Tips on converting Bigsby Tele back to stock please

[Jerry Overstreet]

Odd operation, I know but I'm considering restoring this Squier Tele back to the standard bridge setup from the aftermarket B5 conversion.

I'd like to cover up the holes so that they don't look ugly. I don't think there is any structural reason to do it, and I'm not trying to deceive anyone about the operation when I decide to sell it.

I know I can use dowels in the bridge pin holes and probably similar rods in the other 4 holes below the bridge, but I'd like to hear any other suggestions anyone might have.

I looked around online, but didn't find anything on restoring only converting.

[Erv Niehaus]

Maybe you could just locate an over sized pick guard someplace.

[Dave Hopping]

I'm not a body & paint guy,so to me the most problematical part would be patching up the finish once the holes have been doweled.

[Jerry Overstreet]

Yes Dave. It's not a high end guitar. MIM LPB Squier, so I'm not going to spring for a refin, and I doubt I would be able to do touch up satisfactorily. I'm surprised at how deep that finish is.

Just thinking about some other practical method of cosmetically hiding the scars that won't look tacky. Maybe jewels, zircons, decorative tape etc. of some kind.

Maybe another style pickguard that fits a Tele Erv. Thanks.

[Joachim Kettner]

Jerry, I looked at your picture for a while and the only clue I found, is to make the small holes larger to take the diameter of inlay dots for fretboards. Then cut the dowels down to length, so that the dots are plane with the surface of the top. (Better cut the dowels a millimeter shorter) and fill up the space with glue, then put the dots in.
Should any glue come on the outside wipe it off with a wet cloth.

[Papa Joe Pollick]

Crazy thing that this just posted. I'm in the process of do just the oppisite..I'm going to put a Tele Bigsby on a beautiful MIM black Tele..
I looked around for a cheaper top loader bod because I didn't want to run in to the same problem that you're looking at now..
I have no problen with plugging and refinising a lower value guitar but this axe is just too pretty to mess up..
My opinion on your problem is complete refinish.( didn't want to hear that did you)..

[Jerry Overstreet]

Thanks guys. Keep 'em coming. PJ, they make a Vibramate adapter plate for some Bibsbys so that you don't have to drill up your bod. Don't know about that one.

No, no refins please.

[Mike Neer]

Racing stripes! White would be nice. Fill in the holes with the appropriate size dowels and carefully sand them flush.

[William Lake]

Mike's idea of racing stripes is a good one, but if you're planning on re-selling it, why not just leave the bigsby on?

[D Schubert]

http://www.guitarfacelift.com/products.htm

Don't know how well these actually work, but may be a solution to your problem. Not everybody's cup of tea, I'm sure.

[Jerry Overstreet]

They did make some guitars with racing stripes, I forgot about that Mike. Not a bad idea. Thanks.

I tried selling it with the Hipshot D drop and the Bigsby some time ago William, but nobody wanted to pay for the extras. I have a Squier '51 so I'm going to use the parts there anyway.

[Jerry Overstreet]

Wow D, I didn't know such a thing existed. Perhaps a bit extreme but another idea. Those "relic'd" ones are interesting. Thanks.

[D Schubert]

Well, it's a lot cheaper than a Waylon-style tooled leather cover.

Going in another direction, I think that Dale Watson's tele has quarters (or other coins) glued all over the front face.

[Jerry Overstreet]

True D. I appreciate all the suggestions. I can always count on you guys for help.

Oh yeah, here's the link to the Vibramate deal courtesy of Andy Sandoval for a standard string thru Tele. http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... ght=bigsby

[Papa Joe Pollick]

Yeah I know about the Vibramate,Jerry, but I already had the Bigsby..Bought it here on the SGF just because the price was right..It's been takin' up space in my parts box for quite a while.

[Jerry Overstreet]

Well, looking on their site, I don't know if the V5 TE Vibramate for Tele is still supported. No matter for me, I don't need the entire kit, but I might be interested in just the adapter plate that bolts to the end pin. That would let me mount my B5 on the '51 without drilling holes.

Might be interested in finding a used one separately from the whole kit. There used to be an adapter by a company named ZZ Guitarworks, but I don't see it either.

[Dave Hopping]

I have a ZZ/B5 kit on my MIM Esquire.Can't see any reason it wouldn't work on a SQ'51 as long as you can get proper string clearance over the rear lip of the bridge.

[Jerry Overstreet]

That's what I'm talking about Dave. I already have the B5 off the T in the photo. I don't see anyone selling only the strap button mount adapter separately though.

As I understand it, no drilling is required with that plate, right?

[Dave Hopping]

Jerry-
No drilling.The mount plate attaches at the strap button hole.BTW,ZZ's website seems to have disappeared.All I could find were Ebay listings and a Facebook page,and the latest date on FB was last summer.Maybe someone on the Gibson or Telecaster forums might have more current info.Even if ZZ has gone out of business,reverse-engineering a mount plate seems do-able.

[David Mason]

Former Ozzy guitarist Zakk Wylde got hammered one day (or week?) and pounded a bunch of beer caps into his Les Paul, after it'd been set on fire.



Needless to say, the duplicators are all a-twitter about burning it just the right way, getting the correct beer caps etc. It's said to be his "best"-sounding guitar, though how you could tell....

[Scott D. Smith]

delete

[Jerry Overstreet]

I bought this guitar from Paul Warnik. He told me the Bigsby install was done professionally. He was right. The holes are just a tad smaller than the cuts through the finish. In fact, I can cut some discs like those in the photo that will drop right in. I'll probably go ahead and dowel them, but I don't think it's necessary. These discs are about the same thickness as the finish. With just a touch of flat sanding I can size them to fit perfectly.

I had some scrap vinyl gutter covers layin' around. Heavy duty thick mil.
I used my hole punch set to cut these out. Forgot I had it. [I'll probably need to go one size larger on the small ones.]

Still, the vibrato has left an impression in the finish, so I guess I'm back to stripes or decals to cover up after the hole patching.

I want to thank everybody for all your input and encourage anyone considering Tele/Bigsby installation to use the Vibramate kit or ZZ plate like in Dave's post, as it's completely reversible. Looks like they are getting harder to come by though and available only for 4 hole STB bridge plates. I saw some on eBay starting around 65 bucks. You get the adapter plate, also the bridge w/saddles.

I can't use the T bridge on my '51, but I'm holding off the install on it hoping to find just the tailpiece adapter like Dave's.

[Bob Poole]

[Jack Hanson]

Vinyl stickers covered the short Maestro whammy holes (and much of the top as well) on my mid-'60s 'Zoo KG-2A:


A genuine Fender killer from Michigan (where they built the necks and assembled 'em) via Wisconsin where the bodies were molded by a toilet seat manufacturer).

[Jim Fogle]

http://www.guitarfacelift.com/products.htm

Don't know how well these actually work, but may be a solution to your problem. Not everybody's cup of tea, I'm sure.

D Schubert, the link you provided is broken. Here is a good link: https://www.guitarfacelift.com/