A Bigsby vibrato tailpiece adds a distinctive wobble to your playing, but it also adds a genuinely different string-changing process compared to a standard bridge. Get the stringing wrong and you can lose tension unexpectedly or have strings slip. Here's how to do it properly.

Understanding the Bigsby string path

Unlike a standard tailpiece where strings anchor directly, a Bigsby routes each string around a roller bar at the back of the unit before running forward to the bridge and up the neck. That wraparound design is what gives the vibrato its smooth pitch bend, but it also means there's more string path to manage carefully during a change.

Step-by-step restringing

1. Remove the old string, keeping the bridge saddle position noted or marked if your bridge isn't fixed in place, since Bigsby-equipped guitars sometimes use a floating bridge that can shift once string tension is released.
2. Feed the new string's ball end into the correct slot on the Bigsby roller bar, from the back, so the string wraps forward and up over the roller.
3. Guide the string forward over the bridge saddle and up the neck to the tuning peg, keeping it seated correctly in the bridge's saddle groove as you go.
4. Wind onto the tuning peg as normal, bringing the string up to rough pitch gradually.
5. Repeat one string at a time, rather than removing every string at once, which helps keep a floating bridge in its correct position throughout the process.

Common mistakes to avoid

Don't let the string slip off the roller bar while you're working on tension, since a string that's jumped its correct position on the roller can bind or sit unevenly, causing tuning instability. Take care with a floating bridge especially: if it shifts out of position while you have strings off, your intonation will be affected until it's correctly reset.

Why tuning stability matters more here

The extra length of string travel through a Bigsby, combined with a floating bridge on many setups, means there are simply more points where things can shift or bind slightly. Stretching new strings thoroughly and rechecking tuning a few times after a change is especially worthwhile on a Bigsby-equipped guitar.

If you're not confident

A Bigsby restring is a bit more involved than a standard bridge, particularly with a floating bridge to manage. If you're not confident handling it yourself the first time, bring it in and we're happy to walk you through it or take care of it for you.