The Electra Forums

Hello, happy new member here. I've been playing a friend of mine's 81 X260 Invicta like it was my number one guitar for months and finally traded an old strat for a 1980 X210 Omega. It's a fantastic guitar, all original with some scratches and minor battle scars here and there from 36 years of use.

Here is what I'm wondering, for something down the road, perhaps. Is it possible, on one of these carved top models, to add a Bigsby or Bigsby-style trem? I've seen them on Invictas and the SG-style models, but I don't know if there would be any major issues with putting one on my Omega. I'm still not 100% sure I want to put holes in this sweet axe, but I'd like to know if it's even worth the trouble. My apologies if this question is ridiculous. I know Fenders well, but these guitars are a bit of a mystery to me. Thanks in advance.

(yes, I see the stand is sitting on the strap in this pic. It's not the best photo, I know)

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I see people putting their gear in their signatures, so...

1980 Electra X210 Omega
1991 American G&L ASAT III
1993 MIJ Fender 57 Reissue Stratocaster
1994 MIJ Takamine EN10C-AN

Bigsbys are installed on carved top Les Pauls, so it shouldn't really be a problem. They retain a normal bridge, so any slight changes in angle shouldn't effect the action or anything. I'd suggest using a roller bridge with it, to avoid string breakage (rollers let the changes in tension "flow" across the bridge better than saddles with a relatively sharp edge). I like roller bridges even without vibrato, because they help with tuning stability and reduced string breakage (imo).

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X260n Blonde Invicta! (1980)
Gibson Les Paul Studio (2007, walnut with black hardware, active EMGs)
Alvarez Yairi (1992)
Art & Lutherie 12 String

btw, nice guitar!

I don't blame you for not wanting to drill into it!

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X260n Blonde Invicta! (1980)
Gibson Les Paul Studio (2007, walnut with black hardware, active EMGs)
Alvarez Yairi (1992)
Art & Lutherie 12 String

Yeah; that's pretty, eh!! As Rets has said, you can get a Bigsby fitted to that, no worries! There's also a thing called a Stetsbar which can be fitted without drilling holes; perhaps worth looking into - I've played a guitar so equipped and the effect was very-Bigsbyish!!

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"... and on the eighth day, God created New Zealanders.

Because even the Australians need heroes."

The stetsbar looks like an interesting option! Not drilling holes is always a good thing (imo).

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X260n Blonde Invicta! (1980)
Gibson Les Paul Studio (2007, walnut with black hardware, active EMGs)
Alvarez Yairi (1992)
Art & Lutherie 12 String

Thanks guys. I might look into the Stetsbar too. It seems to be a pretty polarizing type of vibrato. People either love it or hate it. But I would love not putting holes in this guitar

I'll look into a roller bridge too. Can you put a standard Les Paul bridge on these? I was thinking it had to be a special metric one. I think I saw a post about it on here somewhere.

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I see people putting their gear in their signatures, so...

1980 Electra X210 Omega
1991 American G&L ASAT III
1993 MIJ Fender 57 Reissue Stratocaster
1994 MIJ Takamine EN10C-AN

Sorry I missed this. Yeah, in general you need to know whether you need a metric or standard bridge. For example, a Gibson Les Paul will use standard hardware, while most imports (including Epiphone) use metric.

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X260n Blonde Invicta! (1980)
Gibson Les Paul Studio (2007, walnut with black hardware, active EMGs)
Alvarez Yairi (1992)
Art & Lutherie 12 String

If you drill holes in that sweet, rare old thing... I will cry.



And the world we be a much less magical place.

Just say NO to holes!!!

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"GREAT Googiley moogilie Jack...jumpin jehosephat, hot dang and all".
- jdwhealton

The Bigsby model/design is different for the carved-top LP types than the ones you've probably seen on Invictas and other flat-top solidbodies. I've got Bigsbys on both my Invicta (model B-50, slightly cheaper import model, U.S. model is B-5) and LP (model B-70, B-7 etc), so I'd say go for it. The main difference btwn the designs is that the B-7 extends to the tail and anchors at the strap pin.

I've seen Vibramate adapters that allow no-drill installs of the US models (no, they're not interchangeable!) if you don't want to make any permanent changes, or make The Chad cry.

Have you thought more about this? Hopefully you're not going to do those nasty, permanent holes!

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"GREAT Googiley moogilie Jack...jumpin jehosephat, hot dang and all".
- jdwhealton