Bigsby for our ES-2 Kit

[adam]

Hey Gurus,

One of our customers has an ES-2T kit and wants to put a Bigbsy style trem arm on it. Any idea what model Bigsby arm he should be looking at? I'm not familiar with these.

Remember, the bodies on the kits are actually quite small, so I'm not sure the standard arm that would fit a Gibson ES-175 will fit.

Any suggestions?

[WeirdBits]

The Bigsby B7/B70 (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar_tremolos/Bigsby_Vibrato_Tailpieces.html) is suitable for a carved top LP style thin body (38-57mm thick), like the ES-2, so that's probably the best option. The ES-2 is fractionally thinner than a LP, so the position of the strap button on the hinged end-piece may not be exactly centred (with a B70). Probably best to take some measurements on their actual kit, check that against the Bigsby's specs, and then decide.

The other thing to keep in mind is if they want a roller bridge it will need to have a 12" radius to match the fretboard, and something like the Golden Age roller bridge (12") (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_Tune-o-matic_bridges/Golden_Age_Roller_Bridge.html?actn=100101&xst=1&xsr=4928) may need different post holes than the kit's supplied bridge.

[gavinturner]

I agree with Brendan about the B7/70. If the customer gets the kit without post holes drilled then they are open to place their own bridge posts in exactly the right place at exactly the right spacing..

cheers,
Gav.

[stan]

B7 fits on an LP:

http://www.guitarsite.com/news/images/guitar/LPFTVSCB1.jpg


B5 is smaller, likes flat top guitars, but I've seen them on archtops


http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/549/squiretelewithbigsbybodycloseup.jpg

http://www.rlinwood.com/family_webpage/pix/music/Both_082310a/Both_Snagged/SNAG-0008.jpg

[adam]

Thanks for this info guys, very helpful.