To do a vibrato or not.....that is the question

[leadfingers]

Hi guys!

Been a while since I posted any questions or comments, but I thought, in this case, Come to the experts...or at least those with the experience and knowledge! (I've encountered a few folks that claimed expertise, but obviously were not! Yeow!)

Anyhoo... I have a Ibanez AG75, red, small, hollow-body electric. It has a floating bridge that gives me very little if any problem. (slipping, sliding, etc) I really love this guitar...ok, maybe not love , but I play it a lot!

Last summer, I saw a White Ibanez, gold hardware, with same size body and shape. Not an AF (slightly larger than the AG) but it had a Vibrato arm on it. Now, I've always been wondering about adding one to my AG, but was unsure of what issues might come up. Such as, additional holes needing drilled, tone being effected do to a big junk of metal now sitting on the surface, what type of bridge to use (roller or regular) Should I try to do it myself or have a good Luthier do it. (I have a good one nearby!)All that fun stuff.

So, I'd like to hear some opinions on the matter. Add it, forget about it, trade mine in or sell it and get the new one. (The color is quite nice, too, but not a deal breaker)

SO, what say you all?

Thanks in advance

[ChrisK]

Hmmm, I'd be tempted to trade and buy. You should get perhaps half the street price for the one that you have now. Things kind of suck now for the instrument market (not the firearms market, mind you) so it may be less than half.

You're likely looking at a $200'ish spend with trade-in.


The Bigsby vibrato will cost you about $100 (ebay) to $150. Then there's the labor.....

It should be possible to do this oneself, but I've never done so I can't speak to the procedure (I'll bet it's on the web).

[newey]

It should be possible to do this oneself, but I've never done so I can't speak to the procedure

I haven't done one either, but I've seen a few. None turned out very well aesthetically, didn't play 'em so I don't know about the functionality of the added vibrato. Of course, the end results may have spoken more about the modder's talents . . .

Trading up seems like a better bet. If you mod your current guitar and it doesn't work out well, then you lessen the trade-in value you have now, prior to attempting to add the Bigsby.

Then you'd want the upgrade guitar anyway, and not be able to trade for it on the same basis.

[cynical1]

The only thing that would concern me with a hollow boy is whether the body "as is" can take the extra force applied by a vibrato.

If you have access to the similar model to yours with a vibrato see if you can spot any extra bracing at the bridge location. If you can't see inside, then just tap on the body. You should be able to hear the deadness of additional bracing.

I'm sure holes will have to be drilled and you've got to make sure the vibrato fits the curvature of the top of your body, otherwise there's alot of work to fit it. You also have to take into consideration the string height at the bridge compared to what you have now.

I'm with ChrisK on this. If you want a hollow body with a vibrato then buy one. Your life will be infinitely simpler in the end.

Happy Trails

Cynical One

[axekicker]

I always say go for the vibrato. First, I think it brings added value to the guitar because you get more sounds. Second, there's no better way to fake your way around a solo than with a good vibrato! Whenever I play a guitar without one, I feel, I dunno, naked....