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Babicz Full Contact Hardware Bridge review

#42
tekdiver500ft said:
It's possible that you have the bridge too far forward. You can also cut down the springs and use shorter screws to get the saddles farther back.
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Doesn't it just mount in the standard Fender holes. It IS on a shortscale Squier though...would that make a difference?
 
#43
They theoretically mount in the standard holes, but there are variances. If you don't want to drill your bass, try the shorter screws (you can buy shorter springs, too, so you don't have to cut the existing ones). If that helps, but doesn't fix it, then you need to move the bridge back. Remember to measure twice, cut once.
 
#44
tekdiver500ft said:
They theoretically mount in the standard holes, but there are variances. If you don't want to drill your bass, try the shorter screws (you can buy shorter springs, too, so you don't have to cut the existing ones). If that helps, but doesn't fix it, then you need to move the bridge back. Remember to measure twice, cut once.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I have a buddy who's a great tech, ill take it to him and get his opinion.
 
#45
Remember that there is a relationship between saddle height and where the saddle has to sit for intonation though I do not remember which way is which.

You could probably fix the issue by flat shimming either the neck or the bridge (again, not sure which way) and then raise or lower the saddles accordingly.

You can use a business card in the neck pocket. For the bridge, conductive material like folded up aluminum foil will make it easier to maintain your ground.

That may enable you to intonate without drilling.
 
#51
tekdiver500ft said:
Sort of. It makes a difference, but not one that a human can hear in a mix, and you'd have trouble hearing it soloed. Ask anyone who has a degree in physics and a Babicz on a Jazz.
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Well, I have both an engineering degree and a Babicz on a Fender Jazz. I can hear a significant difference in how my instrument sounds, both with, and without a Babicz. I've been playing stringed instruments for over almost 40 years and bass primarily for about 25, I'm pretty attuned to my sounds, I can definitely tell a difference between the stock bridge and a Babicz, and what they do for my Jazz.

To say that a there is a change in tone is not entirely accurate, but you do hear a difference in qualities such as ring out, decay, the beauty of the instrument, and a note resonance which lasts much longer than with the cheap piece of stamped metal which passes for a stock bridge. If they made one in brass, I'd strongly recommend that considering that. I'd go so far as to recommend a brass nut if one were so inclined, talk about an infinite decay.

I believe the x factor here is the saddle mechanism, so regardless of mass density and metal composition, you have a better seating of the string to the body, as, you're not beholden to the cheap, thin allen screws to determine the ride height and seating of the actual saddle to the stamped metal. This saddle provides a fatter/wider physical footprint for the string to seat against, which provides a much better conduit for the string to the wood.

The bigger the seat, the fatter the sound.
 
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#54
Gotta show off my twins...

IMG_5391.gif


IMG_5389.gif
 
#55
ez-rhino said:
Well, to say that a there is a change in tone is not entirely accurate, but you do hear a difference in qualities such as ring out, decay, the beauty of the instrument, and a note resonance which lasts much longer than with the cheap piece of stamped metal which passes for a stock bridge.
Click to expand...

^^^this^^^
 
#57
So far, it's been as advertised.

It's a solid bridge, but light.

Not much difference in tone and presentation, other than what seems to be a subtle increase in sustain and each note does seem to have a wee-bit more roundness or fullness to it, yet a wee-bit more defined note. Not brighter, just a tad more defined.

Although it's difficult to know for sure, because I don't have the ability to do a side-by-side comparison with the same bass, with the stock bridge. And it could also be other factors in the amp/cab/tubes. Again, it's subtle.

The saddles do seem to be more stable.

I'm not a heavy-handed player, for the most part. Relatively speaking I have a soft touch and I add a litle more oompf when I feel the need to accentuate certain notes, in specific parts of the arrangement.

But there's a song I love and love to play, that for some odd reason I play heavier on and with the stock brdige I would get some wier clank; as gthe string would jump around in the saddle.

I don't really know why I tend to go heavier on this song. maybe it's becaus I really love the song and I really get into it and get caught up in it. But I have been working on ligthening up my touch, when I play it.

With this bridge, I haven't gotten any of that. It's possible that my conscience effort to ligthen up on it, has started to take hold. Or it could be a combination of both factors.

It is a very cool looking bridge and it is solid/stable. I'll learn more as I go along with it and live/play with it on my bass. So far, I'm a happy camper!
 
#59
I have a MIM jazz, and i'm just about ready to pull the trigger on a Babicz, because i love the locking tweakability (i may have just invented that phrase) of it, i like the look, and reviews sound impressive. Plus it's a direct replacement. But i'm open to other options...some swear by Gotoh, some swear by Hipshot, and some would take a bullet for their BAII.

One issue i haven't heard much about the Babicz is whether it allows for nice low action. I've read that both Gotoh and BAII are thicker and/or have thicker saddles, so that's making me lean a bit away from them. I'd like to get my action reasonably low.

There is a Babicz in stock at GC for $90, and no coupons/deals i'm currently aware of. So if i'm gonna drop that, i want to be as sure as i can.

Thanks!
 

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