Bigsby B7 with roller

[Rowbear39]

anybody have any opinions on swaping out a B6 Bigsby for a B7 with the roller bar on it?--would it make the string angle over the bridge steeper, putting more down pressure on the bridge?--does it present any other problems, like tuning or anything else?--any suggestions welcomed--

[Norm]

If my guitar/Bigsby already functioned well without the roller I can see no reason to change it out.
I always felt the roller inhibited the Bigsby performance.

[Rowbear39]

thanks Norm--that's the most common reply, and thanks for offering yours--appreciate all I learn on the Chetboard!

[BillB]

I have a solid top guitar that has the roller, and it seems to have more intonation problems than my Gretsch that doesn't have the roller. I keep thinking my issue has more to do with having a brass nut, but I guess it could be the roller.

Bill B.

[Norm]

Intonation issues are usually confined to the bridge, occasionally the nut. The Bigsby, being behind the bridge, is not an intonation problem

[BillB]

Well, I guess I really didn't mean intonation. The solid body guitar with the roller (strings under) just won't stay in tune very well when using the bigsby. My Gretsch is much better.

Bill B.

[gmoseley]

hummm,,,,I never liked 'em , , , had a couple of guitars with that B7 roller. It never seemed to tune up, and stay in tune as well as the standard Bigsby. I figured maybe the roller was something else touching the strings causing them to hang a little. (just my guess) ???

Gayle Moseley

[Mike Nye]

If my guitar/Bigsby already functioned well without the roller I can see no reason to change it out.
I always felt the roller inhibited the Bigsby performance.

That extra mandrel (bar) on the B-7 is for instruments with less setback angle of the neck, providing more downbearing force on the strings to the bridge in order to keep the bridge from sliding all over the place.

You'll notice that a Gretch CG has more of a neck setback angle than a Gibson CG . . .

[Norm]

Most of the guitars I've seen using the B-7 have had fixed bridges. They can't slide around.

I always thought the B-7 was made for guitars that the bridge sat low to begin with... Gibson 335's etc. It all has to do with neck set in the basic design, sure, but if you used a standard Bigsby on those guitars you would probaby at the very least, get a lot of string rattle

[Mike Nye]

Most of the guitars I've seen using the B-7 have had fixed bridges. They can't slide around.

I always thought the B-7 was made for guitars that the bridge sat low to begin with... Gibson 335's etc. It all has to do with neck set in the basic design, sure, but if you used a standard Bigsby on those guitars you would probaby at the very least, get a lot of string rattle

OK, Try a B-6 on an ES-335 . . .