Can the angle on a 5129's bigsby? I've got one that is very parallel to the guitar body, so with the pickguard on, there's just barely enough room to get my fingers in between to use it. By contrast, my 5120's bigsby is angled up more and easier to grab and use.

If you take the pin out, can you adjust the angle? And why would they be so different? I can try a 1" spring, but I'm not sure that will make a huge difference.

Is it a single or double roller? If it has a sharp break angle I'd shim underneath it which should fix it. I'm NOT a luthier by ANY stretch of the imagination. That's just what I'd do. And if that doesn't give you enough then get a longer spring I guess?

Longer spring, or put something in as a spacer above or below the spring.

Is it the stock flat aluminum handle? If so, it should easily bend as well.

I tried a taller spring, but I thought it moved the handle up too much. I installed a Chet handle on my 5127 and angled it and bent it to fit my playing. I do the same to the trem arms on my Strats, I chop them short and re-angle them. I think the flat handle should work that way too...

Post a picture if you can. I've never heard of it being that low before.

Maybe the plastic washers got lost? Try a small coin in the bottom socket.

Thanks for the feedback guys. It is a sinlge roller model. I could try bending the arm, but I was just thinking there should be a way to adjust the angle, especially since my 5120 has the same bigsby with a proper angle. Perhaps missing washers is the answer. I will check and post a photo when I get home tonight.

Here is a photo. Just enough room for me to grab the bigsby, but the but I can't depress it without hitting the pickguard.

It doesn't have plastic washers, so perhaps that is the issue. What type of washers are supposed to be there and can they be purchased? I can try a coin, but I probably need to raise it 1/2 an inch , so I think it will need more than a coin.

are you using 9 gauge strings? a set of 11s will bring it up nicely and your tone will sound much much better.

ps, the washer on most guitar pedals fits in there perfecto for example

Here is a photo. Just enough room for me to grab the bigsby, but the but I can't depress it without hitting the pickguard.

It doesn't have plastic washers, so perhaps that is the issue. What type of washers are supposed to be there and can they be purchased? I can try a coin, but I probably need to raise it 1/2 an inch , so I think it will need more than a coin.

You might be surprised by how much a little bit at the spring might raise it... but, a taller spring will definitely do the trick.

The washers are supposed to be plastic.... nothing wonky there.

Pull the spring & check the height. Put a washer in there. Thicker strings will pull it closer to the pickgaurd, won't it? Thicker strings=more tension?

Agreed, washer will raise it more than you think.

Thanks for the advice, guys. Now that the weekend is here, hopefully I'll have some time to play around with it. I've got light top/heavy bottom 10s right now. I would like to try a 1" spring in my 5120 too, so maybe I just need to order up 2 of them...

Why don't you just bend the handle a bit to make a larger gap?

I have the same problem with the bigsby set up on my tele. Virtually useless.

I tried taller springs of all types, shims.. nothing worked to make it seem natural. and maybe that's just how it is on the flat tele.

Bending the arm is not a true option. You want to keep the circular area at the spring flat and parallel to the casting that houses the spring. So you'd have to kink it a bit to maintain that contact.

HI i would go with 11 strings ,and a a nylon washer from a plumbing store . one washer under the spring should do the trick . if then you need it higher then add a washer on top of the spring !

I tried putting a washer in. I had to put it in the top because the bottom end is too shallow to hold a washer thick enough to raise the handle enough. It did make a decent difference in the height of the handle, however when I swing the bigsby handle around it makes an awful creaking noise as the bolt rubs against the washer. I am hoping that with time, It will wear the washer and the noise will stop, but who knows.

Perhaps a 1" spring and a thinner washer at the bottom would be a better solution.

I don't really want to bend the handle up that much. I think might would look pretty bad.

Try a Chet Arm then.

That's actually what I have on my 5127... and have one sitting on my desk ready to go on my 6129... one of these string changes.

1" Spring with the washer for sure, put a little pomade in there to get rid of the creak. Bam.

I use a copper penny.

Thanks guys. I'll try something to grease it up. I did try the penny trick, but it didn't give enough lift, so I had to go with thicker washer on top...