Kubicki club?

[zuma]

It sounds like you are talking about some Stu Hamm inspired scratchplates. I know there are pictures of that somewhere around here. Perhaps Google those two and see what images show up.

[adriandmello]

Eerr ........anyone in the Washington dc or Los Angeles area looking to sell a kubicki ex factor pl pl pl PM me ASAP .... Thanks regards Adrian

[Wally Malone]

Can anyone tell me if a Roland GK-3B pickup fits on their Kubicki X Factor to use with a Roland V-Bass?

Thanks,

Wally

[adriandmello]

Good question. I too thought the bridge pick was too close to the bridge to allow it. I was considering the gk3b with the gr55. By the way has anyone had any inputs on the gr55 in bass mode

[KRick]

Hi

this is my King, 1996 fretless lined



Can I have club number?

[Wally Malone]

Got the GK3B pickup and as I thought it does not fit on the Kubicki.

Wally

[factorplayer]

Originally Posted by KRick

Hi

this is my King, 1996 fretless lined



Can I have club number?

Dude that is sweet! Don't see the lined fingerboard version so much - love it!!

I don't think we do the number thing so much, maybe in part 2 of our thread since it's only a page away or so.

[KRick]

Originally Posted by factorplayer

Dude that is sweet! Don't see the lined fingerboard version so much - love it!!

I don't think we do the number thing so much, maybe in part 2 of our thread since it's only a page away or so.

Thank you, some pics for all Kubicki fan

[sirmoog]

Em... if anyone is thinking about investing in straplocks (specifically Jim Dunlop SLS1033BK) to install on their Kubicki... I would suggest not to as I just found out the hard way. It would require a slight modification on the bass itself (which I am in no way willing to do on my precious Ex-Factor). Good thing I have a friend working in the music store who gave me the locks for free :teehee:

For one thing, the screws are a little thicker than what is already installed by Phil and on the strap button on the bridge, because the screw hole is drilled directly into the bridge mechanism, it would only allow a certain lenghth of screw to go in. On the neck strap, it just required me to drill a slightly bigger hole.

On the other hand if anyone has installed a different straplock to their Kubicki without having to alter the actual bass in anyway, please let us know.

[shriekback]

Straplocks on a Kubicki? You must get pretty acrobatic when playing.

I replace standard "button" style strap posts with straplocks but I've never worried at all about my Factor slipping off the strap. Keep the "wings" horizontal to the opening in the strap and the latter is not going anywhere.

[zuma]

Originally Posted by shriekback

Straplocks on a Kubicki? You must get pretty acrobatic when playing.

I replace standard "button" style strap posts with straplocks but I've never worried at all about my Factor slipping off the strap. Keep the "wings" horizontal to the opening in the strap and the latter is not going anywhere.

I must agree with this. Sometimes I find it a real pain to get the strap OFF of my bass with those wing nut style buttons. Incidentally, you can get them at StewMac.com.

[Wally Malone]

Purchased my Kubicki in 1986 and the strap has been on it from the beginning. It fits in the case and the gig bag with no problems. I never have to worry about it coming off.

Wally

[jeffbonny]

Originally Posted by zuma

Sometimes I find it a real pain to get the strap OFF of my bass with those wing nut style buttons.

That's why I replaced the wing buttons. I sit as much as I stand and the strap comes on and off a lot. For me they're overkill and a pain in the butt. I used Straplok Duel Design buttons just as regular buttons without the strap hardware. I did have to file the head of the machine screw going into the tuner assembly to get it to seat in the button.

[sirmoog]

The straplocks were supposed to be an enhancement on the excellent Gripper Strap Buttons (which I quite like). I'm not really acrobatic but during practices I have to take the bass off sometimes and it's happened that while wearing it back on, the strap has come off a couple of times. Just a mild annoyance really. I just need to be careful.

[TRichardsbass]

Best to leave the Gripper buttons on the Kubicki. If you make sure the button is perpendicular to the hole, you are fine and then some.

Here is a live clip of punk-pop done with my now long gone purple Ex Factor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPksRfy1FVA

For poops and giggles.

[factorplayer]

I'm now on the hunt for a Key Factor 5! Let it be known!

[Pkaaso]

Will keep the eyes open for you Factor.....

[banditcosmo]

There's one on E-Bay.

[Macrocosmcwh]

I have my first Kubicki coming on MONDAY!!!! Serial number 2079 0290 FCS. I found it on CL for 850.00 Black fretless... I didnt really want a fretless Kubicki... But for 850.00 how could I pass it up!!!! Perhaps I can find a Ex-Factor Neck somewhere and make it a switchable bass! =)

I will post pictures of it once it gets here! I am so excited. I have wanted one of these almost my whole life. I am so excited because it is here in Phoenix locked up at UPS... Shoot I want to break in and go get it! =)

If you are issuing numbers I would like one! Also if there are any other Kubicki owners on here in Phoenix Say hello!

On another note... Over the last year I had sent Phil a few emails. What a great guy!! He has called me a couple of times to see how my search is going for a Kubicki bass. He said in his last call that he is running out of time... His exact words were... "If you want me to build you a bass you need to do it pretty soon... I wont be around forever."

Made me kinda sad... well really sad....

Here are the last few emails I sent him and he sent back....

Hello Charding; Thank you for the thoughtful email. I'm just me, like anyone else. You have your proud moments that are fin but it is just a normal existence.

Phil

From: charding@
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 11:52 PM
To: Phil Kubicki
Subject: Re: Hello from Arizona.... Sorry for the long email....

Thank you for sending a reply.... Alas, no I haven't found my Kubicki yet! I will! I am not wanting a key factor and that seems to be the only basses floating about right now. I guess I am hoping to find that perfectly pristine Ex-factor! (Other than the yellow one you have that we talked about.... Can't afford it! ) .

I have to ask, what is it like to be you? I mean, to know that you have made such an impact on people's lives! People listen to music recorded with your bass. When you made all those instruments did you ever stop and think about what you were actually doing. Where they would end up, or where they might be heard? You have given this world an awesome gift. The players are nothing without their tools to make noise. It's so much more than a piece of wood electronics and strings... It is, at the risk of sounding cheesy, the conduit of ones desire to emote there very personal emotion through music. It would be awesome to be you. I know I said this before but THANK YOU.... Thank you. I will never have the chance to say thank you to Tony Stradivarius or to Andy Amati or Theo Haberline, but I am fortunate enough to have on the other end of this email another legend in my mind.... You.

So thank you for not only impacting my life in both youth and even today as a musical "has been".

I will one day have a bass you made. It will be a great day!

I hope you have a great day today and do so knowing that there are many like me who love that you were passionate enough and brave enough to make something that will last forever in this world. Your instrument.

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 2, 2012, at 2:11 PM, "Phil Kubicki" <philipkubicki@roadrunner.com> wrote:
Hello Christian: I think I overlooked your nice email to me. What a story.

Did you ever find the bass you were looking for? You should keep trying on ebay.

I wish you all the best. Phil

From: charding@
Sent: Thursday, January 5, 2012 11:25 AM
To: phil@kubicki.com
Subject: Hello from Arizona.... Sorry for the long email....

Hello Mr. Kubicki,
My name is Christian Harding and here is my story. I am a 37 year old man who works as a finance director for a local car dealership. I have found passion in music again after a long journey.

I remember being a child of the 80’s reading guitar magazine and seeing people like Stu Hamm, John Taylor, Roger Waters and a local player in Lubbock Texas where I grew up all playing your bass. I am a fan… Who could forget a bass that made the Lamborghini Countach or the Vector look like horrible design mistakes And that sound…. Wow…. I still remember listening to Stu Hamm on a tape I had of him over and over again…. Anyway I digress. It was YOUR BASS that made me decide in the 5th grade to become a musician. However, to my surprise the local Iles Elementary did not have a cool Kubicki bass for me to play. So I decided to play the cello. Fast forward a bit and you see me in High School wining almost every cello competition I decided to enter. I studied with Yo-Yo Ma at Tanglewood. I got a scholarship to Eastman School of Music, CCM, Indiana State, Mannes School of music, a cold rejection letter from Julliard (those snobby bastards ) However because of money in my household I ended up at Arizona State University on a full ride. (The nice weather and cute girls didn’t hurt either)

It was at ASU that my musical world kinda ended. Half way through my Junior year of school, I suffered a heart attack. During that recovery I believe that what brought that on was no question the stress that I held about “becoming a professional musician”. My passion had become my profession. Where I used to play what I wanted to and watch as people enjoyed the music I produced, I was now being asked to play music that others wanted to hear. I began to HATE music. I know this sounds weird… But to me it was larger than life and I walked away from music with the exception of the Sony CD walkman that I had and the huge collection of CD’s.

Fast forward again. Now in my 30’s I have a very successful career in the car biz… and I traded in my Sony CD walkman for a Mac book Air filled with 27,000+ songs. Sitting across from me at my last job, another musician who walked away from his passion in order to feed his family. A drummer, named Greg. Greg asked me if I wanted to come play in his METAL BAND… I said Greg, I am a cellist… I am not sure what you want me to play. He said his bass player was an alcoholic and he needed someone he could count on. He invited me to come to a rehearsal and play his bass players bass. I did… and though tuned in 4ths vs. 5ths I managed. Well… I got the gig… I went to guitar center to purchase my first bass and amp so I could join the band. Once again…. No Kubicki =( Had to settle on a Schecter. Went on to play with the band and lay down a demo CD with them. The band was picked up by Dark Lord Records (A Sony Company) and I was promptly kicked out of the band because I was not “metal enough”… (Thank God) ha-ha However, one thing I must thank Greg for is making me love music again. Playing and performing again is such a high. Making music FOR MYSELF again. I have fallen in love with music again. Now when I get home all I want to do is play and play and play. AND NOW I CAN PLAY THE BASS WHAT I WANTED TO PLAY BACK IN THE 5TH GRADE!!!!!

Since then I have acquired a nice 6 a couple more 5 strings and I just bought my first 4 banger and it’s a Steinberger Steinberger. (Don’t get mad I can’t find or get a pre-owned Kubicki). This leads me to why I am sending you this email. I WANT A KUBICKI!!!!!!!! Since I was in the 4th grade I HAVE WANTED A KUBICKI!!!!! However, now I have kids mortgage cars bills bills bills…. And as much as I would love to plop down 4-5k to have you build one for me… I just don’t have that money (well I do… now getting my other half to understand my passion for your instruments since I was in the 4th grade and allow me to spend it on your bass is another story)

Anyway… I want one… badly… I would sell every bass I have to get one… Almost every day I check craigslist and the web to try and find one… and almost every time they get snatched up before I can get it! What an albatross. I feel like I am trying to find a unicorn!!! I don’t really know where to look to find a pre-owned one… I seek your direction. I seek a Kubicki… Can I have one built?? Can you help me find “the one”

Thank you for your time. Please feel free to call my mobile number below if you have any advice.

Just thought you all might be interested in reading.

Cant wait until Monday!!!!!

[DrDAV14]

Just talked to Jewel his assistant. They have shipped my bass, should be here later this week. Will post pics when it arrives.
This is my 5th Ex-Factor over the years, Phil has resurrected a few of them for me, great work, super guy. Always good for his word and work, a true gentleman with a passion for his design and work. Hope I can be as much in my life.
Godspeed Phil