Babicz FCH 3PT 4 String Bridge (Gibson Style) - Black

“With electric guitar and bass bridges, it’s all about tone… how to get more tone, more stability, more sustain & finer adjustments without adding weight. This is really what Full Contact Hardware is all about.” – Jeff Babicz

Full Contact Hardware is an innovative electric guitar and bass saddle solution featuring the patented eCAM saddle system, designed by Jeff Babicz, that offers a dramatic improvement to sustain, tonal quality & performance. Full Contact Hardware technology results in increased dynamic range, better sustain and pitch stability as well as providing easy and accurate string height and intonation adjustments which, with the ability to fully “lock down” the bridge saddles, remain secure, even when removing the strings.

The Babicz FCH 3-Point 4 String Bass Bridge is a direct drop-in replacment upgrade for a standard Gibson 3-Point bass bridge - the same bridge used on Gibson 2015 Thunderbird and SG basses. The FCH-3PT bridge comes complete with three mounting studs, optional shim plate, adjustment wrench and comprehensive, step-by-step installation instructions.

Please note: Some Gibson bass models feature different neck angles, so the 1/8" shim plate is provided to assist in situations where the height of the standard Babicz bridge assembly needs to be increased.

"With Babicz Full Contact Hardware, you can adjust your action as high or low as desired while maintaining maximum string transference to the body for optimum tone, dynamic range, pitch stability and resonance"

Jeff Babicz designed FCH with the intent of gaining the maximum amount of direct string coupling to the body of the instrument. The result is an extremely lightweight bridge that makes "full contact" between the vibrating string and the instrument's body and provides over 50 times more contact surface per saddle compared to conventional saddle designs.

With FCH, string height or "action" can be set with more far more precision than with traditional saddles. The eCAM saddle allows for instant action adjustments, without introducing space or air-gaps, ensuring complete contact between the saddle and the body of the guitar. The tiny, string height adjustment screws associated with traditional bridge systems are eliminated so that, with the Babicz FCH design, the saddle can never "sink" or "shift" while playing.

In addition, each eCAM saddle also includes a specially designed String Height Lock, which keeps your string height setting in place… even during extreme saddle vibrations over time. Similarly, precise intonation adjustments are also easily attained - and maintained, with the FCH Bass Bridge's unique Saddle Housing Lock feature.

Babicz FCH 3 Point Bass Bridge

String Height & Intonation Adjustment & Product Specifications

Adjusting the string action height

1. Install the strings (A) and position them in the grooves (B) located in each eCAM saddle.
2. With moderate tension applied to the strings, loosen set screw (F), then set the string height by turning screw (D) using the provided hex wrench (E) until the desired string position is achieved.
3. Lock the eCAM Saddle by turning screw (F) using the provided hex wrench (E).

Adjusting the intonation

1. Using a screwdriver (H) (not included), turn the fine intonation adjustment screw (G) until the desired saddle housing position is achieved.
2. Lock the saddle housing in position by tightening the saddle housing lock screw (J) using the provided hex wrench (E).

Specifications (Dimensions in Inches)

Guitar & Bass Magazine Steve Cook • September 2013

RATING : 93% "With the FCH bridge, the sound was bigger & richer and we noticed more overall volume, both acoustically & amplified. If you care about the quality of your sound, you'd do well to look into one." 

READ THE FULL REVIEW

Jeff Berlin

Considered by many to be the one of the finest electric bass players on the planet, Jeff's solos are amongst the greatest ever played on a bass guitar and his harmonic and melodic approach to playing are part of bass legend. Now using Babicz bridges exclusively, his signature model Cort bass RITHMIC Bass also features the FCH Bass Bridge as standard.

"Jeff Babicz re-invented the bass bridge and made it as necessary as my amp and my bass. I only play equipment if it sounds great... which is why the Babicz Bridge is on my bass"

Dave Swift

Through his long-term gig with Jools Holland's Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Dave has laid down his immaculate, grooving bass lines for just about every major name in contemporary music.

"I'm extremely happy with Babicz bridges and my Fender basses have never sounded better! The qualities in a good bass bridge for me are accurate intonation, adjustability with a solid and reliable design. Also, I mute the strings with the edge of my hand at the bridge a great deal, so comfort is also important. There are no annoying sharp edges and aesthetically the bridges looks great too!"

Jesse Stern

Since 2011, Jesse Stern has equipped his Fender basses with Babicz FCH Bridges. In demand as a versatile and dynamic performer Jesse has toured and recorded with Sly Stone, American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, teen pop sensations Hanson, Mario Reyes of the Gipsy Kings and alt.Rock stalwarts Weezer.

"The Babicz bass bridge is compatible with my Fender basses, and all the adjustments lock. Super solid, and it has a great tone. Keep up the good work!"

Joey Vera

Alongside full-time gigs for Armored Saint and progressive metal band Fates Warning, Joey keeps a busy schedule as independent producer & session bassist (including a 2004/05 touring stint replacing Frank Bello in Anthrax). He has equipped his entire stable of Fender basses with Babicz FCH Bridges...

“Solid design mixed with quite a few options makes this bridge a force to be reckoned with! This thing is super stable with every adjusting element locking in place. It’s road worthy AND studio worthy.”

Pancho Tomaselli

Since 2003 Pancho Tomaselli has been holding down the low end with legendary Chicano funk band War and is also the bassist for new power trio supergroup PHILM - alongside guitarist/vocalist Gerry Nestler (from prog metal band Civil Defiance) and Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo.

"I love Babicz Full Contact Hardware because it gives me more of a 'piano-like' feel for my bass... it also gives me more tone and more mid-range frequency"

Rodney O'Quinn

The long time touring and recording bassist for The Pat Travers Band, is currently using his Tony Franklin Signature Precision Bass equipped with a Babicz Bridge. "I love what the FCH has done to My P-Bass!!"

Rodney's boss, blues rock legend PAT TRAVERS, also uses FCH on his Telecaster - with a nice line in deadpan humour... "Babicz Full Contact Hardware technology turns mediocrity into magnificence!"

Babicz Full Contact Hardware - Installation

Babicz Full Contact Hardware - Demo

Babicz Full Contact Hardware - eCam Saddle Technology