Putting a Bigsby on my H575

[LH575]

I just ordered some parts to add the Bigsby B6. I am having a custom mounting plate made do I don't have to drill nay extra holes in the guitar. Swapping all the gold hardware for chrome/aluminum in the process. Adding some locking Grovers too.

 

In the meantime, does anyone have any photos of H575's with a Bigsby?

 

Would love to see them!

 

Rock on.

575

[ButteredBiskit]

I wish someone would put some light to this subject. A bigsby on a 575 would be totally gnarly! I was thinking about looking into this mod for myself...

 

good luck,

ButteredBiskit

 

p.s. I'd love to see pics of that mount your planing to make and use to install your tailpiece.

[kath]

WHY!!!!!

[LH575]

WHY!!!!!

 

 

WHY? No Bigsby, that's why.

 

Non-bigsby tailpieces are for suckers.

 

The mod is in the works. Hoping to get it soon. Photos when I get it.

[Shmockiebaby]

Go to Elderly.com and search for Heritage 575. They have one for sale as-is with a Bigsby. I actually just bought it today. It looks like the Bigsby was installed crooked (off to the high side). We'll see what is up when I receive it.

 

Good luck with yours. If you buy the right model, you might get lucky and the mounting screw holes may line up.

[Bluzman54]

WHY!!!!!

 

 

+1

[High Flying Bird]

Go to Elderly.com and search for Heritage 575. They have one for sale as-is with a Bigsby. I actually just bought it today. It looks like the Bigsby was installed crooked (off to the high side). We'll see what is up when I receive it.

 

I think that is a 550. I saw it when I was up there last July. A reddish color?

[High Flying Bird]

I have owned Heritage guitars with and without a Bigsby. I can't tell there is any tone loss on models with a Bigsby.

 

I don't have any pics of a 575 with one but here are a couple of 535s to get you through. Don't forget the Chet Atkins arm.

 

 

[High Flying Bird]

I should add.... don't do it if you leave screw holes showing. The mod has to be clean. The 550 at Elderly's is disfigured.

[barrymclark]

I did my time with Bigsbys. They are fun. In the end, I got away from them. They were just way too much a P in the A compared to the times I used it. It definitely gives the guitar a certain tone that you can't really get with out it.

 

If that is what you want, go for it.

[FredZepp]

Wow... H F Bird, every Heritage that you have is awesome. I love when you pull out the pics from time to time, they are excellent examples of why we are here.....

 

Oh and here's a pic of the formerly Elderlys 575 w Bigsby. .... now owned by Shmockiebaby ,Welcome to the club and ... Congrats.

[Dick Seacup]

Bigsby's are nothing more than tone sucking butter knives that will lead to bad playing habits, poor posture and loud music. The girls will love it, but not the ones you want to take home to mother. In fact, they're not even the kind you'd brag to your favorite uncle about. No, Bigsby's are bad, plain and simple. Nothing good can come of this. Trust me, I know.

 

[smurph1]

Never owned a guitar with a Bigsby.. Even the Strats I've owned never had their whammy bars out of the case..Guess I'm just an ol Stick in the Mud.. But, to each his own!! If you love em, Use em!!

[LH575]

I should add.... don't do it if you leave screw holes showing. The mod has to be clean. The 550 at Elderly's is disfigured.

 

Cool thing about the B6 - no other holes besides the mounting plate. Totally reversible.

 

Still waiting for the custom Bigsby, hopefully a month or so.

 

Shmockiebaby, that's a beauty!

[Shmockiebaby]

I think that is a 550. I saw it when I was up there last July. A reddish color?

 

 

Nope, it's a 575. Amber. Just arrived today. I started another post about the output jack, and how it goes thru the tailpiece. I've never seen this before, but it's my first Heritage.

 

I think I have it sorted out. I'll post pics of the Bigsby setup tomorrow if I get a chance. Happy to send pics or answer questions separately too.

 

Take care!

[Shmockiebaby]

Cool thing about the B6 - no other holes besides the mounting plate. Totally reversible.

 

Still waiting for the custom Bigsby, hopefully a month or so.

 

Shmockiebaby, that's a beauty!

 

 

Actually, in taking my 575 Bigsby apart, I found that they drilled an extra set of holes. But they were just off slightly to the right. In other words, the Bigsby would have screwed right into the original holes, no problem! I've seen this on Gibsons, too, where the Bigsby holes match the original Gibson tailpiece holes.

 

So I refilled the extra holes, double checked the alignment, and it looks like it'll go right back on. I'll post pics when it's all done.

[Shmockiebaby]

Bigsby's are nothing more than tone sucking butter knives that will lead to bad playing habits, poor posture and loud music. The girls will love it, but not the ones you want to take home to mother. In fact, they're not even the kind you'd brag to your favorite uncle about. No, Bigsby's are bad, plain and simple. Nothing good can come of this. Trust me, I know.

 

 

 

I love Bigsbys, and I love this post. "Nothing good can come of this", indeed!!

[High Flying Bird]

Nope, it's a 575. Amber. Just arrived today. I started another post about the output jack, and how it goes thru the tailpiece. I've never seen this before, but it's my first Heritage.

 

I think I have it sorted out. I'll post pics of the Bigsby setup tomorrow if I get a chance. Happy to send pics or answer questions separately too.

 

Take care!

 

Yeah, I saw the picture later. What a nice 575. Welcome aboard. If you wish you could crank out some serious Neil. "Look out momma..."

[Shmockiebaby]

Here's a coupla pics. You can see how I used a couple of straplock pieces to fit the output jack to the Bigsby. When I got it, it was just loose in there, barely holding on. I used the curved, cupped washer on the backside of the tailpiece (you can;t see it), and it fit right into the hole in the boy, served to help center everything. Then I used the flat washer on the outside, where you can even read the strap lock engraving. It's not permanent, but it is solid, secure, and totally playable. It could be permanent if desired, it's just not very elegant.

 

I think the best solution would be to make a piece of aluminum the same shape as the tail piece, including the three mounting holes, and then drill a hole in the center for the output jack. Attach the jack, and then sandwich the whole rig and assemble. I dunno, we'll see.

 

Also note the bridge. Seems like too many pieces, must be a tone sucker. I will look for a better solution. Maybe a Bigsby bridge, but they are intonated for a wound G, and I play a plain G. I don't like ABR-1, the little hairspring always buzzes. Roller bridges are tone suckers. I may try a rosewood/bone bridge and see how that works - not normal for Bigsby, but I only give it a gentle wiggle when I use it anyway.

 

Having trouble uploading pictures......I'll keep trying.

[Shmockiebaby]

OK, I choose the file, hit the upload button, and then it just goes away. "Manage Current Attachments (0)" says I have not pics. File is 468, under the 1.5 size limit. Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong?

 

I always have this problem with pics on forums......

[LH575]

I think the best solution would be to make a piece of aluminum the same shape as the tail piece, including the three mounting holes, and then drill a hole in the center for the output jack. Attach the jack, and then sandwich the whole rig and assemble. I dunno, we'll see.

 

 

That is exactly what I am having done. I'll post photos when I get it. Not cheap, but worth the price to not drill extra holes.

[ButteredBiskit]

dont you love custom jobs....ugh. i'm sure it will be bitchin' when its done. kudos for spending the extra effort to do the swap right. can't wait to see.

[hiro]

bigsby's at least look good on a heritage. great you're taking careful effort to get one put on and not slap sticking it . . . i've seen telecaster types with them and they really remove from the aesthetics take up half the body of it lol.

 

sometimes some guys want to go the brian setzer route and get it just cuz its cool

 

but for me, if I ever wanted to bend, I'd get weapon designed for it like a strat or ibanez or prs

[LH575]

It's done...

Check it out. Will post again when I get it all put together.

[Guest mgoetting]

bigsby's at least look good on a heritage. great you're taking careful effort to get one put on and not slap sticking it . . . i've seen telecaster types with them and they really remove from the aesthetics take up half the body of it lol.

 

sometimes some guys want to go the brian setzer route and get it just cuz its cool

 

but for me, if I ever wanted to bend, I'd get weapon designed for it like a strat or ibanez or prs

 

 

I'd be a little nervous dive bombing on a 575 like Hendrix did on his Strat. I've had a Gibby 345 with a Bigsby- no problem, built like a tank. But a 575? If you use it like a gentleman, Chet style, it'll probably be fine. Of course the 575 is the wrong axe heavy metal anyway.

 

I waiting for someone to disagree with that last point!