Can you dive bomb with a Bigsby?

YES!!,…Just like any other trem system, you can indeed… “dive bomb” as long as your guitar is set up well.
Will it stay in tune as perfect as a locking tremolo? No…but as far as non-locking systems, it can hold it’s own….and it does it, with way more class!👌
Guitar: Gretsch 6119 Players Edition

[@urboy9415]

finally a video of someone pushing the bigsby to it's limits. thanks man.

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

Thanks bro!!😉

[@gregorramsundar]

This is facts

[@Sweedurbex]

i need one

[@Matthew750-4]

@@Sweedurbex just get a floyd rose... way cooler

[@Sweedurbex]

@@Matthew750-4 i have one i just don’t ever use it for some reason

[@fernandocrespin7201]

"This song needs a dive bomb, bring your jackson with the Floyd rose" "Nah fam we'll use my bigsby"

[@Iximity]

The quote "You can, but only once" in reply to this question (I forgot who said it) really gets proven wrong here. Never thought this was possible, thanks for your wisdom!

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

Thanks for watching, appreciate the kind words!

[@random_an0n]

rob scalion when he was testing the 1st gibson guitar vid

[@onerandombruh]

For some reason, I always knew that dive-bombing is a factible thing to do in any kind of tremolo; the main difference lies in how hard you can push on the dive-bomb... That being said, thanks for sharing this and dispell the myth.

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

I kind of wish I just titled it: "How aggressive can you get with a Bigsby, while still staying in tune?" Thanks for watching!

[@onerandombruh]

@@larrybstreetfish5852 nah man... I do like the title as is, considering that dive-bombing ok a Bigsby is still viewed as an urban legend up to a some extent and having you proving those people wrong is quite satisfying!

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

@@onerandombruh Thanks Brother...but many folks have commented that I wasn't truly diving...well, damn...I guess I need to pull the pickguard off nxt time to please the skeptics 🙄 😜

[@AnthonyBurrito1313]

It's not a tremolo its a Vibrato

[@georgetwine2261]

@@larrybstreetfish5852 i disagree, i fully expected maybe two full notes worth of range

[@TopK3k]

Thank you for the video! I've been wondering for a while if divebombs are actually possible on Bigsby trem system))

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

Thanks for watching! YES!...and without the pickguard, it would dive even deeper. 👍

[@MattyVicious1]

@@larrybstreetfish5852 I'm more amazed that it stayed in tune.

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

@@MattyVicious1 Yeah..with a proper set up, it does pretty darn well..👍 I really should have titled this video: "Is it possible for a Bigsby equipped guitar to stay in tune, with aggressive trem use?"...Quite a few people have pointed out that I wasn't really "dive bombing" Perhaps they are right, but I was taking the wiggle stick down to the pickguard...not much further I could go 🤔 🙄

[@GlennJimenez]

Yes. Pull the low E as hard as you can with your fretting hand and dump the bar all the way.

[@sleevelessace]

the bigsbys like : bloody hell mate what are you doing to me, whos choice was it to give me to eddie van halen??? ive never been pushed like this

[@fellipeeduardo7105]

I always wanted to know the name of this technique because I've seen Brian May use it a few times on Red Special and I love the sound it produces. Thanks a lot!

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

Although true dive bombs are deeper than what my Gretsch allows me to do, mostly because of the pickguard, stopping the Bigsby handle...but my demonstration was more about how you can get quite aggressive with a Bigsby... on a guitar that is properly set up Thanks for watching and commenting, Felipe😉

[@toxictator4561]

Joe Satriani has a pretty cool trick for doing this . G string ..pinch harmonic near the neck pickup while bar diving with fret hand ... Dime Bags squeals are little more complex to learn but alot of fun once you pull it off.

[@idontlikeapplejuice7]

check out dimebag thats real divemombs

[@fellipeeduardo7105]

Thanks for the replies guys, I'll look into it!

[@jakewhitmore6046]

Or Eddie

[@megamuerte6934]

What a fine tone you got there bud 🔥

[@BaconatorJames]

Gibson ES-339 here. Installed a Duesenberg "Les Trem II". Using Grover locking tuners & Ernie Ball 10-46 strings. Here are the steps I took to get tune stability, a new set of strings and string work-in between each step. 1. Installed Schaller roller bridge. Slight improvement only. 2. Used 'Nut Sauce' in nut to improve string movement. No improvement. 3. Installed a 'String Butler' to reduce the break angle of the strings at the nut. Slight improvement. 4. Replaced stock nut with "Graphtech PT-6642-00 Black TUSQ XL". Huge improvement. I can use the trem & retain tune, but no dive bombs. With the Les Trem, if you end up out of tune, you can sometimes just pull up a bit (go up about 1/2 octave) and it'll settle back into tune. I'm not confident in this tune stability, though. If I could try it all again, I'd replace the stock nut FIRST. It's the only thing that brought in real improvements. I can't crap on the String Butler, but It's only something I'd get again if it was the last thing to try.

[@lunarpollen]

I started with installing locking tuners, then replacing the nut with the same type you did, then swapping in a roller bridge, and then using a TruGlide (same principle as that String Butler). I got the biggest improvement from the TruGlide. So I wonder if a nut swap + pre-nut string guide combination is what works most.

[@BaconatorJames]

@@lunarpollen Knowing now what I did then, I'd start at the cheapest solution first - the nut. If you need to disrupt binding to replace it, though, I'd try other things first. It could be anything when it comes to the 17 degree angle of the neck and the attack angle of the strings above the nut. I was watching with a magnifying glass as the strings moved over the nut, hoping to see it 'catching', but I didn't notice so I thought it was something else. About $300 in hardware later, I've got a great, steady guitar that I love. Compensated nuts are a bit more work but I don't perform so deep dives aren't on the menu for this guitar. I should give the String Butler more credit than I do - it just looks kind of silly. It doesn't seem to damage the headstock, but honestly I don't care. This is an entry-level Gibson ES-339 from ~2019, not a '59 burst. I should have looked up TruGlide, always like to hear about innovation to improve tune stability! Thank you!

[@aleksandrnestrato]

Oh, man! Schaller STM (their roller TOM), the 'Les Trem II' and the 'String Butler' are three big loves of mine! Actually there are four of them: I also dig the Schaller G-Series Deluxe KeyStone tuners in their top locking version-they suit Gibsons sooo dang well! It is worth mentioning however. 'String Butler' needs a straight cut nut. Straight pull strings work badly in angled slots.

[@mishkovelichkovikj9912]

This man is fearless!

[@gfj06]

I love that low E deep dive

[@BoolMasterJay]

exactly what i was looking for thank you very much

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

👍👊

[@guitarmeetsscience]

This video took off! I see it in my recommended all the time - I finally clicked on it, and sure enough you get some wicked dive bombs. Great stuff... subscribed!

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

Thanks man! My reason for making this video was because there are so many folks that believe a Bigsby is just for gentle warbles...and although they do that wonderfully, they also can do some pretty aggressive dives...if set up properly 👍😉

[@WarinTbone]

Thank you for the video!

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

Thanks for watching!👍

[@KennedyIvy]

The important questions

[@United_HVAC_and_Fans]

I love that guitar

[@lone-wolf-1]

Cool! Without pickguard you could push the whammy further😜

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

Absolutely🔥👍

[@electricguitars5559]

Impressive 👍👍

[@ArialdyHimself]

Lovely!

[@r3da]

Daamn man i need to see an iron man cover with that tone

[@Passarium-1195]

I thought that because a bigsby is a vibrato system it can’t do EVH style dive bombs, Thank you for sharing this

[@LewiDoesMusic]

Kept in tune pretty well!

[@idk9637]

dang looks like the pickguard is stopping u from going full dive and getting that sweet string rattle.

[@johnnykobra7256]

Beautiful AX and it stayed in tune

[@lilvishinu7279]

Didn't think it was possible nice

[@kiko632]

Cool!!! One might even say awesome!

[@madd.coconut6820]

I felt that spring in my toes

[@MrGallade475]

You could always turn it backwards and pull up to get it deeper than the pickguard allows

[@Guitaristlife-dn9ou]

The gretsch is my dream guitar

[@Shovelglove545]

That’s a tasty distortion tone

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

Kustom '36 Coupe all tube amp-drive channel👍

[@iThoughtThisWasHomeDepot]

i played this really nice Gretsch hollow-body electric guitar with a bigsby at Guitar Center the other day, and i forgot to take a picture of the model, i just remember it was $800

[@USMC_BABE38]

i find on my streamliner i van dive bomb with my Bisby it's so much fun and sounds cool!

[@jonc4050]

Now make it squeal like a wild boar

[@monkehm]

I could hear it go out of tune very very slightly after you really hammered the thing, but wow I'm surprised it helped up as well as it did, I've had properly set up and tuned Floyds go more out of tune than that. I've always liked the looks of the hollowbody style guitars with a bigsby like that but figured they were best for more subtle vibrato and such, maybe I should check them out again.

[@chuckplainview4085]

All it would take to fix that is a little pull up and then back down. If you end on a pull up it'll be sharp sometimes and a quick up and down fixes it

[@Mike28625]

Bigsbys are underrated. With proper set up, that hold tune really well under steady use. one usually learns to tweak the handle to re-tune the strings. You can auto correct like that on most trems but the bigsby does it best in my opinion. Especially if the spring is a little soft because then you can more easily adjust the bar and have it stay where you put it. Built in pitch adjustment.

[@TrentStark]

I’d love to see what you’re running to get that sweet sound

[@lifegoes2074]

If you do a pinch harmonic and combine it with the bigsby then you'll get a real divebomb 😎

[@cougar2013]

My thoughts as well

[@jeromewagschal9485]

Of course you can 🙂🙂 It just won't have the same "travel" as a Fender tremolo, a modern Fender tremolo, any 2-point tremolo, a Floyd Rose, a Kahler system, Blade-runner, Supervee, Vega-trem, etc, etc... Most of the time a Bigsby will go down a full step before the bar hits the pickguard or the guitar top... But that depends how far you need to divebomb... Just like most people here my Bigsby-equipped guitars have roller bridges, tusq nuts and locking tuners, that helps a lot 🙂🙂 I used to swear by Floyd Roses and any other locking tremolo but I found that I no longer need to get to a point where my strings go completely slack to have fun... Playing a pinch harmonic and then pushing the Bigsby down will work perfectly for me...

[@addi7719]

that's a pretty interesting sound, definitely not as exaggerated as a floyd rose but still cool

[@tonydeaton1967]

The bridge on that particular guitar is the reason he can do that. The tune-o-matic style bridges on most Gretsch guitars preclude the ability to do dive-bombs.

[@BoourSelf]

0:39 I'm a puppet on a string Tracy Island, time-traveling..

[@mariuszw9665]

Disclaimer: No Bigsby vibrato units were harmed in the making of this video.

[@karadajz_zvani_dokolenko]

i was so afraid you were gonna snap it lol

[@warthogA10]

Locking tuners and rolling saddles? That's how I've managed. I also have two springs I rotate, the standard and a shorter spring for subtle use, as it's easier to control the bar with my pinky and ring fingers. With the standard spring I'd get cramps real fast haha

[@eddievelazquez5467]

I’m currently going through modding an Epiphone ES 335 and I already replaced the tuners for locking and I am planning on adding the bigsby and the rolling saddles just for stability but didn’t know this was possible. Glad to hear someone is getting through with that. When you say you rotate you mean you use one spring or the other?

[@warthogA10]

@@eddievelazquez5467 yes I believe you can still order the shorter spring through bigsby. Sometimes that standard length spring leaves the bar hanging too far out. It depends on your style of playing. I've been spoiled by fender tremelo systems and the like. I've thought about finding someone to make a custom spring, even shorter with a much lighter touch, so I can be picking notes and bend them just using my pinky on the 335. It's just my style and preference that I want to be able to express on my 335. It's too bad bigsby doesn't offer a variety of options as far as the spring and even the bar style

[@bookworm8368]

All guitars can dive bomb - with or without a whammy bar. === TOONING PEGS!

[@tommilitello198]

I’ll never understand why people think you can’t,look at it,of course it can

[@Newwaver2007]

The short answer might be no, but this more like a one minute and twenty one second long no. But that guitar is beautiful 😻

[@illegallystalked3119]

You know if that round bar things the strings wrap around and attatch to was say 1/2 inch or so wider, the bigsby trem would be much much more responsive and have better range up and down. Because for every millimeter you push or pull on it, it would have moved the strings much more than it does now. I never understood why bigsby has not caught on to this, it is common sense. Good demo.

[@illegallystalked3119]

Said wider, maybe thicker is a better word. A half inch thicker.

[@VintageSlide]

I think there’s two reasons. Most people don’t need the extended range, and the second thing is tradition. It was like that and probably will always be like that

[@slicksnewonenow]

Because Floyd Rose...

[@user-ellievator]

@@slicksnewonenow And Andy Got Down...

[@WyattBrown377]

You're right but that's not the point of the bigsby. Get a floyd rose if you wanna do big dive bombs and whammy tricks. The bigsby excels at subtle modulation that blends in to your playing and doesn't scream at the listener hey look I'm bashing on a whammy bar.

[@michaeltian]

Yes, the tuning stability…

[@depopa1033]

interesting bridge

[@luisfernandojimenezp.173]

me and the boys waiting for him to play "better call saul" 👇

[@giovannidykes6158]

You can mange maybe 2 shows before the trembolo arm arm loosens or breaks. I had my TigerJet for 2 months before my sh7t arm broke. I play heavy metal but I didn’t have a floating bridge at the time, also I didn’t have enough experience to know that in order to play squeals, dives bombs, flutters, etc. you needed one. So, after 2 months of practicing squeals and sh7t I was felt stupid because the bigsby would never handle my type of play style. At least not for 12 rounds 🥊🥊🥊

[@richardhinton4232]

I came to this video because I've been playing a 60's teisco with a bigsby style vibrato that I use as a Floyd and I constantly get told you can't do that and it won't hold tuning but mine can go a step and a half down or up and snap right back in place with perfect pitch and yes I've done with with a tuner so I could know for sure I don't get why people don't understand it does the exact same thing

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

Very cool... thanks for sharing that👍

[@BertfromBelgium]

maybe next video, can you play eruption on a Gretsch?

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

I can play it on my stereo😐

[@shredman87.57]

I was so tense

[@eriskooo]

and now you can go and tune

[@michaelhubbell1260]

My Gretsch went out of tune just watching this 😂

[@Moreno280161]

I also have a Gretsch Tennessee Rose 6119, but it doesn't stay in tune if I act very violently with the bigsby

[@Moreno280161]

Hi, yes ok the bigsby you have on that guitar is great, but could you tell us what measures you took to obtain that result? like, did you put some grease on the nut?, I saw that you passed the strings through the bigsby pin, did you modify the bridge?

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

This is the Player's edition 6119...so it comes with the pin less...string thru Bigsby. It is all stock, including the bar bridge and locking tuners. I bought this used off of Reverb. I never had it set up, it came to me perfect. I am not sure what the previous owner did...but this one is just set up right 👍

[@federicopetrarolo4223]

Chuck berry mixed with Eddie Van halen

[@lennywright5655]

This new data must be analyzed & fact checked, quickly to the local guitar store!!

[@christopherguzzi1316]

Almost. Not quite an EVH or Mick Mars dive bomb but close.

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

Agreed...and I can't play like either...so there u go 😕😜

[@wifie9321]

Can you turn the handle around and go farther?

[@EdVanMeyer]

I have a tunamatic roller saddle bridge, stops the strings hanging up

[@heycisco]

Yeah, and now check the tuning 😉

[@Beautiful_Evil]

If the nut is cut and lubricated correctly and everything is set up good it shouldn’t be an issue. You’re not gonna get through an entire set doing shit like that but it’s not all that bad….

[@justcyan123]

But can you try it on a Yamaha keyboard

[@reedbois7012]

How well does it stay in tune?

[@hamueramusic]

so this is what santa does when he isn't delivering presents

[@johnhefter3815]

What model is this?

[@DonIsadick-mf3gv]

How you keep that in tune. I walk past a guitar with a bigsby it goes out of tune.

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

😂

[@BestMusicToolsOfficial]

You missed the pinch harmonic dive

[@Chicksquid]

Is that bigsby completely stock? Insane (in a good way) either way!

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

Yes it is 👍

[@Chicksquid]

@@larrybstreetfish5852 awesome!

[@Yeloah]

what is the model of this guitar?

[@TheRockinDonkey]

Play Eruption on that thing

[@matthewkennedy7283]

Is there anything you did to stabilize tuning? I can’t even look my bigsby without the low E and A string going sharp

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

Honestly, just a really good set up...Everything else is just a stock 6119T Players Edition

[@jammininthejammies4982]

What is it about the set up that allows you to do this and stay relatively in tune?

[@steve5150mrscary]

For tremolo effects yes but limited on the dive as in a Floyd rose but how far do you need to go right? To flub the strings? No. Not what bigsby's are for

[@southernpride2003]

Stop ruining the fun

[@by.daekeryyy]

My guitar is an Epiphone special ii and my bigsby b5 was installed up to the edge of the guitar to prevent the break angle from being too strong with respect to the roller bridge and it goes directly to the guitar since I don't have a vibramate Do you recommend me 9-42 strings?

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

I think with Bigsbys...at least 10's if not 11's

[@juliusseizure324]

@@larrybstreetfish5852 definitely 11’s Great video, BTW!

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

@@juliusseizure324 Thanks Julius!👍

[@toxictator4561]

I personally go 10-46 ....very little tuning issues with Bigsby diving with a set of decent locking tuners and some graphite .

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

@@toxictator4561 Yup...10's for me too👍

[@Mahoney5881]

Floyd or Bigsby ? I have both and leaning toward Floyd rose but Bigsby still awesome and easier to change strings.

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

When I made this video, my intent was certainly not to compare the Bigsby to a Floyd, or any other locking trem. My intention was to show that a Bigsby can do a lot more than gentle warbles and light vibrato...IF...the guitar is properly set up. If I needed a guitar for live performances that required crazy trem antics...I would certainly choose a Floyd or something similar😉

[@Mahoney5881]

@@larrybstreetfish5852 We just bought the streamliner w/bigsby. Glad this vid popped up. Have a great day! Peace

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

@@Mahoney5881 Sweet...Enjoy!

[@metalic8655]

tree months later* Can you repair a broken bigsby?

[@baMbouZ]

But can you play "Eruption" with a Gretsch AND a Bigsby ? That is the question : :D

[@tiagodebarso1786]

I did all things videos on the youtube says to do but my bigsby is always out of tune. Mine is not like yours. Mine passes the strings below the bar but I already sat they above the rolling bar and nothing. i think my spring could be too big. The tremolo bar stays a little bit higher then I saw around in those videos. Could be the nut too, I don't know. Some tips?

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

9 out of 10 times...tuning instability comes from the nut. I prefer non tension bar Bigsbys, but have had a few tension bars, on various makes and models of guitars...The ones on my Reverend guitars stayed in tune perfectly...on some of the others, they needed a little tweaking. I do not do my own set ups; I leave that to my luthier. A good tech/luthier can set yours up perfectly...Best of luck!

[@tiagodebarso1786]

@@larrybstreetfish5852 Thank you very much, Larry!

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

@@tiagodebarso1786 Best of luck Tiago 👍

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

@@MacEnstein Understand that..although, I have been fortunate....Good thing.. because, I don't know anything about set ups😝

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

@@MacEnstein LOL..Thanks. How do you like the Power'Trons?

[@ZZEROO99]

Flip the bar around and pull up instead of down like dimebag, will give you more room to dive.

[@franciscoadonis1068]

DUDE this is perfect, thank you!!!

[@Grigpig]

Il y a beaucoup d'hommes qui arrivent en ville avec leurs armes à feu baissées.

[@noahsark9962]

But does it Djent?

[@SorooshMhs]

POV: you just showed your grandpa djent

[@USMC_BABE38]

what gutiar are you playing?

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

Gretsch 6119T Players Edition👌

[@USMC_BABE38]

@@larrybstreetfish5852 Beautiful

[@zachlee7945]

cool now play eruption on it

[@octaviusceasar1315]

does it not mess up the tuning?

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

I made this video to demonstrate that a Bigsby can be used like any other trem/whammy bar, if the guitar is properly set up. It is a stringed instrument, so there will always "some"-slight fluctuation in tuning after a lot of aggressive wiggling and diving. With that said, even doing big string bends, can also send your guitar out of tune... 👍

[@rollydumandan]

Is dive bomb good for the bigsby trem or the bigsby will be broken?

[@MartinBlyberg]

Bigsbys are pretty solid and often cast so they can hold up for a lot of abuse. I wouldn't say dive bombs are a good thing when using one because it would probably go out of tune.

[@imoffendedthatyouareoffended]

As far as I keep getting told, it’s not okay at all to do this with the bigsby it’s a trem bar not a whammy bar, if you truly want to do those kinds of things you need a Floyd rose bridge instead. Whammy bars are just a cheap way, but they snap and break as easily as a bigsby. My gretsch g5222 is my favorite guitar and it has no bigsby. But I’m glad I didn’t, because I’d probably just break it and ruin a sweet beautiful guitar.

[@themac3421]

You can't for social reasons, the old of spirit and tradition lovers would have a sheer heart attack! They won't break, if you like how the bigsby sounds go for it, if it does't go wildly out of tune go for it... My man, dont listen to the old forum folk, listen to your heart.

[@JerryLeeHowell2]

@@themac3421 I mean, if youre divebombing on a Bigsby, you sure arent listening with your ears.

[@themac3421]

@@JerryLeeHowell2 you should listen to Frank Marino, especially his Jimi Hendrix covers, he did all those dive bombs with a fucking Gibson Vibrola

[@claudevieaul1465]

Yes it'll work to some extent but the question remains: why? A Gretsch, beautiful though it certainly is, isn't a shredder's machine. It works extremely well within its limitations. If I had to expand its horizons I'd add piezos to the bridge - you'd have acoustic sounds *and* you could use vibrato on that.

[@jamesstuart3313]

Idk man Brian setzer is a shredder

[@brandoncrimmins6296]

What a load of crap. People said the same thing about Fender until Yngwie came along. Whatever you play is a shredder if what you do is shred…

[@hinney827]

Definitely not the same type of divebomb that almost cuts to inaudible that you can hear on the other tremolo systems, a la Eddie Van Halen, but its a good.. fourth or fifth down? My ear isn't as good as it used to be with intervals.

[@slumdogjay]

Hate those trem systems. Pain in the arse to string the guitar up and never stays in tune. Got a Gretsch guitar and used it twice in 7 years because of this. I should really just sell it.

[@larrybstreetfish5852]

Mine is the Players Edition...so the Bigsby is a string through...not a post..plus it has locking tuners which= easy peasy to change strings 👍

[@slumdogjay]

@@larrybstreetfish5852 That makes a big difference.

[@thetanknological6763]

It’s never really the model of guitar really, at least not that I’ve seen. It’s more of a tone thing. Really the only way I can see the model being the problem is if it doesn’t even have a trem bar.

[@JasonWelchMusic]

Marty Mcfly did it first. 🤣

[@wemustbecomemachines2012]

I thought the point was to show it was still in tune after all that exercise...

[@ayoitscat]

Wow, it barely went out of tune

[@nolanqian6050]

It should be illegal for people to use a Bigsby like this😂

[@hawshimagical]

0:37 average slipknot song

[@nizami8500]

😱