Bigsby B5/ Vibramate V5, meet SG...

[i love sharin foo]

Here's the SG:

and the Bigsby with the Vibramate adapter plate:

The Vibramate adapter is their "SHort-Tail V5 Mounting Kit" that fits SGs with the large guards. In a couple of the photos, you will be able to see where the adapter comes VERY close to touching the guard. The standard model would need to be custom ground to fit.

With the aluminum Gotoh Stop Tail removed:



Vibramate plate installed:

The slug on the teble side must not have been threaded as far as the bass side. On that side the included mounting bolt bottomed out before tightening the Vibramate plate down all the way. Then it DID NOT want to come back out! It took some ingenuity, a pair of Vise Grips, a jacked up screwdriver, and about 37 swear words, but the son of a bitch DID come out. I took it downstairs and sawed the last 3 or so threads off with a hacksaw and smoothed the end (of the bolt) with a file. Afterward it fit perfect. But it was still a pain in the ass.

Okay, Bigsby ON:

Here you can see the thickness of the adapter plate and also how close it comes to the pickguard:


And with a set of GHS .010 to .060 strings, tuned to C standard:

[therizzla]

Very drool worthy! 

[bighonky]

Nice work! Let us know how it sounds and if any tuning issues come up. I was thinking of doing this with the EZ Mount kit from ZZ Guitarworks.
Not sure though.

[Jonesie]

I just used the regular Vibramate on my SG and routed out the pickguard.

What can I say, I'm lazy, haha.

[Pogue Mahone]

That kicks total ass! Ive got to get one of those SG classics!

[parry]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, Bigsby's...
it's like, guitarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, BAM!!!! Big 'ol, sexy piece 'o HARDWARE!!

What's not to love?!? 

[ncarey13]

That looks fantastic!. Love to hear how it works.

[Maggieo]

STOP PUTTING IDEAS IN MY HEAD!!!!

LALALALALALAICANTHEARYOU!!!!!!!

Oh hell, I give up. 

[jimi]

SG & Bigsby... sweet!

[bdm]

hows the break angle of the strings over the bridge? that was the major problem with the bigsby on my R6 gibson gold top. the angle of the strings from the bigsby to the bridge seemed to pull too much tension.the guitar felt different and i kept having tuning issues. not too mention it pushed an otherwise comfortable les paul into the realm of boat anchor.



vs.

[i love sharin foo]

The neck angle is a little shallower on SGs versus the LP, so you can get away with the bridge set lower. Right now the break angle is real close to the Stop Tail was when cranked down a fair bit. I can't really comment on the difference in string tension as I went up to a heavier set of strings simultaneously.

[luau]

Looks good! That's a clever plate.

STOP PUTTING IDEAS IN MY HEAD!!!!

That would be a good trick for balance.

[Maggieo]

Looks good! That's a clever plate.

STOP PUTTING IDEAS IN MY HEAD!!!!

That would be a good trick for balance.

I'm also thinking it would breakup/distract/cover the wavy parts of the finish, too.

[RumorsOFsurF]

Does the back of that plate pull up when you use the Bigsby?

I'm really thinking one of those would be sweet on my Les Paul Special....

[Jonesie]

Does the back of that plate pull up when you use the Bigsby?

I'm really thinking one of those would be sweet on my Les Paul Special....

Nope, they don't. The one I have on my SG works incredibly. It actually seems to make the guitar a bit more resonant when unplugged. because it's bolted all the way down onto the body, transferring the vibration. It's real nice.