I want to fit a tremelo arm unit to a solid body guitar. i do not want to dig holes. is there a tremelo unit that is surface mounted? the guitar is copy of a prs
with two pickups, then a bridge and then the string captivator ( whatever its called)
Thanks,
Annie.
Google seems to suggest that such items aren't widely available but US-based RTO Custom Guitars have taken out a patent and will produce them to order (which, regrettably, suggests that they won't be cheap!):
http://www.rtoguitars...-done-with-style.html
I think that Bigsby is the only whammy bar that you can fit without cutting holes. Pretty much all other whammy bars are modelled after the Strat type which involves a moving block, with adjustable tensioning springs inside the guitar body.
I don't know what model guitar you have , it may be easier to replace the bridge unit with one that has a tremolo arm capability rather than fit a Bigsby to the body , but in any case I would take it to your local music instrument shop and see what they say - this is probably better done by the professionals than a layman/laywoman .
"it may be easier to replace the bridge unit with one that has a tremolo arm capability"
Your then back to the problem of finding a bridge unit that doesn't require cutting a hole in the guitar.
In fact, as the OP's guitar is only a copy, the cheapest and simplest option is probably to trade it in for a copy that already has a a tremolo arm. eg, a Squire Strat