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Kubicki club, part 2

#641
ThomasTronics said:
I've been reading the Kubicki Original Manual that's available online. Correct me if my ears are wrong...
Mine is a 1993.

The tone pot sounds like the upper knob is a bass boost and the lower knob is a treble boost. According to the manual it should be the other way around ?? Saltydude you said yours was a '93.
Click to expand...

Yes I have a 93. However I’ve never seen any deviation in any of the active boards 18 or 9V other than the way they click and feel. Also the ridges on the stacked pots vary a bit through the years. The finish on the 18’s boards knobs are anodized opposed to a more glossy painted look on the 9’s.

The only different thing I’ve seen personally is at some point Phil worked on my 85 (previous owner). The owner requested the passive and active settings balanced out so there not such a major boost switching back and forth. Phil must’ve added a resistor somewhere.

I honestly very rarely use the active circuits on the Factors. In fact I’ve removed the batteries from most of them. It produces more white noise than I prefer once the signals sent through all my effects. That’s why I prefer the 18v boards with its three passive settings.

I included a picture of the controls from my 93’s owners manual.
 

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#642
saltydude said:
Yes I have a 93. However I’ve never seen any deviation in any of the active boards 18 or 9V other than the way they click and feel. Also the ridges on the stacked pots vary a bit through the years. The finish on the 18’s boards knobs are anodized opposed to a more glossy painted look on the 9’s.

The only different thing I’ve seen personally is at some point Phil worked on my 85 (previous owner). The owner requested the passive and active settings balanced out so there not such a major boost switching back and forth. Phil must’ve added a resistor somewhere.

I honestly very rarely use the active circuits on the Factors. In fact I’ve removed the batteries from most of them. It produces more white noise than I prefer once the signals sent through all my effects. That’s why I prefer the 18v boards with its three passive settings.

I included a picture of the controls from my 93’s owners manual.
Click to expand...

That's funny - I am the opposite, never use the passive setting and only use the 2 active settings. (so I prefer the 9v version!) Something for everyone! If I knew that Phil could balance the output of the A/P I would have had him do that because it is a big difference and my only criticism of his electronics. By comparison a G&L L-2000 has a very even output difference between the two and because of that I use both passive and active. The active gives a bit of boost and not a surge of higher output. (related to mid-song use) But I can totally understand how one using only the passive setting would prefer the 18v system.
 
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#645
To each his own.

I do use the active settings on a couple songs I like the punch but it’s quiet creamy sustaining passive for me. Three options right on the board. Sit subtly in the mix or stand right out. Simple.

My signal becomes very active when I send it through my board but without all the ppppssss^%**bbbb%^*+%}]zzzzzz.
 
#646
For me there is one saving grace to the active 9V board I do really like.

It’s different in the sense it has a sizzle very similar to a Zon sound I really like and find difficult to get on the 18V board.

Funny I guess I do prefer the active circuit on the 9V. You guys need to re visit the 18v board again. Tastes change.
 
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#647
I prefer the brightest passive setting on the 18v board. I've never had or tried the 9v pre, just stating what I have. I like the active "without bass boost" setting, however, I find it lacking just a bit in the bottom while the other setting is way too boomy for me.

One idea I haven't gotten around to trying is to use the super boomy setting while recording and then compress the heck out of it. I'm thinking it might be a cool synth bass kind of sound.
 
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#648
I'm all about that first setting. But when i get in that Motown or muscle shoals feel i put that second setting active setting on and roll up the treble for sone clarity.

Love thus bass. I'm still trying to find that output and mid balance so i can channel my inner geddy lee
 
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#649
zuma said:
I prefer the brightest passive setting on the 18v board. I've never had or tried the 9v pre, just stating what I have. I like the active "without bass boost" setting, however, I find it lacking just a bit in the bottom while the other setting is way too boomy for me.

One idea I haven't gotten around to trying is to use the super boomy setting while recording and then compress the heck out of it. I'm thinking it might be a cool synth bass kind of sound.
Click to expand...

Interesting... is there a chance that the 9v harness had the same 'passive brightest position' as a 18v? The same.., but different? Or was this just part of the advantage of another 9v battery and expanded circuitry?
 
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#653
I've been spending some time to get my new baby back to factory setup.

Is it just me or does the recommended neck relief of 1/32" or .03125 on the feeler gauge seem extremely high.

Fender factory relief is .010-.013 pending on radius. Even watching and learning fron Dan Earlwine uses a 1/64"...

I know it comes down to preference and generally I like a very straight neck 0.012 on feeler gauge.

Opinions anyone?
 
#655
I like 'em fairly straight too. I don't use a gauge though.. just sight the gap midway while holding down the first and last frets.
If I don't get it perfect, no big deal. I just don't want the notes to choke out. I'll back off a little if I get any of that. Twice a year, the it's going to need to be tweaked anyway.
 
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#657
Relsom said:
I like 'em fairly straight too. I don't use a gauge though.. just sight the gap midway while holding down the first and last frets.
If I don't get it perfect, no big deal. I just don't want the notes to choke out. I'll back off a little if I get any of that. Twice a year, the it's going to need to be tweaked anyway.
Click to expand...

This. I used to get all crazy with measurements and gauges. It's nice to measure what you like and all but it's much quicker to get back to making music by doing this.
 
#658
The more I play and fall in love with this bass. It amazes me that they are really only becoming popular in the past coupe years. If it had a head stock i wonder if it would have kept it's popularity.

I absolutely love the active settings and eq. Especially that first bright setting. I'm surprised to find many kubicki fans using the passive settings, which to me would be like using a fodera with a passive setting. The beauty of this beast of a bass is its versatility and sustain. Makes all my fenders pretend like they don't hold a note.

Saw one of these on sale at $3500 usd on reverb think they'll just keep going up? I mean a limited production bass and all expertly crafted
 
#660
That sweet sweet passive tone.
I prefer the hot knife through butter...:bassist:

What about the second active setting that booms. Roll to the bridge pickup and increase the treble boost? Everything i hear on recording in the studio is... you need a p bass dats it
 
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