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Babicz Full Contact Hardware Bridge review

#81
SeayBass said:
I got this today. Paid $85. Thought I'd share with colleagues and community. On a whim I bought a bridge I'm not familiar with. For that kind of money, there are many bridges available. I just flipped a coin.

I just put this on a 30 year old Fender Precision. No drilling required- that's the main reason I tried this out. It replaced the original bridge, which was getting chewed up under the saddles. 5 screws out, 5 screws in, and it's done. I then set up the bass and played it to check out the difference.
It has mounting screw holes for different makes, and comes with 6 screws total. See the manual to find out how to install it into your bass.

critique:
I expected it to be heavier. This is definitely NOT heavy brass. It's only a bit heavier than the bridge it replaced- in spite of its thickness. Remarking on the lightness, I expected minimal change in tone and was prepared to return it immediately. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the sound of the bridge. I did not notice more highs, but a fuller sound with much better Low Frequency projection.
The saddles seem like they might be too sharp, and cause the windings (and then the string) to break early. I won't know until I have used it for a while.
Setting the string height is very very easy, as it requires adjustment of only one screw, rather than two. I applaud that design.
Intonation setting is the same as other bridges.
The other interesting feature this bridge offers is the locking screws that secure the string length/intonation of the bridge and the screws that lock the string height feature. I have never had a saddle change height on me, but this will ensure that it never does happen. I have had saddles move side to side and affect the intonation along the fingerboard. I think these screws also help increase sonic transference, which is why this bridge sounds like a heavier brass bridge like Hipshot or Schaller.

conclusion:
all in all this is a great way to upgrade your fender bridge. This is without question an improvement over the stock bridge. It makes a fuller sound, with a LOT more low frequency resonance. I did not notice an improvement in the high frequencies. I have OLD flatwounds on the bass, so I can't really comment on sizzle or sustain, but I am confident, given the remarkable change in overall volume and big-ness of tone, that this bridge offers improved sustain over the stock Fender stuff.

In my opinion, its high price is based on the design and features rather than high-end material. It's made in china and is not heavy gauge anything. I find it pricey based on the feel of the thing in my hand. And a previous reviewer had a screw break during install. But it works fine for me on Day 1.

I see 2 potential flaws:
1. The screws that secure the intonation of each string are very losable.
2. I worry about that and the perceived sharpness of the saddles.
Click to expand...

Do you think that the increase in low end/change in sound you get may possibly be due to a different material used?
Material does have an impact.
 
#83
@ tekdiver..

The only difference you'll hear is under one of two conditions:
a) unplugged
b) in your imagination.

Sorry, but that's the truth. Bridges make little to no sonic difference in the sound.

***** Wow, let's edit this for accuracy:
Unfortunately the only difference MY ears can detect is.....but I'm going to confuse this thread with a whole bunch of I'm an expert type posts declaring one of the most fundamental aspects of an instruments tone, sustain & intonation as essentially irrelevant..... :help:

I'm not even going to get into the ridiculousness of declaring the acoustic properties of an instrument as not affecting the amplified characteristics......that's covered in solid body instruments 101, common sense sense section b. I believe..

To everyone else - cheers for the info, I've ordered one of these to go on a CIJ 90's non-export P-Bass I just purchased I'll also be fitting a set of EMG X but I'll do the bridge first & make some observations.

The design on paper looks really good & I've now also gotten in touch with them re purchasing one of their acoustics which also seem pretty damn amazing.

Just changing the stock Gibson nut, bridge & tailpiece on an 80's LP Special for GraphTech & TonePros parts recently made an incredible difference to that guitar, so much so that those same changes were immediately made to all of our LP's.

I expect the same sort of improvement will apply using the Babicz, experience tells me I won't be disappointed.
 
#84
tekdiver500ft said:
The only difference you'll hear is under one of two conditions:
a) unplugged
b) in your imagination.

Sorry, but that's the truth. Bridges make little to no sonic difference in the sound.
Click to expand...
How informative - it'll sound different when it's unplugged, but the variation won't be detectable once it's plugged in, and if differences in mass and stability don't matter, then a solid rosewood body will sound the same as balsa. :hmm:
 
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#85
hiya people,

just a question for you's - Is the Babicz only compatible with Fender basses? Ive noticed everyone who has put one of these on their bass has a Fender or a Squier. I am interested in switching the bridge out on my Yamaha TRB and was wondering if this bridge would be compatible ?(with a bit of drilling i can imagine?)

thanks
 
#89
Smit_Dogg said:
hiya people,

just a question for you's - Is the Babicz only compatible with Fender basses? Ive noticed everyone who has put one of these on their bass has a Fender or a Squier. I am interested in switching the bridge out on my Yamaha TRB and was wondering if this bridge would be compatible ?(with a bit of drilling i can imagine?)

thanks
Click to expand...

They just announced a single rail system. Buy them for 4,5, or 6 strings and you can put them on any bass with any string spacing.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10151085095858183&set=a.343499078182.151399.8249808182&type=1&theater
 
#90
Tbers,

It seems the Babicz FCH is comparable to the locking saddle design on the G&L basses. Many TBers have written how the sustain out of the locking design on the G&Ls makes a real difference. It cannot be all that bad when a bridge is truly FCH ready. Full contact should make a difference, especially the way in which this bridge is designed!

My $.02 only! Peace.
 
#93
RBrownBass said:
I'm very interested in this bridge. Which of the above comments is the truth?
Click to expand...

I had a Leo Quan Badass Bass II bridge on my Schecter 1982 custom P bass for 25 years. Due to bad choice of luthiers, had to replace the Badass. (He destroyed it) . I was always happy with the Badass (and they are a heavy mother). I replaced it with the Babicz FCH. I was apprehensive about it when it arrived (mine was made in Korea and also very light). I installed it and set it up and was pleasantly surprised at the amount of sustain. A little bit less bottom end than the L.Q, but overall very good
 

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#94
toughluxury2010 said:
I had a Leo Quan Badass Bass II bridge on my Schecter 1982 custom P bass for 25 years. Due to bad choice of luthiers, had to replace the Badass. (He destroyed it) . I was always happy with the Badass (and they are a heavy mother). I replaced it with the Babicz FCH. I was apprehensive about it when it arrived (mine was made in Korea and also very light). I installed it and set it up and was pleasantly surprised at the amount of sustain. A little bit less bottom end than the L.Q, but overall very good
Click to expand...

That's a hot looking bass. So you traded a little bass heft for more sustain and clarity?
 
#97
If you don't mind my cross-over from the Mikro Bass Club... I have been experimenting with bringing an inexpensive bass ($169) into a better class of instruments. Along with filing the nut, adjusting the neck, etc., I installed EMGs PJX pickups and preamp and then later the Babicz Bridge. Imagination or not, what I experienced with the Babicz bridge was an immediately stronger and more stable note that lasted longer. No doubt, the same results can probably result from another good solid bridge instead of the junk that we get on, say, a Mikro. But as for the Babicz... Me likey!
 
#98
After reading this thread and few others I have decided to also replace the bridge on my Sadowsky Modern 24-5 with the Babicz. I have already replaced the bridges with Babicz on my Status S-2 plus my Fender MIJ 70's P-bass and it made a difference IMHO. It's hard to explain but I'm a slapper and the feel and tone just seemed better overall. Caveat: it's all in my head I'm sure....but if it makes me think I have a better instrument then it's worth it for me.
 
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#100
Yep. I've lost screws and spacers. A problem: without the spacers the screws dug into the finish. Problem.
basslust said:
Figured I would quote this here since I received a used P bass today with one of these bridges and it is missing one of these screws. Now I guess I'll be tracking down a replacement... Hopefully not too hard to find.
Click to expand...
 
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