Bigbsy - daft sounding advice request.

[chillidoggy]

Can I unbolt, and remove the Bigsby tremelo arm and still use the guitar? I like the Bigsby look, but the arm is a pain in the arse, and I never use it anyway.

[ICBM]

Just swing it round to over the tailpiece part.

If you really want to remove it, you can. You'll need to do it with the strings off so you can pull the cam up and get at the nut.

[chillidoggy]

Yeah, it's pissing me off, and I wish I'd never fitted it, even though it had one originally, hence when I found a Gibson-badged one, I bought it and fitted it.

So the strings will still be under tension with the arm? That's where I was coming from, I just didn't want to have to remove everything to find it couldn;t be done, hence the request.

[ICBM]

Yeah, it's pissing me off, and I wish I'd never fitted it, even though it had one originally, hence when I found a Gibson-badged one, I bought it and fitted it.

So the strings will still be under tension with the arm? That's where I was coming from, I just didn't want to have to remove everything to find it couldn;t be done, hence the request.

You can do it two ways - either put the spring back in, in which case it will be exactly as normal except no arm; or you can remove the spring as well and leave it with the cam resting in the spring 'foot', in which case you now have a non-trem tailpiece... but it will look a bit uglier (I think - although even without the arm they look ugly).

[TheGuitarWeasel]

Cut a spacer from a piece of chromed tube (I used to use cheap chrome bottlenecks) same length and diameter as the spring you are replacing. I used to fix them in with a smear of epoxy cement so you can easily remove later if you change your mind ... then voilà ... a hard tail Bigsby!

[zenzeypher]

If you installed it to a Les Pail just remove it and screw the tail piece back in, I've removed one from my LP with no trouble

[musophilr]

it will look a bit uglier (I think - although even without the arm they look ugly).

Bigsbys of any kind - with or without parts removed - will always be FUGLY SHITE THAT SHOULD NEVER EVER BE INFLICTED ON A GUITAR

[ICBM]

Bigsbys of any kind - with or without parts removed - will always be FUGLY SHITE THAT SHOULD NEVER EVER BE INFLICTED ON A GUITAR

Shouting about it just makes it more obvious you're wrong .

But they don't suit all guitars, and if I'm right about chillidoggy's guitar (is this the '73 SG Custom?) then that would be one I don't think they look right on. SGs need Maestros.

[chillidoggy]

Yes, it's the '73 Custom. I do think it looks ok with the gold Bigsby on the walnut finish, but I find it a pain in the arse to play with the arm in the way.

ICBM & Guitar Weasel - thanks for the info.

[chillidoggy]

I will probably have it to bits next week and see what I can do. I might machine some reasonably thick brass tube to replace the spring, and do the epoxy thing. That should ensure the assembly is reasonably solid. We shall see.