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Changed the strings for the first time on my two week old 5122.
Didn't realise how fiddly it would be with the bigsby vibrato but got the hang of it in the end (never changed strings on a bigsby fitted guitar before)
Changed the strings for the first time on my two week old 5122.
Didn't realise how fiddly it would be with the bigsby vibrato but got the hang of it in the end (never changed strings on a bigsby fitted guitar before)
Ha, I was also bigsby virgin and broke my cherry yesterday on my 5129. I don't think I'd be able to do it without capo. I also gave it a good polish and rubbed lem-oil into fretboard. She is as good as they get.
If you use the string locking technique the a Bigsby is a total non issue and your strings will not shift once they stretch in. Great tuning stability. There are some pics here:
This works really well and because the string in always under tension as you are winding the strings, they don't pop off your Bigsby. It's really quick too. I change a set of strings in a few minutes.
You don't need a capo either or a foam block for the Bigsby. Nothing but a cutter to trim the string after your install.
Once you've changed strings a few times it becomes a non-event and the Bigsby becomes a lot less daunting. I just put a little bend in the string to he it wrap around the Bigsby, lock the tail of the string under the first wrap and try to have less than one full turn around the machine head, which reduces binding of the string against itself,a source of much trouble. This works great and offers a lot of tuning stability.
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Add note: The method in the video works great in a controled setting and is pretty much what I do. A back-up plan/method for on the fly changes (i.e. the cramped and poorly lit setting of a dive bar stage) includes a heavy duty capo to provide some extra control (a third hand) and is a not an entirely bad idea. Also, having your ball ends pre-bent and ready to go in wherever you keep your spares is a good way to minimize drama.
The more you do it, the easier it gets. If you have road crew who might have to change the strings in a bombs away situation, it is a good idea to have them practice changing with the bigsby. You'll agree it's a tad different than a Tele or basic Les Paul string change.
Changing Strings
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