Installing a Bigsby B5 On A Telecaster

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 30 Oct 2011 10:26 am

I want to install a Bigsby on my 52' reissue Fender Telecaster but didn't want to drill any holes, that's when I stumbled on this cool little devise that allows you to mount the Bigsby on a plate instead. It's made by Vibramate and doesn't cost an arm and a leg either. Check it out. Click Here

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 30 Oct 2011 9:40 pm

That's a slick little device! Check out the String Spoiler,too.Their Tele kit only works on the 4 screw hole vintage-type ashtray bridge,but they say they're developing one for the AmStd 3 screw hole type.

Michael Maddex · Post by **Michael Maddex** » 31 Oct 2011 9:33 am

Andy, how's that plate going to affect the tone? The string tension is going to be transferred from the top of the guitar to the end of it. I don't have an opinion here, just speculating out loud.

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 31 Oct 2011 8:15 pm

I have the ZZ Guitarworks B5 mount kit,very similar to the Vibramate,on an MIM Esquire.I can't hear any tonal differences.The only caveat I'd add is you may need to shim the neck a little.

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 1 Nov 2011 10:51 am

I should be gettin the Bigsby in a few days and will post a comment on the tone and sustain.

Dave, that ez mount looks great on your Tele.

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 1 Nov 2011 6:46 pm

Thanks,Andy!
Please put up some pics when you get it installed.I'm thinking seriously about a Vibramate for my 50th Anniversary Tele,whenever they go into production on a three-screw variant.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 2 Nov 2011 5:39 am

Kool bracket, wish I woulda had one way back when I put the B5 on a Tele. One thing to consider though, the saddles need to be grooved. Try getting a set of grooved Tele brass saddles or Jaguar/Jazzmaster grooved saddles, those will require a different ash tray , 6 holes... The strings will indeed wander without the grooves. I believe even the Fender factory Bigsby Tele has 6 saddles rather than 3, and they are grooved.

The B5 is a really kool add on to any Tele...love that bracket !

t

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 2 Nov 2011 12:21 pm

Absolutely,Tony!The mechanical reason strings will creep on a smooth saddle is that the string spacing on a B5 is narrower than on the Telecaster bridge and the strings will want to pull toward the centerline.Slotted or grooved saddles are mandatory.

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 2 Nov 2011 1:45 pm

Ok, here's what she looks like with the Vibramate bracket and B5 Bigsby. One thing to consider with this setup is to make sure the strap button hole is perfectly centered. I've seen some off by quite a bit. I used a string down the center of the neck to check and found out the hole was off a tad so I slotted the hole on the bracket to give a little adjustment rather than tryin to fill and re drillin a hole next to the original. I believe the EZ mount bracket already has some side to side adjustment, mine didn't. Anyway, the Bigsby works great and with the flat wound strings the tele sounds wonderful. I'm lookin into the grooved bridge saddles as mentioned.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 2 Nov 2011 2:43 pm

Andy, what a beauty!

t

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 13 Nov 2011 4:04 pm

Andy, that's one beautiful Tele for sure! I've always wanted a Tele with a Bigsby and was going to try to find a nice one and I was surprised when I found this little candy apple red Squire with a Bigsby already on it for only $299 at Guitar Center. It came with a free set up and plays and sounds like a dream... I'm loving this thing....JH in Va.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Installing a Bigsby B5 On A Telecaster

Installing a Bigsby B5 On A Telecaster

tone ?