Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

What do you guys think of the Babicz 3 point bridge ? is it "better" than a regular 3 point bridge ?
I think that it looks far better than the Hipshot.

The stock three point is a perfectly functional bridge, that said, the Babicz is an exceptionally well engineered bridge and a clear (although not necessary) improvement over the three point. If you don't like the three point the Bab is the best choice out there (unless you want to go with a two piece bridge, in which case Carlo and God of Thunder have your solution).

 

[kat888]

Move to Victoria. It's on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Water to the east, land to the west. More or less. You didn't specify how wide the water had to be.

Neither did I specify how wide the land had to be.

I really like Victoria and spent a happy few days there before my one and only incursion into the CONUS.

 

[kat888]

Does anyone have experience with a Bird and a Tech21 VT type sansamp device? The VT Bass DI is a capable DI but the emulation tends towars mushy -- so far.

Started out with eq flat, drive @ noon and 'character' @ 9 oclock (ie 'SVT') with speaker sim on and bite (scoop) off. It didn't sound great.

Ended up with something half decent with bass and treble @ 1.30, mid @ 10.30, char @ noon (B15), drive backed off to 10.30 and bite and speaker sim both on, but it still sounds shut in and a bit flat and mushy.

Plugged into the amp, the bass sounds huge, bouncy, dynamic and in yer face.

[update] The VT is going into the computer/headphones, not through the amp at all.

 

[JJR58]

Oh man, you can't trade your first Bird! Easy enough to replace with an alternative all metal 3-point...

Not going to trade Kat, can't put it down, I truly love it. I'm just being nit picky. But I do think I'm going to get the neck through, then when the Vintage Pro comes, I'm all set. And after my little tweaks, it really is to my liking.

 

[JJR58]

Dude for real?, I honestly didnt think a plastic bridge would pass the conceptual stage. First Ive heard of this.

I'm a novice here, take what I say with a grain of salt, you all know these basses much better then me.

 

[JJR58]

None taken

I'm in the same boat with my bridge. I'll change it when the opportunity presents itself... but I'm not too pressed about it. I want to swap out the bridge, and I need to swap out the tuning machines, but I'm happy enough with the pickups. I'm still going back & forth between keeping it black or going chrome. Of course the chrome is cooler, but I have a hard time investing that much more money into such an inexpensive piece. Maybe I'll wait until I find out what my next bass will be before I try to figure it out.

The tuners are just a bit whonky though.

 

[kat888]

Not going to trade Kat, can't put it down, I truly love it. I'm just being nit picky. But I do think I'm going to get the neck through, then when the Vintage Pro comes, I'm all set. And after my little tweaks, it really is to my liking.

Three is a good number. One for every day, one spare and one for Shabbos.

 

[JJR58]

Does anyone have experience with a Bird and a Tech21 VT type sansamp device? The VT Bass DI is a capable DI but the emulation tends towars mushy -- so far.

Started out with eq flat, drive @ noon and 'character' @ 9 oclock (ie 'SVT') with speaker sim on and bite (scoop) off. It didn't sound great.

Ended up with something half decent with bass and treble @ 1.30, mid @ 10.30, char @ noon (B15), drive backed off to 10.30 and bite and speaker sim both on, but it still sounds shut in and a bit flat and mushy.

Plugged into the amp, the bas sounds huge, bouncy, dynamic and in yer face.

That VT gets good reviews, but to much mid cut in my opinion.

Does anyone have experience with a Bird and a Tech21 VT type sansamp device? The VT Bass DI is a capable DI but the emulation tends towars mushy -- so far.

Started out with eq flat, drive @ noon and 'character' @ 9 oclock (ie 'SVT') with speaker sim on and bite (scoop) off. It didn't sound great.

Ended up with something half decent with bass and treble @ 1.30, mid @ 10.30, char @ noon (B15), drive backed off to 10.30 and bite and speaker sim both on, but it still sounds shut in and a bit flat and mushy.

Plugged into the amp, the bas sounds huge, bouncy, dynamic and in yer face.

Personally I'm a big fan of the RPM, or the pedal version.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Three is a good number. One for every day, one spare and one for Shabbos.

Good start, then from there n+1

 

[RedVee]

None taken

I'm in the same boat with my bridge. I'll change it when the opportunity presents itself... but I'm not too pressed about it. I want to swap out the bridge, and I need to swap out the tuning machines, but I'm happy enough with the pickups. I'm still going back & forth between keeping it black or going chrome. Of course the chrome is cooler, but I have a hard time investing that much more money into such an inexpensive piece. Maybe I'll wait until I find out what my next bass will be before I try to figure it out.

Next as in additional? N+1

I'm keeping my Goth Bird, I'm not really up to modding until I have another in the style of the various neckthru, setneck, custom bolt on style.

 

[JJR58]

Next as in additional? N+1

I'm keeping my Goth Bird, I'm not really up to modding until I have another in the style of the various neckthru, setneck, custom bolt on style.

My feelings on this first Bird, no need to mod. It's just fine as is.

 

[kat888]

That VT gets good reviews, but to much mid cut in my opinion. Personally I'm a big fan of the RPM, or the pedal version.

Yeah, don't really like cutting mids at all. I can see the VT pedal would sound fab with a gankier bass. I actually looked at a couple of Tonehammer demos last night [gasp!]. I need better headphones than the iPhone earbuds I've been using (and more time) before I decide anything though.

 

[ThunderbirdMax]

Thank you for all your replies about the Babicz bridge !!

I'm looking forward to modify my Tbird (chrome parts and all) but I'm still hesitating ... I'm affraid to regret it after it's done.
The luthier I've met to talk about my project told me to replace my bridge for a Hipshot but I don't like the way it look. I need some time to choose between Babicz or a Standard 3 point bass bridge ...

 

[RedVee]

My feelings on this first Bird, no need to mod. It's just fine as is.

Agree. I haven't got the action as low as you, but it is better than before and I'm happy. I don't have anything with real low action anyway.

I was pleasantly surprised (eg love) by the Goth when I got it, especially considering the negative rubbish you hear, esp about the cheaper, bolt on, versions.

 

[theFixer]

I'm a novice here, take what I say with a grain of salt, you all know these basses much better then me.

"... better than I"... now sit up straight and eat your vegetables!

 

[BklynKen]

Yeah, don't really like cutting mids at all. I can see the VT pedal would sound fab with a gankier bass. I actually looked at a couple of Tonehammer demos last night [gasp!]. I need better headphones than the iPhone earbuds I've been using (and more time) before I decide anything though.

Darkglass Alpha-Omega. LOVE it with the Thunderbird.

 

[MCF]

What do you guys think of the Babicz 3 point bridge ? is it "better" than a regular 3 point bridge ?
I think that it looks far better than the Hipshot.

I'm a huge fan of it. It came stock on my '15 which is my favorite bass. Allows for fine tuning of string height. I don't really mind the standard three point, but it took a while to get it adjusted correctly on my Goth. Im looking forward to reviews of the new bridge on the Vintage Pro.

 

[Gaolee]

Oh man, you can't trade your first Bird! Easy enough to replace with an alternative all metal 3-point...

Truth.

I gave my first 'Bird to my son. That left a hole that wasn't filled until I had another bolt-on Epi 'Bird. I have others now, but those have their unique charm.

 

[Gaolee]

Three is a good number. One for every day, one spare and one for Shabbos.

Um, that would be nine, wouldn't it?

 

[Gaolee]

Yeah, don't really like cutting mids at all. I can see the VT pedal would sound fab with a gankier bass. I actually looked at a couple of Tonehammer demos last night [gasp!]. I need better headphones than the iPhone earbuds I've been using (and more time) before I decide anything though.

I use a Tonehammer, mostly because it works very well with the upright and translating between a piezo pickup and an amp that gets all boxy and honky sounding if there's no pre to match impedance. But, I also use it with the 'Bird when the 'Bird needs a bit of tweaking to cut through in its upper register. Odd to think that there would ever be a situation where a 'Bird wouldn't take a machete to the mix, but there you have it.