In today’s article, we’re going to have a closer look on 10 amazing guitars – and we’re going to choose the best guitar with Bigsby! If you’re familiar with my previous blog posts, you’re probably aware that I’m a huge fan of tremolo bars and vibrato guitar effects. I have to admit that creating today’s list was really enjoyable. There is something really special in that vintage Bigsby sound. Whether you’re a beginner or a more advanced player, today’s guide is definitely for all-level guitarists.
We’ll start with a short list of recommendations. In the next part, there will be a detailed overview of each model and the third part will resolve the most common questions about Bigsby bridges. Let’s jump into it!
Top 10 Bigsby Guitars
| 1. | Gretsch Electromatic | See on Amazon |
| 2. | Gretsch G2622T | See on Amazon |
| 3. | Richmond Bigsby | See on Amazon |
| 4. | Epiphone Emperor | See on Amazon |
| 5. | Guild Starfire | See on Amazon |
| 6. | Starshine Semi-Hollow | See on Amazon |
| 7. | Ibanez AS63T | See on Amazon |
| 8. | Gretsch G6128T | See on Amazon |
| 9. | Dean Colt | See on Amazon |
| 10. | Zuwei Trans Yellow | See on Amazon |
1. Gretsch Electromatic Center Block Jr
In my opinion, this is the best guitar with Bigsby for intermediate and pro players. There is something really special in the combination of golden hardware with this azure color. The Electromatic is not the cheapest guitar on the market, but it features an extraordinary and resonant sound. The guitar is made of maple and it features an anchored Adjusto-Matic bridge. To be honest, this is the best looking guitar on my list. Looks much more expensive than it really is! On the other hand, if you’re a beginner, there are more affordable models out there. Unless you’re a massive fan of that outside look, I’d recommend checking out other guitars too. Anyway, here’s a short sound sample below. Sounds amazing, right?
2. Gretsch G2622T
Another absolutely great Gretsch guitar that offers amazing quality and sound. In fact, the G2622T is quite more affordable than the previous model. It may not have golden hardware, but it still looks really vintage and elegant. The guitar features a maple body, a neck made of nato wood and a laurel fingerboard. If you’re new in the world of hollow and semi-hollow guitars, I highly recommend checking out this guitar as your first one. Unique tone, exceptional attention to detail and decent – who needs anything else? I’m sure that if you pick that model, you’ll be satisfied!
3. Richmond Belmont Bigsby
A really interesting guitar from a Canadian manufacturer – Godin. It may not be as popular as other brands on my list, but it still features a really amazing tone and attention to detail. The guitar features two single-coil pickups and a humbucker. Undoubtedly, this combination offers a lot of versatility which is useful in various different music genres. Whether you’re into blues, jazz, rock or indie, this guitar will definitely do the job! In terms of pricing, it’s not cheapest. Nevertheless, in comparison with some other guitars with Bigsby, it can be still a really solid choice. Great job, Godin! In case you want to check out how it sounds, here’s a short sound sample below.
4. Epiphone Emperor
For those who don’t know, Epiphone is one of the leading guitar manufacturers in the world. I’m a massive fan of their guitars and I personally own a few of of their models. The famous Emperor features a pair of really cool Swing bucker pickups. In terms of materials, Epiphone decided to use a mix of maple and spruce. As a result, the guitar is really durable and resonant. What’s more, it’s really affordable. I wouldn’t say that it’s cheap, but it’s definitely one of the less pricey guitars on my list. I highly recommend checking it out – from the outside, it looks really cool and vintage as well!
5. Guild Starfire
If you’re not aware, Guild is one of the most iconic American manufacturers of guitars. They mostly specialize in acoustic guitars, although they also create a few hollow-body guitars with Bigsby bridges. Nevertheless, this company delivers the same level of quality as Gibson, Martin and Taylor. The attention to detail and overall set up of their instruments is truly remarkable. The Starfire model features an iconic shape and a slick headstock kept in vintage aesthetic. Undoubtedly, this guitar will be ideal for lovers of old-school recordings. In addition, there are three P90 pickups included! The guitar offers an incredible tone and actually, it doesn’t cost a fortune. Check out the sample below. Sounds sick, right?
6. Starshine Semi-Hollow
Again, this is an absolutely amazing looking and sounding guitar. It is very likely that you never heard about this guitar manufacturer before. In fact, Starshine is a relatively new brand that crafts their guitars in China. You may think that it’s cheap and crappy, but trust me – their quality is amazing! It’s actually one of the greatest guitars that no one knows about at all. We are all used to big names like Gibson, Fender or Epiphone, but these cheap Chinese brands also deserve a lot of attention. At this price level, it will be difficult to find any better guitar with Bigsby. I couldn’t find any good sound samples, but you can check out a review of a different Starshine model below. There’s no Bigsby on the video, but you’ll se that their quality is really on point.
7. Ibanez AS63T
Another really cool guitar at a pretty reasonable price. Ibanez, the Japanese manufacturer of guitars, fails very rarely. Throughout the years, they proved to be one of the most important brands in the guitar world. To be honest, I absolutely love their Artcore Series. The AS63T features a sapele body and C-standard shaped neck. Thank to the semi-hollow body type, the guitar sounds really loud and bright. Undoubtedly, at this price this guitar is one of the best with Bigsby. You won’t be disappointed! Also, if you’d like to hear more about Artcore guitars, I reviewed the Ibanez AS73 – feel free to check it out here.
8. Gretsch G6128T
It’s time for something really special! Although all Gretsch guitars on my list are amazing, this one is just magical. And in fact, it costs a fortune. Undoubtedly, this is not a guitar for beginners. If you’re looking for the best guitar with Bigsby, this is one of the greatest and most expensive models. Gretsch did a fantastic job with that model. It will be perfect for studio recordings and live gigs in front of hundreds of people! Check out the sound sample below. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
9. Dean Colt
Another guitar ideal for the most demanding players! From the outside, this Dean guitar looks really expensive and spectacular. There is something really unique in the combination of black guitar body and golden hardware. In terms of sound, it’s really rich and resonant due to the semi-hollow built. Of course, guitars at this level tend to be really expensive. Nevertheless, if you’re not on a low-budget, I highly recommend checking it out! Here’s a sound sample. What do you think?
10. Zuwei Trans Yellow
Again, in comparison with other Bigsby guitars on my list, that one is ridiculously cheap. Similarly as Starshine, Zuwei is a brand that no one really knows about. You may think that Chinese guitars mean low quality, but trust me, it’s not true. To be honest, I have mixed feelings about the appearance of this guitar. I feel like there’s too much of everything in there. Fancy fingerboard, the semi-hollow body, Bigsby and a Telecaster shape… well, that’s pretty unique. Nevertheless, you can either hate it or love it. And in terms of sound, it actually sounds really good! At this price, you won’t find anything better than this. Check out the video below, there’s a great in-depth review of that Telecaster.
Bigsby – FAQ
What is a Bigsby bridge?
Bigsby has a really long history and in fact, it’s the first successful design of famous whammy or tremolo bar. It’s a unit installed on the top of guitar. When you push the Bigsby arm towards the guitar, the strings get a little bit loose. As a result, the pitch of sound becomes lower.
Do Bigsby bridges stay in tune?
Well, not always. To be honest, Bigsby bridges tend to cause issues with guitar tunings. Although they’re absolutely iconic and legendary, sometimes they are really annoying. Nevertheless, these problems can be improved or avoided completely thanks to a professional set up of a guitar. Here’s a great tip on how to keep your Bigsby in tune in case you’re interested. Sometimes it’s all about the screws!
Where can I find guitars with Bigsby?
There are lot of places where you can find a guitar with Bigsby. You can go to your local guitar store or you can find it online. Personally, I usually buy all of my guitars on Amazon. In fact, all of the guitars from today’s article are available in there!
Are there any famous guitarists who used Bigsby?
Yes! Guitars with Bigsby were and still are a top choice among a lot of famous guitarists. For example:
- Jimmy Page – Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty
- Jack White – Gretsch Triple Jet
- David Bowie – Supro Dual Tone
- Dan Auerbach – Harmony H78
- George Harrison – Epiphone Casino
- Keith Richards – Les Paul Standard
You can check out the story behind these guitars on this blog. It’s really interesting, so I encourage you to check it out!
Can you put a Bigsby on a telecaster?
Of course! It’s totally possible to use a Bigsby on a Telecaster. If you haven’t noticed the Zuwei guitar on my list features a Telecaster shape and a Bigsby at the same tame. Undoubtedly, it’s a really unusual and cool combination!
Best Guitar With Bigsby – Summary
As you can see, there are quite a few interesting guitars with Bigsby that are worth checking out. Some people believe that you have to spend a fortune to get a decent sounding axe with Bigsby, but the truth is – it depends. If you’re okay with playing on cheaper Chinese guitars, you can definitely try the Starshine or Zuwei. Nevertheless, if you prefer a guitar from a well-known manufacturer, there’s a few cool Gretsch and Epiphone models out there. I think that all of these models will be a great fit for anyone who loves that Bigsby sound. Which one would you choose? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for checking out Best Guitars Now. I hope that my article was at least a little bit helpful! If you enjoyed it, you may also like:
