hagelslag
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Post by hagelslag on Apr 28, 2019 4:23:23 GMT -5
Hello guys,
I recently bought a 90s Fender Duo Sonic, the model with 7.5 fingerboard and 22.7ish scale neck. I'm currently discussing custom pickups for her. Next to rewiring her I'd also love to add a Bigsby. I know I have to file the bridge down and potentially add a 0th fret at the nut.
I've looked at other trem systems, but the body is thinner than a Mustang, which excludes most options. Plus I don't really want to start with wood working as I have no experience with that and only live in a small flat without proper tools/workplace. She'll get smaller 60s pickups, possibly kind of Jaguar, and I think a bigsby will look cool.
Are there other things that could throw a spanner in the works? Could the wood be too soft overall (poplar I think)? She'll look similar to this in the end, in a different colour: i.imgur.com/NRrJwlF.jpg
ps: I'll ask more questions on rewiring once I've taken her apart again, taken proper photos and measured all cavities.
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Post by newey on Apr 28, 2019 14:49:58 GMT -5
Hagelslag: Hello and Welcome to G-Nutz2!Gee, I bought a Duo-sonic specifically because it doesn't have a vibrato . . .  There may well be other issues. I doubt softness of the wood will be an issue, since people have been putting bigsbys on Teles for years, and a lot of Teles were made with softer woods. The one in the photo looks like it has a Fender clone of a Bigsby? If that's what that is, maybe you could find the part no. for that one and gets its dimensions, which would help you compare the dimensions of one that (obviously) fits and works on a Duo-SOnic with the Bigsby you're planning to install. |
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Post by reTrEaD on Apr 28, 2019 15:12:58 GMT -5
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hagelslag
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Post by hagelslag on Apr 30, 2019 12:47:31 GMT -5
Hagelslag: Hello and Welcome to G-Nutz2!Gee, I bought a Duo-sonic specifically because it doesn't have a vibrato . . . There may well be other issues. I doubt softness of the wood will be an issue, since people have been putting bigsbys on Teles for years, and a lot of Teles were made with softer woods. The one in the photo looks like it has a Fender clone of a Bigsby? If that's what that is, maybe you could find the part no. for that one and gets its dimensions, which would help you compare the dimensions of one that (obviously) fits and works on a Duo-SOnic with the Bigsby you're planning to install. Thanks for the welcome!
Hahaha!  I actually bought the Duo Sonic because I could not get any other offset with a similar tiny neck and weight. Me: Small girl with some joint problems all over, and my Tele is just not right for me. I do wanted a trembar though, and prefer the look of any Bigsby type trem to other solutions out there.
I'm not sure what Bigsby to use yet. Maybe a 5, or 50. It doesn't have to be the same as on the photo. Just meant as an example of how I want my guitar to look like roughly.
The 90s Duo Sonic is prone to having problems with the tuners though I've not seen too much of that yet even though I play quite a bit every evening. I might consider installing a 0th fret.
What I don't know: how would a Bigsby influence the sound? This guitar doesn't have a string through bridge and not as much sustain as my Tele. It sounds rather warm, probably due to the short scale. The pickups are not really great and a bid muddy-sounding. But I'll replace those anyway.
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hagelslag
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Post by hagelslag on Apr 30, 2019 13:49:20 GMT -5
Looks like it, yes. I'd rather have a Bigsby without any branding, but that seems difficult. I just don't like to display brand names. Reason I've not changed the tuners yet as I only seem to have a choice between a prominent Fender F and a Kluson K  without drilling additional holes. |
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Post by reTrEaD on Apr 30, 2019 15:30:54 GMT -5
Finding a Chinese knockoff without a logo would be dead-easy. Just go to aliexpress and shop around. Of course you won't know what kind of quality you're getting. Some of the stuff there is remarkably good. Some of it is just plain junk. Price isn't a reliable indicator.
If you want a genuine Bigsby without a logo, try sending an email to Jeff Krause (the email address is in the link you quoted). There might be an unbranded line they provide to other manufacturers.
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hagelslag
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Post by hagelslag on Apr 30, 2019 15:44:17 GMT -5
Finding a Chinese knockoff without a logo would be dead-easy. Just go to aliexpress and shop around. Of course you won't know what kind of quality you're getting. Some of the stuff there is remarkably good. Some of it is just plain junk. Price isn't a reliable indicator. If you want a genuine Bigsby without a logo, try sending an email to Jeff Krause (the email address is in the link you quoted). There might be an unbranded line they provide to other manufacturers.
Hey, excellent ideas, thanks a lot. Can't wait to get started on my guitar (and can't for another month as I'll be away on business. Meh!)
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Post by thetragichero on Apr 30, 2019 17:14:04 GMT -5
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hagelslag
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Posts: 12
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Post by hagelslag on May 1, 2019 6:56:13 GMT -5
Hmm.. lets see what else they have. I think the screw holes are opposite, but also diagonally on mine. Like these (but I need to check at home first):  |
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I actually bought the Duo Sonic because I could not get any other offset with a similar tiny neck and weight. Me: Small girl with some joint problems all over, and my Tele is just not right for me. I do wanted a trembar though, and prefer the look of any Bigsby type trem to other solutions out there. 
without drilling additional holes. 
