B Bender Recommendation?

[mc2]

Thinking about adding a B bender to a Tele. Anyone here know which one works the best and is easy to install? Don't think I want one with a lot of weight or a pile of routing, like the old Parsons-White.

Also...I see Hipshot has a few.

Is it worth it to use one that also let's you bend the G ?

One of the Hipshots also had a Drop D for the low E string.

So....need some recommendations.

[cmatthes]

Are you contemplating doing the installation yourself or having it done elsewhere?

[mc2]

I guess it will depend on which one I decide to go with. Don't mind getting one installed, if it is the one that is easy to work with.

Just checking around....these are some of the various benders out there. There are just so many....damn confusing.

And various name guys known for bending all seem to use different ones.

Hipshot (Will Ray)

Parsons-White/Parsons-Green. (Clarence White)

Higgins Peg Bender

Evans Pull String. (Albert Lee)

Charlie McVay. (Brad Paisley)

Forrest Lee Jr.

Glaser (Ricky Skaggs)

Bill Bores

Rolling Bender

Timara String Bender

[joshuasearls]

I have tried quite a few of them, I am no good with any of them but that's beside the point.

Timara- fealt really odd trying to get used to it and in fact I never did it has been my least favorite.

Parsons-White - Is what everyone thinks of when you hear of a B bender works well but kinda heavy

Hipshot - again is a different technique to get used to but effective.

B&W Benders - same concept as Parsons-White and most of the rest, very affordable will do B and G, they worked really well worth checking out.

[murkat]

B&W

http://www.bnwbenders.com/

I have a client that has been bringing me His B&W tele for a while now. (G and B string)

Just did up a warmoth neck for him for it as well.

The B&W system is very nice.

all hand done, can be a lil rough inside... but the action is great, works very well.

Highly recommend.

[it's me HHB]

I've used the Hipshot Will Ray for the last few years, works great for me, very stable. The actual B string may sound different though but it's being super picky.

[tomteriffic]

Have had a couple of Hipshots and have had no complaints about any of them. You'll probably have to do some fiddling/notching/drilling of the back of the bridge to let the affected string(s) pass through but no great big deal.

The whole system is incredibly flexible with accommodation for bending/dropping just about any string or combination. My most complex one had a"d-dropper" on the low E, a B bender and a "palm pedal" a-la early Bigsgys that allowed dropping or bending the G. Almost never used the G thing, preferring to bend it manually and almost never wanting to drop it, but the other two were very useful. Sturdy, easy to use (and get used to) and minimally invasive. What's not to like?

[Steve Haynie]

RoyB at RS Guitarworks has had Marty Stuart's guitar in his shop. He makes guitars for Marty. Roy might be someone you want to contact for an opinion.