Kubicki Stringing issue

**TRichardsbass** · #1 07-19-2010, 02:19 PM

Hey all, while I wait for Phil to reply, I'll ask the venerable TB community:

I recently purchased a FCS Kubicki Factor bass (thanks Jason!).

I went to restring it this weekend, and started by not trimming the string length. For the E and D string it worked fine, but for the A and G the thumbwheel could not take up enough slack to tension it to A or G. Best I got was C# and F#.

So, question is, have any of you ever experienced this before? I wound up trimming the strings and eventually got enough tension to properly intonate and tune.

If anyone is curious, I don't know what was on it, but I replaced them with D'Addario XL165 (45-65-85-105) which is the guages the Factors and Ex-Factors come strung out of Phil's shop with.

So, again, did I do the right thing by trimming or did I screw something up?

emblymouse · #2 07-19-2010, 02:34 PM

Your string choice is fine, I used those too.

First, make sure you are starting with the tuner knob fully counterclockwise so you have maximum room to tighten the string before running out of room.

You should trim those strings so you have a little less than 2 times around that wheel. It sounds like you need to get one more click of the ratchet when tightening that up. That should get you up to pitch with a bit to spare. I found it hard to get it there with just my fingers as Phil says you should, and made a little plexi scrap stick that fit in the teeth of the wheel to push that last click.

Weird at first, you'll get it in time

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRichardsbass

Hey all, while I wait for Phil to reply, I'll ask the venerable TB community:

I recently purchased a FCS Kubicki Factor bass (thanks Jason!).

I went to restring it this weekend, and started by not trimming the string length. For the E and D string it worked fine, but for the A and G the thumbwheel could not take up enough slack to tension it to A or G. Best I got was C# and F#.

So, question is, have any of you ever experienced this before? I wound up trimming the strings and eventually got enough tension to properly intonate and tune.

If anyone is curious, I don't know what was on it, but I replaced them with D'Addario XL165 (45-65-85-105) which is the guages the Factors and Ex-Factors come strung out of Phil's shop with.

So, again, did I do the right thing by trimming or did I screw something up?

**TRichardsbass** · #3 07-19-2010, 02:46 PM

Thanks. I asked Phil to let me know if I was right, and also, if his Ex-Factor strings will fit the Factor. I know the E would have to be trimmed, big time, but I'm thinking the others wouldn't need it at all.

I agree with the "tool" I used a flat screw driver head sideways to do the exact thing you said. The Fender Manual for it was nearly useless.

Zooberwerx · #4 07-19-2010, 02:56 PM

Be sure to tighten the ratched wheel by hand with the string off the bridge saddle. Then lift the string onto the saddle.

Riis

**TRichardsbass** · #5 07-19-2010, 04:09 PM

Thanks again.

retardedpossum · #6 07-19-2010, 04:18 PM

that was the only reason I sold my Factor back in '90

stuhammfan · #7 07-19-2010, 04:22 PM

When i change my strings on my ex factor, i just take the old string off, and give it a side by side comparison to the new string and use that as a gauge for trimming the new string to the correct length... I love kubicki's, they are a truely unique instrument and nothing sounds like em...

Kamelion · #8 07-19-2010, 04:33 PM

Another vote for tightening the wheel when the string is off the saddle. I have had the trouble you described back when I got my first Kubicki, but once I started tuning up in this manner, the problem was solved.

Be careful with using a screwdriver or other tool to force the wheel into place. I've heard of folks who've done that and ended up snapping one of the teeth off the tuning wheel in doing so. Better to try and do it without using that kind of force

**TRichardsbass** · #9 07-19-2010, 10:15 PM

Thanks Ya'll. I figured as such, but the bass came to me and Phil himself had done some work on it, so I wasn't sure if he had put the strings on. Probably not, so I decided it was time to personalize it.

The old strings weren't really trimmed, and there were more then two winds on the A-G strings so I wasn't sure. Figured if I trimmed 'em I'd have more then enough play and walla!

I'll get used to this I'm sure. It's a new funky toy.