Bigsby terminology

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

Should we establish standardized terms for different kinds of bigsbys?

Don and I are emailing each other right now about bigsbys, and I don't know the terms for the different kinds of bigsbys, the different brand names, the different manufacturing techniques, the different numbers, etc. So I searched through the forum's postings about bigsbys, and there doesn't seem to be a uniform terminology that we all use.

So Hatted Frau would like to suggest that we start with the following.

The uncapitalized word "bigsby" is a broad term that refers to all of the different kinds and brands of things that work like a bigsby trem. The major subcategories of "bigsby" would be distinguished by brand names in caps, for example "Bigsby bigsby," "Guild bigsby," "Gretsch bigsby," "Hofner bigsby," "Hagstrom bigsby," etc. The term "Coastie bigsby" would refer to a device that lifts the toilet seat of a beer cooler.

As for kinds, I'd say Guild bigsbys come in three kinds. "Long" would mean the kind with the added pressure bar as pictured on page 37 of the old testament. "Standard" would mean the kind pictured on page 36 of the old testament. "Solidbody" would mean the ones on an S-100. "Hinge" would mean the parts missing on an S-100 Guild bigsby. Those missing parts would be the "pin" and the "ear."

Another problem is to clarify the finish on bigsbys. I'm under the impression that bigsbys come in nickel, chrome, gold, and black. Is that right? Are all of these aluminum underneath?

And what about numbers? Comparing Bigsby bigsby numbers to Guild bigsby numbers is messy. It would be a pain to add in Wretsch bigsbys, Hagstrom bigsbys, and Hofner bigsbys, etc.

And what about "US made" versus "licensed"?

 

[Walter Broes]

-Long : B6, and the corresponding Guild version = B2

-Short : B3, like on a Gretsch duo Jet. A short version of a B6, not much use on Guilds, except màybe to correct the string to bridge angle on a guitar with a low neck set. (lotsa starfires and T-100's)

-double roller : the B7 (is essentially a B3 with an extra pressure roller), and I wouldn't know the number of a Guild branded B7, but they're on later Starfires, with the "longer neck".
And then there's the "horseshoe" B5, for flat mounting on solidbodies.

-70's types : in the 70's, Bigsby marketed light-duty oval hole versions of the B3 (B11) and B7(B12), and those are still in the line.

-finishes : polished aluminum, and gold-plated. There are no "chrome" ones that I know of, they're polised aluminum, with a polished steel handle and a nickel plated string bar.

Couldn't tell you about the licensed Bigsbies, don't have any. But those do exist in black, I know that much.

 

[dklsplace]

I was mentioning to Darryl that main difference in finish between the US made Bigsby & the "licensed" version is in the casting. US made are sand cast which gives them that rough-ish nickel look. The licensed versions are the same stuff, but the casting is smooth to is appears to be polished, or have more of a chrome appearance.

Of course this is only regarding the current models. Current available finishes are black, gold, & nickel.

 

[jp]

I've always wondered, Don, can one tell by the number designations which ones are imported? For instance, the B30 and B70 are the only ones that look like a cast nickel finish to me. Are those the only new Bigsbys currently U.S.-made? I'm also assuming from the name that they correspond to the B3 and B7, which would then be imported versions? :?

 

[dklsplace]

I've always wondered, Don, can one tell by the number designations which ones are imported? For instance, the B30 and B70 are the only ones that look like a cast nickel finish to me. Are those the only new Bigsbys currently U.S.-made? I'm also assuming from the name that they correspond to the B3 and B7, which would then be imported versions? :?

Switch that around. B3, B5, B6 etc are sand cast made in the US. B30, B50, B60 are the "licensed" imports. Slightly different aesthetically, but function seems to be every bit the same.

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

So strictly speaking, "chrome bigsby" and "nickel bigsby" are misnomers? And more precisely, a "chrome bigsby" is really a polished bigsby, and a "nickel bigsby" is really an unpolished bigsby? Does this apply to all bigsby-type trems no matter when it was made, and no matter if the brand name on it is Gretsch, Bigsby, or Guild?

If you bought an old, dull, nickel-looking unpolished bigsby, what would be the best way to polish it?

US made are sand cast which gives them that rough-ish nickel look. The licensed versions are the same stuff, but the casting is smooth to is appears to be polished, or have more of a chrome appearance.

So some US-made bigsby-type trems, whether a Bigsby bigsby or a Guild bigsby, are polished, but none of the licensed ones are polished?

Of course this is only regarding the current models.

Does "current models" mean only licensed? Or does "current models" mean both licensed and US-made?

Current available finishes are black, gold, & nickel[/

So current "nickel" finishes are made only in the US and are not polished?


When did Guild bigsbys become available in polished form? When did Guild stop offering unpolished Guild bigsbys?

 

[chazmo]

"old testament"... Is that what we're calling Hans' wonderful book these days? That really did make me laugh, Darryl. Especially since I was just cracking wise about our (im)patience for the "new testament."

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

Chazmo,

Yes, when I refer to Moust's first book, I say old testament. I guess if he ever writes a third volume, that will be the book of Moustmon.

hf

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

Guilders,

I've been cruising the net to find out more about bigsbys, and it just gets more complex. Apparently Gretsch owns Bigsby. And since Fender owns Gretsch.... I give up.

hf

 

[jp]

I've always wondered, Don, can one tell by the number designations which ones are imported? For instance, the B30 and B70 are the only ones that look like a cast nickel finish to me. Are those the only new Bigsbys currently U.S.-made? I'm also assuming from the name that they correspond to the B3 and B7, which would then be imported versions? :?

Switch that around. B3, B5, B6 etc are sand cast made in the US. B30, B50, B60 are the "licensed" imports. Slightly different aesthetically, but function seems to be every bit the same.

I see. Thanks Don. The reason I was guessing that way is that on their website, the imported ones look like they have the dull nickel finish, while the domestic ones are polished chrome.

 

[matsickma]

Not to complicate matters but I got out a little magnet and checked the handles on various Bigsby from the 1950's to today. All of them were not made of magnetic material indicating they are an alloy of brass with a chrome plating.

Of an additional note is the material the springs are made of: Stainless steel, Chrome plated steel and gold plated springs which probably come in steel and stainless steel materials. My experiance is the steel springs are the smoothest action and less firm.

Daryl, I assume you are limiting you discussions to just Bigsby type VIBRATOs.

When I grew up VIBRATO's were the generic name for any type of mechanical leverage pitch shift and oscillating mechanism. Over the years this has taken many forms:Bigsby, Hagstrom Tremar, the various Fender units on the Strat and the hidden units on the Jazzmaster & Jaguar,the Mueller strat type, and the whammy bar series of Floyed Rose and Kahler. There are also the other odd ball's with the most famous being the Maestro unit that uses a spring made of a metal fold that spans the width of the devise and used on many Gibsons.

M

 

[JerryR]

Chazmo,

Yes, when I refer to Moust's first book, I say old testament. I guess if he ever writes a third volume, that will be the book of Moustmon.

hf

Not Revelations then :mrgreen:

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

Mat,

To include everything from Floyds to bigsbys, "Vibrato" and "trem" are definite possibilities. So a "Bigsby bigsby" could also be a "Bigsby trem" or "Bigsby vibrato." But other people might say that "vibrato" and "trem" ought to be reserved for amps.

From this thread and from searching on the net, I don't find a lot of agreement on what terms to use. It's analogous to the terms "pistol" and "handgun." Some people use the term "pistol" to include "revolver" while others use it to include only "autoloaders" (which others call "automatics"). And then there's "clip" and "magazine."

So there's just going to be a lot of miscommunication and lack of clarity whenever we talk about this topic. We're just stuck with saying, "When you mention X, do you you mean Y or Z?"