Is it crazy to buy something like this and put a Bigsby on it?
 

I'm seriously thinking about buying this guitar for rockabilly and swing and would consider putting a bigsby on it. This is a lot of guitar for someone with my limited skills, but I like it and am committed to be able to play by the time I turn 50.

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VIBRAMATE® - Innovative Music Products - Made in USA

Here you go. No damage to the guitar. Although I think Bigsbys kind of suck.

Also look up the Ibanez Artcore series. A lot of guitar for the money.

I got an Artcore off evilbay for a song (pardon the pun) also picked up a nice fat Aria archtop jazz guitar. Of course buying guitars off eBay is a crapshoot... don't know if the Artcore had been setup but it plays great as is. The Aria has a great sound (I'm a Joe Pass fan) but the action is not great and needs to go for a setup. (neither have whammy bars... fun gadget but not really necessary unless you are going to go all EVH)

Is that a Gibson in your picture? If it is that is some big bucks to invest then do a change like add a bigsby, but at the end of the day it is you $$$ and your passion.

Have you considered a Gretsch with a built in bigsby?

Edit to add, the more I look at you pic the more I think that is a Gibson, I would guess that would make the price tag a grand or two? We have some guys here that are brilliant wood workers... however personally no way I would have the nads to drill on super nice Gibson. As I said I will take my Aria to a professional even just do a setup (around $100).

But what the heck, some people drop $100K on a 991 and roll off the lot right to the tuners shop to customize their car... so whatever works for you.

The Vibramate allows you to put a Bigsby on without drilling holes. I had one on my SG for a while. Its essentially an adapter plate that is anchored by the bridge posts.

I didnt realize you're looking at THAT particular guitar. Gibson? Unless its an older one, there are FAR better guitars for the money you'll spend on a new one. it looks like the Bigsby wouldnt work on it. They also kinda mess with the tone.

Like Scott says, you can do most vibrato with your fingers.

If you are just starting on guitar, I'd still reccomend an Artcore before making a major investment. And have it setup by a good guitar shop. Not Guitar Center. There has to be plenty in Chicago.

Gretsch makes some nice guitars.

Couple of Wolfe's P90s and you're set..


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That is a whole lotta guitar. ES 175 w P90s? If it is vintage you probably don't want to alter it unless you are willing to sacrifice 1/2 it's value. Even a modern guitar loses value when modded. If a Bigsby is important I would shop for a guitar with one factory mounted and enjoy both playing and retaining it's value. Then start learning chords and scales. Have fun!

I already have a very well modded Epiphone Dot that I bought in the 90's. Its had frets, wiring, pick ups and a bridge. It was done by one the top guys in Chicago. It's an exceptional instrument, as my last teacher usually had to take it for a spin every time we met.

I really want a real Gibson Guitar. For what that's worth. I'm kinda kicking myself for selling a Custom Shop Strat I had.

It's a limitedly produced 2006. I really want a hollow body p90 guitar and am considering an ES 295 with a Bigsby but gold's not my favorite color. If I buy the 175 I won't add a Bigsby unless I'm sure the guitar is mine for life. Not that I need another guitar. I just want another guitar. If I don't but a hollow body, I'll buy a tele.

While I consider myself a beginner, I know some scales and chords for sure. I can make my way thru Hideaway. The thing is, I turn 50 in 2 years and being able to play by then is really becoming important to me. According to the 2 teachers I had over the last 2 winters, I advance quickly and could be relatively decent If I put my nose to the grindstone for a couple years. I've been watching guitar players for along time now. So now I plan on really staying dedicated and see where I end up at 50. I'd like to play out.

The 2 biggest obstacles. One, my timing sucks! Two, I know what a good guitar player sounds like and get disappointed in myself. I guess we all can't be Roy Buchanan.

I've got a feeling you're an accomplished guitar player and your input is valued. It had to be a hell of an experience to get instruction from Robben Ford. First saw him in the early nineties. He's been blowing me away ever since.

You could see if they have a vibramate for it. I use one on my SG and its awesome to be able to install a bigsby without drilling in about 5 minutes

However for rockabilly I'm a Gretsch player and highly recommend them with a bigsby. My 6118 is flawless once I swapped out the bridge for a Compton bridge

All semi- and full-hollowbodies should have a Bigsby. :p

Mine doesnt.

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Hey, you're welcome to your opinion. I have mine. :D

While I like the Gretsch sound, I'm more attracted to the Gibson. Most likely because it's the first big hollow body sound I heard(live about 91') and the guy playing it has become one of my favorite guitar players.

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I also see a local guy(Joel Paterson) who plays an ES 295. I really like the way he sounds as well.

It's a big decision to buy a guitar like this, but it's the sound I'm into right now. If I don't buy a hollow body, a Tele will be what I purchase. I'm also looking for a Princeton Reverb. I plan on hitting it hard over the next 2 years. I want to be able to play out and to reach that goal by 50.

On top of it I'll be selling all of my cars this spring, having them just isn't what it used to be. Music is just something that never leaves me. Now it's time to become a musician.

I love the Gibson. I always loved the 175 but prices are ridiculous and I don't think the new ones are of the same quality as the vintage ones

I wasn't thinking properly when I posted about the vibramate. I do not believe it will work. The vibramate needs to mount into the bridge posts and the Gibson doesn't have them. However mounting a bigsby should be a simple procedure for a luthier. There should not be any screwing or drilling into the top. I wouldn't worry about devaluing the guitar if you love the guitar and it inspires you to reach your goal. But beware of the tuning issues that might come from adding the bigsby.

They do have a vibramate for telecasters btw.

Also, You might want to spend a bit more on a vintage deluxe reverb instead of the Princeton or consider one of the many boutique small watt amps out there today. I'm a big fan of hand wired amps, if for no other reason than ease of repairs.

This is true for almost every single guitar made, IMO.

I looked at the art core semi hollow bass...it was a lot of money for what it was. I bought a Gibson 335 bass instead. Yeah it was almost $1500.00 but worth every penny. And in the end ..it's a Gibson made in Memphis. Would I put a bigsby on that guitar? Not on your life.

OP, if you do not already play guitar, why are you even thinking about buying a vintage guitar and modifying it? You should be practicing now, not messing with this stuff. Buy something cheap, like an Epiphone, put in your 10k hours and then get serious about vintage gear and mods. I don't mean to discourage you. And that guitar would look cool hanging on the wall in any house. But man, you have a ton of work to do before worrying about that stuff.

I get what your saying for sure. If I buy that guitar, modifying it might not be cool and won't modify it unless this became the end all, be all guitar for me. I probably would let my better senses take over, before I did any modifications that weren't reversible. I did by a cheap Epiphone and its playability was poor and the electronics sucked. I ended up fixing all of its short comings and it is now a very nice instrument. Problem is, its still an Epiphone with little value. Of course I wouldn't sell it, but I have way more into it than it's worth.

I desire a hollow body and don't want to buy a cheap one. So if I can buy it right, I may. I will then own a Gibson guitar and shouldn't get too hurt if I decide I don't like it. I'm still on the fence for sure, as it's big purchase for a novice guitar player. It does have a hell of a cool factor. I also am interested in a Telecaster and giving it consideration. It is considerably cheaper and will get me into the different sound I'm after.

A Tele is a whole different ballgame from a hollow body Gibsonl; like night and day. If you're not an experienced player, I would question whether your Epi was really a lemon or just needed a good setup. Generally, they're good guitars and, for beginners, they're great guitars. I've been doing my own setups for about 20 yrs. and I still run into guitars now and then that are above my ability and end up taking them to a pro. I've left some really nice guitars in their cases for years because I was convinced they sucked and I had done all I could. But I have finally found a local tech who can make anything play like butter and he identifies stuff I couldn't. I'd still spend no more than $700 on a starter guitar, one that's nice enough that you'll look forward to practicing and cheap enough that you won't feel bad about modifying it. My first guitar was a $160 Hondo and I later made it into a partscaster that I played all through high school and was a killer, cheapo guitar.

Bigsby blows imho, but even if you dig them, please don't take a 175 and hack it up. Just buy a guitar that has one already or get an Epiphone or something cheap to mess up.