I couldn't tell as much difference on the neck p/u as much as the middle p/u which is considerably more noticeable to my geezerly ears. Having played bass since 1969, I really dislike Gibson/Epiphone 3 point bridge design and has kept me from buying one over the years before alternatives were available. The Babicz really makes a difference. I am thinking about tryiing the Babicz "cam" style bridge on one of my Fender J basses. Thanks Jonathan!
Thanks for watching! I have been hesitant to try Babicz bridges on my Fenders, mostly because of how they look (I know,.... superficial!). I much prefer the 'vintage threaded saddle'-type bridges on Fenders. But it's a subtle difference, at best. Yeah! With the middle pickup, the Babicz was bigger and louder! No level matching in this video! I'm split whether this is actually 'better' though.....sounds less like a Gibson bass to me. Still a good sound, though.
Great video, Jon! The replacement bridge definitely made the tone “speak“more as you pointed out a more varied mid range, and there’s no question about the advantages to more precise intonation
Thanks for watching! Yes, bridges make a difference, sometimes not for the better! I went into this one unsure because I knew the Babicz was not going to sit flush with the curved top - so it would still be semi-suspended by the same 3 points. Presumably the difference in materials and by the end windings not sitting on the saddles made up the audible difference.
I suggest that you go back and try to use the shim instead of the washers. You may be surprised that it fits perfectly and makes "contact" with the top of that slight curve on the top of your bass. I put one on my Jack Casady bass using the shim plate. Perfect and easy fit. Now the action on my JC is incredible. If it fits with the shim you will definitely hear the difference. That was my experience. Great review. Great sound and camera work!
@@jonathanwong458music Yes, there was a slight change in tone. I would describe it as more compressed. The bass does have more sustain (very subjective!! They never really do 😊) and is more focused in the lower range and on low E string. I think this pays off if the E is tuned to a Drop-D. Try that plate sometime when you change strings. You are doing very well with this channel. The live drums are the special sauce!
Hi Jonathan. If you wanted to keep the tonality that you had with the stock bridge, you might try adjusting the pickup height and/or trying a different string type and gauge. Just a thought. Excellent review and demo, as always.
Absolutely! Great thoughts. I mentioned towards the end that I would indeed change the setup. But for a fair comparison, I made the setup the same for both bridges. Next video will be flatwounds on this Rumblekat! Thanks for watching!
As mentioned, the stock bridge's attack (especially on the E string) is smoother than the Babicz. The player does not attack the strings hard and the sound demo of the Babicz almost distort when hitting that low note on the E string.
So, since you have to use washers, the full-contact bridge is actually a multi-point bridge. Same as you started out with. The bridge should have been made to conform to the curves on the top of the bass.I kinda like the sound of the original a bit more, but I'm not there in 3-D....
Thanks for watching! You are 100% correct, it's not a 'full contact' bridge on this bass. It would be on an SG or a thunderbird or anything with a flat top. The Rumblekat has a curved top side to side and back to front and I don't think there are other production Epiphones with the same angles. Likely not cost effective for a bridge company to machine something custom for a curved top bass. Tonally, I'm split. But I do like that the string end windings no longer sit on top of the saddles! Thanks for commenting!
@@jonathanwong458music Thanks for the reply. I think a more malleable metal that would eventually conform to the top, due to the downward pressure of the strings, is possible. But, you are correct. It would probably be cost-prohibitive and the ratio to flat-tops to curved would not make it worthwhile... Good video...
Yeah!! I agree. The middle pickup on the Rumblekat is where this bass shines the most. It has a great punchy midrange! The neck pickup is ok, but lacks some note definition. In my initial review video, both pickups together was muddy and ill-defined. Thanks for watching!
Hands down, that Babicz kicks the three point bridge's ass. Thanks for posting!
Thanks for watching!
Hi Jonathan....always something to be learned!!! 👍🇨🇱🇨🇦
Thanks so much for watching!
I couldn't tell as much difference on the neck p/u as much as the middle p/u which is considerably more noticeable to my geezerly ears. Having played bass since 1969, I really dislike Gibson/Epiphone 3 point bridge design and has kept me from buying one over the years before alternatives were available. The Babicz really makes a difference. I am thinking about tryiing the Babicz "cam" style bridge on one of my Fender J basses. Thanks Jonathan!
Thanks for watching! I have been hesitant to try Babicz bridges on my Fenders, mostly because of how they look (I know,.... superficial!). I much prefer the 'vintage threaded saddle'-type bridges on Fenders. But it's a subtle difference, at best.
Yeah! With the middle pickup, the Babicz was bigger and louder! No level matching in this video! I'm split whether this is actually 'better' though.....sounds less like a Gibson bass to me. Still a good sound, though.
Very thorough, as always!
Thanks for watching and for the encouragement!
Great video, Jon! The replacement bridge definitely made the tone “speak“more as you pointed out a more varied mid range, and there’s no question about the advantages to more precise intonation
Thanks so much for watching! Yes, intonation is so important.
To my ears . . . huge change, well described by you. That being said, in general I believe bridges make a tonal difference. Thanks for doing this.
Thanks for watching! Yes, bridges make a difference, sometimes not for the better! I went into this one unsure because I knew the Babicz was not going to sit flush with the curved top - so it would still be semi-suspended by the same 3 points. Presumably the difference in materials and by the end windings not sitting on the saddles made up the audible difference.
I suggest that you go back and try to use the shim instead of the washers. You may be surprised that it fits perfectly and makes "contact" with the top of that slight curve on the top of your bass. I put one on my Jack Casady bass using the shim plate. Perfect and easy fit. Now the action on my JC is incredible. If it fits with the shim you will definitely hear the difference. That was my experience. Great review. Great sound and camera work!
Right on! Setup was a breeze with the Babicz. Did it change the tone on your Cassidy? Thanks for watching!
That’s an interesting suggestion! Thanks!
@@jonathanwong458music Yes, there was a slight change in tone. I would describe it as more compressed. The bass does have more sustain (very subjective!! They never really do 😊) and is more focused in the lower range and on low E string. I think this pays off if the E is tuned to a Drop-D. Try that plate sometime when you change strings.
You are doing very well with this channel. The live drums are the special sauce!
@@sethbrown8912 thanks so much for the encouragement!
Hi Jonathan. If you wanted to keep the tonality that you had with the stock bridge, you might try adjusting the pickup height and/or trying a different string type and gauge. Just a thought. Excellent review and demo, as always.
Absolutely! Great thoughts. I mentioned towards the end that I would indeed change the setup. But for a fair comparison, I made the setup the same for both bridges. Next video will be flatwounds on this Rumblekat!
Thanks for watching!
@@jonathanwong458music Looking forward to hearing the flats!
I haven't quite yet decided whether to put Thomastiks or GHS flats on. Maybe both!
As mentioned, the stock bridge's attack (especially on the E string) is smoother than the Babicz. The player does not attack the strings hard and the sound demo of the Babicz almost distort when hitting that low note on the E string.
Thanks for watching and for sharing your thoughts!
So, since you have to use washers, the full-contact bridge is actually a multi-point bridge. Same as you started out with. The bridge should have been made to conform to the curves on the top of the bass.I kinda like the sound of the original a bit more, but I'm not there in 3-D....
Thanks for watching!
You are 100% correct, it's not a 'full contact' bridge on this bass. It would be on an SG or a thunderbird or anything with a flat top. The Rumblekat has a curved top side to side and back to front and I don't think there are other production Epiphones with the same angles. Likely not cost effective for a bridge company to machine something custom for a curved top bass.
Tonally, I'm split. But I do like that the string end windings no longer sit on top of the saddles!
Thanks for commenting!
@@jonathanwong458music Thanks for the reply. I think a more malleable metal that would eventually conform to the top, due to the downward pressure of the strings, is possible. But, you are correct. It would probably be cost-prohibitive and the ratio to flat-tops to curved would not make it worthwhile... Good video...
I wonder if aluminum would potentially be a good metal for conforming to a top? A conforming bridge is a really interesting idea.
Stock or Babicz I like the middle PU, don't like the neck PU. Babicz middle PU sounds almost P Bass.
Yeah!! I agree. The middle pickup on the Rumblekat is where this bass shines the most. It has a great punchy midrange! The neck pickup is ok, but lacks some note definition. In my initial review video, both pickups together was muddy and ill-defined.
Thanks for watching!
Not sure it's worth the money as an upgrade. Don't buy Gibsons, (or copies), is my view. Useful video.
The Babicz is expensive, unfortunately. Thanks for watching!
They are expensive but it makes a huge difference on my Jack Cassidy bass. String changes, action, and tone. Worth the $150
@@sethbrown8912 Awesome! Great to hear from a satisfied user!
#34_Cool🫡
Thanks for watching!