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Fender '70s Precision Bass

SICK MAN!!! Classy upgrades!

So, is the Babicz bridge the latest hot upgrade??

I've seen several here on TB lately and had never heard about them before.

Thanks!

Honestly, I started looking around for a black finish bridge, because I wanted to do the whole color scheme thing. But I wanted an equal quality bridge (to the stock bridge) or something better.

I'm not too convinced of High/Heavy Mass bridges.

I wanted something that wouldn't require any drilling into the body of this bass. So I looked at the usual suspects (Hipshot, Schaller, Gotoh, Fender...etc).

But then I came across this bridge and found it interesting. I spoke to Jeff at Babicz and he was very helpful in informing me of this bridge.

So I figured I'd give it a shot. 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.

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.

I respect chadds opinion and if he perceives it as a "POS", well, he has the right to his opinion. He doesn't have to like anything. It's all good.

Although, it would be comical if chadds feels the need to express that opinon, if in fact he has a complete lack of personal experience with this bridge. That I would find comical.
 
It's disrespectful and troll-ish to make rude comments about a piece of gear that obviously someone else takes pride in.... unfortunately, it's all too common on TB.

Anyways, I like bigger (not necessarily heavier if aluminum is used) bridges in comparison to stock Fender bridges. Especially if the saddles are seated in the base so there's no side to side sliding. Can you tell me if a P bass bridge cover would fit over the Babicz? You'd probably have to have one laying around.... but it's worth asking cause I love covers!
 
It's disrespectful and troll-ish to make rude comments about a piece of gear that obviously someone else takes pride in.... unfortunately, it's all too common on TB.

Anyways, I like bigger (not necessarily heavier if aluminum is used) bridges in comparison to stock Fender bridges. Especially if the saddles are seated in the base so there's no side to side sliding. Can you tell me if a P bass bridge cover would fit over the Babicz? You'd probably have to have one laying around.... but it's worth asking cause I love covers!

I honestly don't know. I don't have any covers. Not into them.

But call Babicz and ask them.....toll free: 877-856-0780

....and here's the specs page.....

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I imagine that by now, they've had that question posed and most likely someone has had to try installing a cover over this bridge.
 
JEDI BASS said:
No no no :-) you gave some valuable input and observations. The inflammatory remark about it being a piece of crap, was what I sensed could've started a heated debate.

I took it to mean the stock bridge on the '57 was the POS, and that it rocks anyway despite its simplicity versus new designs like this one. And I agree!
 
BillMason said:
I took it to mean the stock bridge on the '57 was the POS, and that it rocks anyway despite its simplicity versus new designs like this one. And I agree!

If that's what he meant, then I won't argue that, even though I'd still never want a '57 (except as a potential investment for future payoff) since I've never played anything older than a '62 jazz and it stayed home while it's owner gigged MTDs and a US Lakland JO5. I've never seen an old Fender that played as well as a newer (cheaper in terms of resell value) high-end instrument from Sadowsky, Lakland, or Nordstrand for instance.... the necks and frets on the old Fenders always seem to need "help" but the owners won't touch their investment, lol. I'm into giggable easy playing instruments. I don't care what they cost or what they're worth... they need to be easy on the hands. I'll be gigging my CIJ Fenders (even Squiers if I still had a nice one) alongside my one of a kind US Lakland, Pedulla.... WTefF-ever... I don't care! It's not like the audience even knows anyways! Maybe 1% will even notice what I'm playing, so I play what I want and what feels good to me.

So.... I gotta get me one of these 70's Ps and mod the heck out of it ;-) if I want.
 
JEDI BASS said:
I'm shopping for one of these.....

Where's the best deal guys? Sales tax in TN is right at 10% so I'm gonna wanna buy from outta state if possible to save some $$.

Seriously..... where's the best prices? All the eBay auctions don't mention the gigbag which my local store says SHOULD come w/ it. So, do they come w/ a bag?
 
I've been shopping for pickguards. Why do all the ones I've seen say "fit US and MIM"? Which ones will fit these CIJ Ps?

I bought a 4-ply tort pg for my sunburst '70s p. It was a Fender brand replacement part. All of the screw holes lined up except for one and so I had to make one new hole. Also I had to file the PG around the pickup hole to get it too fit. I think this was due to the fact that the 4-ply pg is very thick and the material probably shrank a bit.
ymmv.
 
Thanks pack. Post a pic! I'd like to see what tort looks like next to that fretboard.

My white 70s P will be delivered in about 12 hrs or less..... and less than 72 hrs from the time I ordered it. I didn't realize it would ship from within my own state. :-)

My makeover items will take a little longer to get here.