I recently acquired an Epiphone Riviera Custom P93, with a Bigsby B700 attached.
It's lack of usefulness, compared to a B60, on another semi, was the only thing i was unhappy with, on this great guitar.
So, I restrung the guitar, replacing the 10s with 11s.
I also ran the strings above the tension bar, strainght from the rear bar, to the bridge.
The strings actually run a millimeter or 2 above the tension bar, not touching it at all.
What a difference.
The Bigsby has come alive.
It really is of some use now.
Also the whole guitar has become more resonant.
Louder acoustically and there's plenty enough tension, to keep the strings firmly on the bridge saddles.
The only other difference, that some may not like, is you do get some interesting sub harmonics, from the strings, between the bridge and tailpeice, when playing acoustically.
I really like this but some may not.
And it doesn't come through the pickups.
More of an acoustic thing.
So I'm really chuffed with this Bigsby now.
Simple remedy with great results.
Comments
http://bricksbiggsfix.com/product/btsv3/
I also fitted a roller bridge to my Casino which made a great set up even better.
Cheers @grayn
Glad it worked for you, too.
Nice one.
I think for those guitars, with a very short distance between the Bigsby and bridge, it's got to be a winner.
The back bar on my bigsby is 5 1/2 inches from the bridge and about 3/4 of an inch lower.
With the 11 guage strings, there is plenty of tension.
I've played it harder than normal and pulled off some big, blues, string bends, with no problems.
I like the very low angle, it not only helps the tuning stability but makes the sound brighter, twangier and more 'Gretschy' on a guitar which is basically a chambered Epiphone Les Paul rather than a proper Gretsch construction.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein