Gtrbldr
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Thsnk you, suspected as much. Any clue as to which one of the tonepros i would need?
Bridge and Tremolo upgrades: Starla content
- Thread starter rockinforJesus
- Start date
Going Modal
I should be practicing right now.
...old SE Custom Ltd....
Whoa, man! Did you add the Bigsby to that older-model SE Custom Semi-Hollow? I've never seen one with the Bigsby before--I could really go for this.
Bowtiefanatc
Confirmed Bird Snob
It was a special run. Sergio and Hans both have them as well. I think 100 made. It was probably the top tier SE of its time. Ebony board, binding, real phase 2 tuners, real Bigsby. I would get another one day if I can find one.
Bowtiefanatc
Confirmed Bird Snob
This is the one I used
TonePros TP6R-N Standard Tuneomatic Bridge with Roller Saddles Nickel | Reverb
Brand New TonePros TP6R-N Standard locking Tune-O-Matic bridge with roller saddles. Nickel. Fits most USA Gibson and others.TonePros TP6R provides superior performance on all Bigsby-style tremolo equipped guitars. The TonePros design roller saddles are engineered to allow the strings to roll...
reverb.com
Gtrbldr
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Well, tried the bigsbygix and it actually helps a lot!!Thank you! Lots of the maintenance you mention I do as well. I guess the bigsfixx might help me be able to use the guitar more regularly without hestitation
No need for a locking bridge on my end. Guitar is stable now and I can even abuse the bigsby a lot more than I normally would during a set and it remains in tune. The reverend spring however is not a good idea for my guitar, I need the stiff original spring to put enough stress on the bridge to bring it back to its original position. But I do not like the more slack response of the reverend spring anyway; not enough control for my liking.
Gtrbldr
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Update: after the honeymoon phase with the biggsfix I still noticed unpleasant instability. Less than before, but too much for my own comfort. Especially unpredictability was annoying. Never knowing when it went sharp or flat. I let the Starla be and bought a nice McC that gobbled up my play time.
However last sunday I used the Starla in church, even though the instability was a risk and uncomfortable, but the guitar fit the set like a glove. Short story; sounded phenomenal, was a pain to manage. Me being me I got ispired to fix it. A quest was found and barked upon.
Short story/Sergio version: FIXED IT.
Lazlo version below (and I would read it if you own a bigsby).
I got a brainwave during the service: it occured to me that the bigsby itself might be the issue. It was stiff, not just because the spring was stiff, but because there is a lot of friction in the bridge itself, causing the guitar no to return to pitch. I noticed this friction last time changing strings, but did not think it through. I searched on the webs and youtube how to lubricate my bigsby (and took care to formulatw that search precise) And found this youtube vid.
It told me two things: I was right about the friction being the issue and gave me two paths to explore; lubrication and installation.
As it turned out: both were an issue. The bridge needed alignment and the bridge was lubricated, but with too much grease: it got sticky. Removed a bit of the grease and now the bigsby arm "falls" like the video above and the guitar became actually stable.
Abused the bigsby, and returned to pitch within 7 cents. Tuned it, repeated ithe test multiple times; same results. Let it rest over night: still the same results. I think I fixed my Starla!! Might be worth exploring for other Starla owners as well!
However last sunday I used the Starla in church, even though the instability was a risk and uncomfortable, but the guitar fit the set like a glove. Short story; sounded phenomenal, was a pain to manage. Me being me I got ispired to fix it. A quest was found and barked upon.
Short story/Sergio version: FIXED IT.
Lazlo version below (and I would read it if you own a bigsby).
I got a brainwave during the service: it occured to me that the bigsby itself might be the issue. It was stiff, not just because the spring was stiff, but because there is a lot of friction in the bridge itself, causing the guitar no to return to pitch. I noticed this friction last time changing strings, but did not think it through. I searched on the webs and youtube how to lubricate my bigsby (and took care to formulatw that search precise) And found this youtube vid.
It told me two things: I was right about the friction being the issue and gave me two paths to explore; lubrication and installation.
As it turned out: both were an issue. The bridge needed alignment and the bridge was lubricated, but with too much grease: it got sticky. Removed a bit of the grease and now the bigsby arm "falls" like the video above and the guitar became actually stable.
Abused the bigsby, and returned to pitch within 7 cents. Tuned it, repeated ithe test multiple times; same results. Let it rest over night: still the same results. I think I fixed my Starla!! Might be worth exploring for other Starla owners as well!
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aphantomvaper
Bend it to the Owl!
Great news and write up! Enjoy that Starla I didn't give that model credit until I picked up mine. Its easily one of my best axes. Looks like a lube session is in order.
Gtrbldr
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What worked for me was to
- take the bridge off,
- remove the arm (allan wrench 3 mm) and that frees up the bar enoug to slide it a little to the left and right, revealing the dark grease
- take way the excess grease with a paper cloth.
- Reattach the arm, make sure it "falls" like in the vid,
- screw the bigsby back on the guitar and keep testing the "falling" of the arm,
- restring and abuse the bigsby a lot to test
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JasonE
New Member
I bought my Starla during the short period where they made them with the stop tail bridge. No tuning issues here.
Glad to see you got it fixed.
Glad to see you got it fixed.
