funkle

Ok, I've had the Babicz on my MIJ Fender 32" Jazz now for a while. I like the bridge a lot. It is really easy to set up and locks everything firmly into place. The engineering is great, height adjustments are much easier than they used to be. I have emailed the manufacturer to state that I think it could use an adaptation to allow for quicker string changes. Looks to me like it would be simple enough to mill slots into the top of the bridge to permit this. I think a piezo option would be nice. I'm not hugely convinced it changes the tone of a bass, although I understand the engineering principles involved might state in theory that it should be otherwise. On the whole, though, I consider that a plus, as my Jazz still sounds like a Jazz. Other people's experiences may vary. I find a preamp or string gauge changes the tone more profoundly than the bridge, at least on this bass. It is my favourite bridge though, and I look forward to seeing if future versions include the modifications suggested.

Just sold Bobby my Yamaha BB1500A. Smooth transaction with good communications. Deal with in confidence! Pete

[quote name='henry norton' post='1364949' date='Sep 7 2011, 09:11 AM']If you're prepared to lose an inch the 31" Birdsong Hy5 string is to all intents and purposes a production bass. Otherwise, have you thought about getting yourself a standard Jazz 5 and getting a custom made, medium-scale neck for it?[/quote] The Birdsongs are great looking basses but defo not for me. A jazz bass works fine. I have thought about getting a standard Jazz 5 and getting a neck done. However, unless the bridge is also moved, then you end up in a situation where the pickups may be sensing in a different area of the string to what normally occurs on a jazz bass, thus altering the classic 'jazz bass tone'. Also, by the time you plow money into a new neck and bought a bass to do that on, you are a good chunk of the way towards a custom bass anyway. Hence my hesitance to look for 'non-production' instruments.

Wow, I leave the house for while and a ton of replies! Thanks Eude for your suggestions. This 'Pubic Peace' company looks really interesting and are 'production' enough that getting a 5 string medium scale wouldn't cost the earth. I'll definitely be looking at them further! Thanks for all the help everybody, I've got loads to investigate now. Pete

[quote name='dc2009' post='1364870' date='Sep 7 2011, 03:06 AM']Fanned frets could be a possibility, especially given how you like to string. Check out some Dingwalls would be the obvious answer, though there are other luthiers out there that may better suit your scale length desires[/quote] Hadn't thought of that. Could I take a 5 string SJ5 and restring it E-C and have it sound good? I'll need to check their literature on that.

[quote name='Bankai' post='1364869' date='Sep 7 2011, 03:02 AM']Dare I say have a look at sadowsky? Might be something suitable in their range.[/quote] Nothing that is 32" scale, I'm sorry to say.

Hi all As time goes on I'm getting more specific in what I want out of an instrument. Nonetheless I have never gone custom as I have always found that if my tastes change, would likely involve too great a loss of ££/value. I therefore have limited myself to buying secondhand instruments or production instruments. It's hard to find what I want even after scouring Talkbass and Basschat/the internet, so I'll ask the fine minds on here: Does anyone know of a production Jazz bass with a medium (32") scale and 5 strings? I'm not interested in a low B, I intend to string the instrument E - C. My current gold standard for tone is an alder body/rosewood board MIJ Fender Jazz, 32" scale with an East J-Retro preamp and nickel strings. Sounds great as far as I'm concerned and has served me well on many gigs. Are my needs too esoteric, or does anyone know of such an instrument (as a production model, not a custom bass)? Pete