Installing a Vibrola/Maestro Tailpeice on an SG.

[ToddHoodie]

Hello everyone,

I think this is the first time i'm posting on here. Been reading for a while, but never started a topic.

I have 2 Gibson SG Standards, One is a 2001 and is stock and the other one is a 2002 that has a P90 Neck Humbucker and a Burstbucker pro in the Bridge. The 01 is a lighter more red color while the 02 is the darker cherry color that I see on most SGs these days. I have always loved bigsby on my other guitars and I love the look of the old SGs that have the great maestro/vibrola tailpeices on them.

I hate the idea of my SG having a hole from the Stop bar showing so I was figuring i'd have to get that plugged and stained which is no problem. I figured the darker SG would probably be best suited for hiding this plug and stain than the lighter one. But I just don't know where to get a decent tailpeice for a good price. EBAY is crazy, Allparts doesn't seem to have them and I'm just worried that i'll ruin the guitar if I put this on there.

Has anyone on here done this modification to their guitar? Any horror or success stories out there? Let me know what you think.

I've never actually used one, only a bigsby, which gives a little more play I believe, But I should be still able to do the same techniques with a vibrola as a Bigsby right? Let me know what you think.

Thanks Everyone!

[dubkitty]

I have a Epiphone SG with a factory-installed Vibrola. the mounting procedure requires three fairly stout screws to hold the front, bent metal part of the tailpiece to the guitar (some Gibson Vibrolas used only this front part and omitted the flat, typically engraved metal tailpiece plate which is ornamental only) and smaller wood screws at the endpin to secure the bracket for the engraved plate. the drilling is approximately equivalent to the amount of drilling you'd do to mount a Bigsby B7 to a Les Paul, but requires three rather than two screws and places them directly behind the bridge.

to me the Bigsby and Vibrola are somewhat similar in use, but not identical. the Vibrola is stiffer than even Bigsbys with the tension roller (B5/B7), and doesn't lend itself as well to the kind of swoopy Fifties-style phrasing for which a lot of people use the Bigsby; it also tends to put the guitar farther out of tune with broad dips of the bar. On the other hand, the tightness of the Vibrola makes it much more responsive to slight wobbles of the arm and makes it great for the quivering John Cipollina type of vibrato (which in fact was done with a Bigsby LOL).

but why go to all this work for a vibrato you've never even tried? why not find a SG with Vibrola in a shop and test it before getting all up in a project?

[masked elwood]

but why go to all this work for a vibrato you've never even tried? why not find a SG with Vibrola in a shop and test it before getting all up in a project?

^^^^^^^^this^^^^^^

i def wouldn't fill the holes up until you know either way....

[ToddHoodie]

I think some of it has to do with the looks of it. I've always loved the vintage looking SG style with the tailpeice. The main reason is, when I switch to the SG (from a guitar with a bigsby) I'm always finding myself wanting to reach down and throw a little vibrato on the note. But then realize that there is nothing there.

The only problem is there are no GIbson stores in my local area, I'll be traveling out to a Guitar Center soon, I'll have to make sure to stop in and play one with this tailpeice. I'm sure i'd love it either way, Just don't want to mess up a guitar. Also, Should I install Rollers in the Bridge when I do this? I know my Bigsby has them, I don't know what people normally use with the Maestro though.

I was playing around last night and I do tend to pull on the bigsby pretty hard. So I think I would probably throw it way out of tune with the Maestro styled one.

[elbandito]

Just throw it on there. Trying something kicks the crap out of talking about it and you'll never learn how to NOT mess up a guitar until you get your shit straight. It appears that you already have the holes drilled into the body anyway, so what's the problem?

Adding a vibrato will also give your guitar more sustain, with the additional mass that it applies to the body. Think about THAT!

As far as throwing it out of tune, using any of these bigsby/maestro vibrato thangs is a technique. Most ppl will just grab them and start wailing like it's a strat but that's not what these guys were designed to do. Subtlety is the key, my friend.

A roller bridge might help. A bridge that will rock back and forth (the way the Jag/JM/Stang bridge) will work too. I think some TOM-style bridges have those little pivot points, don't they?

[testertube]

thats scary doin it yourself. go to a store and try some, see what you think. or do it to an epiphone instead.

its gotta be aligned and all measured with a micrometer. its more than just slappin the wang bar on.

[elbandito]

its gotta be aligned and all measured with a micrometer. its more than just slappin the wang bar on.

you're right but it's really not that hard or that scary... and you really don't need a micrometer. You can just use your guitar strings... the high and low 'E' to align the vibrato and you're off and running!

[ToddHoodie]

I haven't done anything yet. I haven't even purchased one. (Actually having a difficult time locating one that isn't Vintage and hundreds of dollars)

I was just asking for opinions, and to see if anyone had done one yet. I will definitely have this done professionally, I wouldn't trust myself to do something like this, especially not to one of my SG's

Thanks everyone.

[dubkitty]

the original Vibrola-equipped Gibsons had domed thumbwheel adjusters for the Tunomatic that allowed the bridge to rock a la the Gretsch bar and Bigsby/Sorkin bridges. i've never seen a modern reproduction or equivalent.

[Gearmond]

going along with elbandito's point about extra mass = moar toenz (i mean sustain) theres the vibramate if you don't want to risk ruining a guitar. more mass, and you don't fuck up a guitar if you end up not liking having a vibrato

[GiAnt_ROboT]

If you go the Bigsby route check out the Vibramate adapter. That way you don't have to drill any hole and can switch it back to stock at anytime. I have one on my SG and its pretty rad. I got the B5 and the adapter on ebay for 140 bones

[Noise...]

If you go the Bigsby route check out the Vibramate adapter. That way you don't have to drill any hole and can switch it back to stock at anytime. I have one on my SG and its pretty rad. I got the B5 and the adapter on ebay for 140 bones

This. I have one on my Jaguar and love it.

[Gearmond]

yay vibramate love

[SPACERITUAL]

I dont know if you still cant find them but allparts has them. http://www.allparts.com/Tremolo-Tailpieces-s/151.htm

I agree that they look much cooler. I honestly cant stand bigsbys as i think they look hideous.

[ToddHoodie]

Thanks Everyone! I'll check all this stuff out!