I need a 1 inch gold spring for my Gretsch Nashville Classic vibrato. The shorter spring that came with the guitar leaves the handle sitting too low over the pick guard. I've left messages with EMS and Blackrider to make an
inquiry, but have received no response so far. Do anyone have access to one of these that you'd be willing to sell or know of another possible supplier? Thanks.
Greg
Re: Bigsby Spring (1 inch)
Elderly Instruments carries the Bigsby springs.
http://elderly.com/accessories/items/BTSG-L.htm
Bill B.
http://elderly.com/accessories/items/BTSG-L.htm
Bill B.
- BillB
- Posts: 644
- Joined: Thu Jul 15, 2010 5:44 pm
Re: Bigsby Spring (1 inch)
Bill,
Much thanks. Order placed.
Greg
Much thanks. Order placed.
Greg
- Greg Butler
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 4:59 pm
Re: Bigsby Spring (1 inch)
A TEMPORARY solution is to use LEATHER CUP WASHERS as shims to compensate for a spring that has weakened with age.
Probably 95% of Bigsby's owners that I'd done this to opted to leave it alone, as the leather both QUITED & SMOOTHED it's action ! ! !
Probably 95% of Bigsby's owners that I'd done this to opted to leave it alone, as the leather both QUITED & SMOOTHED it's action ! ! !
If BRUTE-FORCE isn't working, you're not using enough ! ! !
- Mike Nye
- Posts: 392
- Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2010 2:21 am
Re: Bigsby Spring (1 inch)
I have the reverse problem. My W/H Bigsby seems to be a little too high for me to keep my little finger wrapped around it. It is about 1 3/4 -2 inches off the pickguard and I would like to lower it to about 1-1 1/4 instead. The handle holder is facing up at about an 11:00 position and the removable end of the handle is also facing up at about an 11:00 position two inches above the pickguard. Is there any way to adjust this without buying the shorter spring, and if so, how do you go about it? If not, is replacing the spring something I could do myself even though I have very little mechanical or electrical abilities? If this has been discussed before, I apologize. Thanks.
- Billy Anderson
- Posts: 125
- Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2010 10:20 pm
Re: Bigsby Spring (1 inch)
Billy Anderson wrote:I have the reverse problem. My W/H Bigsby seems to be a little too high for me to keep my little finger wrapped around it. It is about 1 3/4 -2 inches off the pickguard and I would like to lower it to about 1-1 1/4 instead. The handle holder is facing up at about an 11:00 position and the removable end of the handle is also facing up at about an 11:00 position two inches above the pickguard. Is there any way to adjust this without buying the shorter spring, and if so, how do you go about it? If not, is replacing the spring something I could do myself even though I have very little mechanical or electrical abilities? If this has been discussed before, I apologize. Thanks.
It's been awhile since I've been to Bigsby's web site, so I was completely taken by surprise when I just discovered their new complete parts price list with PICTURES of EVERYTHING except the main casting ! ! !
http://www.bigsbyguitars.com/vibe/wp-content/uploads/Bigsby-Parts-2010.pdf
Posting photos of your situation would help solve your concern, as there's NO WAY that anyone could know exactly what fix is BEST for your problem WITHOUT seeing anything. You may just need to BEND your wire handle to resolve your issue.
If you've already done that with NO positive results, ya might try this:
1. Measure the spring's INSTALLED LENGTH @ NORMAL PITCH
2. Loosen the strings
3. Remove the spring
4. Line a vice's jaws with a SOFT surface so as NOT to damage the spring's plating
5. Clamp the spring down to 75% of it's length taken from STEP ONE
6. Re-install the spring, and tune to NORMAL PITCH
7. REPEAT by INCREASING the clamping on the spring until you get it to YOUR LIKING
I've had some where I had to use a heat gun to dis-temper the spring to get the ABSOLUTE results I wanted
KEEP IN MIND that you can also ROTATE the wire handle to YOUR LIKING by loosening the 2 Allen setscrews that hold it in place . . .
If BRUTE-FORCE isn't working, you're not using enough ! ! !
- Mike Nye
- Posts: 392
- Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2010 2:21 am
Re: Bigsby Spring (1 inch)
Are you Sure the spring is seated in the sockets properly? (Hafta ask.) It's not hard to get the spring in there cockeyed and not be able to see it is not seated right.
Are you using extra light strings?
Are you using extra light strings?
- thenorm
- Posts: 482
- Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2010 8:29 pm
Re: Bigsby Spring (1 inch)
Thanks, Mike and TheNorm. As I said, I am mechanicall-challenged, but believe it or not, about an hour ago, I was looking at the unit thinking about taking a picture tomorrow and posting it when I noticed the two Allen holes on the side. Even my pea-sized brain hit upon the notion that maybe this thing could be moved around in some fashion. I am going to explore that tomorrow, and also try to post a picture. As for stings, I use D'Ads 11-49 with a wound third. We have a bad storm coming in right now so I will look at this tomorrow and see if I can play with it and do no damage. Thanks again. Gotta go or this HP may blow. Billy
- Billy Anderson
- Posts: 125
- Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2010 10:20 pm
Re: Bigsby Spring (1 inch)
Strings aren't the problem then. As posted you can get a remarkable amount of adjustment by rotating the handle after you loosen the allen screws.
If the adjustment of the arm doesn't fix it it seems like your spring is either too long or it's not seated in the cups properly. Make sure there are no shims in the seat cups too.
If the adjustment of the arm doesn't fix it it seems like your spring is either too long or it's not seated in the cups properly. Make sure there are no shims in the seat cups too.
- thenorm
- Posts: 482
- Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2010 8:29 pm
Re: Bigsby Spring (1 inch)
I had a similar problem years ago with the Bigsby (on a Gretsch Tennessean) and solved it by putting a couple of quarters (or maybe it was nickles!) in the little cup that holds the spring in place! Worked fine...
You might have to adjust that for inflation however!
David
You might have to adjust that for inflation however!
David
- David Elliott
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- Location: Simi Valley, California