Paul Bigsby Merle Travis Guitar For Sale (2024 Update)

I have bought 2 of these from Amplified Parts…One aluminum the other gold and they were perfect…They add sustain. Aluminum was put on Gibson ES 335 Gold was put on Epiphone ES 175. I will be ordering another soon…Can't go wrong, easy to install….BassmanBassman

There's not much to say about the B70, except that you should save yourself a hundred bucks and buy the Licensed version instead of the original B7. They're every bit as good in every way. Easy to fit and easy to use, the Bigsby B70 is not a dive-bomb unit. It's best used to add a shimmer to notes and chords and to make a song's ending a bit flasher. Then there's the undeniable "cool factor" that a Bigsby will add to your guitar, especially if you play an archtop hollow or semi-hollow guitar.jimmcallister96

I picked this guitar up when I was in my local Guitar Center selling some gear that I didn't have a use for. I had been looking at this guitar for a while, and it was on sale, so I snagged it. I have always loved the way a Gretsch plays and sounds, and it's a beautiful guitar. I have played it through many different amps and effects, and this guitar always sounds great. Right from the display it plays great, but having it professionally set up will make a difference. That said, I have zero complaints about how it played or sounded with out any modifications or adjustments. It has quickly become one of my favorite guitars in my arsenal, and it's almost always the first guitar I pick up when I'm sitting down to write. For the price, it's a hard guitar to beat.Jeffrey

After playing religiously throughout adolescence and my teens, I fell off the practice wagon and piece by piece, my collection dwindled to nothing. After a nearly 7 years absence, I decided it was time to pick the instrument back up and this turned out to be perfect specimen to do so with. THE GOOD – it's a Gretsch – long had I dreamed of owning a Gretsch when I was younger, it seemed to meet the perfect amount of "cool" without being a typical gibson or fender option. – playability out of the box – this thing required very little work to get it into playing condition. The action was near perfect for my preference and the pickup positions weren't too hard to hone in to my desired tone. – the looks – this thing is a gorgeous piece of equipment. I went with the Bristol fog coloration and couldn't be happier. It has a unique mix of vintage yet new age appeal to it that fits my tastes exactly. THE BAD – fret buzz – as some others have said, yes there is a small amount of fret buzz out of the box. However it isn't enough to be a real issue. The buzz doesn't even translate through to the amp. So you only really hear it when you're playing unplugged. – the knobs – while i understand the desire to find a niche, the pickup volume knobs are just weird. It doesn't really make sense to me why I would want to have volume control instead of tonal control when I could just switch the pickup with the switch. It really only works in the middle position, and even then the effect isn't really noticeable unless you have one turned all the way down. Which At that point it makes more sense to just switch to the neck or the bridge instead of both.Thom

I just received our Gretsch 5220 in Jade Grey after eyeing it for a few years. I'd read all the glorious reviews and was prepared to be underwhelmed but it's all it was advertised as an more. The 2020/21 models seem to differ from some earlier ones in that it has a great black walnut fretboard as well as full sized pots. The taper is different from my other guitars but it allows for some great alternative tones. The finish is flawless and the Broad'trons have a unique voice as compared to both the standard probuckers that came on my Epi Les Paul as well as the Seth Lovers I dropped into it. For the price it is without question the best guitar purchase I've ever made when factoring everything in. I highly recommend this guitar to someone who is looking for a versatile guitar that is different from the standard LP/Strat/Tele.JFie14B2

Overall: My initial feelings about the guitar were ones of disappointment. The box had arrived smashed up from FedEx. I unboxed the guitar and inspected it carefully and couldn't see any damage. However, the neck pickup was almost completely sunken into the body cavity. The adjustment screws had almost completely backed themselves out of the guitar. In order to tighten and raise the treble side of the pickup I had to remove the pickguard. I want to remove the pick card I found a dime-sized blemish in the finish of the guitar. This wasn't a scratch or a ding, it was a flaw in the paint. I debated sending it back, but then I plugged the guitar in.This is where the disappointment ends. This guitar sounds amazing. From crystal clear cleans to grungy rhythm sounds this is a versatile guitar. I really like the master volume setup I can adjust the neck and middle pickups to my liking and then raise and lower the overall volume without changing the balance between the pickups. Right now I can't see any reason for swapping out the pickups. The binding around the guitar is nice and neat, the mahogany back looks spectacular, nice deep color, beautiful grain and nicely matched. You really have to look hard to see where the individual pieces were joined. The frets could use a bit of a polish but they were nicely beveled at the ends, no sharp or rough spots. The neck binding is flawless. The neck is a bit shallow, I prefer a chunkier neck, but that's personal preference and I got used to it quickly. The only other place that I think the guitar falls short is with the tuning pegs. I will swap them out for some locking tuners in the near future. But overall for its price this is a great guitar.When it arrived besides the loose pickup, the action was very low and the truss rod needed to be tweaked, I had a professionally set up and now it plays incredibly well. Overall this is a fantastic guitar especially given the price.Pete

Based on the CONS people have listed here, after 55 years of playing everything from Folk to Country to Praise and Worship on everything from my first 'cross-the-border, nylon-string classical to the Big Boys' Strats and my big-bowl 1976 Balladeer, I guess I must still be tone deaf and have no feel for an instrument because I liked this guitar from the moment I saw it, felt it, played it, and heard it. Not being the most expensive guitar on the rack, I did not expect it to be perfect. But, I have been greatly and very positively surprised at how close it is to meeting my every criteria. I have a full-size hollow body that cost me a bunch more and the tone variation from Neck PUP to Bridge PUP on the Wildkat is so much better! The volume balance between the PUPs is spot on. However, I purposely did not buy the Bigsby-equipped model: not because of expected tuning issues but because I like a clean appearance and the Bigsby really loads this little guy up! And, replace the P90s with 'buckers? Wow, I bought the Wildkat SPECIFICALLY for the P90s! Seems there is no explaining differences in taste. I applaud you all for your own musical and tonal discernment and for your comments! My summary? If you are looking for a fun guitar with great sound, this is your baby!Brother Lou

I purchased the blue royale model and, there is a review for that one. Super Guitar but, the blue just didn't do it for me so I ended up selling it to a guy that loved the blue color and, he was in heaven and, he a got a nice instrument. It wasn't but a short time and, I started missing the whole guitar except the blue color so I got the wine red Wildkat, I guess I'm kind of a red guy because I have several guitars in shades of red. This wine red color is stunning and, all the chrome hardware is a perfect match. I also have a Riviera in wine red but, it has gold hardware and, this guitar is a thing of beauty in looks and sound but, lets get back to the Wildkat. The semi hollow with the P90's is what sold me in the first place. The Bigsby vibrato is very cool, in all my years of playing I never touched a Bigsby until this one and, I like it very much. I have not had any problems with tuning. With a new guitar the strings must be stretched and, retuned a few times or there will be tuning problems as the same with restringing. Also lube the string slots in the nut and bridge and, that goes for any guitar with a vibrato. I usually use a No2 lead pencil and, run it in the grooves that's it. This is a semi hollow guitar but, it comes very close to being hollow as in the picture I've posted. That's why this guitar has the sound that it does. I've played it through every amp that I have, Fender Twin Reverb to a small practice amp and, it sounds Great through every one. The electronics are a little different but, it doesn't take long to get used to it. I'm always up for a challenge anyway. I am very pleased with this guitar as I was with the blue one but, red is my color. I would highly recommend this guitar to anybody looking for that something different in a guitar as I was. I have noticed that P90's are showing up more and, more with artists on TV, videos and, in magazines, must be a reason! Give it a try, you'll be pleasantly surprised.terrygh

This is really a Great guitar. I was looking for something different, something that I didn't have. A semi hollow with P90's and a Bigsby and, a beautiful color! I had to do a little setup, the normal stuff I always do with any guitar that I own, action, a litttle truss rod tweak, slight adjustment of pickup screws, intonation was perfect, stretched the new strings a few times with retuning and, that was it. Play time! The only way I could get this guitar out of tune was to work at it. Normal playing with string bending and subtle use of the Bigsby which is the way it was meant to be used yeilded Great results and, no tuning issues. The Bigsby is meant to be used like the vibrato on the Fender Jazzmaster and Jaguar (subtle) If you're a divebomber with a vibrato get something with a Floyd Rose and, go from there. The P90's definately have a different sound than Humbuckers that's what makes them what they are. If you experience a hum or 60 cycle buzz, be sure your amp is plugged into a grounded receptacle, It does make a difference. Nice feel, Good balance, Vintage sound, these Royale Wildkats are superior made guitars. Highly recommend one if you're looking for that something different guitar. The pic that I posted looks Great but, in person it's stunning!terrygh

This was set up to perfection out the box.(this has never happened to me ever!!!!) Great fret work,no sharp ends, no sprout, no buzz, but super low action. Make no mistake, this is a shredder made to look like a tele. Coil split works great, and u can get that classic tele sound in the middle position, but the bridge pickup roars. Nice warm sound with clarity. The bevel and tummy cut make this a very comfortable instrument. The neck heal has great fret access. Im just blown away by this thing. So much bang for your buck. The only thing i wish they added was locking tuners. Not that it loses tune, but they make for a quicker restring. The locking tuners on my nick Johnston Schecter should be on this. Dont let the low price fool you, this is a great guitar, even gig/recording worthyJake

Fantastic. Beautiful green finish. Licensed Bigsby works great, holds a tune. Nice pickups, bridge is on the kow output side a bit… no real death metal chugs. I play stuff ranging from NOFX to Reverend Horton Heat and this guitar is a real player. The coil-tapping also makes this a mean ska machine. My only complaint, and this is petty, is that they didn't do something a little more eye-catching than dot inlays… split crowns, or blocks I think could've really popped. I have some significantly higher-priced guitars, and I find myself enjoying this just as much as, or sometimes more than those. If you're more into playing stuff on the metal side, consider something else. But if you're anywhere from honky-tonk to hardcore, you could really enjoy this.Niles

Very happy with this guitar. This is my second Schecter, so I was expecting good things. They did not disappoint. Fit and finish are excellent and it was setup and still in tune when I took it out of the box. I got the metallic red one, and as mentioned by others, the pictures don't do it justice. It really looks good with the black pick guard. I am also amazed at how well it stays in tune with the Bigsby. The controls are straightforward, and yet they offer so much variety in tone! The split coils for the pickups are great. You can get anything from a twangy Tele to the warmth of a Les Paul, and everything in between. It's great how many different sounds I've gotten out of it in just a few hours of playing around. Can't wait to take it to rehearsal this week. If you're looking for an all-purpose guitar, this is the one.Don Gee

I have added a Bigsby 5 purchased from Chicago Music to my Telecaster. Dealing with Chicago Music was a very positive experience. Easy to order and efficient shipping. The bigsby is a wonderful addition to my Telecaster, works well, stays in tune and add another dimension to the guitar. Thank you Chicago Music! Regards, Gary WeidnerGary W.

This is my first Bigsby attachment and was installed by a guitar tech at my local Guitar Center. This device makes it easy to add character and emotion to the chords you already know. Just realize that this model requires you or a professional to drill holes. Also, you will want to have a proper bridge setup so that it will sound good (Guitar techs assisted with that.) It is normal for a product like this to alter your resting string tuning after bending the strings with the Bigsby bar but shouldn't have significant effect on your performance unless you're really diving down on the bar excessively.Christopher Force

Five stars for this one! Sure, I put "expensive" and "difficult to install" down as 'Cons'…but just being honest. Listen…if you have a steady hand, common sense, patience, and perseverance (not to mention proper tools)…you can watch an instructional video on YouTube, and install this thing yourself. If not; like others have said, let a pro do it (at a cost). I installed mine myself and enjoyed the project—not to mention end result. I started with a Squire Standard Telecaster (purchased right here on MF), and liked the guitar, but wanted to modify the heck out of it. Always loved the look of a Bigsby, so I bought one and put it on. I was AMAZED at how much difference it made in sound. It literally turned a solid body guitar into a Thinline or Semi-Hollow. Everyone that see's my modified Tele LOVES the looks…then they hear and/or play the thing, and are even further blown away.White Dog

If you're interested in the history of electric guitars, this has to be on your shelf. Those the focus chronicles the life and accomplishments of Paul Bigsby it covers ALL the players that were involved in the creation and development of elecronic guitar music throughout the early years. I read the book cover to cover and passed it on to a friend from the late 50s , a guitar player/instructor and he loved it as well. Get your hands on it and share it .. you won't be disappointed. And I don't think you'll find it on the shelf of your local library.bobbyjohnj

This book is a must for all guitar enthuiasists.a great American story with tons of great pics.a good education for the guitar builder and artist alike. Vaughn Mitchell stagetech/tour driversovereignman

This book is well worth any amount that it is listed at. For a long time I can remember hearing the name Bigsby and always equating it to that weird looking tailpiece on a Gretch Guitar. Paul Bigsby is probably the True Father of the Modern Solid Body Guitar. Now if you know your history there have been other attempts to create a non-acoustic instruments only amplified by a electromagnetic pickup (and I don't mean Lap-steels) dating as far back as the 1910's (Loyd Loar), but no one else can be better argued as the man that truely ushered in a new era. Paul Bigsby is the man that created that famous headstock that Fender ripped off. Paul Bigsby is the man that designed the original Les Paul body shape. Paul Bigsby is the man that used "Neck-thru" construction well before Rickenbacker. Paul Bigsby is the man that created the Lap Steel guitar as we know it today. Paul Bigsby is the flashpoint in which all the other major standards of the Electric Guitar World have hailed from… But refuse to acknowledge. Fortunately "PA" (as he was better known) never let the chips get him down. One way or another Bigsby made his way thru the world ending his career with a arguably unequaled Vibrato Tailpiece that still carries his name sake. This book is wonderfully put together. Full color pictures with details and acknowledgments to keep any fact hunter happy. Not to say the least about the three page full-body fold out with super sharp photos that make me wish there was a scratch and sniff sticker to gain the full experience. As if this well put together hard cover where not good enough, at the very last cover you'll find a CD. Contained in it is actual recordings (of his voice) made by Paul Bigsby himself to friends and loved ones. I can't say how much I love this book. As a struggling Luthier in tough economic times it gives me strength to see a man like Paul Bigsby with what he had gone thru never gave up and kept moving forward. He not only took the bull by the horns, he grabbed it by the nuts and kicked it out of his workshop. Ever since this book I don't think I've ever been so creative.chavez_2003

It seems very solid and I'd say it's top quality. I've not maounted it onto the guitar yet, but I assume there's going to be major problem at all. It looks the way I expected and is well worth the price.lordjsilver

A top quality product. The shaft has a good minimum-clearance fit in the bearings, so it moves smoothly with no play. I'm a retired mechanic, so I know things about shafts and bearings. But I am mystified by the three small felt pads on the bottom surface. They are not mentioned in the otherwise excellent instructions. When you tighten the mounting screws, the rear pad, under the "Bigsby" logo, distorts the frame enough to put a bind on the bearings, so the shaft drags. This can't be right! Plus, don't you want firm contact between the frame and the guitar top for best sound transference and sustain? I removed the pads, and am very pleased with how the unit works!Lenny

It's a terrible role product.. It will update whenever it wants to and it will include the system update as well. It has a hard time trying to understand or trying to define things. Honestly I'm just having to just do a double the work because I asked it to do something and I have to do it myself manually. I will not change my review until It can define simple things. All because it can even do thatCarlos Herrera

Really simple and fast to install on my Samick AV-6 Les Paul wannabe. Takes much longer to remove and replace strings than to install the vibramate and Bigsby B5. And it's easily reversed if the need arises. It's quite an ingenious device. I have 3 other guitars w/ Bigsbys and this one plays much the same as the others (non-vibramate). If you're not experienced with using a Bigsby, just be advised, they're for vibrato not dive bombing as that will cause them to go out of tune. And until you get the strings 'stretched' in place you'll have to re-tune several times, but once they stabilize (aided w/ 'nut sauce' in the nut and saddles) they stay in tune fairly well, though not perfect. A Roller Bridge can help maintain tuning. I'm happy I bought it.bobstitt

This is currently my favourite electric guitar. It has such a wide tonal range. Play soft finger style and you can get soft blues tones. Pul on the strings and it really twangs! Played with a pick you can easily push it from teang to breakup. Overall volume overall tone and two independent volumes gives great range with even small twists of the dials. Playability is great if you prefer a wider Gibson style neck. Great for sweet clean slide playing too.Vincent

The bad – very thin packing material in the shipping box & it arrived with the box open. There was a nasty quarter size ding and cracked finish on the back. MF took care of that issue. The Good – came out of the box perfectly set up for my playing style – Classic style rock and Blues. I mainly play thru a Fender twin reverb & The P-90s sound amazing to my ears. The strings feel like 12s but not sure. I use a Ibanez overdrive and then a touch of chorus when playing clean. Stays in tune well and the bigsby works as it should. I'm semi-pro This is the first time in my adult life I've bought a guitar that didn't come with a case but I had a spare archtop case that works fine. All of my guitars are made in the U.S, but this one plays and looks just as nice ( except the ding) I can't imagine anyone kicking this guitar out of their herd. Good finish and seems to be well made, so far anyway.Mitchell

I went to guitar center looking for a professional ii telecaster in Miami blue, but saw this gem out of the corner of my eye in my way out. I picked it up and it was just the magic I was looking for. Absolutely stunning guitar! The p-90s are Hot and clear, really good low end response and the bridge is nice a twangy how I like it. So glad I bought it and the neck feels super great. The nick is a little chunky on the sides but nothing you can't get used too. Only complaint is the tuning stability, it isn't bad just isn't ideal. Nothing a little lube on the nut can't fix. Overall 9/10!!Isaac F.

She's a beautiful looking guitar and sounds awesome with the Seymour Duncan Quarter-Pound pickups! I can not set this guitar down. The korina wood body produces a great tone and Duncan pickups just expand on it. I was looking for a T-style guitar. I tried many and for the money and quality, this was the best in my opinion! I received a great deal on it from Sam Ash and highly recommend them for purchasing any instrument. Their staff is top notch, very professional, very knowledgeable, and go the extra step to ensure you have a great playing/sounding instrument before you leave their store! Chris and Kurt are awesome!!!PETER

I bought this guitar because I needed to break up the 3 teles on stage at live shows. Man it does the trick. Add a little distortion for that perfect southern rock / country rhythm sound. I have several other guitar and this one is my go to for live shows. The price was great the service was amazing. Overall a great experience!Terry

Plays really nicely, really warm tone, and was great value (was actually ready to spend more, but this one played the best!)Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

A top quality product. The shaft has a good minimum-clearance fit in the bearings, so it moves smoothly with no play. I'm a retired mechanic, so I know things about shafts and bearings. But I am mystified by the three small felt pads on the bottom surface. They are not mentioned in the otherwise excellent instructions. When you tighten the mounting screws, the rear pad, under the "Bigsby" logo, distorts the frame enough to put a bind on the bearings, so the shaft drags. This can't be right! Plus, don't you want firm contact between the frame and the guitar top for best sound transference and sustain? I removed the pads, and am very pleased with how the unit works!Lenny

It's a terrible role product.. It will update whenever it wants to and it will include the system update as well. It has a hard time trying to understand or trying to define things. Honestly I'm just having to just do a double the work because I asked it to do something and I have to do it myself manually. I will not change my review until It can define simple things. All because it can even do thatCarlos Herrera

Really simple and fast to install on my Samick AV-6 Les Paul wannabe. Takes much longer to remove and replace strings than to install the vibramate and Bigsby B5. And it's easily reversed if the need arises. It's quite an ingenious device. I have 3 other guitars w/ Bigsbys and this one plays much the same as the others (non-vibramate). If you're not experienced with using a Bigsby, just be advised, they're for vibrato not dive bombing as that will cause them to go out of tune. And until you get the strings 'stretched' in place you'll have to re-tune several times, but once they stabilize (aided w/ 'nut sauce' in the nut and saddles) they stay in tune fairly well, though not perfect. A Roller Bridge can help maintain tuning. I'm happy I bought it.bobstitt

The guitar arrived on time and was in very good condition. Everything was included as advertised. It's a good size for my 7-year-old to learn.Jonovan

Got the newer retro classic with 3 saddle bridge. Is a great value and equal to squier bullets for half the price. The newer indio needed a little work, but so did two squiers i have bought. The indio had rough fret ends and nut was a little tall. Sanded fret ends and sanded the bottom of the nut to reduce the height. Tuners are not smooth turning but stays in tune really well. Will remind again my squier bullets both needed much more work than this indio. Have sold both bullets and kept the indios. The indio plays great and is really slinky. I guess due to top load bridge. Indios are probably the best value out there.Travis

The guitar is surprisingly good considering the very low price. It did have one significant issue though that would make me hesitant to recommend it to a beginning guitar player. I'll start with the good stuff. The basic build of the guitar is very good. The finish is well done. The neck pocket is a good fit. The tuners are good. The nut was cut well. The included gig bag is similar to those I've seen selling in the $30-$50 range so it's a great value too. The electronics and pickups are the typical cheap and generic components that you find on guitars in the sub $200 price range. They aren't terrible though. The bridge design on mine is different than what was pictured. This doesn't matter to me but it does seem to vary. The bad thing on the guitar was the fret edges. I checked the level on the frets using a fret rocker and found them good but the edges were very rough. Since I do guitar tech work as a side gig, this was easy for me to fix but a beginning player might find this to be an issue.New User

This is a fantastic guitar for any beginner or someone who wants to see if a Telecaster is for them or to mod or even just to play. I've got Mexican and American Fenders and have had lower end Squiers. I'd say this guitar is the equal of the Bullet line but costs considerably less. The finish is flawless, electronics are fine, tuners are good and the neck is decent. The biggest problem I have with the guitar is the very small frets (not tall at all) and the sharpness of fret ends. The fretboard is listed as being rosewood but it's more likely what is called "engineered rosewood". It looks good and I like it but could be a little smoother. Buyers should note that Fender parts are not totally interchangeable. For instance, the neck plate is a different size so if you're planning to swap necks be aware. The pickguard holes and shape are not the same as Fender's, nor are the holes drilled appropriately for Fender's tuners. The ferrules fall out the back of the body when changing strings which is ridiculous and if you look in the holes you will notice that they are not drilled straight through the body. It appears the front and back of the body are actually two separate pieces of wood glued together with holes for strings drilled separately and they don't line up properly. That is unbelievably bad but you can still insert the strings so it doesn't negatively impact much. I would definitely buy this again and I'm even contemplating getting another.Steve

Music like this is hard to find – Travis was 'old school' and innovative, all in one and all original. His influence can be seem in the work of many from Atkins to Emmanuel to this day. This is a good collection of some of Travis' hits and will entertain for countless hours those who crave to know his unique style and poetry.pinto-hunter

I love this book! It's mostly photos of various guitars but it has enough information so you understand what you're looking at. A great gift for anyone who plays or is just interested in the guitar.Michael