Bigsby®. True Vibrato
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Bigsby®. True Vibrato. The Bigsby® Story For over 50 years, Bigsby Vibratos have been adding It all started in California, with a genius inventor who the expression that turns good songs into great ones. “could build anything”. Fortunately, Paul Bigsby would Original equipment on many of the world’s best selling branch out from building Crocker motorcycles into instruments. Just a few of the companies currently using music... and the world would never be the same. Bigsby include Gibson®, Epiphone®, Fender®, Gretsch®, Paul Reed Smith®, Squier®, Schecter®, Taylor®, ESP® and many, many more! Easy to install, hard to live without! In the years since fellow biker and “lightning fast” guitarist Merle Travis first asked Bigsby to build “a vibrato that works”, Bigsby’s True Vibrato has enhanced the playing Once you get used to your Bigsby, you’ll find it hard styles of guitarists the world over. They’ve been featured to play without it... but fortunately, installation is easy! continuously on Gretsch® guitars since 1955, and have Especially with our new B50 & B70 kits... everything you been heard on recordings in almost every genre, from need to install your new Bigsby, all in one package! * punk to folk, and country to rock. The Gretsch Company is proud to offer the Bigsby True Vibrato tailpiece, the first Comprehensive installation instructions are available at successful design of what is now called a whammy bar or www.bigsby.com/installation tremolo arm. Guitar makers of almost every style turn to Bigsby to add the finishing touch to their instruments, a beautiful, subtle and extremely functional statement. Want to find out more about Bigsby? The Paul Bigsby Story Most musicians are familiar with the famous Bigsby *Some basic tools are required for installation. Please see the Bigsby website for Vibrato, but not as many know about the wonderful detailed installation instructions and links to installation demonstration videos. guitars that Paul Bigsby built in the 1940s. Bigsby, who was responsible for developing and refining the pedal Find spare parts at www.bigsby.com/parts steel guitar, also built the first modern solid body electric guitar for Merle Travis in 1948, predating Leo Fender and Gibson’s Les Paul by a number of years. This book tells Gibson and Gibson SG, Les Paul Special, Super 400, Les Paul Standard/Custom, how Bigsby influenced Fender and Gibson, as well as a ES-335; Fender and Fender Telecaster; Gretsch and Gretsch 6120, Duo Jet; number of others, in building techniques and design. Epiphone and Epiphone Casino; Rickenbacker and Rickenbacker 325; Paul Reed This deluxe illustrated coffee table book contains over Smith, Squier, ESP, Schecter and Taylor are trademarks of their respective owners. 300 color and black & white photos. The book also comes with an audio CD of Paul Bigsby, recorded in the late 1950s, telling stories of his business. © 2011 Fred Gretsch Enterprises. Bigsby® and Gretsch® are registered trademarks of Fred Gretsch Enterprises, PO Box 2468, Savannah, GA 31402 www.bigsby.com Bigsby®. True Vibrato. • • “ Original Kalamazoo™ Series Lightning™ Series Bigsby® Original Kalamazoo Series Vibratos are still Sand Cast by hand in the United States the old fashioned way. Molten For players who want the Bigsby® sound and “vibe” but for a less expensive instrument. Named in tribute to “lightning fast” Merle Travis who inspired Paul Aluminum is poured into Sand Cast molds, exactly as Paul Bigsby made the original Bigsby Vibratos in the 1950s. We know Bigsby to build his first vibrato, the Lightning Series offers a high quality Bigsby how much your guitar means to you, and Bigsby Kalamazoo Series Vibrato systems are lovingly made to enhance your at a more affordable price. Made from Aluminum like their Original Kalamazoo™ instrument while delivering Paul Bigsby’s original vision in every way. Series brothers but constructed using less expensive Die Cast methods. B3 B11 Lightning Series I Classic Bigsby® designs for the player who wants vintage style! Lightning Designed for thin hollowbody and semi- Designed for thin hollowbody and Series I Die Cast Vibrato systems offer the traditional Bigsby look, feel and hollowbody electric guitars such as semi-hollowbody electric guitars such function at an affordable price. Epiphone Casino, Gretsch Duo Jet. as Epiphone Casino, Gretsch Duo • Approximate weight: 296 grams / 10.4 oz. Jet. Like the B3, but featuring a more B30 • Overall Length: 7-5/8” / 193.7 mm “minimalist” appearance. For thin hollowbody and semi-hollowbody guitars. Based upon the original B3 design. • Overall Width: 3-5/8” / 92.1 mm • Approximate weight: 286 grams / 10.1 oz. • Overall Length: 7-11/16” / 195.3 mm • Approximate weight: 296 grams / 10.4 oz. • Overall Width: 3-11/16” / 93.7 mm • Overall Length: 7-1/2” / 190.5 mm • Overall Width: 3-3/4” / 95.3 mm B5 B12 B50 For flat top solidbody electric guitars. Based upon Designed for flat top solidbody electric Designed for archtop solidbody and the original B5 design. semi-solidbody electric guitars such guitars such as Gibson® SG, Gibson Les • Approximate weight: 290 grams / 10.2 oz. Paul® Special, Rickenbacker® 325, and as Gibson Les Paul Standard/Custom, Fender® Telecaster®*. Sometimes referred ES-335. Like the B7, but featuring a • Overall Length: 4-5/16” / 109.5 mm to as the Bigsby “horseshoe”. more “minimalist” appearance. • Overall Width: 3-13/16” / 96.8 mm • Approximate Weight: 286 grams / 10.1 oz. • Approximate weight: 344 grams / 12.1 oz. • Overall Length: 4-3/4” / 120.7 mm • Overall Length: 8-3/8” / 212.7 mm B60 For large hollowbody guitars. Based upon the original • Overall Width: 3-3/4” / 95.3 mm • Overall Width: 3-5/8” / 92.1 mm *Requires 0495-0258 Bridge and B6 design. 0495-0257 Bridge Plate. • Approximate weight: 308 grams/ 10.9 oz. • Overall Length: 8-5/8” / 219.1 mm B6 B16 • Overall Width: 3-7/8” / 98.4 mm Designed for large hollowbody electric The original 1950s design for the Fender B70 guitars such as Gretsch 6120 or Gibson Telecaster. For archtop solidbody and semi-solidbody electric Super 400®. • Approximate weight: 333 grams / 11.7 oz. guitars. Based upon the original B7 design. • Approximate weight: 311 grams/11 oz. • Overall Length: 8-3/8” / 212.7 mm • Approximate weight: 358 grams / 12.6 oz. • Overall Length: 9-1/4” / 235 mm • Overall Width: 4-1/4” / 107.9 mm • Overall Length: 8-11/16” / 220.7 mm • Overall Width: 3-5/8” / 92.1 mm • Professional installation recommended. • Overall Width: 3-3/4” / 95.3 mm B7 Lightning Series II Designed for archtop solidbody and Bigsby Vibratos continue to be made using original designs, molds and A slimmer, sleeker Bigsby, the Lightning Series II Die Cast Vibrato systems semi-solidbody electric guitars such are perfect for today’s instrument styles, while retaining the subtle and methods, and therefore, incorporate markings or text associated with flexible vibrato Bigsby is famous for. as Gibson Les Paul Standard/Custom, patents that have since expired. Such markings are included only for the Gibson ES-335. sake of historical accuracy and are not intended to denote or imply live B500 • Approximate weight: 354 grams/12.5 oz. patents or ongoing patent protection. For flat top solidbody electric guitars. Based upon • Overall Length: 8-3/4”/222.3 mm the B5/B50 design. • Overall Width: 3-5/8”/92.1 mm • Approximate weight: 279 grams / 9.8 oz. • Overall Length: 4-9/16” / 115.9 mm • Overall Width: 3-3/4” / 95.3 mm B700 Unless otherwise noted, all Original Kalamazoo Series Vibratos are available in polished Aluminum or Gold Finishes. The B7 is also available in an all Gold finish, Right Hand model For arch top solidbody and semi-solidbody electric only. The Arm on all Bigsby Original Kalamazoo Series Vibratos adjusts with 1/8” Allen wrench and 5/16” socket wrench. guitars. Based upon the B7/B70 design. • Approximate weight: 345 grams/12.2 oz. • Overall Length: 8-5/8” / 219.1 mm Lightning Series I Vibratos are available in polished Aluminum or Gold finishes, except the B60 which is available in polished Aluminum only. Lightning Series II Vibratos are available in polished Aluminum, Gold or Black finishes. The Arm on all Bigsby Lightning Series Vibratos adjusts with 1/8” Allen wrench and 5/16” socket wrench.. • Overall Width: 3-3/4” / 95.3 mm.