Zappa Roxy SG whammy bar/tremolo arm

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bulssazo)))
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Zappa Roxy SG whammy bar/tremolo arm

Post by bulssazo))) » Fri Aug 21, 2020 2:26 am

https://reverb.com/p/gibson-frank-zappa ... herry-2013Image

https://reverb.com/p/epiphone-crestwood ... herry-1964

What is that kind of whammy bar/tremolo arm??
Where can I find it?

I thought it was something limited for Zappa, but I found it on crestwood guitar by chance.

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Re: Zappa Roxy SG whammy bar/tremolo arm

Post by Ceylon » Fri Aug 21, 2020 3:33 am

That's a Tremotone. I've only ever seen one or two in real life so they're not very common. But Epiphone did bring them back, briefly, to go on their 1966 Wilshire reissues.

EDIT: I answered before checking out the Roxy. They're different vibratos, but the one on the SG is a long Vibrola or Lyre vibrato, found on various models of the SG and Firebird and the occasional ES-345/355. It just doesn't have the plastic tip on the end of the arm.
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Re: Zappa Roxy SG whammy bar/tremolo arm

Post by bulssazo))) » Sun Aug 23, 2020 10:42 am

No Roxy SG doesn't have regular long vibrola.
I found it's called 'teaspoon arm'.
It's quite similar to the arm in tremotone.

Maybe my link guides you to another picture. Sorry.
I'm a nb and couldt find how to upload pictures...

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Re: Zappa Roxy SG whammy bar/tremolo arm

Post by Gordon » Sun Aug 23, 2020 11:52 am

bulssazo))) wrote:
Sun Aug 23, 2020 10:42 am
No Roxy SG doesn't have regular long vibrola.
I found it's called 'teaspoon arm'.
It's quite similar to the arm in tremotone.

Maybe my link guides you to another picture. Sorry.
I'm a nb and couldt find how to upload pictures...
You're correct (they're the same, actually). You can get a repro at Crazy Parts: https://www.crazyparts.de/tremolos--vib ... /index.php :)
Graphic designer (comics stuff, Doctor Who, Star Wars...): https://www.instagram.com/monsieurgordon/ \o/

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Re: Zappa Roxy SG whammy bar/tremolo arm

Post by bulssazo))) » Wed Dec 09, 2020 8:50 pm

I have checked it now. Thank you really!!!!!! Maybe I can build Zappa SG. sorry for late reply

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Re: Zappa Roxy SG whammy bar/tremolo arm

Post by Veitchy » Wed Dec 09, 2020 9:44 pm

bulssazo))) wrote:
Wed Dec 09, 2020 8:50 pm
I have checked it now. Thank you really!!!!!! Maybe I can build Zappa SG. sorry for late reply
From memory, I reckon that SG was a custom clone. Pretty sure it had a 24 fret neck.

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Re: Zappa Roxy SG whammy bar/tremolo arm

Post by BoringPostcards » Thu Dec 10, 2020 1:09 am

Veitchy wrote:
Wed Dec 09, 2020 9:44 pm
bulssazo))) wrote:
Wed Dec 09, 2020 8:50 pm
I have checked it now. Thank you really!!!!!! Maybe I can build Zappa SG. sorry for late reply
From memory, I reckon that SG was a custom clone. Pretty sure it had a 24 fret neck.
No, the Roxy was an actual Gibson that started out as a Special.
His custom was the walnut colored SG with the custom inlays and figured wood.
Det er mig der holder traeerne sammen.

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Re: Zappa Roxy SG whammy bar/tremolo arm

Post by Veitchy » Thu Dec 10, 2020 2:06 am

BoringPostcards wrote:
Thu Dec 10, 2020 1:09 am
Veitchy wrote:
Wed Dec 09, 2020 9:44 pm
bulssazo))) wrote:
Wed Dec 09, 2020 8:50 pm
I have checked it now. Thank you really!!!!!! Maybe I can build Zappa SG. sorry for late reply
From memory, I reckon that SG was a custom clone. Pretty sure it had a 24 fret neck.
No, the Roxy was an actual Gibson that started out as a Special.
His custom was the walnut colored SG with the custom inlays and figured wood.
There we go. Cheers man.

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Re: Zappa Roxy SG whammy bar/tremolo arm

Post by BoringPostcards » Thu Dec 10, 2020 7:40 am

Veitchy wrote:
Thu Dec 10, 2020 2:06 am
BoringPostcards wrote:
Thu Dec 10, 2020 1:09 am
Veitchy wrote:
Wed Dec 09, 2020 9:44 pm


From memory, I reckon that SG was a custom clone. Pretty sure it had a 24 fret neck.
No, the Roxy was an actual Gibson that started out as a Special.
His custom was the walnut colored SG with the custom inlays and figured wood.
There we go. Cheers man.
If you want to see the SG in question, google "Frank Zappa baby snakes SG".
Det er mig der holder traeerne sammen.

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Re: Zappa Roxy SG whammy bar/tremolo arm

Post by Veitchy » Thu Dec 10, 2020 2:08 pm

BoringPostcards wrote:
Thu Dec 10, 2020 7:40 am
Veitchy wrote:
Thu Dec 10, 2020 2:06 am
BoringPostcards wrote:
Thu Dec 10, 2020 1:09 am


No, the Roxy was an actual Gibson that started out as a Special.
His custom was the walnut colored SG with the custom inlays and figured wood.
There we go. Cheers man.
If you want to see the SG in question, google "Frank Zappa baby snakes SG".
Having googled it you really can see the difference. I just assumed it was the same faded cherry SG in old photos that had desaturated a bit. It's actually pretty distinct when you see it on it's own. Not to mention some of the other custom touches. Gotta find out what all those switches are now.

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Re: Zappa Roxy SG whammy bar/tremolo arm

Post by BoringPostcards » Fri Dec 11, 2020 8:23 pm

Veitchy wrote:
Thu Dec 10, 2020 2:08 pm
BoringPostcards wrote:
Thu Dec 10, 2020 7:40 am
Veitchy wrote:
Thu Dec 10, 2020 2:06 am


There we go. Cheers man.
If you want to see the SG in question, google "Frank Zappa baby snakes SG".
Having googled it you really can see the difference. I just assumed it was the same faded cherry SG in old photos that had desaturated a bit. It's actually pretty distinct when you see it on it's own. Not to mention some of the other custom touches. Gotta find out what all those switches are now.
I think they were coil taps and phase switching, at least that is what he used on the Roxy SG.
Det er mig der holder traeerne sammen.

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Re: Zappa Roxy SG whammy bar/tremolo arm

Post by Gordon » Sun Dec 13, 2020 6:01 am

Veitchy wrote:
Thu Dec 10, 2020 2:08 pm
Having googled it you really can see the difference. I just assumed it was the same faded cherry SG in old photos that had desaturated a bit. It's actually pretty distinct when you see it on it's own. Not to mention some of the other custom touches. Gotta find out what all those switches are now.
Image

https://uniqueguitar.blogspot.com/2013/ ... frank.html
Graphic designer (comics stuff, Doctor Who, Star Wars...): https://www.instagram.com/monsieurgordon/ \o/

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Re: Zappa Roxy SG whammy bar/tremolo arm

Post by Veitchy » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:56 pm

Gordon wrote:
Sun Dec 13, 2020 6:01 am
Veitchy wrote:
Thu Dec 10, 2020 2:08 pm
Having googled it you really can see the difference. I just assumed it was the same faded cherry SG in old photos that had desaturated a bit. It's actually pretty distinct when you see it on it's own. Not to mention some of the other custom touches. Gotta find out what all those switches are now.
Image

https://uniqueguitar.blogspot.com/2013/ ... frank.html
I normally go for fewer switches and more streamlined controls, but that setup is cool nonetheless. The fact that all of these are pretty specific to his needs is cool. I actually find that period in the 70s and 80s where people were cramming preamps and active effects into their guitars to be really interesting, even though I don't see myself doing it myself any time soon. Kinda reminds me of Danny Gatton's Magic Dingus Box he had on his telecaster for a while, and an era where folks were taking tone shaping to the nth degree.

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