Babicz Guitars
Encyclopedia
Electric Guitars
Electric Guitars were formed early in 1980 by Neil Davenport and Richard Hall who were both studying English at Bristol University. The band soon increased to a five-man line-up, with Andy Saunders , Matt Salt and Dick Truscott , they also later added two backing singers: Sara and Wendy...
and a producer of innovative and licensable guitar technology. The Babicz Guitars offices are in Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
, New York, ninety miles north of Manhattan.
Features
Babicz guitars is most well known for its 3 patented technologies, the Continually Adjustable Neck (US patent # 7,157,634), Lateral Compression Soundboard, and the Torque Reducing Split Bridge (combined into one patent # 7,112,733). In addition to selling guitars, Babicz Guitars licenses these technologies to other guitar manufacturers such as C. F. Martin & CompanyC. F. Martin & Company
C.F. Martin & Company is a US guitar manufacturer established in 1833 by Christian Frederick Martin. Martin is highly regarded for its steel-string guitars, and is a leading mass manufacturer of flattop acoustics with models that retail for thousands of dollars and vintage instruments that often...
and Michael Kelly Guitars
Michael Kelly Guitars
Michael Kelly Guitars is an American guitar, bass and mandolin manufacturer, based in Clearwater, Florida. They are a division of Hansor Music Group, who also own B.C. Rich Guitars, Rockfield Pickups, and Kustom amplifiers. Michael Kelly Guitars was founded in 1999...
.
Continually Adjustable Neck
The Babicz Continually Adjustable Neck is used to adjust the action of the guitar from a low electric feel all the way to high slide feel all without changing the tuning or intonation of the guitar and can be done anytime without detuning. This is because unlike previous neck adjustments there is no tilting or pivoting. The neck slides in a pocket parallel to the slides of the guitar not altering scale length or string tension. This is done by inserting a 3/16" allen wrench into the trap plate on the back of the guitar and turning it in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.Lateral Compression Soundboard
Unlike a standard 6-string guitars, Babicz anchors their strings fanned out along the edge of the soundboard near the side. The strings pass through the string retainer and over the saddle. By anchoring the strings in this fashion the overall tension of the strings is spread across the top and not concentrated in the center, which is the weakest part of the top. This allows Babicz use to a lighter form of bracing on the top other than the rigid X-brace which can impede the vibration of the top often dampening the sound of the guitar.Torque Reducing Split Bridge
This feature allows the player to adjust the intonation of the guitar throughout its life. Loosening the fasteners on the bridge allows it slide back and forth to adjust the intonation when needed unlike standard guitars with glued bridges.Models
Babicz has two guitar series: the Identity which is their high-end acoustic model and their Octane series hollow-body electric guitar. All guitars feature Babicz’s patented iCZ technology.
Identity Series
The Identity Series is constructed with: solid Englemann spruce soundboard, solid Javanese rosewood or mahogany back and sides, mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard and bridge, gloss finish on back and sides, and a satin finish on the top and neck. Identity models have 20 frets, a 25.5” scale length, and a 1-11/16” nut. Body shapes include: Jumbo cutaway and Dreadnought or Dread cutaway. The Babicz Spider is their all black, all mahogany guitar. The Acute and Small Jumbo FingerStyle models feature a wider neck with a 1-13/16” nut width, and a shorter 24.75” scale length along with a pointed Florentine cutaway.Octane Series
Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan is a company that is best known for manufacturing of guitar pickups, and currently has a line of effects pedals. The company was founded in 1976 by guitarist and luthier Seymour W. Duncan and his then-wife Cathy Carter Duncan in Goleta, California, USA...
Pearly Gates on the neck position and George Lynch Screamin’ Demon on the bridge position. The single coil Octane includes one Seymour Duncan Cool Rail pickup on the neck position and two Hot Rails for the middle and bridge positions. All Octane models offer a custom L.R. Baggs preamp option for acoustic piezo output, which includes a magnetic pickup/piezo blending knob.
Musicians who use Babicz guitars
Notable musicians who use Babicz guitars include:http://www.babiczguitars.com/artists.shtml- Mick JonesMick Jones (Foreigner)Michael Leslie "Mick" Jones is an English guitarist, songwriter, and record producer best known as the founding member of the rock band Foreigner.-Life and career:...
of ForeignerForeigner (band)Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm... - Robert Randolph of Robert Randolph & the Family BandRobert Randolph & the Family BandRobert Randolph and the Family Band is a multicultural American funk and soul band led by pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph. Other band members include drummer Marcus Randolph, bass guitarist Danyel Morgan, vocalist Lenesha Randolph, keyboardist and guitarist Brett Andrew Haas, and one of...
- Jake CinningerJake CinningerJake Cinninger, born Jacob Alan Cinninger, December 16, 1975 in Niles, Michigan, is an American musician. He has risen to fame as one of two lead guitarists, in the Chicago-based jam band Umphrey's McGee.-History:...
of Umphrey's McGeeUmphrey's McGeeUmphrey's McGee is an American progressive rock jam band based in Chicago whose music is often referred to as "progressive improvisation", or "improg" .... - Brendan BaylissBrendan BaylissBrendan Bayliss is an American musician, the founder, a lead guitarist alongside fellow guitarist and band member Jake Cinninger, and primary vocalist for progressive rock band Umphrey's McGee. He formed the band in 1997 and took its moniker from the name of a distant relative he met at a wedding...
of Umphrey's McGeeUmphrey's McGeeUmphrey's McGee is an American progressive rock jam band based in Chicago whose music is often referred to as "progressive improvisation", or "improg" .... - Steven WilsonSteven WilsonSteven John Wilson is an English musician, best known as the founder, lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of progressive rock band Porcupine Tree...
of Porcupine TreePorcupine TreePorcupine Tree is a progressive rock band formed by Steven Wilson in 1987 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. Their music is difficult to categorise, being associated with both psychedelic rock and progressive rock, yet having been influenced by trance, krautrock and ambient due to Steven... - John Wesley (guitarist)John Wesley (guitarist)John Wesley is an American singer, songwriter and guitar player. John Wesley's professional music career began in the early 1980s in the Tampa, Florida area where he founded 1991 Southwestern Music Conference's showcase act Autodrive along with drummer/producer Mark Prator...
of Porcupine TreePorcupine TreePorcupine Tree is a progressive rock band formed by Steven Wilson in 1987 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. Their music is difficult to categorise, being associated with both psychedelic rock and progressive rock, yet having been influenced by trance, krautrock and ambient due to Steven... - K.K. Downing of Judas PriestJudas PriestJudas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
- Mike MarlinMike MarlinMike Marlin is a British singer-songwriter. He was born on the 17th February 1961 in Wimbledon, London. He went to Oxford University where he read physics at Magdalen College. He dropped out in his final year and never graduated. During this time he played bass in a number of student bands. After...
- David SanciousDavid SanciousDavid Sancious is an American musician. He was an early member of Bruce Springsteen's backing group, the E Street Band, and contributed to the first three Springsteen albums, and again on the 1992 album Human Touch. Sancious is a multi-instrumentalist but is best known as a keyboard player and...
- Todd RundgrenTodd RundgrenTodd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
- Pat TraversPat TraversPatrick Henry "Pat" Travers is a Canadian rock guitarist, keyboardist and singer who began his recording career with Polydor Records in the mid-1970s...
- Tim "Izo" Orindgreff of The Black Eyed PeasThe Black Eyed PeasThe Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
- The PretendersThe PretendersThe Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
- Earl SlickEarl SlickEarl Slick is a guitarist best known for his collaborations with David Bowie, Jim Diamond and Robert Smith, although he has also worked with other artists , John Waite, and even released some solo recordings.In the early 1970s, Earl Slick gained his...
- Outlaws
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- Adrian BelewAdrian BelewAdrian Belew is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer...
- Greg Allman
- Lyle WorkmanLyle WorkmanLyle Workman is an American guitarist, composer, session musician and music producer. His music has been widely distributed since his debut on the eponymous Bourgeois Tagg album in 1986, and is currently best known for his work as composer and bandleader for the Superbad soundtrack.Workman is also...
- Billy GreerBilly GreerBilly Greer is the current bass guitarist for the band Kansas. He joined the band in 1986 in time for the Power album. He had previously worked with vocalist Steve Walsh in the band Streets, and is currently working with his own band Seventh Key, as well as maintaining his status in Kansas.Billy...
of Kansas - Chad KroegerChad KroegerChad Robert Kroeger is aCanadian songwriter, singer, and guitarist best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist for the Canadian rock band Nickelback...
of Nickelback - Jennifer BattenJennifer BattenJennifer Batten is an American guitarist, who has worked as both a session musician and solo artist. She has released three studio albums: her 1992 debut, Above Below and Beyond, was produced by former Stevie Wonder guitarist Michael Sembello. In 1997, she released the worldbeat-influenced Jennifer...
- Kevin George US Army "Singing Medic"
- Will Clay guitarist/vocalist/songwriter of Billy X & The Offenders and The Psychic Workshop
- Satchel (Russ ParrishRuss ParrishRuss Parrish is an American guitarist known by his stage name Satchel in the glam metal band Steel Panther...
) of Steel PantherSteel PantherSteel Panther is a glam metal band from Los Angeles, California mostly known for their profane and humorous lyrics as well as their exaggerated on-stage personas... - Rina Epstein of the Epstein Family Singers, Jerusalem, Israel