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Synchro · March 30th, 2012, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abeauch

Bonjour!
I go on the site in and out with my language limits, espescially if some 'slang' english is used. Your personnal opinions however are always competent and vey well written (easily understandeble). Very cautious use of Bigsgby we share seemingly as a matter of good taste (or style probably).

OK , With no. 11 strings (d'addario wound G) , the stock padle arm is indeed felt a bit high (either on my 6120 or my 6196T). But that delicate bending is absolutly necessary where needed and the most well tempered device I know of to do this is the Bigsby (returns to the exact note when not brutalised). Interesting arm. Easy to change ?

Greetings!

André Beauchemin
Messines QC

André

The easiest way to change is to loosen the strings and pop them of at the Bigsby end. Then flip the handle up and you will see the set screw that holds the bracket in place. I believe it's a 7/32" hex wrench.

The Chet arm rides lower than the stock handle so the height may be perfect. One one of my guitars I actually had to use the white nylon spacer under the spring.

I also tightened the swivel on the bracket so that the arm would stay in position. This took a 5/16" nut driver.

I agree, the Bigsby seems to work very well for its intended task. I never have any problems with it going out of tune. Besides that, the action is smooth and predictable.

calvin lee · March 30th, 2012, 10:44 AM

i love the wire arm. it feels so much better to me.

Mark W · April 5th, 2012, 02:13 PM

As soon as I locate a reasonably priced B6 I will also be purchasing a 9" Chet arm. Looking forward to joining the Club!

Synchro · April 5th, 2012, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark W

As soon as I locate a reasonably priced B6 I will also be purchasing a 9" Chet arm. Looking forward to joining the Club!

You'll love it; I guaran-damn-tee it.

mike fried · April 13th, 2012, 09:51 PM

I love the (B30) wire arm on my Epi Swingster - it feels great in the pinky and I think it's much easier the get the finely-nuanced wobble than with the usual flat arm. Any other Bigsby's I get will have the wire arm!

Synchro · April 13th, 2012, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike fried

I love the (B30) wire arm on my Epi Swingster - it feels great in the pinky and I think it's much easier the get the finely-nuanced wobble than with the usual flat arm. Any other Bigsby's I get will have the wire arm!

Finely nuanced says it all.

Mark W · April 17th, 2012, 11:25 AM

I have a B6 with Chet arm on the way this week. Looking forward to the nuanced wiggle.

Synchro · April 17th, 2012, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark W

I have a B6 with Chet arm on the way this week. Looking forward to the nuanced wiggle.

Congrats. It may take ad few days to get the feel of it but once you do there's no going back.

senojnad · June 6th, 2012, 01:05 PM

I've been a convert for a couple of years. The last switch that I did took some extra work, but it was worth it!

Synchro · June 6th, 2012, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by senojnad

I've been a convert for a couple of years. The last switch that I did took some extra work, but it was worth it!

Good to hear from you Dan. I have a 7" wire arm on order from the Bigsby catalog but it seems to be in no hurry to arrive.

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Sonny Strimple · June 6th, 2012, 06:35 PM

Synchro - I have a 6122-jr and been thinking I will probably need to order a 7" for that one. A bit far off yet though. Where can I get one? Bigsby cat?

Sonny

jbcallender · June 6th, 2012, 09:02 PM

Synchro - I put one on my 6120N and I love it. There is really a lot of adjustment options in the wire arm as well.

jbcallender · June 6th, 2012, 09:06 PM

I've had one on my 6122 since about a week after I bought it. The only probelm wih the 6120N is that you have to fold the arm in the case just right.

Synchro · June 6th, 2012, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonny Strimple

Synchro - I have a 6122-jr and been thinking I will probably need to order a 7" for that one. A bit far off yet though. Where can I get one? Bigsby cat?

Sonny

All I know is the part number is 495-0834G for the gold one but I'm not sure what the availability is. That number is from the 2010 parts list and I assume it's still valid. I ordered three, 2 in gold, one in stainless (495-0834) from a friend that owns a music store but they have yet to show up. If they never arrive I'll do what Senojnad did and rethread the arm so that it can be shortened.

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Synchro · June 6th, 2012, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcallender

Synchro - I put one on my 6120N and I love it. There is really a lot of adjustment options in the wire arm as well.

I've noticed that too. Since mounting the Chet arm I've taken to keeping a metric hex key set in my gig bag just in case it comes loose mid-gig.

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tlsmith · June 7th, 2012, 02:50 PM

I ordered the standard 8" wire arm on e-bay to put on my 5120 (B-6 Bixby). I had to ream out the hole a little to get it to fit onto the shaft but i am tickled to death with the way it works and the ease of use. I only use mine in a very suttle way and it's great for finger picking.

thunder58 · June 7th, 2012, 03:10 PM

Hey AceGuitar1 , glad the wire arm worked out for you . Thunder58 ( Rich )

calvin lee · June 7th, 2012, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike fried

I love the (B30) wire arm on my Epi Swingster - it feels great in the pinky and I think it's much easier the get the finely-nuanced wobble than with the usual flat arm. Any other Bigsby's I get will have the wire arm!

+1!!!

senojnad · June 9th, 2012, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synchro

Good to hear from you Dan. I have a 7" wire arm on order from the Bigsby catalog but it seems to be in no hurry to arrive.

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Thanks, Mark! I "custom made" a shorter wire arm, and it was not too hard to do. I took the 8" arm and cut off about 1/2" on the threaded end. I then took a Sears/Craftsman tap and die set and cut new threads on the shorter stem. Sliding the handle as far as it would go into the bracket resulted in a (probably) 7-1/4" (or less) wire arm. If you look at the arm in the photo, you can probably see what I'm talking about.....

I'm about ready to order a Bigsby B7 and a wire handle to install on this (non Grestch, sorry....)

Synchro · June 9th, 2012, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by senojnad

Thanks, Mark! I "custom made" a shorter wire arm, and it was not too hard to do. I took the 8" arm and cut off about 1/2" on the threaded end. I then took a Sears/Craftsman tap and die set and cut new threads on the shorter stem. Sliding the handle as far as it would go into the bracket resulted in a (probably) 7-1/4" (or less) wire arm. If you look at the arm in the photo, you can probably see what I'm talking about.....

I'm about ready to order a Bigsby B7 and a wire handle to install on this (non Grestch, sorry....)

I may give that a try on my Jet. In stock form it's just way too close to the neck pickup. BTW, does it fit into the case alright with the Chet arm? My Jet has always been a tight fit even with the stock handle.

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