The Gretsch Pages: Discussions: Other Guitars: 69 Thinline Bigsby Conversion

69 Thinline Bigsby Conversion

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- Rated: 15 ↑
Jul 5, 2008 8:59 p.m. AndyJ:

I know plenty of people have done this conversion to Standard Teles, but I was wondering if anyone with a 69 Thinline (vintage or RI) has attempted it.

Also, as I was looking at the both the Fender logo kit and the the regular B5 kit, it appears that each is configured a bit differently: The actual Bigsby unit of the Fender logo kit appears to be a bit longer and narrower, whereas the Bigsby B5 looks shorter and wider:

Or is it just me . . .

Just wondering what, if anything, I need to take into account if I were to do the conversion. Thought, anyone?
- Rated: 15 ↑
Jul 6, 2008 12:08 p.m. AndyJ:

Anyone? Anyone at all?
- Rated: 67 ↑
Jul 6, 2008 12:58 p.m. antik:

You have probably seen this already, but just in case you have not, there is a video on youtube showing how to install a B5 onto a Squire Affinity Telecaster.
- Rated: 42 ↑
Jul 6, 2008 1:05 p.m. seadevil:

They're the same except for the end piece. It's just a question of whether you prefer the "F" or the Bigsby logo. Here's the super-secret official document from Fender that tells all:

Original Bigsby instructions
- Rated: 15 ↑
Jul 6, 2008 1:24 p.m. AndyJ:

Thanks for the info, guys. +1 to you both.

Now, which one: Fender logo or plain B5? Opinions? Cost isn't an issue. This is purely an aesthetic consideration.
- Rated: 10 ↑
Jul 6, 2008 4:00 p.m. illduck95:

I think the Bigsby logo is about the coolest trademark in music, so I would go that way. My two Gretsches are both the Bigsby branded ones, not the "Gretsch by Bigsby" or whatever it is "V" model that was on my Tennie Rose.

As for putting one on a thinline, I can't see it being an issue since you can put them on archtops. The construction should be at least as solid.
- Rated: 15 ↑
Jul 6, 2008 4:49 p.m. AndyJ:

illduck95,

You make an interesting point (two, actually).

My original concern with mounting a Bigsby on the Thinline had to do with the chamber on the upper part of the guitar that accommodates the f-hole and whether or not that was too wide so that I wouldn't be screwing down the Bigsby into something solid. But after checking it out and eyeballing the Bigsby, I'm guessing that shouldn't be an issue.

Realizing a Tele is a Tele is a Tele, I'm just hoping that a 69 Thinline Tele is close enough in layout to Standard Tele that I won't happen upon any unsuspected troubles. I hate buying parts that by all rights should work only to find out in the end that they won't work for one reason or another.

After reading up a bit, my mind is beginning to be put at ease . . . unless someone knows something from personal experience that might be a cause for concern.
- Rated: 39 ↑
Jul 6, 2008 4:54 p.m. Rocketman:

I wish you good luck on your quest to uppercoolness.
- Rated: 15 ↑
Jul 6, 2008 5:06 p.m. AndyJ:

Rocketman,

That is a perpetual quest. At this point, I would settle for achieving lowercoolness.

That's what the talc is for . . .
- Rated: 39 ↑
Jul 6, 2008 5:10 p.m. Rocketman:

Oh come on a bigsby on your tele is almost as good as a real Gretsch.
- Rated: 15 ↑
Jul 6, 2008 5:13 p.m. AndyJ:

Indeed it is. Thanks for the affirmation, Rocketman!
- Rated: 39 ↑
Jul 6, 2008 5:15 p.m. Rocketman:

I am just joking. I would love to have a nicely twanging Tele with a Bigsby.
- Rated: 15 ↑
Jul 6, 2008 5:21 p.m. AndyJ:

No worries. That's how I took it.

The Bigsby is just the beginning to the mods I have planned for the Thinline.

Now that my GAS has been slaked with my recent purchase of a 6118T-120, I turn my attention to doing a bit of pimpage to the Tele: Bigsby, new pickguard, and new p'ups w/wire harness.

I'd like to see how much of this I can do myself, as I'm not a tech by any stretch.
- Rated: 41 ↑
Jul 7, 2008 2:58 p.m. dubkitty:

I would love to try a Tele with a Bigsby, but given that the tone in my fingers is rather trebly, i'm afraid that me on a Bigsbyed Tele would threaten peoples' spectacles anywhere within earshot.
- Rated: 32 ↑
Jul 8, 2008 11:17 a.m. fws6:

To me there is only one thing better than a Tele with a Bigsby; and that's a Tele without a Bigsy

the bar and/or moving bridge changes the tone a lot. That's why you always a lot of old tele's with removed bigsby's; most players mod them back after the initial thrill of having a trem is over

also the bigsby will make the guitar out of balance; although on a thinline the extra weight wouldnt be a problem so much as on a standard solid tele of course
- Rated: 32 ↑
Jul 8, 2008 11:19 a.m. fws6:

I only still have the thinline but just for old time sake here s a pic of my old Tele's
- Rated: 9 ↑
Jul 8, 2008 11:43 a.m. caliban335:

I had a B5 installed on a MIM Tele, along with some other mods. I did not find that it changed the tone, but the handle is over the controls and I've found that to be a problem at times.
- Rated: 25 ↑
Jul 8, 2008 7:01 p.m. Scott:

fws6, that blonde Esquire is to die for!!
- Rated: 40 ↑
Jul 9, 2008 2:15 a.m. Pseudo Man:

Go for the fender logo. I always thought those bigsbys were all class.
- Rated: 32 ↑
Jul 9, 2008 5:20 a.m. fws6:

>fws6, that blonde Esquire is to die for!!

Yeah that was a lovely '66 very lightweight and a real screamer... if I think back about some of the stuff I had and sold .... just plain stupid....
- Rated: 59 ↑
Jul 9, 2008 5:51 a.m. Bear:

I put a B50 on my MIM Tele and went with the standard "Bigsby" logo rather than the "F" logo because I preferred the string break angle on the standard model. I don't know if it really makes a difference but I liked the sharper break angle nonetheless.

I also changed to the "Chet" wire arm since it is less in the way of the controls and mainly because it can easily be bent into the ideal neutral positioning.

I did however notice a change in my tone; my sustain increased dramatically and the highs became less spikey. This was a benefit I hadn't considered prior to the installation but am very happy with.
- Rated: 15 ↑
Jul 9, 2008 11:16 p.m. AndyJ:

Whoa. I didn't check in for a day . . . Thanks for the replies, fellers!

-fws6: Nice collection of Teles! And that is an original 69 thinline, no? I don't think I've seen one with a rosewood neck before.

The change in tone you mention has been under consideration. I have messed with Standard Teles w/Bigsbys in various shops but have yet to plug in . . . I think I should do that before making my final decision.

-Bear: Now, the change in tone you mention is really interesting, as I have heard people mention that the added Bigsby takes away from sustain b/c the string-thru-body is no longer being utilized. Any guesses as to why this increase in sustain happened. Would the break angle of the B5 have anything to do with that?
- Rated: 32 ↑
Jul 10, 2008 2:35 a.m. fws6:

>I don't think I've seen one with a rosewood neck before.

Good observation ! I think all original thinlines came with maple necks. But since I didnt like the (polyester lacquered) maple neck, I just put a 69 rosewood neck on it. The maple neck of course I keep in the case if I ever want to sell it. In 2045 or so.

The one on the far right is a 66 so it still had a nitro lacquered board which is fine too. But I cannot understand people liking maple neck teles or strats from the late sixties and seventies. Those feel horrible like you are holding a plastic neck in stead of wood. The new polyurethane necks are fine too.

The one on the far left is a factory bigsby tele model so no holes on the back. I wouldnt say it gets more sustain but it definately takes away the twang. If you dont like the highs in your tele you perhaps should look into better pickups or pickup adjustment. But IMHO bright twangy sound is just what tele's are all about.

if you just had one guitar I can imagine modding it to be more versatile. But if you have a gretsch with humbuckers and vibrato anyway ; is is not more fun to have a hard tail single coil tele as well ? Two very fine guitars each with their own distinct sound.
- Rated: 15 ↑
Jul 10, 2008 8:19 p.m. AndyJ:

fws6: Oh, yeah. Okay. That makes sense regarding the rosewood neck. I sometimes forget Fenders are kind of the (no offense meant by this) "Mister Potatoheads" of the guitar world, which is ironic b/c the topic of this thread concerns modding a Tele.

Again, good points have been made. Of my 5 electrics, two have Bigsbys (6118t-120 and my 6128t-57)and three do not (Ric 360v64/6; Thinline Tele RI; and Alvarez A65e, which is an ES125 knock-off. I can see adding a Bigsby to the Tele as not creating a disturbance in The Force. That said, I do likes my twang.

Can I keep my twang and still add a Bigsby, by, say, dropping in '52 Tele p'ups? Or are these mutually exclusive?
- Rated: 32 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 8:06 a.m. fws6:

are these mutually exclusive?

I wouldnt go as far as to say that, but the bigsby will sound different than a hardtail (even the mass on a 3 piece tele bridge is different from a 6 saddle) and it is just what you are aiming for.