Vibrola tremolo units. Are they that bad?

[aliendawg]

What's up, guys. A friend of mine is GASing over an Epiphone SG 400 with a vibrola tremolo unit.

He told me people are always bashing on them. I said "let me do some research" because well... people were always complaining about floating tremolos and it turns out you just need the right setup for them to work properly. Maybe that's the case with the vibrola too

He's not pulling divebombs or anything... In fact he wants to do the Rex Shelverton (from Tamaryn) glide guitar thing, with his wirst resting above the trem bar

So here's my question. Are Vibrolas THAT bad and unstable?

[Don_Karnage]

From my experience any vibrato unit coupled with a tune-o-matic isn’t very good for tuning stability, vibrolas not being worse than any other kind of vibrato really. Graph-tech or nylon saddles can help a bit, as well as a well filed and lubed nut of course.

[oid]

Nothing wrong with the vibrola, as long as the guitar and trem are setup properly. It has its own range and techniques and within those bounds it does a fine job of bending the strings. It is best to pick the trem that suits the style, so what ever Rex uses would be a wise choice, I do not know him so I can not help there.

From my experience any vibrato unit coupled with a tune-o-matic isn’t very good for tuning stability, vibrolas not being worse than any other kind of vibrato really. Graph-tech or nylon saddles can help a bit, as well as a well filed and lubed nut of course.

If the saddles are properly filed they will not offer any more resistance then a properly filed nut, there seems to be an aversion to filing TOM saddles these days.

[aliendawg]

Thank you!!

Did you guys file the saddles and nuts yourselves or did you take them to a tech? Seems like something easy to mess up. I need to file my Jag's nut too

[oid]

It is no different then filing a nut, notch them to the string guages you desire to use and slope the notches back towards the tail piece, get them good and smooth. Kind of sucks on most modern TOMs since they are chromed steel and you expose bare steel which can rust.

[Shadoweclipse13]

For tremolos, I've gotten to the point that I pretty much always use roller bridges personally.

[del]

I have an early-2000s Epiphone Firebird VII with a vibrola unit. I like it very much and favor it over all the other vibrato tailpieces I've ever played (and I've played almost all of them). It stays in tune well and has a well-balanced and situated arm that allows for both shimmery vibrato and occasional deeper bends.

And, imho, it looks very very cool, which definitely impacts my assessment in at least some small way.

~del

[gringopig]

I have a Lyre Maestro on an SG and this:



Took off the stop tailpiece fitted this and a new set of string and there you go. It's great! It has the soft wobble of a Maestro but more range - doesn't go out of tune with the stock bridge and nut and it has actually improved the tone and sustain of the guitar too. Hard to believe but true.
A Duesenberg Les Trem 2!

recommended.

[aliendawg]

Nice! It looks really good too.

But it wouldn't fit the purpose of what my friend wants The bar must move around so he can place it under his wrist

Like this:

[gringopig]

You can adjust the bar in all sorts of ways actually. Loosen off the 2 allen keys and push the bar back or forward or rotate inside the fitting to bring the arm closer to the strings or move it further away. You also bring the arm up and down just like the pic. 3 independent planes of adjustment!

It also stays put unlike the Maestro and the wiggle is luscious.

[aliendawg]

Oh my I'm so stupid. I didn't look close enough

Well... That could do the trick then! It's a great desing really

[gringopig]

Yes, the thing on top of the spring moves in a circle, moving the arm parallel to the body and the arm being round can rotate in the mounting as well as move back and forward. It's a cool thing for stop tailpieces!

[cmatthes]

This one has always held tune - even better now that I replaced the Gibson TOM with a Schaller Roller version!

[DavidG]

I have a Lyre Maestro on an SG and this:



Took off the stop tailpiece fitted this and a new set of string and there you go. It's great! It has the soft wobble of a Maestro but more range - doesn't go out of tune with the stock bridge and nut and it has actually improved the tone and sustain of the guitar too. Hard to believe but true.
A Duesenberg Les Trem 2!

recommended.

That looks great and I may try one at some point on my les paul. I had a duesenberg a few years ago which came with the full fat trem system, they are a work of genius. Almost faultless, the one I had anyway.

[raindog13]

I have a Lyre Maestro on an SG and this:



Took off the stop tailpiece fitted this and a new set of string and there you go. It's great! It has the soft wobble of a Maestro but more range - doesn't go out of tune with the stock bridge and nut and it has actually improved the tone and sustain of the guitar too. Hard to believe but true.
A Duesenberg Les Trem 2!

recommended.

About how much did that cost you? I've been looking around for a vibrato for my Blacktop Jaguar project. I always thought that the Bigsby on a Jag is a messy look, too busy, and it seems like this might just fit the bill!

Edit: BTW, beautiful TV Special!