The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Other Bass Brands => Topic started by: drbassman on May 08, 2014, 05:47:29 AM
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I've been pondering a Kubicki bass for some time. I love the look, really different and out there, but have never had the chance to play one. Anyone here know anything about them? The neck looks nice and slim, which is requisite for me. I was also wondering how the hopped up electronics might work with my all tube Mesa rig.
Just curious!
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There was some good info in this thread, for what it's worth... (it didn't show up for me in a search for some reason)
http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=8150.15
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Thanks, that's helpful. I didn't see that.
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If the greens are going spare, Bill, I don't think you'd be disappointed... but the inference from Jon in that thread is that there are counterfeits out there so buy through reputable and protected sources...
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Which Kubicki model are you considering?
The headless ExFactor most likely? If so...yes, VERY FAST, comfortable neck. Like a sleeked down C neck. Be aware that all of the ones with the Drop D feature are medium (32 inch) scale. If you need a 34 inch scale they are the very hard to find non-D ones. The pre and post Fender ones are 18 volt, better electronics and more meticulously built...but the Fender ones are still decent and you can upgrade the 9volt electronics if you need to.
The Key Factors....with the tuners on the same thin looking headstock are all long scale 34 inch. Also very nice basses...plus they come in both 4- and 5-string models. All were made by Phil, never Fender.
All work OK with your amp. They had a rotary 6 position tone pot (5 on Fender CS) that had both active and passive presets...that you could tweak with separate stacked treble/bass knob.
As Stated above there have been a few questionable "counterfeit" ExFactors. Those seemed to be some stamped with early SN#s onto later bodies that lacked the earlier dogear electronics cavities/covers......most likely made from discarded FCS parts when Phil took back production.
But very ergonomic, comfortable FAST basses. Besides normal playing, they also lend themselves well to slap style. Also nice....you can use regular bass strings on them and NOT double ball end ones like Steinbergers need.
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Thanks for all of the info. I've been watching them on eBay for awhile. I have always found their styling attractive and slim fast necks are my thing. Just not sure about the electronics.
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Does this look correct for a 1990 Kubicki Ex bass? The dogear thing seems to be missing.
(http://photos.imageevent.com/guitarchimp/1990kubickifactorbass/large/IMG_4549.jpg)
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The dogear covers are only on the first 100 made, which Phil considered prototypes because he didn't finalize specs until then.
First released SN was 024. So the dogears were in 1985.
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Thanks. I am leaning toward an Ex Factor with the shorter neck. We'll see what happens!
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I did it.
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:popcorn:
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8)
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Good, I hope it works out for you. If you don't care for the active settings, you can use the passive positions. It ought to be better for your hands than that vintage Gretsch with the huge neck.
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Most of my basses are pretty basic. Having an active/passive bass like this will be totally out of the box. Variety is the spice, they say!
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Arriving Saturday.
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It's here. Nice condition, a little checking on the back, one nick. The neck is in great shape. No problems. The electronics are really neat. I had one active bass before and I actually liked it, but sold it for something else. This one has so much tonal variety. Thus far, my B-15 likes it. I found an old manual online and it said the 1990's kubickis had a 4 position switch, but mine has 5. Anyone know how that happened?
I tired the drop D switch and it was very cool. The neck is nice and slim, just the way I like them. A very original bass. Pics later!
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Duh! I checked again and the rotary switch has 6 positions like the early Kubickis. Cool! I'm gonna open the control plate to see how many volts this thing is.
I'm also going to lower the action a bit and maybe change the strings. The neck is straight as an arrow and the frets are in very good shape. The tuners work really well. I always thought they looked difficult to turn but they are smooth and effortless.
The drop d switch is unexpectedly neat. I didn't think Id use it, but it works easily and you don't have to rethink where you're at on the e string. We actually play a couple songs in D and I can use this for some nice deep bassiness. Simple and neat idea.
This bass is such a modern alternative to everything else I have. It will take some time to learn all of the features of the electronics. So far, it's pretty nice.
The shape of the body really fits comfortably. Lots of thought went into its design, obviously.
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The 6-position switch means, either it was early enough after Fender took over and fell into the period where they were building them while using up old Kubicki parts in stock....or a previous owner had Phil update the Fender electronics to Kibicki ones.
Is your SN around 1250-1400 range or so?
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The 6-position switch means, either it was early enough after Fender took over and fell into the period where they were building them while using up old Kubicki parts in stock....or a previous owner had Phil update the Fender electronics to Kibicki ones.
Is your SN around 1250-1400 range or so?
I was wondering about that since I read about that in a different post/forum. My number is 2065. We'll see what I find when I open it up. Too much to do today, may not get to it.
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I've got the 18v electronics in my bass! That's a lot of juice. So I could have Kubicki electronics in it, right? Geez, now I'm gonna have to stock 9v batteries.
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Here she is:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/Kubicki%20Bass/DSCN0211_zps2b31e85c.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/Kubicki%20Bass/DSCN0211_zps2b31e85c.jpg.html)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/Kubicki%20Bass/DSCN0212_zpsf7eecedd.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/Kubicki%20Bass/DSCN0212_zpsf7eecedd.jpg.html)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/Kubicki%20Bass/DSCN0213_zps3e8c4a48.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/Kubicki%20Bass/DSCN0213_zps3e8c4a48.jpg.html)
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That is real pretty, and I'll bet there's no neck dive.
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Sounds like you'll bond with it. :)
If it's like active basses I've owned, batteries usually last a long time.
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I never changed the battery in my RD... even when it had the Moog... :mrgreen:
Nice bass, Bill... nice bass...
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That is real pretty, and I'll get there's no neck dive.
Nope, not at all. A very comfortable bass to wear. We'll see how she feels after two hours of practice tonight.
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Sounds like you'll bond with it. :)
If it's like active basses I've owned, batteries usually last a long time.
Yeah,so far it's so different from all my others, it's a bit of a treat to fiddle with. I do love the shorter slimmer neck and ergo body. Two of the active settings are huge. They shake the whole house when I switch them on!
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I never changed the battery in my RD... even when it had the Moog... :mrgreen:
Nice bass, Bill... nice bass...
Good to know about e batteries guys, thanks. They are beauties. I was bidding on a lake placid blue one but I'm just as happy with the red. I think I got a hidden bonus with the 18v setup. The seller should have highlighted that I his ad, but he didn't.
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Nice score!! Looks really clean and the 18volt electronics is a real bonus!
My bud who I trade my minty bright yellow one (SN#555) for his SN#044 called me last weekend when he was in NY playing the Nassau Coliseum. He's been doing a world tour with the yellow one most of the year with Sonu, the Indian pop star.
He was in town doing an Indian music fest show and called asking if I wanted to be on his guest list....but warned me that it was like four hours of hardcore Indian dance and music stuff. I was tied up and couldn't go. I mentioned it to some of the Indian folks I know who own/work at the local delis new me....they ALL freaked out and said they would have paid BIG bucks to have gotten backstage.
Go figure :)
BTW.....If anyone spots a Kubicki FACTOR (that's the non-drop D model in 34-inch scale) in the same red and the one in this string....drop me an email. My bud is looking for a fretted one.
I actually have one but I got it from Stu Hamm and the neck is from a rare two-neck/matching SN# set. Stu said Satriani forced him to get a 34-inch one when he was playing with him, insisting he could hear that the low E was not thick enough on the 32-inch scale ExFactor.
Good ears...or bullsh*t ? I can maybe see hearing the difference between a 30.5 inch short scale bass and a long scale 34.....but between a 32 and a 34? Especially when the low D drops to a FAT 36-inch scale when the lever is up......I don't know.
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That does look like a bass that you could settle for owning just one.
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BTW.....WHAT's that Ric 4005 copy on your wall, a Shaftsbury?
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Nice score!! Looks really clean and the 18volt electronics is a real bonus!
My bud who I trade my minty bright yellow one (SN#555) for his SN#044 called me last weekend when he was in NY playing the Nassau Coliseum. He's been doing a world tour with the yellow one most of the year with Sonu, the Indian pop star.
He was in town doing an Indian music fest show and called asking if I wanted to be on his guest list....but warned me that it was like four hours of hardcore Indian dance and music stuff. I was tied up and couldn't go. I mentioned it to some of the Indian folks I know who own/work at the local delis new me....they ALL freaked out and said they would have paid BIG bucks to have gotten backstage.
Go figure :)
BTW.....If anyone spots a Kubicki FACTOR (that's the non-drop D model in 34-inch scale) in the same red and the one in this string....drop me an email. My bud is looking for a fretted one.
I actually have one but I got it from Stu Hamm and the neck is from a rare two-neck/matching SN# set. Stu said Satriani forced him to get a 34-inch one when he was playing with him, insisting he could hear that the low E was not thick enough on the 32-inch scale ExFactor.
Good ears...or bullsh*t ? I can maybe see hearing the difference between a 30.5 inch short scale bass and a long scale 34.....but between a 32 and a 34? Especially when the low D drops to a FAT 36-inch scale when the lever is up......I don't know.
Thanks for the feedback. I think the seller didn't know enough to check the bass out and highlight the electronics. Oh well, too bad!
Don't get Dave started on 32" scales! Please!!! IMHO, the active electronics more than make up for any loss of tone on this bass. Positions 2 and 3 could kill you if your amp is up too high! And the drop D is so cool, I've been looking for every opportunity to use it. Now that has some bass to it! Besides, don't some folks refer to the Kubicki as "no treble?" Must be a reason.
Didin't make it to practice Wednesday, I got a serious sore throat and cold. Will try again next week.
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BTW.....WHAT's that Ric 4005 copy on your wall, a Shaftsbury?
That's one he built from scratch.
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Don't get Dave started on 32" scales! Please!!! IMHO, the active electronics more than make up for any loss of tone on this bass. Positions 2 and 3 could kill you if your amp is up too high! And the drop D is so cool, I've been looking for every opportunity to use it. Now that has some bass to it! Besides, don't some folks refer to the Kubicki as "no treble?" Must be a reason.
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That's Uwe, not me. Big difference between a short and long scale E, but I've never really done any comparisons with 32" vs. 34" scale. There's got to be a difference, I don't know how significant it might be.
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That's one he built from scratch.
That's Uwe, not me. Big difference between a short and long scale E, but I've never really done any comparisons with 32" vs. 34" scale. There's got to be a difference, I don't know how significant it might be.
Oops, forgot to answer that question! Thanks Dave.
Here's a link: http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=2028.300/
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Not the last post, Bill.. start him from the beginning... ;)
http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=2028.0
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Not the last post, Bill.. start him from the beginning... ;)
http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=2028.0
Oops, thanks Kenny. These computers confuse the heck out of me.
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They scare the heck out of me, but keep me employed... ;)
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They scare the heck out of me, but keep me employed... ;)
I think of the computer as a tool, like an electric drill. i understand basically how it its internals work, but care most how it helps me get things done! I know just enough to be considered a nuisance.
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... and that's where I come in... ;)
The thing with modern technology is that it's so ultimately disposable and designed that way, and we are suckered into the idea that the next best thing leads to the next best thing... bless 'em... :mrgreen:
[cynic] There's this new curved screen TV that they are pushing that has effectively no advantages, is viciously expensive, and they are trying to create a market... somewhat like the 3DTV nonsense... it is only producing an image that is viewed through special glasses to decode it... please, someone, show me the evidence that a good quality HDTV could not show that image... [/cynic]
Mind you, with no PC, no www, where would we be...? :o
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I find myself teetering on the edge between computer user and IT guy. I don't have the training or background to decipher IP numbers, the sequences of switches and other equipment needed to build a network, nor could I build a computer without some study. All my minimal code knowledge is old DOS stuff and basic HTML, so that's all outdated.
However, I lead a tech unit that is completely dependent on computers for class delivery and remote control of equipment. We often get into the edges of programming and control systems, Cat5 cables and various other aspects of the IT world.
The net result is that I know more than most users, but that also helps me realize just how vast my ignorance of the rest of the IT world is.
I guess the more you learn in any field, the more you realize you still have to learn.
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Mind you, with no PC, no www, where would we be...? :o
I agree Kenny, a lot of products are engineer's dreams looking for a customer. As for your last question, I suppose we'd be hanging out in our backyards chatting with our neighbors and playing with our kids. How quaint! :P
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I resemble that remark... if I type this much, imagine what it's like in the flesh... :o
I guess the more you learn in any field, the more you realize you still have to learn.
Back in the early eighties it was suggested that I go for an MCSE/A route and get a "job-for-life", but I pointed out "why would I want a job where I would have to get retrained every six months...?" :mrgreen:
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I resemble that remark... if I type this much, imagine what it's like in the flesh... :o
Back in the early eighties it was suggested that I go for an MCSE/A route and get a "job-for-life", but I pointed out "why would I want a job where I would have to get retrained every six months...?" :mrgreen:
that's easy. Things are moving so fast that we just keep continually scanning the event horizon (sounds familiar...?) and retraining ourselves as we go.
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Played the Kubicki at practice and it did a nice job. The active electronics are huge and I needed to learn to tame it down. I switched to passive and I got a great tone out of the pickups. Really liked that! An easy bass to play and I used the drop D on 3 songs. Really cool touch. It's going back again for more experimenting.
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Bill, color me jealous but happy for you on the Kubicki. I fell in love with those way back when and found a few that really felt good in my hands. I loved the D lever and thought it was ingenious. All that said, I never sprang for one (too poor at the time and when I had money I wanted other things), but still have a soft spot for them. I hope it ends up a keeper!
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That's one he built from scratch.
That's Uwe, not me. Big difference between a short and long scale E, but I've never really done any comparisons with 32" vs. 34" scale. There's got to be a difference, I don't know how significant it might be.
Yeah, blame the kraut when he's not around! I hate it when after two comparatively minor transgressions in 1914 and 1939 we always end up as SSscapegoatSS.
A 32" E - in my irrelevant book - doesn't have the ferocity of a 34", but there are three other strings to play on/with and E strings are overrated anyway, it's the place to catch your breath after you have run out of ideas. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: Besides, the E of an X-Factor is not really medium scale, it is is Rickenbakerish semi-long scale (mind you: the E of a Ric is not a Fender or Gibson long scale E either) in its extended D mode.
Why anybody would call a Kubicki "no treble" is beyond me, you can klänk wiff dat zzzing like hell (unless you go into that ultra low bass reggae mode it offers), it's hugely respnsive and attack-happy bass, that multi-ply neck is not just fast to play, but also fast in transmitting tone (though a bit dead/clinical too)!
Kubickis are cool whether the classic X-Factor or the one I have (34" Factor), so was John Taylor's haircut btw!
(http://www.notreble.com/buzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/john-taylor-600x315.jpg)