[Wulfgang]

Hey gang, is there a mod for the bigsby to replace the string pegs with a straight drill hole? string changes would be a breeze. it's a headache to change if I ever break a string live and this would make things go much faster.

Even on a good day it takes me over 10 minutes to change a set of new strings. ban the peg!

[Bengal65]

On the new Bigs, just pull the roll pins outwith vise grips or pliers, and you can get the pivot bar out after removing the snap ring on the end. Place the bar in a drill press vise, line up the holes to vertical and clamp it. Use a drill size that will fit into the existing holes. and...drill baby drill. Clean off any left over burrs with a file and re-assemble the pivot bar into the Bigs assembly in reverse order (minus the pins of course)

[rcboals]

Go for it.

[Wulfgang]

Thanks! just a thought so I don't lose a finger or eye doing this mod, is there a existing replacement part I could buy for the 5120/bigsby?

[araT]

*nods* wish I could convince myself to take the plunge & do it

BAN THE PEG!

[Gros Ouaso]

Originally Posted by araT

*nods* wish I could convince myself to take the plunge & do it

BAN THE PEG!

Jeez!!!! You're a guitar tech...what's holding you back?
C'mon Tara get the jobs done, it'd easier than a fret-dressing or nut job.

[araT]

Originally Posted by Gros Ouaso

Jeez!!!! You're a guitar tech...what's holding you back?
C'mon Tara get the jobs done, it'd easier than a fret-dressing or nut job.

I have a disease I commonly refer to as "stockitis", I like to keep things as 'stock' as possible if it's a nice instrument, and generally don't do irreversible mods.. it took me a year just to give up the gretsch strap buttons & replace them with a set of schaller buttons.. and that's fully reversible you should have heard my internal monologue before I ordered the Comptons! same story! It's not that it's out of my skill level, not at all, If a client asked me to do it to THEIR guitar I'd be able to do it without so much as breaking a sweat, no worries! but mine? nu-uh

I'd like to see someone like Wayne market replacement bigsby string bars with holes instead of pegs, I'd buy two and swap them out on my bigsbys in a heatbeat, and keep the original string bar with it's pegs safe & sound in the case (in the snap lock bag with the gretsch strap buttons & space controller bridge) in case I ever needed it.

That said, I have no issue modding my crappy guitars like that 3/4 strat or my Ibanez SA-160, I've turned both of those into top class instruments.

[goss61]

For those who don't want to attempt that mod and are having trouble stringing, here's a good way to do it in a hurry, ie, at a gig.

1- Set the hole on the tuner post roughly parallel with the nut, ie, at right angle to the strings.

2- Use a small pair of needle-nose plyers (which, of course, you have in your guitar case) to bend the ball end over and to bend the half inch of string next to the ball end. It should then be fairly easy to fix it to the Bigsby pin and keep it there with a bit of pull as you go to the other end.

3- Pull the string thru the tuner, going outwards from the center of the headstock, and pull it tight. Bend around the post...up towards the Gretsch logo and around...and slip it under the string where it's coming in from the neck. Pull tight, bend it up around the string and fold it over. Tune up and the string will 'grab' itself and lock.

When you get the hang of this system it's quick and easy and you can do it while keeping a pull on the string so it stays on at the Bigsby.

[gfnk357]

2- Use a small pair of needle-nose plyers (which, of course, you have in your guitar case) to bend the ball end over and to bend the half inch of string next to the ball end. It should then be fairly easy to fix it to the Bigsby pin and keep it there with a bit of pull as you go to the other end.

That makes it alot faster to change strings, I usually roll my string around a pencil though since I don't have the pliers in my case

[built4speed]

What goss61 said, especially the part about pre-bending the ball end. I've never understood why some people have such trouble with changing strings on a bigsby, but I think that has to be the reason. Bend the end, keep a bit of tension on it and it's easy.

[mark t]

It's been said on the other forum that if you chop one of those pink Pearl erasers on an angle, you can wedge it in between the guitar and the string/peg.

I discovered the method of needlenosing the end of the string, popping it on and then capo the string to hold it tight while you thread it through the tuning peg. It's not a walk in the park by any means, but it's not exceedingly difficult.

[araT]

It's not that I find it difficult with the pegs - and I know the bending-the-string-with pliers trick, and the foam/eraser & capo tricks, but my point is, it could be EASIER and cheaper for them to manufacture.. how many of you can honestly say you'd PREFER pegs rather than holes?

I get where the OP is coming from

[mark t]

Oh, i'd prefer the holes for sure.....but i"m lazy and I suck with power tools.

[Big Burly]

I have a Pink Pearl eraser in my guitar toolkit for string changes on a Bigsby-fied guitar, but I rarely use it anymore.

Once I started bending the ball end, string changing became much easier.

[Big Burly]

"But the holes would make string changing more like changing strings on a stop-tail Gibson!"

[araT]

Originally Posted by Big Burly

"But the holes would make string changing more like changing strings on a stop-tail Gibson!"

So!? nothing wrong with that! Gretsch seems to have no qualms with Gibson-style parts either, look at all the adjust-o-matics

I don't care who invented it, I just want the most practical easy-to-use system that's feasibly possible..
Holes instead of pegs would actually end up costing the bigsby corporation less money

I'd really love to see someone make aftermarket ones for swapouts...

[Ripley1046]

A year or so ago I was in the same boat. I'll never forget the first time I took all the strings off my 5120 (first Gretsch, and Bigsby), it was a nightmare. I used to do the bending around the pliers bit too, but one broken ball and that was done. Now I can change the strings on either my 5120 or 5129 in less than 4 minutes without modifying the string, or using any foam or anything.

If I break a string on stage, I grab my backup. If that breaks, we break and I change both out. I used to break 2 strings a show when I used my Gibbys and played harder. Floating bridges cured my heavy hand though. I can now play hard without killing my guitars.

That said, I'm all for modding to your needs, and if I had a way to make the bars with holes I would, if not for me, then just to sell.

[LATS]

I'll probably get a round to it after I trash few strings with the pre-bending.

[Gros Ouaso]

Originally Posted by araT

So!? nothing wrong with that! Gretsch seems to have no qualms with Gibson-style parts either, look at all the adjust-o-matics

I don't care who invented it, I just want the most practical easy-to-use system that's feasibly possible..
Holes instead of pegs would actually end up costing the bigsby corporation less money

I'd really love to see someone make aftermarket ones for swapouts...

Since you can't find an aftermarket for the mods, i'd suggest to buy two roll bars that fit your bigsby, drill them out.
Then you keep your stock roll bars for later on if you ever decide (not sure 'bout that) to part with your guits. IMHO

[rcboals]

Originally Posted by built4speed

What goss61 said, especially the part about pre-bending the ball end. I've never understood why some people have such trouble with changing strings on a bigsby, but I think that has to be the reason. Bend the end, keep a bit of tension on it and it's easy.

AMEN BRO!!!