigerators from the 1950s?

Yeah! What's wrong with that? One of those saved Indiana Jones!

[Mudfuzz]

My main objection to Bigsby trems is that they sort of look like the door handle on a 1950s refrigerator.

And what's wrong with that? Do you have something against refrigerators from the 1950s?

Yeah! What's wrong with that? One of those saved Indiana Jones!

plus they look more badass [when clean]

[PetZounds]

My main objection to Bigsby trems is that they sort of look like the door handle on a 1950s refrigerator.

And what's wrong with that? Do you have something against refrigerators from the 1950s?

Yeah! What's wrong with that? One of those saved Indiana Jones!

I wish he had died in that fridge, that way the rest of that movie wouldn't have happened.

On topic:
Bigsbys are fine and all but:

I prefer jaguar/jazzmaster style vibratos more