April 2026
Bigsby: The Shape That Changed the World
By: Niko de Weymann
May 2, 2026
The Bigsby head shape, “headstock” as we'll call it, crafted in the 1940s—a decade before Leo Fender—is one of the most critical turning points in the evolution of the electric guitar, serving as the primary bridge between traditional design and the industrial era. Its most profound influence was the six-in-a-line tuner configuration, a layout Paul Bigsby pioneered on the custom solid-body guitar he built for Merle Travis in 1948.
This was a radical departure from the traditional three-on-a-side arrangement used by other makers, and it directly inspired Leo Fender’s iconic headstock shapes for the Tele and Strat in the 50s. By aligning the tuners on one side, Bigsby created a "straight string pull" from the nut, which drastically improved tuning stability—a functional necessity for the heavy string bending and vibrato popular in country and Western swing.
Beyond its mechanical utility, the headstock represented a shift in manufacturing philosophy. Drawing from his background as a master machinist for Crocker Motorcycles, Bigsby approached the headstock as a piece of high-performance hardware rather than a decorative scroll. While the design is aesthetically beautiful with its distinctive silhouette, its true importance lies in its role as the "missing link" in guitar history & evolution.
So, where is this missing link of a headstock template exactly? What private institution, company, or individual has this artifact in their collection? Should the original template ever manifest on the collector’s market—can you imagine actually seeing it, or touching it? Considering its rarity, perhaps it’s best we keep our grubby lil paws off. After all, when assigning value to such a unicorn, the sky is the limit; I’d bank on a world-record realization if it ever surfaced.
Can you think of a more significant piece of guitar and rock 'n' roll Americana? There was only one ever made and used by Paul Bigsby, famously featured in the center of Andy Babiuk’s The Story of Paul Bigsby. The most incredible detail is the handwritten notes on the rear discussing the build process and timing. As a collector and purveyor of Americana, I’d argue this original template—if found—would be the most valuable piece of Bigsby and rock 'n' roll history in existence!
Keep updated!
Niko de Weymann is an American musical industry executive, luthier and current Spokesman for the Weymann brand. He can be reached directly, at niko - at - weymanncompany.com
Dying Breed Guitars - America’s foremost vintage dealer, will be showcasing several world-class items this 2026! Follow more, for future updates!
Facebook: “Dying Breed Music” https://www.facebook.com/DyingBreedMusic
Instagram: “dyingbreedguitars” https://www.instagram.com/dyingbreedguitars/
"Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for 'fair use' for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research”.
Watch Your Neck!
By: Niko de Weymann
April 28, 2026
The legend of Paul Bigsby is a high-octane triumph of American grit. Long before his iconic vibrato tailpieces became the industry standard, he was a master machinist and Southern California motorcycle builder & racer. He didn't just fix things- he re-engineered them (the right way). In the 1940s, when factory instruments couldn't keep up with the demands of professional players, musicians turned to Paul for a solution.
Paul’s reputation was upheld by his bold, yet demonstrated, ability to "Make Anything." This engineering wizardry made him a hero among LA’s country and western swing elite. His specialty? Total neck transformations. For players frustrated by sluggish action and poor intonation, Paul didn’t just offer a setup; he offered a revolution in playability.
While the "big name" guitars of the era were stuck with bulky profiles and restricted upper-fret access, Paul Bigsby was hand-carving the future. In his early days, he would strip an instrument, replacing the factory neck with a custom-built masterpiece tailored to the artist. With slim profiles, aggressive headstock profiles, and unique scale lengths, these weren't just repairs—they were high-performance upgrades. Paul Bigsby was the “OG” of electric guitar hot-rodding.
Paul’s innovative designs would spark the evolution of the solid-body electric guitar. The radical designs would eventually catch the eye of Merle Travis, whose custom Bigsby guitar sent shockwaves through the industry—directly inspiring the designs of the world’s biggest manufacturers. And I mean major.
Paul Bigsby didn’t just bridge the gap between traditional lutherie and the modern era; he paved the road. By listening to the needs of the player, he turned the guitar into a precision tool, quietly defining the silhouette and soul of the modern electric industry.
Keep updated!
Niko de Weymann is an American musical industry executive, luthier and current Spokesman for the Weymann brand. He can be reached directly, at niko - at - weymanncompany.com
Dying Breed Guitars - America’s foremost vintage dealer, will be showcasing several world-class items this 2026! Follow more, for future updates!
Facebook: “Dying Breed Music” https://www.facebook.com/DyingBreedMusic
Instagram: “dyingbreedguitars” https://www.instagram.com/dyingbreedguitars/
"Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for 'fair use' for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research”.
The Bigsby Paradox: Beating the Market Since 1949
April 17, 2026
To say that Paul Bigsby’s guitars have outperformed nearly every asset class since the 1940s is an understatement of monumental proportions. The claim, on its surface, sounds precarious—almost nonsensical. But what if it were true?
The “Bigsby Paradox,” as we’ll call it, aims to settle this debate once and for all. Unlike an opinion piece, the intention of this article is to utilize irrefutable facts and statistics. After all, these are the methods deployed by modern-day economists and influencer gurus alike. But for the record, we’ll hold off on the side dish of influencer grift.
Generally speaking, in the world of commodities, supply can often be increased: more minerals mined, more corn grown, and more guitars built. In the world of original Bigsby instruments, however, the supply is frozen in time.
Unlike the familiar top brands who produce thousands of units, Paul Bigsby was a solo craftsman. Born in Elgin, Illinois, in 1899, Bigsby spent his 68 years of life innovating and producing the world’s most unique musical instruments, hardware, and components. It is estimated that fewer than 50 standard electric guitars were ever built, along with a handful of lap-steels and one-offs. Because most surviving instruments are housed in museums or "forever" collections, they seldom appear on the open market.
Needless to say, when one does surface, it is an event of global fervour. It isn’t just the scarcity, the beautiful birdseye maple, or the sound. We must understand first and foremost: Bigsby quite literally drafted the initial blueprint for the tool that would define Rock & Roll and pop culture for decades to come.
Having produced the first “modern” solid-body electric guitar, Bigsby also pioneered the “6-in-line” tuner arrangement. Perhaps you’ve seen an instrument or two with this sleek design? (In walks Leo—but that’s another story.)
Often overlooked, Bigsby also pioneered the through-body stringing method, which afforded players massive tone benefits and increased sustain. But for the final appointment, let's keep the strings on the instruments top.. and you know we're talking that beautiful patented Bigsby Vibrato (Patent No. USD169120S). All of these industry firsts, encompassed in one stunning six-string work of art, would have set you back roughly $550 between 1948 and 1959. Adjusted for inflation, you’d be looking at roughly $7,552 in today’s money.
Now, let’s take a stroll across the street... Wall Street.
Since its birth, the S&P 500 has maintained remarkably consistent average growth, with a nominal annual return of roughly 10.02% to 10.6%. When adjusted for inflation, that estimate hovers between 6% and 7%.
So how is it possible that an original Bigsby instrument can fetch hundreds or even thousands of percent in returns compared to traditional asset classes?
Back in 1949, if you had negotiated with Paul Bigsby, you might have talked his $550 asking price down to $300 for a single-pickup model. Had you invested that $300 into the assets below, here is how that investment would look today:
Asset Class: Precious Metals (Gold) – Approx. Value Today: $20,000 - $30,000
Asset Class: Stocks (S&P 500) – Approx. Value Today: $600,000 - $1,000,000
Asset Class: Bigsby Guitar – Approx. Value Today: $175,000 - $750,000+
While the S&P 500 might compete on a pure percentage basis, that achievement would have required every single dividend to be perfectly reinvested for 80 years straight. Has such a feat ever actually been achieved? Somebody better call Michael Burry.
Conversely, the Bigsby guitar represents a “lump sum” appreciation that required zero maintenance, no fees, and no fiduciary oversight. The only caveat: a well-ventilated closet and a rigid bed frame to ensure the instrument and case doesn't go "squish."
While the majority of our day-to-day commodities (oil, metal, wheat) are tied to industrial utility and inflation, Bigsby guitars are tied to cultural heritage. The value of a Bigsby doesn’t drop because the Fed raises interest rates or because the war machine is pacing at full throttle. Its value is driven by collectors who understand history, art, and music. They understand that by owning a Paul Bigsby artifact, they own one of the primary birth certificates of Rock & Roll.
Keep updated!
Niko de Weymann is an American musical industry executive, engineer, luthier and since 2015, the current Spokesman for the Weymann brand. He can be reached directly, at niko - at - weymanncompany.com
Dying Breed Guitars - one of America’s foremost vintage dealers will be showcasing several world-class items this 2026! Follow more, for future updates!
Facebook: “Dying Breed Music” https://www.facebook.com/DyingBreedMusic
Instagram: “dyingbreedguitars” https://www.instagram.com/dyingbreedguitars/
References:
https://patents.google.com/patent/USD170109S/en?inventor=Paul+A.+Bigsby
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SP500
https://www.macrotrends.net/2324/sp-500-historical-chart-data
https://retrofret.com/search?q=title%3Abigsby&include_sold=true
https://trends.google.com/explore?q=%2Fg%2F11fmst81wp&date=now%201-d&geo=US
https://www.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?term=bigsby&si=2&live_state=5318%7E5319%7E5320%7E5321%7E5324&item_type_instruments=1629&mode=live&pa
ge=48%7E1&ic=KeywordSearch-A-K-071316
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Bigsby
"Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for 'fair use' for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research”.