Official Luthiers Forum!

I recently was looking at this website and was wondering if anyone has ever heard/played a Babicz guitar. Seems like a radical departure in so many ways. Nonetheless, very innovative and interesting. Check it out here

What prompted me to look at the guitar in the first place was the announcement today that they are moving the company to Ft. Wayne, IN...just down the road from the Donohue Guitar Factory.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Maybe we can get a job there JJ?

Dang it! I meant to post more.  Yes I have seen these before. Very strange indeed.

I spent a lot of time with Jeff and his wife Nadine in Montreal last year. I'm not too crazy about the string ancoring system but his adjustable neck design is the best thing since sliced bread.

We've discussed this here before if you look in the archives. I played one once, never again kept getting my shirt sleeve caught in the strings, most uncomfortable guitar I've tried.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Jeff is a friend of mine.
I think his concepts are some of the most innovative in the industry.
His patented neck adjustment system works flawlessly.
You can go from electric to slide height and the guitar stays in tune!

He has 2 lines-the ones he makes by hand and the impoted ones.
His guitars sound as good (and better)as any traditionally made instrument(except mine!).

Here is a picture of me playing one of Jeff's guitars:





Here is Jeff playig one of mine:

[QUOTE=Colin S] We've discussed this here before if you look in the archives.
Colin[/QUOTE]

Sorry Deb...I'll try to do better before posting next time.

Just kidding Colin...thanks for the reminder...I'll sniff it out!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Here's the link to the press release.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I have reservations about his string arrangement but really was impressed by his craftsmanship and his adjustable neck design.

He is very innovative and puts alot of engineering thought into his designs. The neck adjusts with a hex key allen wrench which clips to the guitar on the back of the neck if I recall. As Brad said it is a breeze to adjust action on the fly.

We were next to Jeff and Nadine last year at the Montreal Guitar Show. As Paul noted, his adjustable neck design is brilliant. We also saw Jeff at winter NAMM in Anaheim and his guitars were getting a lot of attention at the show. I only hope the best comes their way. They are wonderful people and they deserve all the success they get.

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tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

I played one of Jeffs guitars at the last ASIA . That neck adjustment is very nice and it did sound great but as others have said ,the strings anchored out on the soundboard were uncomfortable. His innovations in luthiery are amazing for sure.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Mr. Babicz seems like a friendly fellow. I played that guitar at ASIA too, and he demonstrated his neck angle mechanism for me, it was smooth working for sure. As I recall (this was 2 years ago) I thought that the guitar was a bit quiet and not too complex sounding; but then the room was crowded and noisy, not the best circumstances to judge sound. Playability, fit and finish were excellent.

I also tried some of his budget models before, they were nice but not of the same standard as the more expensive one.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

[QUOTE=Babicz FAQ] Why are the strings attached at the bottom of the soundboard?

This is an intentional part the Babicz design that is totally functional. Some people confuse this with being a visual hook or gimmick. The best way to convey the function of the string anchors is using this analogy: When the stings are attached directly to the soundboard, Lateral Compression, or tightness, is created in the top. A drum head that has no tension is acoustically dead, but once tightened, is becomes alive and sonically vibrant. This is the same principle used for the Babicz guitars. The soundboard uses the pull of the string to Compress and activate the top, making it more lively. It's also much stronger because the strings are attached near the rim of the guitar, which allows internal bracing to be lighter - again aiding in making the soundboard more flexible and acoustically pure. [/QUOTE]I've never played a Babicz and I don't like the looks, but I agree his adjustable neck is a great idea.
I don't think it is a good idea to use the analogy of a drum head that is tightened (tension) to explain how the top works in compression. That makes me think the idea is not clearly understood and if it works it has more to due with luck and hard work than anything else.       

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

Untill I heard a couple of you guys mention Jeff's guitars beeing "uncomfortable"to play. I would have never thought of it.
I have played his guitars for hours on end and found them to be very "comfortable".

I'm looking forward to playing a Babicz as well as any other guitar that departs from conventional thinking. I'm open-minded enough to not judge anything until I personally experience the guitar in my own hands...in spite of "its looks." I'm as interested in the bracing possibilities as anything.

Brad...If it sounds as good as you and others claim, I could find a way "to get comfortable."

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I was quite impressed with them...but more so with the neck design than the string anchors. However, that double bridge setup is rather ingenious. I play with my right hand near the bridge, and it did bother me a bit. Guys who tap beats on the lower bout will not like this design. It has, however, given me some ideas...

Mike