QUESTION: What is the correct bigsby for my es-335 from 1959 . I have gotten several different answers but want to make sure before i purchase guitar.
REPLY:
The correct bigsby for a Gibson ES-335 would be the model B7. This is recognizable by the double roller tension bars and the fact it has a screw hole and mounts to the top of the guitar. I too have seen many people advertise that the single roller B3 is correct but I have never seen one on an original guitar.
This is an important question because the bigsby bottom mount may line up and a B3 could be installed but and function but ALL ES-335 models have a B7. This because they are semi hollow. and being semi hollow you can screw the bigsby to the top and the screw goes into the center block and is stable. If you were to try and install this on a ES-330 for example it would hold but eventually the top will crack as they are hollow guitars.
Even guitars with the custom made plaque that covers the stud holes form the factory which is common make sure that you see thescrew hole on top of the guitar from the original bigsby if not the bigsbywas added later. Also a vintage bigsby has the string pins going through to the other side of the roller. the newer ones have pressed in pins on one side only the older ones had screw in pins so they went through on both sides this is an important factor because many people age bigsbys but they cannot fake that. I hope this helps
If you have any more question feel free to e mail me .
Jim pasch
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