Trem on an SG

[rbrogan]

Hey guys, I'm looking for a decent tremelo bridge to stick on an SG Standard. I've had this guitar for years, and love it, but decided recently to change it up a bit. I'm not looking to do dive bombs or anything, just ad some nice warble to my SG. Ideally I'm looking for something that won't require permanent modification to the guitar.

So far I've run across the Bigsby B5 w/ a vibramate, the Les Trem, and the Stetsbar. The Bigsby w/ a vibramate seems pretty classic. Although, looking at rough pricing and including that I'll probably need another bridge (the current one is a little rough as it is), it's looking like one of the more expensive options.

The Les Trem seems super simple, and effective, and even with a replacement bridge would still be around $200ish. But that's if I could actually find one for sale, since they don't seem to be made anymore.

The third option seems to be the Stetsbar Pro Tem, which is very interesting to me. I just never hear anyone talk about these. I Like that they seem like an all in one thing, in that they include a bridge, and it's about $220. My biggest worry about the Stetsbar would that I would need a different pickguard. Their website has a couple of SG standards with the Stetsbar, but its hard to see wether it fits fine on top of it, or you have to modify or get another pick guard.

Anyone here have experience with this, and can compare to the other options I've found? Any other cost effective solutions that I should be considering?

Thanks!

 

[Carbohydrates]

No experience with the Stetsbar, but I've used Bigsbies and Les Trems. I like the Les Trem quite a bit for what it does - a simple mechanism that allows a bit of waver or note wankery, about the same range as a Bigsby - you won't be divebombing with it and you can expect to refine your tuning after extended usage. I used mine on a couple guitars and ended up selling it with the SG. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another if I wanted a trem on a stop tailpiece guitar.

 

[reeced]

Any other cost effective solutions that I should be considering?

Thanks!

I have no experience of the trems you've mentioned, but I did fit a Bowen Handle (lefthander) recently, and despite some negative comments I read, I honestly can't find fault with it. The action is relatively smooth and more importantly it stays in tune.

http://www.freedomguitar.com/products_bowen_handle.php

Plus for $59, I think it's a bargain.
The only drawback I can see is that you may have to detach the arm to put the guitar in a case.

 

[WKG]

I hacked up an SG and put a Kahler in it back in the 80's.

If I were to do it again I'd probably go non-destructive and try the stetsbar. The Bowen handle thing looks interesting though but doesn't give any info on the range of use.

 

[rbrogan]

That Bowen Handle looks pretty interesting, I'll have to look into it. Like a Les Trem, but more than half the price. The only thing I worry is that I wouldnt be able to fit my SG in its hardshell case even with the bar taken off.

 

[duckbunny]

Played a stetsbar once - was very impressed. Not cheap. but worked very well and was beautifully made. Not a divebombers dream, but does the Bigsby thing nicely.


-db

 

[reeced]

That Bowen Handle looks pretty interesting, I'll have to look into it. Like a Les Trem, but more than half the price. The only thing I worry is that I wouldnt be able to fit my SG in its hardshell case even with the bar taken off.

If it helps - with the bar on, I can say it definitely wouldn't fit in a hardshell case. On mine it's about 95mm ! above the body of the guitar.
With the bar off, it's 37mm above the guitar body.

 

[Whiskeyrebel]

I have a Bowen handle on my SG and it fits fine in the hardshell case with the bar off.