Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Dreaming... for now => Topic started by: pace on December 15, 2006, 01:22:38 AM

Title: Bigsby style vibrato
Post by: pace on December 15, 2006, 01:22:38 AM

Im just curious if Alembic ever fooled around with the idea of milling a big brass vibrato unit~ ala Bigsby?!??  
 
I know Alembic offers Flyod's, Khaler's, and Wilkinson's (never actually seen one on a 'bic).... Although the Bigsby design is far more subtle than any of the former, something of that nature wouldnt require any routing, and I imagine would add quite a bit of sustain... who cares if you cant do dive bombs?!??!?  
 
Just a thought.... I figured a mustache or bird styled brass Bigsby would be something else!

Title: Bigsby style vibrato
Post by: adriaan on December 15, 2006, 02:15:38 AM

Both John Entwistle and Stanley Clarke had Bigsby-equipped Alembics.
 
Not sure that the big spring and the semi-tightened arm won't cost you any sustain you might gain from the additional mass.

Title: Bigsby style vibrato
Post by: kmh364 on December 15, 2006, 05:05:56 AM

FWIW, my luthier hates 'em. Actually he hates all vibrato's. He says when he gets a Bigsby, new or used, he has to rebuild 'em from scratch because of all the slop in them. He's anal about everything, so I don't doubt him.  
 
Personally, I've got two Fender Strats with the Fender whammy and Two Jackson/Floyd-equipped Charvels, and none of 'em stays or plays in tune for long (my Alembic basses are all hard-tails).  
 
Just my $0.02.
 
Cheers,
 
Kevin

Title: Bigsby style vibrato
Post by: pace on December 15, 2006, 01:40:58 PM

I remember seeing a Bigsby on one of Stanley's basses, but not JE.... that's nice to know.  
 
Im well aware of the inherent slop of an original Bigsby, and I would cringe at the thought of having an OEM Bigsby on an Alembic. But, with that said, I feel it's a design which could easily be improved upon by the folks in Santa Rosa~ just look at their take on the Tune-O-Matic!!!!!

Title: Bigsby style vibrato
Post by: bigideas on December 15, 2006, 02:36:07 PM

what about a Stetsbar collaboration?

Title: Bigsby style vibrato
Post by: lbpesq on December 15, 2006, 03:00:51 PM

Stetsbar collaboration
 
Isn't that what happens in watering holes all over Texas on Saturday nights - usually involving cowboys and long necks?
 
Bill, tgo

Title: Bigsby style vibrato
Post by: bigideas on December 16, 2006, 08:20:47 AM

No, that would be a Stetson/Bar collaboration. I believe it happens all over Alberta on the weekends as well.
 
I mean the Stetsbar (http://www.stetsbar.com) tremolo.
 
(Message edited by bigideas on December 16, 2006)

Title: Bigsby style vibrato
Post by: pace on December 16, 2006, 10:12:07 AM

Thanks for that link Matt. I saw a similar unit a while ago (has Stetsbar been around for 15 years?), and I always thought that it would be a nice mod to my Firebird...

Title: Bigsby style vibrato
Post by: Bradley Young on December 16, 2006, 05:27:56 PM

A nice mod to my Firebird would be a new engine.
 
Like a 432CI twin turbo LS6.  Sadly, she's going to a new home today.  Besides, I bought an Alembic, which cost almost as much as the engine would've.
 
Bradley
PS- you did mean the car, right?  

Title: Bigsby style vibrato
Post by: lbpesq on December 16, 2006, 08:12:41 PM

LS6 - that was a Gibson, right?
 
Bill, tgo

Title: Bigsby style vibrato
Post by: David Houck on December 17, 2006, 06:02:54 PM

There are some pics of Alembics with Bigsbys here (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8080).