How about a Bigsby whammy on a lap steel?

Fred Glave · Post by **Fred Glave** » 1 Mar 2011 1:36 pm

Does Bigsby, or any other whammy have a feature that bends only certain strings instead of the entire line up? If so...... I was just checking out the Duesenberg Lap that has two hand levers. Check out Steel on The Web here and see/hear what I'm talking about. It's pretty cool.

Tim Whitlock · Post by **Tim Whitlock** » 1 Mar 2011 5:46 pm

Once upon a time it occurred to me that you could anchor your set strings in the normal manner (through the body or whatever) and pass just your bending strings over the bridge to a Bigsby. I soon dismissed the idea because it would be difficult to control the stops, especially when pulling more than one string at a time. I believe there are other devices out there (palm pedals?) that are more practical.

Chris Lucker · Post by **Chris Lucker** » 1 Mar 2011 6:09 pm

Yes.

Here is the real 1950s Bigsby part that attached at the keyhead. You tune it by adjusting the screws that come in contact with the strings.
Here is an example of a Bigsby keyhead drilled for one of these tuning changers, and a few photos of the actual device. By way of full disclosure, I do not have the original screws for contacting the strings, that is why you see the two stainless screws for pressing the strings.
You need to remove the device for the guitar to fit in the case.

Chris Lucker

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 1 Mar 2011 6:11 pm

Does Bigsby, or any other whammy have a feature that bends only certain strings instead of the entire line up?

Isn't that what the Bigsby Palm Pedal unit do? Don't know if it can be mounted to a lap steel or not.

Peter Harris · Post by **Peter Harris** » 2 Mar 2011 3:27 am

Here is my much-modified Bigsby Palm Pedal (ok, mounted on my Telecaster 72 custom, not a lap steel...but you get the idea, right?)

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 6 Mar 2011 4:01 am

Here's my Epiphone Les Paul with a Bigsby Palm Pedal installed. I have the guitar in an open E tuning (E B E G# B E, low to high) and use it mainly in normal position with a finger slide. But I have used it as a lapsteel with a Shubb/Pearse type Dobro bar. The levers raise the 2nd string B to C# and the 3rd string G# to A......JH in Va.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 6 Mar 2011 8:49 am

You need to find one of these rare Bigsbys.

Fred Glave · Post by **Fred Glave** » 10 Mar 2011 2:46 pm

Now those look sweet guys! Those look far more fun than a B bender.

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 13 Mar 2011 12:06 pm

Check These out, Phil, and Buddy..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX6J0mgX ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNh0mTtD ... re=related

Kevin Shiflett · Post by **Kevin Shiflett** » 13 Mar 2011 12:35 pm

I get I kick out of this thread because for years I have been trying to figure out how to build a pedal system for my Telecaster. Open E tuning with three pedals. I heard its been done but never seen one.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 13 Mar 2011 12:50 pm

Kevin,
Go to this thread on the Bender Forum. Scroll down to the near bottom, and check out Electricbanjoma's posts. You might find them interesting!
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/b-bender-for ... layer.html

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 13 Mar 2011 7:58 pm

Kevin Shiflett wrote:I get I kick out of this thread because for years I have been trying to figure out how to build a pedal system for my Telecaster. Open E tuning with three pedals. I heard its been done but never seen one.

An S-6? Where would you put the knee levers?