Are you looking for the best bridge for Bigsby? Then, you have come to the right place.
Your guitar’s strings, when vibrated, reproduce a very low volume of sound owing to the displacement of a small amount of air.
And this is exactly where the instrument’s bridge comes to your aid, not only providing support to the strings but also helping broadcast their vibration to the soundboard.
Talking about high-quality bridges, Bigsby vibratos that are part of the standard equipment on Gretsch guitars have excellent vibrato effects.
Many players report that Bigsby vibratos deliver superior pitch variations compared to the vibrato bars on Fender basses. When you’re replacing or upgrading your Bigsby’s or any other Epiphone LP-style guitar’s tailpiece, you’ll need to find a quality bridge perfectly compatible with your instrument’s vibrato. We’ve reviewed six top-quality bridges that are supremely companionable with the tailpiece of your Bigsby or SG guitar.
The 6 Best Bridges for Bigsby
1. KAISH Gold Tune-O-Matic Bridge (Editor’s Choice)
The Kaish Gold Tune-O-Matic Bridge is guaranteed to be a versatile replacement of the stock stoptail bridge in your SG, ES Dot, Gretsch Bigsby, or Gibson Les Paul guitar with M4 threaded posts. This gold TOM Bridge by Kaish has been designed and crafted with meticulous care keeping the layout of the original or OEM’ bridge’ in mind. In addition, the bridge, along with the roller saddles, has been created with meticulous care paying close attention to ergonomic aspects so that it easily fits in your instrument’s tailpiece.
This gold Tune-O-Matic bridge is delivered to you with the entire hardware, including roller saddles. The bridge is compatible with the typical bridge posts. It can be effortlessly mounted on any vintage or modern Epiphone or SG guitar that comes integrated with Bigsby bridges. Not only are the saddle rollers pre-threaded, but they also include distinct tuning screws for personalized intonation of tension and pitch.
Directly modeled on the original, this Tune-O-Matic bridge from Kaish uses identical components crafted from premium materials. Most importantly, with its roller saddles, post holes, and top sections, the bridge has the same dimensions for a perfect fit. In addition, the entire piece has been shaped out of high-quality bell brass for guaranteeing the delivery of your preferred tone.
Features
- Works with Gretsch Bigsby, ES Dot, SG, and Gibson LP, having stock bridge posts
- Designed with reasonable care, the roller saddles help minimize chances of string rupture
- It is incompatible with Les Paul or Bigsby guitars models starting from 2014-till the present
- Threaded M4 vibrato bar posts with integrated thumbwheels
- Six solid saddles offer sufficient flexibility for adjusting each saddle’s tuning separately
2. KAISH Black Tune-O-Matic Bridge (Editor’s Choice)
One of the most versatile and affordable Tune-O-Matic style bridges that come equipped with roller saddles is the Kaish Black. Popularly known as TOM (abbreviation of Tune-O-Matic), the Kaish Black Tune-O-Matic works as an ideal drop-in replacement for Bigsby, Epiphone Les Paul, and SG tailpieces. On the other hand, the included roller saddles can go a long way in alleviating the strings’ tension by elongating them.
Additionally, the screws supplied with this Kaish TOM bridge easily drop into your guitar’s existing holes without removing the old post holes. At the same time, carrying out adjustments with this bridge for your customized intonation is a breeze. For example, all you need to do for dialing in your desired pitch level is center the rollers to the bridge’s center before mounting it.
After that, you’ve to do minor fine-tuning for each roller to get your perfect intonation. The roller saddles’ flexibility to your bass’s strings also offers a more resonant sonorous sustain than fixed bridges. You’ll not experience any jangle or clatter thanks to the saddles’ stability.
However, you most likely have to put up with one problem: you may have to struggle with adjusting the tuning or intonation screws. Many players have reported difficulty tweaking the intonation due to asymmetrical threading on a section of the tuning screws.
Features
- Guitar saddle bridge engineered with precision and quality electroplating
- It helps check incidences of string splintering
- Furnishes sustain to Epiphone-style Les Paul bass, Bigsby guitar, Dot, and SG
- 6.3mm post holes for accepting 6mm posts that are standard with the majority of Epiphone guitars
- Innovatively designed roller saddles for enhanced tuning flexibility
- Exceptionally steady saddle withholding rings for doing away with saddle clatter
3. Allparts GB-0596-002 Gold Roller Tunematic Bridge
If you’re looking for a budget upgrade of your instrument’s tailpiece to boost intonation stability, then opt for Allparts GB Gold Roller Tunematic Bridge. Allparts GB-0596-002 Tune-O-Matic Bridge is equipped with heavy-duty electroplated roller saddles that come in immensely handy for reducing string tension as well as improving tuning steadiness. In addition, this Tunematic tailpiece from Allparts features sizable mounting holes with 2 29/32” post spacing and 2 1/16” string spacing with six saddles.
Therefore this bridge should pair impeccably with your Epiphone or Gretsch guitar.
Features
- Tune-O-Matic-style bridge with electroplated roller saddles for lessening string friction
- Sizable bridge post mounting holes
- 2-29/32” post to post spacing
- String spacing: 2-1/16”
- Six flexible saddles for straightforward string tuning
4. Fender Mustang Guitar Bridge
This chrome-electroplated guitar bridge assembly from Fender has been designed exclusively for Fender’s Classic Series ’65 Mustang and Jag-Stang® guitar models (from 2006-present). The Fender Mustang Guitar Bridge has six vintage-style single-channel barrel-type saddles, bridge posts with adjustable screws, six tuning rivets, and springs.
Apart from the guitar makes and models specified above, the Mustang Guitar Bridge pairs with a range of modern-day and vintage bass models from Fender.
Features
- Chrome-electroplated bridge with six classic single-channeled barrel-style saddles
- It also includes two mounting posts with Allen screws, six tuning screws, and springs
- The spacing of bridge posts is about 2-7/8” (from center to center)
- String spacing: 2-3/16”
- Designed for Classic Series Jag-Stang (2006-present) and 1965 Mustang models
5. Fender American Vintage Jaguar/Jazzmaster Bridge
One of the most adaptable and versatile bridges out there, the Fender American Vintage Jaguar/Jazzmaster fits seamlessly on different contemporary and classic Fender guitars. One unique feature of this Fender Bridge is that it sports a U-shaped channel design that facilitates smooth string sliding, thereby letting you dial in full-on vibrato sounds. On the other hand, the Vintage Jaguar/Jazzmaster Bridge allows you to get the best out of your bass, owing to its fully adjustable saddles.
The appropriate size, along with the correctly configured dimensions of its components, makes this bridge a direct replacement for most Fender Jazzmaster/Jaguar guitar models. If you’re replacing the tailpiece of your Gretsch Bigsby, there’s a high likelihood of your experiencing some hum from strings. On the whole, this bridge for Fender’s Jaguar and Jazzmaster guitars can be mounted and installed with effortless ease.
Features
- Bridge assembly with nickel-plating and six adjustable and threaded saddles
- Well-matched for Fender’s American Vintage Series Jazzmaster/Jaguar guitar models (1999-2012)
- It comes with two bridge posts that drop in your instrument’s thimbles
- Ideal for a taut and full vibrato effect
6. TonePros Nashville Tuneomatic Guitar Bridge
The Nashville Tuneomatic Guitar Bridge with Roller Saddles from TonePros fits quite effortlessly on most US-made guitars, especially Bigsby models. The TP6R locking feature goes a long way in enabling you to mount and install this bridge without undertaking any modification. At the same time, the Nashville Tuneomatic Bridge’s locking feature aids in boosting coupling with strings that eventually betters your Bigsby’s sustain and resonance.
Additionally, you’ll have to use minimal modulation for fine-tuning intonation since the bridge is solidly tethered to the posts. Guitarists will also find this TonePros guitar bridge hugely versatile as it features wider post holes than the stock ones. The larger post holes ultimately help in boosting inflection for dialing in brilliant mid-gain crispy tones from your Gretsch instrument.
To say last but not least, you’ll have it easy while replacing the strings as this Tuneomatic Bridge stays in place.
Features
- Comfortably fits the majority of American vintage-style, Gretsch Bigsby, Epiphone LP, and Gibson guitars.
- TP6R locking guitar bridge with 5mm thread: Drop-in replacement for Nashville Tuneomatic
- Chrome finishing
- It fits easily without having to carry out any adjustment or modification of the instrument
- Unthreaded roller saddles with thumbwheels
- Proprietary pinch bridge stays firmly set
- Firmly set tailpiece helps boost intonation, tuning stability, and sustain
FAQs About the Best Bigsby Bridges
Does a Bigsby Need a Roller Bridge?
Gretsch guitars usually come with a unique Bigsby vibrato system markedly distinct from Fender’s tremolo bridges. So when you opt for replacing the whammy bar of your Bigsby, you’ve to ensure that the replacement is paired with the appropriate bridge. Given that specific requirement, you’ll come across two main types of bridges-Tune-O-Matic and Roller-where both kinds work as ideal replacements.
Talking about roller bridges, they’re pretty well-suited for your instrument, having a Bigsby vibrato system. For a start, a roller bridge provides better intonation stability than Tune-O-Matics, helping effectively relieve the string tension. At the same time, roller bridges offer less friction or resistance when the strings glide over each other and less pressure when they’re at rest.
Since there’s plenty of string movement associated with Bigsby vibratos, it follows that the movements generate a lot of friction. The roller bridges tend to be more effective in reducing string resistance than a Tune-O-Matic, thanks to the former’s superior architecture. Additionally, the strings glide over the rolling bridge at a smoother angle than a Tune-O-Matic vibrato.
Can You Put A Bigsby On Any Guitar?
Produced in two sizes (short and long), Bigsby vibrato models are designed thoroughly to fit nearly every electric guitar. For instance, model B-5 is suitable for flat top solid-body basses, model B-3 suits slim electric guitars, model B-6 works with big arch-top and acoustic basses, and so on.
How Does Bigsby Bridge Work
Mounted on the tailpiece of your Gretsch guitar, the Bigsby-style vibrato works in combination with a ‘rocking-’ or ‘swinging bridge.’ The spring-loaded Bigsby arm is tethered to a rotary metal bar to which the guitar’s strings are attached. When in rest in the g or neutral phase, the spring’s pressure offsets the strings’ tension that helps keep the intonation (pitch) steady during pick attack.
If you push the Bigsby lever downwards, the bridge goes forward, loosening up the strings, relieving tension, and lowering the pitch. Letting off the arm reinstates the normal match of the strings.
How Do You Set Up a Bigsby Bridge?
For mounting a Bigsby Bridge on your instrument quickly and effectively, install a mounting kit first. If the installation hardware that comes along with the Bigsby vibrato system is compatible with the stock pickups and saddles of the existing bridge, then you don’t have to drill or solder or detach the neck. Yes, you can install the Bigsby tailpiece onto your Les Paul or SG by soldering or boring holes; the process can be cumbersome and time-consuming.
Using an installation kit is undoubtedly the most practical way to fit a Bigsby Bridge on your Tele, Strat, or Gretsch guitar. The mounting kit not only spares you from the hassle of drilling but also sustains the replacement’s heft.
Conclusion: Best Bridges to Use for Bigsby
Choosing a quality bridge to match the tailpiece of your Bigsby guitar ideally can be a bit challenging. However, we’ve made that task somewhat easier for you by assessing six high-quality Tune-O-Matic bridges compatible with Bigsby tailpieces.
The Fender and TonePros models make good buys as these not only fit smoothly but also keep your instrument consistently tuned for an enjoyable sonic.