Adding Bigsby to Gretsch 5220 Electromagnetic

Deb

Anyone have any thoughts re adding a Bigsby tremolo to a Gretsch 5220 Electromagnetic.  I just don't play it anymore, going to my Fender tele and Rickenbacker instead, but thought if it were feasible to add a Bigsby to it, I'd have it as a tremolo go-to.  Problems?  Thanks!

TheMarlin

Get a Bigsby B30 and a Towner bar.

i’m about to do that to one of mine. 

ElectricXII

+1 on the Towner bar.

ICBM

I would put a Les Trem on it. No permanent modification required and no installation costs.

OK it won't look quite right on a Gretsch, but a normal Bigsby - as opposed to a Gretsch-logo/V-plate one - won't either.

borntohang

B30, B5 w/ Vibramate, or Les Trem should all be non-permanent if you want to try them out. I know they ship them with B5s as an option so should be enough break angle left to make it work. 

Deb

TheMarlin said:

Get a Bigsby B30 and a Towner bar.

i’m about to do that to one of mine. 

Just checking back in to see if you've made the Bigsby mod yet to your Gretsch.  If so, how do you like it?

Deb

I think I'm going to go with the B3 + Towner bar.  I guess I'll need metric studs since it's a Gretsch - at least the Towner website states that you should order the metric studs unless you're putting this on a Gibson.