How useful is the Kubiki Drop D extension?

[SomewhatHarmles]

I saw this on a SBL video a few months back, and it sorta blew my mind.

For those of you with the Kubiki X Factor, how useful is the Drop D extension in real life?

I'm thinking of building a bass with the extension (but with a head, 30" scale) on my next build, after my first build is done.
Also, I'm a total noob to basses...so please pardon me if this is a dumb question.

 

[ardgedee]

with the extension (but with a head

You might want to do a mockup first to see how well it'll play that way. Part of why the Ex-Factor works is the headstock profile extends the neck's taper -- and the strings are mounted inside the head -- so the hand meets no interference on the extension. It just feels like the neck goes on a little longer for the low string.

 

[who]

@Bar Band Bassman

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Thanks for the heads up, @who. I use the extension regularly and sometimes can even use it for only a portion of a song. It's brilliant, really. Have a look at how double basses are modified with extensions. I love not having to alter scale patterns to play in "D".

BBB

 

[57pbass]

It’s a great feature and brilliantly done. You can quickly change the E to a D and the scale patterns remain the same.
I don’t use the traditional Drop D tuner since it changes the scale patterns.
I wish it was available on other instruments in some form.

 

[Father Gino]

It’s great. Better than a regular drop tuning key. I had difficulty fretting the low Eb which was an actual fret even though it was a fretless bass. However, I seldom wanted that low Eb, so I probably just never got used to it. My only other issue with it was forgetting it was engaged. You can go merrily along until you hit what you thought was the open E.

Keep in mind that X-factors are essentially 32” scale.

 

[ad9000]

I played an Ex Factor for a few months that was on loan from a friend and I used the extension frequently. It was handy and easy to operate, but I never felt like the low D or Eb notes had the weight or authority of the same notes on a 5 or 6-string, or even on one of my Fender basses with Hipshot D-tuners.

 

[Queue]

I have a Hipshot extender, which is handy. I think I'd prefer the Kubiki design better, but you can't easily retrofit that to a bass.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I used it occasionally but bought it for other reasons: it was a kickin' 32" 4 string, sounded great, and was / is extremely well-balanced / ergonomic. I've since switched to 5 strings and had a heckuva time finding one that ticked the same boxes.

Riis

 

[logdrum]

It is good. I think it is better than the Hipshot XTender ehich takes a lot to fine tune and will usually get out of tune after a few drops. I do think the Kubicki works best with strings 100 or 105 and some setup is needed. I know Hipshot has the double drop but not sure how that works with an E/Db/D -- I think the drops are whole steps but I do not have experience. There is one local for sale but no more basses for me.

Also that extension means you have a longer E string and you DF is not as floppy as am E string detuned to D

 

[JIO]

It's still the best design of a drop-D four string (headless) bass, first produced in the mid-'80s. That alone is saying a lot. But it is the whole package of an Ex-Factor that is unparalleled to this day. Classic non-gimmickry modern style, purposefully ergonomic design and a great sounding pre/pu combo.

 

[LowWay]

I had an ex-factor in the early 90s. The drop d, ergonomics, and bridge tuners were my favorite parts.

That drop d has never been surpassed.

 

[Akami]

I'm thinking of building a bass with the extension (but with a head, 30" scale) on my next build, after my first build is done.

Sure looking forward to seeing you're build utilizing this incredibly overlooked feature. Too bad that no one else ever took off with it, so hats off to you for putting it back on the table.

 

[W_R]

I had an Ex Factor for a while, and the extension feature was great, along with the other features of the instrument, it was a whole package, very cool. I would encourage digging into this, with some considerations about expected results.

Useful for several things definitely, but also a niche compromise, like many things. Compared to a tuned-down 4 string, to E flat or D standard, you are missing the nearby lowest notes (patterns) on the non-extended strings. I noticed it most with low E flat (some things tuned down a 1/2 step), since that note is not an open string and there can be a bit more sliding back and forth to fret the low E flat and back up. Plus long term I am wary of unique hardware parts that might be hard to find, I.e. that particular extender mechanism, or e.g. a TransTrem for guitar. That said, those aren’t huge problems, it could be a lot of fun to build and explore and enjoy, thumbs up

 

[tb-player]

The X-Factor was my main player in the mid-90s. The D-tuner was great. I used it regularly.

Funny story: playing with a band in the key of E… I had the bass in standard tuning. At a big point in the song, I moved my hand down and quickly lifted and dropped the D-tuner, to give a D-E hammer-on effect. I got a big stupid grin on my face because it sounded and felt so cool. I looked around, and no one in the band even noticed.

Still one of the most comfy basses I’ve owned. Also, excellent tuner mechanism and preamp.

 

[ga_edwards]

Personally, after using drop D tuning, with a Hipshot xtender for so long, the Kubicki would confuse me. I can appreciate the benefit of this system for many people, but for me, some riffs just work and sound 'better' in actual drop D tuning. It's probably because of the fingering patterns - they don't sound quite right when played in standard tuning, even on a 5 string. I'm thinking I'd find the same thing with the Kubicki system.

 

[Dincrest]

A creative idea for sure, especially for those who want access to those lower notes without breaking standard tuning.

However, my issue would be procuring strings for a bass like that. Getting double ball end strings is challenging enough, but to get 3 for one scale length and a 4th for another... okay, yeah multiscale string sets exist nowadays but Kubicki is still an anomaly. And what if you want a different gauge than the ones Kubicki offers? Kubicki.com | Philip Kubicki Factor Bass

Maybe because I'm a string-GASer, I'm not a fan of basses that limit my available string choices.

 

[dje31]

Perhaps a lower-impact solution: have bass tuned and setup to D-standard, and slap a capo on the second fret when you need E-standard.

 

[ardgedee]

Getting double ball end strings is challenging enough, but to get 3 for one scale length and a 4th for another... okay, yeah multiscale string sets exist nowadays but Kubicki is still an anomaly.

Kubicki's headless basses use single-ball strings. Ball mounts in the head, tuner clamps the other end.

 

[JIO]

A creative idea for sure, especially for those who want access to those lower notes without breaking standard tuning.

However, my issue would be procuring strings for a bass like that. Getting double ball end strings is challenging enough, but to get 3 for one scale length and a 4th for another... okay, yeah multiscale string sets exist nowadays but Kubicki is still an anomaly. And what if you want a different gauge than the ones Kubicki offers? Kubicki.com | Philip Kubicki Factor Bass

Maybe because I'm a string-GASer, I'm not a fan of basses that limit my available string choices.

The Ex-Factor uses standard single-ball strings and some brands sell single strings. I've used many different strings over the years and if I remember correctly some have been standard scale.

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