The Bigsby Merle Travis Solidbody is a Bigsby electric guitar. Close alternatives include the Schecter Dream Machine and the Yamaha Pacifica 1421. It pairs well with the Blackstar St. James 100 and the Peavey Classic 30 II 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo.
Bigsby Merle Travis Solidbody
Bigsby · electric guitar
The Bigsby Merle Travis Solidbody is a groundbreaking single-cut electric guitar built to Merle Travis's specifications to achieve lap steel-like sustain. Constructed from solid curly maple with weight relief chambering, the guitar features Bigsby's early blade pickup and string-through-body design with a walnut fiddle tailpiece. A three-way pickup selector and volume controls provide lead and rhythm tonal options. Conceived in the 1940s-50s, the Merle Travis Bigsby was revolutionary for delivering superior sustain compared to the hollowbody electrics standard at the time, directly addressing Travis's desire for a solidbody with steel guitar-like resonance and note decay.
- sustain
- bright
- responsive
- definition
- modern
- resonance
- brightness
- clarity
Genres the Bigsby Merle Travis Solidbody is commonly used in
- Country
- Rock
- Swing
- Jazz
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Folk
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Bigsby Merle Travis Solidbody
Blackstar St. James 100
Blackstar
23% matchBlackstar St. James 100's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Peavey Classic 30 II 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo
Peavey
22% matchWhere this leans bright, Peavey Classic 30 II 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo answers back warm
Marshall Studio JTM ST20C MkII 20W 1x12 Combo
Marshall
22% matchMarshall Studio JTM ST20C MkII 20W 1x12 Combo's low gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Ampeg V-4
Ampeg
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Ampeg V-4 gives it mid-forward to fill it with
Blackstar Unity Bass U250
Blackstar
tonal matchWhere this leans bright, Blackstar Unity Bass U250 answers back warm
Ampeg V4-B Head
Ampeg
tonal matchWhere this leans bright, Ampeg V4-B Head answers back smooth
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Synergy SL2 Module brings the high gain it's missing
Harmony H650
Harmony
tonal matchRun Harmony H650 into that transparent platform and it finally gets some mid-forward
Pedals that stack with the Bigsby Merle Travis Solidbody
Boss OD-1 Overdrive
Boss
20% matchBoss OD-1 Overdrive leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it
EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas
EarthQuaker Devices
18% matchEarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Beetronics OV-LE-Uva
Beetronics
tonal matchInto Bigsby Merle Travis Solidbody, Beetronics OV-LE-Uva is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Boss OD-3 Overdrive
Boss
tonal matchBigsby Merle Travis Solidbody leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Boss OD-3 Overdrive wants
Crazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker Pre-Amp
Crazy Tube Circuits
tonal matchBigsby Merle Travis Solidbody leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Crazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker Pre-Amp wants
Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz
Behringer
tonal matchBehringer SF300 Super Fuzz's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Bigsby Merle Travis Solidbody delivers it
Catalinbread MontaVillian
Catalinbread
tonal matchCatalinbread MontaVillian's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Bigsby Merle Travis Solidbody delivers it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Carl Martin THE Fuzz
Carl Martin
tonal matchBigsby Merle Travis Solidbody leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Carl Martin THE Fuzz wants
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Schecter Dream Machine
electric guitar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Yamaha Pacifica 1421
electric guitar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson Les Paul Classic 2002
electric guitar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Ibanez S470
Ibanez
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Schecter Blackjack Pt
Schecter
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Erlewine Lazer
Erlewine
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Höfner Club 50
electric guitar
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson "Old Black" 1953 Les Paul
Gibson
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Stratocaster American Standard
electric guitar
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Ibanez THBB10
Ibanez
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson Es 335 Dot
Gibson
93% similaritysimilar tone character
1961/1962 Gibson Les Paul SG Custom
Gibson
93% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Bigsby Merle Travis Solidbody (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Bigsby Merle Travis Solidbody?+
The closest matches in character are the Schecter Dream Machine, the Yamaha Pacifica 1421, the Gibson Les Paul Classic 2002.
What pairs well with the Bigsby Merle Travis Solidbody?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Blackstar St. James 100, Peavey Classic 30 II 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo, Marshall Studio JTM ST20C MkII 20W 1x12 Combo — Blackstar St. James 100's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own.