Hello folks,

I have been working on a design, modified Bigsby concept, no screws, that is a tremolo system for pretty much any acoustic guitar as an after market add on. I'm really developing this for my own use but would greatly appreciate any input as to your potential intrest, questions, marketability. This isn't a sales pitch as I don't have a product. I have prototypes and am continuing to develop the idea.

Thanks,
Jazz

Hi Jazz,

I looked at your system in your topic-pics in the Q&A forum. I think it's a very interesting idea. I believe there would be a market for it. (Although it isn't something I'd use myself as I play pretty much only older traditional style acoustic guitar, and even when I do ocasionally play electric I haven't used a trem for over forty years.) But I can see it being used by younger guitarists for newer styles and something they would want.

Your set up was on an older Regal resonator. (I have a couple of old National metal-body reso's and a Regal wood-body myself.) I think that it would (and obviously does) work fine on that guitar, and probably would on most other reso's. Of course the metal-bodied ones would have no problem supporting the system. And even the wooden-bodies probably wouldn't have a problem either as most wooden resonators have a fairly sturdy top, relying on the cone(s) for sound more than the tonewood-top itself. Additionally, (from your pics as best I can tell) a lot of the stress from using a trem-system on a reso is also spread out across the entire top by the cover-plate.

On other sound-hole acoustic guitars you might encounter a little more problems with stress issues. The pressure of the push/pull action would probably eventually take its toll on the top. An internal centerblock near the end-block would help of course, but I'd think it would have to be a fairly close fit and probably mounted in a semi-permanent way. You'd have to devise a way to make one sturdy enough to take the stress yet small enough to fit and be attached through the sound-hole. (Trying to avoid if at all possible making it a luthier-installed devise, which would greatly lower its sales potential I'd think.)

It would also have to be designed in some way that it would be a sort of "one size fits all" kind of thing (or at least a "one of several choices fits all" without requiring a luthier-type skill-level). There would also be considerations for mounting an internal reinforcement block around various configurations by various makers and models of their internal top-braces, tone-bars, undersaddle-blocks, etc.

Placing the stress-points against the backside of the body (as opposed to against the top) with mounting similar to say a trapeze-type bridge might help some of those problems. (Maybe an internal expanding reinforcement bar mounted from the neckblock to the endblock to alleviate some of the longitudenal compression issues.) (But again, simple enough and small enough to install through the soundhole.)

Of course any internal (or external) "bulk" or added density would begin to minimize the natural tone and projection of the top-wood. This would be much less a consideration on some of the more modern (or retro-fitted) acoustics that have plug-in on-board electronics, which rely much less on the tonal properties of the woods (as do reso's relying more on the cones for their sound).

I see it as something definitely worth pursuing and there potentially being a reasonably good market for that feature. What you have done already is probably pretty workable now for use on reso acoustics, but it would probably take a little more work and planning for regular acoustics. Nothing insumountable or anything, just a lot of work on paper and some trial and error (probably resulting in a pile of smashed cheap Act-One Acoustic experiments ). (Which, if you have a wood-burning stove or a fireplace, isn't a total loss! )

Anyway, a great idea worth pursuing.

Thanks for the input!

Well... My thought of an acoustic guitar tremolo system was to satisfy my desire for one installed on a beautifully resonating acoustic instrument and hopefully others share my curiosity. I play I guess you'd call "Modern Fingerstyle" in different tunings and and am intrigued with another "Tone Tool" to incorporate. The Bigsby B5 installation on my Regal Resonator mentioned in another thread was a no brainer but extremely fun to install and play.
Your suggestions are well thought out and appreciated. I have been down those paths and they pose very real challenges. I am honestly not trying to be secretive but I have spent years toying and tinkering with the concept and I want to explore the possibility of either a patentable design or certain aspects of the mounting system or the modifications in the tremolo as patentable.

I'm a little puzzled as to how to predict long term structural effects on the instrument but I realize without detailing the process, that would be difficult. Any arm chair engineers or otherwise that have suggestions is always appreciated. I didn't just roll off the turnip truck, started my first guitar shop in 1977 and been intrigued with all aspects before and since.

This thread may be a bit premature so if it makes more sense to fire it back up in a few months with a workable model, that's cool.

Otherwise any ideas, always welcome. Thanks for your time.

Thanks,
Jazz

I'd like to see how this works out. If you'd get something like this to a point where it would be marketable, I would certainly have one installed. In the same way I like having electric guitars with a tremolo, I would be very interested in having an acoustic with a tremolo. It would open up a whole new way of playing acoustically. From my perspective, it would be something worth investing into.