• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird Club

#85,061
I’ve gotta say, I’m really impressed with the Babicz bridge. It’s made really well. Very high quality. The eCam string height adjustment is Niiice. And it does all this without looking out of place on the Bird. The Day Glo bass does seem to have really good sustain and resonance, but I can’t really credit the Babicz for sure.


Christine, if it makes you feel any better, the plastic is still on the pickguard. :)

DB145DD2-F90E-416D-8D49-14E7F2999401.png
 

Attachments

  • CC292A85-CA88-4985-A3EA-10DAACD0070D.png
    CC292A85-CA88-4985-A3EA-10DAACD0070D.png
    3.6 MB · Views: 25
  • Like
Reactions: Gaolee, RedVee, Nocturnal and 11 others
#85,062
hillerup said:
But is it really worth the trouble? What was wrong with the original 3 point bridge in the first place?
Click to expand...

The sustain was bad... Like REALLY bad. I put together a $100.00 Chinese bass kit over the winter and it had WAAAAY more sustain than my $1,000.00 Black Bird. Lame.

And it was actually getting to be a problem. I've been helping someone record his acoustic songs (and playing bass on them) and while the sustain didn't show up as a problem playing my usual rock and roll style it DEFINITELY became apparent in slow, sweet, acoustic songs.

I don't know if that makes sense or not. Tape wound flats and D'addario round wounds, FWIW.

Gaolee said:
I haven't tried a Hipshot, but became a fan of Babicz bridges when I got the EB.
Click to expand...

I had my eye on that one but I kinda have this deal with myself that I'm not going to spend more than $100.00 until I start playing for people again. Which may just be busking downtown. ;P

PillO said:
I am curious - I bought my Hipshots direct from Hipshot. The eBay seller has a lower price than Hipshot. How does this seller offer a better price than the manufacturer? I have my own theories, but I wonder if any here have an actual information.
Click to expand...

I thought that was really weird too and almost didn't buy them in case they weren't an officially licensed product (try to support the originator and all) but in the end I didn't let a little thing like scruples keep me from saving money and finding good tone.

Engle said:
Those are really nice bridges. With the 3 point on your Blackbird, the notes would just die off?
Click to expand...

Yes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nocturnal, PillO, GonePlaid and 3 others
#85,064
Cardinal Fang said:
The sustain was bad... Like REALLY bad. I put together a $100.00 Chinese bass kit over the winter and it had WAAAAY more sustain than my $1,000.00 Black Bird. Lame.

And it was actually getting to be a problem. I've been helping someone record his acoustic songs (and playing bass on them) and while the sustain didn't show up as a problem playing my usual rock and roll style it DEFINITELY became apparent in slow, sweet, acoustic songs.

I don't know if that makes sense or not. Tape wound flats and D'addario round wounds, FWIW..
Click to expand...

I just picked up my Casady (3 point and Labella 760 flats). I used the stopwatch on my phone and timed an open A. The note was easily audible for 10 seconds and that's not plugged into an amp.
Then I grabbed my VP (with the tunematic/claw bridge) and RS66's. It's about the same.
It seems to me like there might be other factors at play with that Blackbird.
That being said, if it now works the way you want for the cost of a $100, nice looking, easily adjustable bridge - it's money well spent :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: RedVee, Nocturnal, PillO and 2 others
#85,065
PillO said:
I am curious - I bought my Hipshots direct from Hipshot. The eBay seller has a lower price than Hipshot. How does this seller offer a better price than the manufacturer? I have my own theories, but I wonder if any here have an actual information.
Click to expand...
theFixer said:
I reckon HipShot is selling at their own MSRP...
Click to expand...

Yes, I think that is correct.

Marihino said:
Having made things for sale both directly and via dealers, I believe it's like this: Hipshot sells stuff to dealers at a wholesale price, which depending on each individual deal could be anything between 30 and 75% of Retail Price. Hipshot obliges not to sell stuff below Retail Price, to not undermine the dealers' business. The dealer however can go cheaper (there may or may not be a limit how low can they go), reducing their own profit on each sale but encouraging more sales.
Click to expand...

I expected the first part, but many (not all) dealer arrangements would require that you not advertise a lower price to not under cut other dealers and as a matter of not diluting brand equity.

GBassNorth said:
I don't have any inside knowledge but I do have first hand experience with some Hipshot tuners I bought a few years ago.

The first set of five tuners were purchased from a bass parts supplier and were marked "licensed by Hipshot". One was defective so I had to send it back to Hipshot for replacement. The replacement was marked "Hipshot". The one that I got directly from Hipshot was priced about $5 higher than the ones I got from the bass supplier.

So I speculate that Hipshot has more than one manufacturer of their tuners (maybe the same for their bridges). The ones licensed by Hipshot are possibly built overseas or at a lower cost or to different specs than the ones you buy directly from Hipshot. There was a noticeable difference in quality. The lower cost ones looked identical but the tolerance in the gears wasn't as good so they felt a bit sloppy in comparison. Again just speculation on my part.
Click to expand...

That was the part I was thinking but had no way to confirm/deny. Much like pickups -> designed by Seymour Duncan v Seymour Duncan.



Regardless, from my point of view, since I have no local Hipshot dealer, I will have to order and wait for delivery. Given that, I prefer to give the full margin to the manufacturer. Anything being sold at less than the price the manufacturer sells at becomes suspect (rightly or wrongly). I wonder if it is a knock-off, licensed by, a less than scrupulous seller, or "fell off the back of a truck". In any of those cases, in the event of a problem, I wonder how well I will be attended.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RedVee, Chucky Stiletti, Larry V and 4 others
#85,066
Engle said:
I just picked up my Casady (3 point and Labella 760 flats). I used the stopwatch on my phone and timed an open A. The note was easily audible for 10 seconds and that's not plugged into an amp.
Then I grabbed my VP (with the tunematic/claw bridge) and RS66's. It's about the same.
It seems to me like there might be other factors at play with that Blackbird.
That being said, if it now works the way you want for the cost of a $100, nice looking, easily adjustable bridge - it's money well spent :D
Click to expand...

Yeah, it really doesn't make any sense, does it? Any idea what to look for as the culprit? I wouldn't mind knowing what the problem was because if it's still present and I've only masked it with the new bridge then:

1. The problem might return.
2. Maybe I can get even MORE sustain after fixing it.

I had it in the shop, tuned up and set up several months before and while the playability improved greatly the sustain was no better. Two experienced technicians looked at it and nobody said anything about cracks or loose joints, tuners, etc, which are the only things I can think of that would cause the problem.

The adjustability is pretty sweet. I've never had string spacing adjustment available to me before.

Next time I pick it up I'll try your test, though of course my results will vary with different strings (and different ears). Thanks for the detailed input.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth, Chucky Stiletti, GonePlaid and 2 others
#85,077
Cardinal Fang said:
Yeah, it really doesn't make any sense, does it? Any idea what to look for as the culprit? I wouldn't mind knowing what the problem was because if it's still present and I've only masked it with the new bridge then:

1. The problem might return.
2. Maybe I can get even MORE sustain after fixing it.

I had it in the shop, tuned up and set up several months before and while the playability improved greatly the sustain was no better. Two experienced technicians looked at it and nobody said anything about cracks or loose joints, tuners, etc, which are the only things I can think of that would cause the problem.

The adjustability is pretty sweet. I've never had string spacing adjustment available to me before.

Next time I pick it up I'll try your test, though of course my results will vary with different strings (and different ears). Thanks for the detailed input.
Click to expand...

Did you need to remove the Opti-Grab from the BlackBird to install the Hipshot? I was thinking about switching out the bridge on my BB but it looks like I need to remove the Opti-Grab.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth, GonePlaid, Chucky Stiletti and 1 other person

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back