2002 Bigsby BY-50 Reissue Guitar Birdseye Maple Top

Paul Bigsby made only a handful of electric guitars in his lifetime, but they were the inspiration for many iconic solid body guitar designs that followed. Leo Fender famously borrowed a Bigsby guitar from guitarist Jimmy Bryant and took it back to his shop at a time he was still formulating the design for the Broadcaster. The influence of the Bigsby is unmistakable.

Gretsch briefly produced a line of licensed Bigsby reproductions that have become highly sought-after guitars in their own right. Here we have a reissue Bigsby guitar from 2002 with some cosmetic and tonal upgrades that really up the ante.

This is the single cutaway BY-50 model with a 1/4 inch Birdseye Maple top and three-piece chambered Maple body. Set Maple Neck. Rosewood fingerboard with Card Suit inlays. 24.7 inch scale . Double-bound body. Vintage-style nickel tuners.

The original single-coil pickups have been replaced with TK Smith pickups. A TK Smith bridge, Jack Plate, and Switch Plate were also added. The wooden trapeze tailpiece has been replaced with a Bigsby vibrato. The original Rosewood Truss Rod Cover, Pickguard, and Arm Rest were replaced with silver sparkle versions (originals are included).

Set up in-house with Thomastik Flats (12-54) and playing great. This guitar sounds old school in the best possible way. A really fine guitar with a great look and a link to the earliest days of electric solid body guitars. Comes with its original Hardshell Case.

DETAILS
Year: 2002

Make: Bigsby

Serial: 0100015

Finish: Birdseye Maple Top

Case: Original Hardshell Case

Weight: 9 pounds 5 ounces

Condition: Excellent

Modifications: Pickguards and Truss Rod Cover replaced; Pickups and most of the hardware replaced with TK Smith parts

Comments: This customized Bigsby reissue is just too cool for words!