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Could an H535 be made with a Bigsby B3 or B6?


thulsadoom

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Posted

Well, could it? As opposed to a B7. I prefer the B3 and B6 for the sake of vanity. Looks prettier without the tension bar, and no nonsense where the stop piece would be. I'd even consider having an H150 made with a B3. I'm just worried about the break angle and strings popping out from one of my obnoxious bends.

 

Like so:

Greco3352.jpg

 

Crisp and clean, yes siree, Bob!

Posted

It could be, but the arm reach would be difficult to use because its a little far away from picking the strings. I wouldn't suggest a B5 as its bolted to the top, but a B7 seems to be best as it would have the reach needed to play the guitar and grab the hillibilly crowbar easily.

Posted

Not sure there is enough break angle with the B3. With that you can have problems with the strings jumping out, and also not as much sound conduction through the body. Just about every picture I can find has the B7 on it.

ever considered putting the lyre vibrola on one?

 

Or you could do this:

 

h158a.jpg

Posted

Or this; the Towner Down Tension bar kit

es335_04_0.jpg

 

 

I do see quite a few pictures of ES335s with B3s on them. Also Guild Stafire IVs have them.

 

Would Heritage even do a vibrola? Let alone a lefty.

Posted

Hmm, hadn't thought of that. It looks like the one pictured originally had the trapeze tailpiece, which was common in that era with the small blocks and Walnut finish. 70's I believe.

 

In that case to make it a "reversible" mod the only way was really to use the B3.

 

The best way to find out if they will do it is to ask.

 

There's a good thread on a 335 with the tension bar here: http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/custom-shop/270380-es-335-bigsby-towner-tension-bar.html

Posted

Or this; the Towner Down Tension bar kit

es335_04_0.jpg

 

 

I do see quite a few pictures of ES335s with B3s on them. Also Guild Stafire IVs have them.

 

Would Heritage even do a vibrola? Let alone a lefty.

 

 

now THAT is a good idea!

 

re: the original question: IMO you could get a B3 to work fine, you just need a steep enough neck angle so the bridge ends up high enough to give you a decent break angle

 

on gtrs I have tried this on, it's hit & miss...some have a too-shallow neck angle & as a result the bridge sits lower to the body, so you would need a bar to push the strings down

 

 

example: I bought my millie eagle with a B3 already installed, but the neck angle was too shallow. so I put a B7 on it

 

however my H157 would probably be fine with a B3, the neck angle is steeper. and thus the bridge is higher off the deck

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