Yes,
It has been done, Is it a good idea?, Why a Bigsby, why not a Floyd, or a standard strat fulcrum tremolo., why a Tele body?
I can justify just about any guitar purchase at $1.00 per day. Will I have this guitar 1500 days from now? 5 years, no problem, I'll have a great guitar in great shape 5 years from now.
If you have a reason you want a tele with a Bigsby, have them build one for you! $1.00 per day
Good playing my friend,
Life is short, have the tools you need!
Rex

Two thoughts.

1. Bigsby tailpieces are beautiful, functional pieces of machinery.

2. Not on Fender guitars!

I could say more if you like,but do I need to?

To me, Bigsby units are the coolest looking
things around. Still, I personally prefer a strat
system. But I have played one on a tele and it
was very cool. Really, they're coolest on a Les
Paul. However, if you like the feel, the range,
and the cash, i say go for it.

Hmm,, I played one factory installed on a Tele once and I put it down after about four chords. I guess it might have been just that instrument I suppose. Anyway, that is what I based my response on. I suppose if you don't have to permanently deface your guitar,(or don't mind permanently defacing your guitar;-)) go for it.
What I want to get is on of those new Gibson 446s's and put a Bigsby on that! Woa Mama! Have Mercy!

Jeff

I am sure you know what you want and why BUT. . .

I have a 1967 Guild Starfire V (similar to an Gibson ES335) with a Bigsby. IT IS A PAIN.

1. Putting strings on this thing requires serious capabilities as a contortionist. And it eats up a serious amount of string.

2. They are not very responsive, especially compared to Floyd Rose, Kahler, and even Fender vibrato's. (You may like it but it is inconvienient when you really want to do serious bending)

3. They add ALOT of weight to the guitar.

4. The wammy bar can't be readily removed like you can with a standard Strat bar.

5. They don't stay in tune as well as devices with locking nuts (although you could probably put a locking nut on your instrument, even with the Bigsby).

Don't get me wrong, the Bigsby adds a great vintage look to alot of instruments (I ahve to admit the Tele wasn't one I would apply this to) and they action maybe to your liking. But in the final analysis, there are alot of products out there that work ALOT better and without the drawbacks listed above.

i just ordered an ibanez am73 artcore, i got the model without the tremolo unit (it's a bigsby), as I couldn't afford the one that came with it and also because I wasn't sure if I wanted to risk spending extra cash on a potential tuning stability problem. But now I'm wondering, if I were to ever decide I wanted to get it installed, is it possible to do so? It's a semi-hollow body, and the tremolo model and the non-tremolo both have the same bridge and all, but can it be done? Of course, i'm not even worried about getting one installed yet, and I'd just like to know. thanks.

Sure thing Seamus. Am I correct in thinking that your Ibanez has a "trapeze" type tailpiece? I seem to remember them being that way, but I don't have any mailoreder catalogues handy. By "trapeze" style I mean that the tailpiece is a large plate of metal that attaches to the end of the guitar, rather than a bar that attaches to two posts on the face of the guitar. (or "stop" tailpiece)

If that's the case, then installation should be a piece o' cake, assuming that you choose the correct model to suit your instrument.

nope, not a trapeze style, i went back and looked at the ibanez site. i originally thought they were the same bridge, but i missed a letter in the parts number, oops! so that's a no, then? And I imagine if I were to put the tremolo bridge on, it would leave my guitar full of holes? oh well, not a big deal, the pickup switch is located too near the bigsby on the tremolo models anyways...

I've got 2 les pauls, a goldtop and a custom in black, and i was thinking of putting a bigsby on one of them... only i don't know which one to do it to. suggestions?

The boss Bruce Springsteen has one on his Tele!! Personally I love a Bigsby, they are well built and function great. Dont expect to dive bomb and crash, the range is small, but great for shimmers and chords. Neil Young's Black Les Paul has one and he abuses the hell out of that thing!! I have an old bud who put a Floyd on a 65 Tele....That is a no-no and wasted a great guitar. With the Bigsby, it can be removed and the top patched up, which is always a consideration when modding any instrument. They make some neat B-benders too that are a bolt on affair although you can spend big bucks for the whole monty!! Good Luck!