Well that was a first for me. Watching gear videos on a Sunday, when I should be in church, and ended up worshiping with tears on my face at the end of this one. Thank you for that! Just beautiful.
Hi I have carried out this mod after watching your Video. I must say your whole process in being able to order & your service was first rate. I have installed it on a Epiphone Wild Kat it also has a roller bar fitted. Fitting your parts was simplicity itself & the guitar is now a great player. I've been playing for over 50 years but this is the first Bigsby equipped instrument I have owned. So thanks once again.
Great video, thank you! I have 2 Epi Wildkats (no Bigsbys) and have been putting off getting another one with a Bigsby because of the tuning issues I read about. Now that I've seen this, I'm ready to order one with a Bigsby, thanks! And loved the tune at the end, Holy, Holy, one of my favorite worship songs!
Nice playing, I bought an Epiphone Les Paul with an Epiphone branded Bigsby years ago. I had the same problem. I added a roller bridge, locking tuners and lastly I simply did not route the strings under the bar. The strings go straight to the roller bridge, and I have no problems with tuning. The angle on the Les Paul with it being a carved top is steep enough to allow the strings to stay put in the saddles.
I just installed my BiggsFix last night and am just blown away! It doesn't even seem like the same guitar! If you do this upgrade undo the clip on the Volume control side and pull it away. It won't come out far enough "towards" the pot. Really worth the money! Thanks for making these! I've got to go play now........ LOL
If I had an Epiphone Wildcat, this would be a no brainer to buy one of these. In the meantime, I'll queue up this video over and over again and move ahead to 7:57 just so I can watch/hear your great licks on the Revelation Song. Well done sir! Well done!
Like a lot of folks my age, my first electric guitar was a Silvertone 6 string Danelectro. In the 70s when we lived in San Diego, a neighbor dude found him inside his amp case in the trunk of a used car and he sold him to me for $15. Although some previous owner had installed an ALUMINUM nut and I re-shaped (Strat-like) his peghead, installed new tuners, routed a cavity and installed a used gold Gibby bridge HB, but never considered a Bigsby on the Beaverboard/2×4 body of Danny Boy. It never crossed my mind to Bigsby defile my 1982 30th Anniv. Fullerton Tele. I began to consider a Bigsby after getting frustratingly CLOSE to perfection with my two Squier Strats after learning the astoundingly simple Galeazo Frudua trem setup methodology. My only candidate for a Bigsby is the Les Paul 100 which I found in my local pawn shop for $99 & bargained down to $80. Never thought I would ever own an LP, but the minute I picked him up, I KNEW he had to be mine! I upgraded with 18:1 Grovers with black diamond keystone knobs, nickle covered Epiphone Chinese pups, Switchcraft, CTE pots, Mallory Orange Drop caps, copper shielding, and D'Adario 10-46s. My only concern about a Bigsby on Mr. Paul is whether he will still fit into his EXCELLENT Epi case. If I DO convince my SUPREME COMMANDER (of the last 54 years) that she will get no peace until I stop whining about JUST GOTTA HAVE MY VERY OWN, I will insist that it include this OUTSTANDING add-on..
I have bought and installed two of these. I can say that when combined with a rolling-saddle bridge my Wildkat stays in tune and so does my Gretsch Electromatic. I tried to improve the tuning stability first by replacing the bridge; when that didn't do the job I discovered and tried the Biggsfix. I been enjoying both of those guitars a lot now.
This thing flat works. I have one on my wildcat which also has new pickups, wiring, pots and a roller bridge. It's still kind of heavy but it sounds great and stay in tune for days.
Installed one of these a few years back to fix the inability of my Epiphone Wildkat Royale to stay in tune - a serious flaw of an otherwise great guitar. Brick's Fix did the trick. Guitar has never had a tuning issue since I installed the fix. I also got and installed the soft spring for the Bigsby and that's a very nice improvement, as well. For my second Wildkat, I went with a Wildkat Studio - sans Bigsby. Otherwise I would have installed one of these on that guitar, too.
I have pulled the tension roller off this very guitar and with a bigs fix it was like hearing a blanket taken off the guitar tone...also I added the vibramate string spoiler, which makes string changes half the time....
You might find this interesting. The resistance to returning to pitch is not caused by friction in the roller bar or the roller saddles. It is caused by the bending and straightening of the strings at those places where the break angle is high. By making those break angles flatter, you are reducing the amount of bending and unbending the strings must do each time you use the vibrato or simply bend one note at a time. Even the string wrapping around the rotating bar, exhibits resistance to motion. This is why the Floyd Rose tremolo returns to pitch better than any Bigsby . The strings are pulled in a straight line rather than bending them at steep angles.
I just ordered one (Austria), thanks for the fast delivery. I'm really looking forward to install it. I'm putting in on a WildKat white alongside a roller nut, roller bridge and planet waves locking tuners. I'm sure is gonna improve a lot. How do you install it on a B70?, how do I remove those clips? EDIT: Just found out your other video. thanks!!!
Nice "Revelation Song" jam! I was already tempted to try one of your devices to give me a bit more stability on the "Digsby" on my Dearmond M75T, and your song choice and performance might have pushed me over the edge. :-)
Can't you solve the problem adding some lube on the roler bar and on the bridge? I bought a tune O matic roler bridge, and I added some mix of graphite and sewing machine oil.
I just purchased a Epiphone Wildkat LE Royale Pearl White today June 30, 2016. I'd like to install your BiggsFix Tuning Stabilizer V3 for Bigsby “Licensed” B50, B70 and B700 (Gold), but your website is showing it as out of stock. How soon till you restock for The B70 Tuning Stabilizer for Epiphone Wildkat B70 in Gold? Peace Crazyhorse P.S, Where did you get the White with Gold numbers volume knobs, looks fantastic on your Wildkat, I'm not a fan of the stock Black and silver top hat volume knob..:).
Thanks again I just saw your new video, for the rollers. I like it a lot. Peace Crazyhorse. P.S. I might have to buy another guitar just to have the new roller setup :-).
Exactly, us wildkat users get annoyed to see all the reviewers just play a ton of jazz in them when in reality, they are a combination of all the beatles guitars imo lol and they ROCK
Hi Sir, I want to order the tuning stabilizer. But also, would a Fender Texas Special Tele neck pickup sound good in my Epiphone Wildkat? I'd leave the P90 at the bridge. I'm looking for the growl and hiss when I play slide that I can't get from the stock P90s in the Epiphone Wildkat. The Epiphone has no treble punch. Would the Texas Tele pickup help?
Question: When I strum hard the strings are popping out of the roller bridge. They don’t pop out when there is a break angle, but then It will go out of tune (sharp). Is there a fix for this? Thanks
That is really a good invention! I did want to ask if you've had any comments from users or yourself about the extra height becoming uncomfortable on the strumming or picking hand? I have the gretsch projet in gold, like yours and even the stock bigsby can dig into my hand and has taken getting used to.. My other two gretsch guitars have the longer bigsby and they are super comfortable. But my projet is uncomfortable at times to play.
I have had a few that didn't like it for this reason. I think most players tend to rest the heel of their hand on the bridge for muting purposes though which is in front of the roller. PJ definitely has roller closer to the bridge. Mine is good for me though.
awesome! I've tried just about everything else to bring some tuning stability to my Wildkat. roller bridge helped. locking tuners helped. I haven't changed the nut yet, but I use a white lube on it which helps. even still all these fixes don't solve to problem. they just all slightly alleviate it. when ordering, the Wildkat has a B70 on it, right?
I find that a little rocking is better than the strings sliding across the saddles. Rocks with slight warbling, more sliding with deep dives. Bigsby is more reliable with warbling :)
Ho do I get my bigsby to soften up Way to stuff even with with your product not saying anything bad about stabilizer have changed the spring also any suggestion ty
I assume you are responding by PM to the many questions about purchasing. I do not yet own a Wildkat but would like the info on the cost of the mod before I buy the guitar itself. Excellent video content and quality both!
About $60. I'm getting one for mine, but I have the same white Wildkat he's playing, with the gold hardware, and the gold roller isn't available at the moment unfortunately.
That Bigsby is installed on bigger guitars, installed further back on the body. This allows a more gentle angle, while still applying some downward pressure on the strings. The Wildkat is a smaller guitar and installed very close to the tune-o-matic bridge, but the angle is very steep. He demonstrates these different Bigsbys and angle at the start of the video.
Actually I’ve had reports from customers of the opposite. The roller is heavier than what comes stock on the guitar, so the result is a more solid sustain. I’ve had customers tell me that I should add “makes your tone better” to my tuning stability claims. I don’t like making claims like this because everyone has differing opinions of what sounds better to them. I have however had multiple favorable reports on this. If you compare to a Bigsby with no tension roller, the amount of pressure is greater. Often people need to put some sort of damper on the strings behind the bridge in a “non tension roller” Bigsby to reduce vibration. What I will say is: No tone is great tone when out of tune!
Yep, V ii IV I in key of G (but works in any key) It's amazing how this song (recorded version) can get so much mileage out of this continuous progression.
$55 to $65. Years ago, I did the same thing with two pieces of thin sheet metal I had laying around. Of course it ain't as pretty as this, buuuuut..... Also, pull the little pins, drill the holes, and smooth where the string exits = never cuss at string changes again.
How well does this last in tune. I see that you showed immediately that it stayed in tune but I mean how about after playing a while or a day or two? I've just been advised again and again to steer away from bigsbys and I want to know how well this mod works a little longer term. thanks to anyone who has any answers.
To be honest, it really depends on the guitar. The Biggsfix really only addresses one aspect of tuning stability. I try to be up front about not claiming this to be the cure all for every tuning issue. ... otherwise you might find it on the supplement isle at the grocery store :)
@@BricksJamRoom I just removed the arm and the spring. This was 25 years back. I had a good Bigsby and held a good tune, but just prefer not having one & didn't want to hack up a vintage instrument :) .... I'm looking at WildKats now and the concerns I have are: 1. Someone said something about the master volume having a bad impact on impedance ... 2. Performance of its stock P-90s vis-a-vis those in the Casino, which I found pretty surprisingly awesome. I need to find our more, but it looks like a fun guitar.
Just traded for a Wildkat (Natural/chrome) in great condition, but I'll certainly be in need of one of your improved rollers. I'm just outside of Nashville, TN...anywhere chance I could find one close by? If not, ordering info, please? Thanks, -Terry
Good song man....you never had in tune to begin with, that would have helped. You really need to know how to stabilize the tuning at the peg, to play any guitar. Once you figure that out start looking at the trem. Yeah thats a great tune at the end! This guitar will stay in tune fine once you age it a little, and pray, but i can see how its a bad design.
