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Finished an SG style guitar today.
I installed a $25 vibrato that is working great and returns to tune well.
The arm sticks way up in the air. There are no installed spacers or washers.
I want to lower the arm.
I'm thinking of grinding off a spring coil. Finding a shorter coil seems unlikely
Anyone have better advice?
Thanks,
Dan

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Dan, I have a B7 that I'm going to install on a guitar I'm building - haven't done it yet and have no other experience with these things but I do have the instructions that came with it (sounds like you have an after market copy that may not have had instructions). Anyway it says "when you have the strings fairly taut but not up to pitch, insert the spring in the cups. Bring the strings up to pitch". It also shows in the diagram for the B5/500 "use fibre discs in bottom spring cup to adjust height of handle".

I also know that StewMac sells a device that is supposed to make restringing a Bigsby easier but that is the sum total of my knowledge about these things (for few more weeks at least).

ps - I had always heard that the original springs for these things were Harley valve springs - probably just an old wives tale.

Mine does has some fibre disks.
I'll try removing them. I assumed they were to protect the metal finish.
Thanks Freeman,
Dan

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Report back, like I said, I'll be dealing with my first Bigsby in a couple of weeks and will probably have all sorts of questions.

btw - I like the SG

That is a gorgeous guitar! I want...

There are two ways that I know of to adjust the height of the bar. Adding/removing spacers/washers/pennies beneath or above the spring, and changing the spring. Bigsby makes 1" and 7/8" springs. The 7/8" spring is softer and gives a lower bar height. You can also find 3/4" springs.

Are the strings up to pitch in the photo? What gauge are they?

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Thanks!
Yes, up to pitch. Light guage, 9-42

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