Bigsby on a S-90?

[Cos]

Hi all,

Would it be a good or bad idea to put a Bigsby on my S-90.
I picked this baby up back in the late 70's for about $100.00.
I got some flack from a friend of mine about killing it's value.
It's my favorite player and since I have the tailpiece laying around,
I thought I might give it a little more versatility.

 

[Cos]

Ooops, wrong topic. Could a mod move this to the correct topic group.

mumble, mumble, stupid noob.....

 

[Qvart]

Hi all,

Would it be a good or bad idea to put a Bigsby on my S-90.
I picked this baby up back in the late 70's for about $100.00.
I got some flack from a friend of mine about killing it's value.
It's my favorite player and since I have the tailpiece laying around,
I thought I might give it a little more versatility.

I don't have much experience with Bigsbys, but I wouldn't. Not my style. That roller bridge/angled tailpiece combo sound so good I wouldn't change it. But that's just me. Depends on what style you like to play and if you think you might sell it in the future. If the vibrato suits you and you're planning on keeping the git, go for it.

What year is that by the way?

 

[mad dog]

Cos:

It could be a great idea, and you do not have to modify. Just did that with a Dearmond M-72 (will take pics and get 'em up here soon), used a "Vibramate" mounting system for the B-5. No holes. Works perfectly. Looks beautiful. If you don't like it, just revert to stock, like it had never happened. The Vmate is very nice!

MD

 

[dklsplace]

Original value is something to keep in mind. Adding a Bigsby to a flat top is not a reversible mod without leaving visible scars behind. If it really is your desire though, my next question would be is there enough neck angle to get enough string break angle over the bridge if a Bigsby were installed.

 

[Qvart]

Original value is something to keep in mind. Adding a Bigsby to a flat top is not a reversible mod without leaving visible scars behind. If it really is your desire though, my next question would be is there enough neck angle to get enough string break angle over the bridge if a Bigsby were installed.

I'm not sure about this (like I said -- no experience with Bigsbys) but the S-90 is basically the same body, neck, bridge, and tailpiece as the S-100's from that era, and they were available with Bigsbys. I guess it would be a matter of finding the right one. I haven't set my two gits side-by-side to see if there's much difference. I think it might work if you really dig the vibrato and want to add it.

Someone will chime in with more knowledge!

 

[Cos]

Original value is something to keep in mind. Adding a Bigsby to a flat top is not a reversible mod without leaving visible scars behind. If it really is your desire though, my next question would be is there enough neck angle to get enough string break angle over the bridge if a Bigsby were installed.

That's the one thing that keeps stopping me.
I keep thinking "What if it doesn't work out".
It'll be like "Oooo, nice guitar, what are those awful holes for?"

 

[Qvart]

That's the one thing that keeps stopping me.
I keep thinking "What if it doesn't work out".
It'll be like "Oooo, nice guitar, what are those awful holes for?"

I say if you have doubts then pass on it.

If you develop a nice healthy GAS like the rest of us around here you could always look into acquiring another one to experiment with and keep your current one the way it is. Or look for a '70's era S-100 with a Bigsby (although that would take some looking).

 

[Cos]

Cos:

It could be a great idea, and you do not have to modify. Just did that with a Dearmond M-72 (will take pics and get 'em up here soon), used a "Vibramate" mounting system for the B-5. No holes. Works perfectly. Looks beautiful. If you don't like it, just revert to stock, like it had never happened. The Vmate is very nice!

MD

I took a look at the "Vibramate", unfortunately my existing tailpiece is mounted at an angle.
The Vmate is for a straight across mounting.
Would have been a great solution though.
Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[danerectal]

Being the S-90/100 aficionado that I obviously am, I would say leave it stock. Since there's no way to tell if it will work %100. I've rescued a few Guilds from a similar state of modification. I'd try to mod a less irreplaceable guitar to play like the S-90 and then work from there.

 

[Cos]

I say if you have doubts then pass on it.

If you develop a nice healthy GAS like the rest of us around here you could always look into acquiring another one to experiment with and keep your current one the way it is. Or look for a '70's era S-100 with a Bigsby (although that would take some looking).

You're right, my doubts have begun to outweigh taking the risk.

My GAS days are curtailed for time being, due to budget constraints.
I was thinking of doing a Saga Les Paul Kit guitar next and using the Bigsby on that.

 

[Cos]

Being the S-90/100 aficionado that I obviously am, I would say leave it stock. Since there's no way to tell if it will work %100. I've rescued a few Guilds from a similar state of modification. I'd try to mod a less irreplaceable guitar to play like the S-90 and then work from there.

I'm convinced. But I haven't found an affordable, for me anyway, replacement that plays as nice as my S-90.

By the way Dane, I love the name of your band. Long time DW fan.

 

[stclrob]

I'm convinced. But I haven't found an affordable, for me anyway, replacement that plays as nice as my S-90.

See if you can't find a DeArmond S73. A few showed up on eBay. Nice axe for a few hundred and modeled from the S100 (minus the phase switch).

In fact...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-DeArmond...9|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50

 

[Qvart]

See if you can't find a DeArmond S73. A few showed up on eBay. Nice axe for a few hundred and modeled from the S100 (minus the phase switch).

In fact...

That thought had occurred to me too. The S-73 is a good idea for a project guitar, but pretty much everything about it feels like a cheaper copy of an S-100. And the pickup sound isn't quite to my taste as are the Guilds and Seymour Duncans. But I got mine mainly for a project guitar. It's definitely an affordable option. Also, it has a straight rather than angled tailpiece. Might work out better for what you have in mind. I wouldn't feel too bad about modding one of these.

Here's pics of mine if you want to see what it looks like.

I don't know what the pickups are on that one listed on Ebay, but they don't look like the Gold Tones.

Hmmm...I could sell mine and put the money towards another S-100...

Hey stclrob, are there pics around here of your reish S-100?

 

[danerectal]

I don't know what the pickups are on that one listed on Ebay, but they don't look like the Gold Tones

That very well could be the bolt on model. I don't know what they had stock but that looks like a fit.

By the way Dane, I love the name of your band. Long time DW fan.

Thanks. Can't beat the Tom Baker era for my money. Welcome to LTG.

 

[Cos]

How does the neck on the DeArmond S73 compare with the S-90s and S-100s?
For me that's one of the reasons I've never got rid of mine.

 

[Qvart]

I wouldn't feel too bad about modding one of these.

You'd want to find out what they mean by "minor damage," but here's one.

 

[Cos]

Here's pics of mine if you want to see what it looks like.

That's got to be my favorite color on a guitar.
My first electric was a 1968 Yamaha SA50 in dark green.
When I get to do a project guitar that will be the color.

 

[Qvart]

How does the neck on the DeArmond S73 compare with the S-90s and S-100s?
For me that's one of the reasons I've never got rid of mine.

It's thicker than the '70's models. More like the reissue '90's S-100. Plays pretty nice though.

The one thing I don't like is the upper strap button placement -- on the back of the upper cutaway. I'm thinking of relocating it to the neck joint area like the S-100. It would be much better there.

For the price it's a nice chunk o' 'hog. Good platform for modding/experimenting.

 

[Qvart]

That's got to be my favorite color on a guitar.
My first electric was a 1968 Yamaha SA50 in dark green.
When I get to do a project guitar that will be the color.

I'm a fan of the dark green too.

If you haven't seen Hammer's '94 S-100, this is the definition of JEALOUSY for me.