Bigsby springs "Help"

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

I just got a Yamaha Revstar with a Bigsby vibrato. The Bigsby is very stiff. I have other guitars with the Bigsby and they are somewhat spongy.

There are aftermarket springs available but they don't mention anything about the tension. Does anyone have information about replacement springs?
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I survived the sixties!

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I assume you must be running some pretty light strings then? So I would say you need to first make sure you have the string gauges you want on it first. If you're running light strings, Bigsbys can be pretty stiff. But some of the licensed Bigsbys I've tried were pretty stiff. Is this the one with the "Bigsby Licensed" B50?

If you get to the point where you're really sure you need a lighter spring, Reverend Guitars has a "Soft Touch Spring" for Bigsbys - http://store.reverendguitars.com/product/soft-touch-spring/ - I imagine there are other sources, but these seem tried and tested for the specific application. There are of course sources for a wide variety of springs, but without knowing what tension you need, they can be hit or miss. I've grabbed stuff at hardware stores, sometimes they work, sometimes not so much.

You also need to consider the spring length - the Reverend spring is 26mm, just over an inch. But if it's in the ballpark, I have always been able to make one work with a washer at either end. Teflon washers also quiet the thing down a bit.

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

Hi Dave:

Thanks for the information and insight regarding the Bigsby spring. The Reverend sping looks interesting and I will order one. Here is a picture of the Yamaha Revstar. Very nice guitar with Filtertron type pickups.

The guitar came with .010-.046 strings.
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I survived the sixties!

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

i never liked that bigsby. the roller puts the string exit to the bridge too low. the strings have too much downward pressure and "saw" through a non roller bridge and it never stays in tune. there is a company that makes an aftermarket part that takes the place of that roller and raises the strings up a bit. the easiest bigsbys are the ones on archtop guitars that have no roller. the angle of the strings from the bigsby to the bridge is very nominal and makes for a nice easy bigsby action.

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

I got the new springs (2) from Reverend and they are less tension and work well. Also, I watched a few youtube video on setting up a Bigsby. I learned something!

When screwing a Bigsby to the body, it's possible to overtighten tighten one screw and that can bind the pivot roller. Even on a flat body this can happen and more so on a carved or radiused guitar top.

Also, remove the plastic washer in the spring seat and replace with a penny. Put the spring on the floor and gently step on it 25-50 times and this breaks in a new spring.

How often can you do a modification to a guitar that only costs 1 cent....L Oh, the cost of the new springs was $20... Very Happy

_________________
I survived the sixties!

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