Music Trades Magazine
June 2004

A patented neck design, a new approach to bracing, and a unique bridge set this instrument apart from everything else on the market. Designer Jeff Babicz Is Convinced That Powerful Benefits Will overcome musicians's aversion to change.

As one of the original employees of Steinberger Sound, the company that pioneered the radical composite "headless" bass guitar, Jeff Babicz learned first-hand just how' difficult it is to persuade musicians to embrace new' designs and technologies. The Steinherger experience helped shape his assessment of guitarists. "When it comes to choosing instruments, they're arch-conservatives," he explains. "They like to stick with tradition." So why is he launching a new acoustic that is a radical departure from the dreadnought style that has long dominated industry sales? The short answer is, he's convinced that his new Babicz guitar offers so many readily apparent benefits, it will make converts of even the most die-hard traditionalists.

Babicz and his business partner Jeff Carano, another Steinherger Sound alumnus, didn't immediately reach this conclusion. In fact, the pair initially felt the commercial prospects for a really different acoustic guitar design were extremely limited. Like the typical "arch conservative musician," they needed a lot of convincing. However, over a two-yearr period of time, they were gradually talked into pursuing the project. First by players who raved about Babicz's early prototypes, second by luthiers who assessed the instrument, and finally by a cross-section of retailers who gave the guitar a good going over. "I had no illusions about launching a new guitar." says Babicz. "When I began showing my design around, I kept asking 'What do you think players won't like about it?' It took an incredibly positive response to persuade me that we had a chance with it".

So what exactly is it that separates the Bahibz guitar from the thousands of conventional acoustics on display in stores across the country? Babicz cites three patented features:

• a Lateral Compression soundboard.
• a Torque Reducing split bridge
• an Adjustable neck

With the vertically adjustable neck feature, Babicz has addressed the age-old problem of adjusting the string action on acoustic guitars. On conventional guitars, raising or lowering the action involves either adjusting the height of the saddle, or resetting the neck, both of which are delicate operations that require a skilled repairman. On the Babicz guitar, string height can be adjusted by simply inserting an Allen key wrench into a socket in the heel of the neck. With a few turn, the neck can be easily moved up or down. "The systern doesn't re-pitch the neck. it just moves it vertically, so the tuning or scale length isn't altered," states Babicz. "In effect, you're moving the neck up to the string height, not moving the strings down to the neck." Because the fingerboard isn't glued to the top, the soundboard can also vibrate more freely.

On the Babicz guitar. the "Torque Reducing" bridge isn't actually glued to the soundboard; it's secured with two proprietary fasteners. As a result. the bridge can be easily repositioned to acheive proper intonation throughout the entire life of the guitar It also reduces stress on the soundboard. allowing for freer vibration.

This new acoustic guitar is the culmination of Jell Babicz's years of experience as both a skilled luthier and a trained engineer. Aftcr leaving Steinberger Sound and going to work as a product engineer for various markets, including the semi-conductor industry, he continued to hand-build acoustic guitars in his spare time, where he searched for a "better way." He explains. "I always felt that in order to build a great sounding X-braced guitar, the bracing had to be light enough to allow the soundboard to vibrate and move a lot of air. But with light bracing, the guitar was destined to slowly implodec due to the string pull on the center of the soundboard. In addition, with traditional construction, the fingerboard caves in the upper soundboard, affecting the intonation and string action. Five years ago I began working to address these probkms. The Babicz guitar is the result.

At present, Rabicz and Carano have already established a Southeast Asian production facility currently producing their currently available "Identity" line, and are working to put the Babicz guitar into the domestic and international markets. The pair is also considering the prospect of licensing their design technology to other guitar makers.

Acoustic Guitar Magazine
June 2004

One of the most radical acoustic guitar designs introduced this year comes from luthier Jeff Babicz. A former employee of Steinberger Guitars, Babicz' flattop includes several innovative elements, including string anchors behind the bridge, close to the outer edge of the lower bout. This means that the strings are directly attached to the top, providing what Babicz claims is a more efficient transmission of energy.

With this system, Babicz can use lighter bracing and a bridge with little forward torque, reducing the chance of top warpage. The guitars also feature a vertically adjustable neck joint, which allows for ultraquick neck-angle and action adjustments. Babicz Identity Series guitars have solid spruce tops and solid mahogany or rosewood back and sides, and they're available in dreadnought, concert, and jumbo sizes. Prices start at $995.

May 2004

Complementary to the hand-made (completely by Jeff Babicz) Brazilian rosewood gargantuan above, this is a production version of the "Icz" system currently available for the talented player who just happen (just today) not to have $8,633 to spend. These are hand-made guitars, from a factory about 60 miles north of Jakarta in the Javanese region of Indonesia. It is constructed from all solid wood including Javanese rosewood (which is probably some cousin of Brazilian), including contrasting sapwood coloring at the middle of the bookmatched back and on the treble edge of both sides (it's gorgeous). It has solid Sitka for the soundboard, Javanese mahogany for the neck, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, rosewood headplate veneer with the Babicz decal logo, and the "Identity" engraved plastic truss rod cover. The unbound board is inlaid with 8 mother of pearl dots and the headstock bears black chrome sealed gear tuners.

The most important part of all this is that "Icz" (pronounced "Its") system which allows the player, with minimum effort and almost no time at all, to change the height of the neck and fingerboard off the body, to tune your own action on the fly. Unlike devices which change the angle the neck, this method changes string pitch only minimally and does not affect the scale length at all. The instant visual recognition occurs when you see that guitar has six string anchors in a semi-circle about 6½" below the bridge saddle. The purpose of extending the string below the bridge is to create lateral compression in the soundboard. Analogy: when you detune a drumhead and tap it you get very little sound -- when you tune it to pitch then volume is released, it becomes alive acoustically. This is exactly what occurs with this new (and exciting) patented acoustical system. The bridge is a two piece construction -- torque reducing design -- that is secured with fasteners that can be loosened and the bridge can be re-adjusted for intonation throughout the life of the guitar. We know players who have dreamed of having this kind of flexibility, that is the player who is sensitive to misintonation. When the bridge is split in this manner you reduce your forward rotational torque (of the bridge itself) which prevents the soundboard from warping. The spruce top has considerable cross grain and features a dyed-wood rosette in sort of peacock feather pattern. The sound of the guitar is remarkable -- full, deep, with a cello-like bass response -- the bass response past the fifth fret is not choked. It is woody, full of air while still retaining great projection. $1,195.

Music & Sound Retailer
April 2004

Overview: Jeff Babicz Guitars recently introduced the Identity and Signature series.

Specifics: The company's guitars all feature the String Anchor system, which attaches the strings directly to the soundboard at the bottom of the guitar. This system helps to increase resonance by storing and creating compression in the soundboard that is released when the strings are actuated, as well as repositioning bridge tension away from the soundboard's center. Guitars in the Signature Series and the Identity Series also feature the Torque Reduced Split Bridge, which makes intonation easier to adjust without disassembly or alteration of the saddles. The Vertical Neck Adjustment makes string height adjustment faster through the turning of a hex screw at the heel of the neck. With this system, the neck and fingerboard never come in contact with the soundboard. All guitars in the Signature series are handmade so that only a maximum of 12 will be created each year.

MSRP: Identity Series: $995-$1,395; Signature Series: $8,900 and up.
Ship Date: Now.
Contact: Jeff Babicz Guitars Company, 914.474.2697,