LOL - I've had my coffee now, the original post has been corrected, Hipshot has the problem but it's not an issue on Epiphone basses.
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
I'm fairly sure that the Babicz has a flat bottom. They supply a spacer plate for certain years of Gibson. I'm not sure that plate does you any good if you have an Epi with raised studs. I have Babicz bridges on all three of my Gibson 'Birds at this point and have not had any issues with anything getting pulled out. The studs are completely flush. I can see how a bridge with a cutout to fit over raised studs would act like a gear puller if you crank on flush studs.
For what its worth, I like Babicz bridges enough that I put one on the FenderBird when assembling it. The 2013 EB came with one, and that's where I found out about them.
...now to find replacement chrome pups for my Gibby SS 
You are correct, the Babicz bridge is designed correctly for full contact on both the Gibby and Eppi with no issues. The Hipshot will create a potential problem on the Gibby but not on the Eppi. I already corrected my original caffeine deprived post and noted the correction on that post. For some reason I'm not getting access to the edit button for the post you quoted. Once that button becomes available again I'll correct it also.
Bottom line - Hipshot great on Eppi, questionable on Gibby; Babicz great on Gibby questionable on Eppi.
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I believe that the edit button is only available on a post for a certain amount of time .... giving the poster time to fix any typos, etc. but not allowing them to RetCon their post after said time. A staffer member could easily confirm ...
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
... so long as you have a way to deal with the raised studs on an Epi. If you don't want to grind down the studs, replace the studs, or otherwise alter an Epi, then a Babicz isn't as good an idea. Unless that spacer plate works for that purpose, but as I recall, it was for use on Gibsons that were built in the late zeros or early teens. Those had a slightly different neck angle and needed the bridge to be higher. Maybe. I don't own one and cannot confirm.
Sounds right.I believe that the edit button is only available on a post for a certain amount of time .... giving the poster time to fix any typos, etc. but not allowing them to RetCon their post after said time. A staffer member could easily confirm ...
BTW - will you be installing the Babicz on a Gibson bird?
Yes, my shortscale bird is in desperate need of a Chrome facelift
Just checked the spacer plate on my Babicz bridge and in fact the hole is not oversized to allow clearance for the Eppi stud shoulder. So I have edited my most recent post to reflect - Hipshot looks to be the better choice for Eppi and Babicz looks to be the better choice for Gibby assuming you want a drop in replacement with no stud issues.
- Jun 30, 2010
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I believe that the edit button is only available on a post for a certain amount of time .... giving the poster time to fix any typos, etc. but not allowing them to RetCon their post after said time. A staffer member could easily confirm ...
If you are sending a personal message, yes - you can only edit a post within a short period of time. On standard thread posts, edits can be made for much longer - but how long I don't know.
Should look great! The Bab bridge has tons of adjustment capability, which means you can fine tune every parameter on each string, which also means it can take a bit longer to get it set up the way you want it.Yes, my shortscale bird is in desperate need of a Chrome facelift
Excellent! I just ordered an Epison for my Cabbage and a Gibiphone for my Badger!
The Hipshot install on my 2013 Gibson has been rock solid since I put it on in 2013. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Besides the two-piece bridge, I think the Sandberg would look fantastic on the Thunderbird. Too bad the holes wouldn't line up.
Besides the two-piece bridge, I think the Sandberg would look fantastic on the Thunderbird. Too bad the holes wouldn't line up.
Except for string spacing. The Hipshot can do that.
Somebody may have mentioned this, and you may know this...but, this requires routing and not just drilling screw holes. Their is an oblong protrusion towards the PU end under the saddles that has to be accounted for. They are fantastic bridges, but I do like just dropping a string in as opposed to threading it through.I keep thinking about trying a G&L bridge on one of my 'Birds....
Is there anything a Thunderbird can't do?
Fraternal twins run in families (on the maternal line). So not uncommon.
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The watchout with a Hip on a Gib is to be careful when tightening down the two stud bolts.
There is nothing in their bridge design to keep you from pulling the stud inserts loose from the bass and I'm not aware of any torque guidance to guide you on how much you can tighten before the damage is done. In other words, it's a crap shoot and some will win, some will fail. You are apparently a lucky winner!
