Can't leave "well enough" alone

[cephus]

I mentioned that i bought an Epiphone ES-295, which came with what I believe to be a Bigsbly "licensed" B3 tremelo (EDIT: it's actually a B7). It works, but if a real one is less than $120, is it worth getting the real thing?

Also, this is my first guitar with a tunomatic bridge. This one has definitely developed some rattles from me beating on it for the last month. I wondered if you can replace just the metal part of the bridge assembly with an upgraded part. Like this or this.

I really have a hard-on for the bridges with embedded piezos (I have one on another guitar) and they have a tunomatic version. Does this, or gibson OEM, etc assembly replace the one on the guitar now retaining the rosewood bridge beneath it? Is it better to go ahead and get the entire assembly? What about the Brushed aluminum Bigsby bridges? Are they cool, too?

I can't help myself. I am a strat guy and I can't help but start screwing with my guitars as soon as I get them home.

 

[Anfontan]

I mentioned that i bought an Epiphone ES-295, which came with what I believe to be a Bigsbly "licensed" B3 tremelo. It works, but if a real one is less than $120, is it worth getting the real thing?

Also, this is my first guitar with a tunomatic bridge. This one has definitely developed some rattles from me beating on it for the last month. I wondered if you can replace just the metal part of the bridge assembly with an upgraded part. Like this or this.

I really have a hard-on for the bridges with embedded piezos (I have one on another guitar) and they have a tunomatic version. Does this, or gibson OEM, etc assembly replace the one on the guitar now retaining the rosewood bridge beneath it? Is it better to go ahead and get the entire assembly? What about the Brushed aluminum Bigsby bridges? Are they cool, too?

I can't help myself. I am a strat guy and I can't help but start screwing with my guitars as soon as I get them home.

Hey, Strats are more of an assembly line guitar than a Gibson style, Fenders are band sawed into shape and are easy to mod to your needs. I am the same-I'll pull off that pickguard just to see what the workmanship is like underneath it in no time at all! I can't say the same about my Epi Sheraton or Gibson Paul...but then working through the "F" holes on a semi-hollowbody is no easy thing!

 

[cephus]

Yeah. That's why I was looking at the bridge. No F-hole diving required.

 

[metalj]

guys lets watch the language around here. All those "F"ing F holes.

Sorry.

 

[zed32]

No F-hole diving required.

is that the new disclaimer for cloning?

 

[notCardio]

So, Cephusi

Still think it's bootylicious, or did the infatuation fade?

I've been thinkin' about going and looking for one of the new ES-175's to try out. Quality should be comparable to the 295, I think, except it won't be that godawful gold.

Or maybe one of the Broadways or Byrdlands. Mmmmm...

But, you still think the quality's there?

 

[Slowrider]

Glad I'm not alone when it comes to ripping apart NEW things. Makes life worth living!

 

[cephus]

I need to go to guitar center and check the action on one of the real bigsbies. This is really different from a fender whammy. I was just reading the collective wisdom of idiots on the internet and some claim that you can get a better sound by replacing the bridge and that hollow bodies should have a B6 instead of a B7. But mostly, I just wanted to buy one that didn't say "Licensed" on it for vanity's sake.

As it stands, it's still too nice for me, but I really do dig it. Seems like alot of Epiphone guys are into the window dressing aspect of cheap beautiful sunbursts that they can take pictures of and cut off the headstock so people will think it's a real gibson. For that reason, I don't really dig the more common gibson copies like the LPs, SGs and whatever they call their 335 clone. The prices are so retarded for a domestic hollowbody, Epiphone seems like the only game in town for anyone who wants to actually gig with a hollow body.

I haven't had a single problem with the thing except for having to keep de-rattling the bridge, but I suspect that is from me flailing on it acoustically all the time. IF I played it through an amp more often, I would beat on it so hard.

So, the expensive epiphones are pretty cool in my book, but I am not too into the banana-plywood with a photograph of figured maple sunburst top for $299.