Kubicki club, part 2

[zuma]

All of this reminds me, I once let go of a trans-blue Ex-Factor. Long story... I put it on consignment and got burned on the deal. Anyhow, I hope to see it someday. I don't necessarily want it back, just wanna know where it ended up. It was the same color as this blue one, but it was not a fade from black and you could see the wood grain underneath.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

the first 500 +/- FCS units were equipped with the 18V board and weren’t stamped as I’m sure you’re privy to. I’ve got an Ivory 89 that falls into this era. 90 though? Much past the cut off and nearly impossible it was made by Phil.

Edit: Phil spent much of not all of his time working on Key factors and the few 5 strings he made in 90. I’d be surprised if he made even one ExFactor that year.

I hope he made my 89

No $hit. I didn’t even notice. Haha.

I have an 89 FCS that is 18V; I really hope it is one that Phil assembled.
I have a charcoal and a white but would have loved that blue. Alas, I snoozed too long ;-)

Whoever bought it will be very happy!

 

[Kubicki Fan]

I am very psyched and thanks for all the support! During Covid I wasn't looking and a mint '12 Ruby Red Ric hit me the same way. Hadda pounce! I knew this wouldn't last so I was on the phone to them first thing this morning.
And Elderly is a class place with a 10 days from shipping return window - I should get around 5, enough time to push it around!

Congrats!! Beautiful bass.

 

[JIO]

All of this reminds me, I once let go of a trans-blue Ex-Factor. Long story... I put it on consignment and got burned on the deal. Anyhow, I hope to see it someday. I don't necessarily want it back, just wanna know where it ended up. It was the same color as this blue one, but it was not a fade from black and you could see the wood grain underneath.

I refinished my '89 black Ex-Factor in a transparent burnt orange with a tung oil clear-coat. I sold it many years ago and wonder if I'll ever see it again. Getting the factory finish off was a bear - it had a very impervious grey (epoxy?) primer/base coat.

 

[zuma]

So much for letting the wood "breathe" with an epoxy like that, eh? Perhaps the tone is in the epoxy after all? Wow, that must have required quite a lot of elbow grease!

 

[bassclef112]

Do you mean the original 9v FCS/Kubicki pre was replaced with an 18v Kubicki pre?

No, it's still 9v. On the orig one - part of the issue may have been the vol/bal was very difficult to turn. The replacement is clearly straight in comparison and pro install.

 

[bassclef112]

Congrats!! Beautiful bass.

Thank you! I am diggin' it!.

 

[JIO]

So much for letting the wood "breathe" with an epoxy like that, eh? Perhaps the tone is in the epoxy after all? Wow, that must have required quite a lot of elbow grease!

Yes, I "freed" it so the alder could finally breath! Honestly, I don't recall it sounding 'better', but it still sounded like a Kubicki!

 

[PaulS]

It came this morning. First, case is in VG cond. Open it up - and the bass is in great shape. Zero fret wear! The previous owner babied it in every way. Pre-amp replaced, orig included, plus a small bag with 4 or 5 opamp chips. Would seem he knew enough to mod the pcb. Anyway, everything works as it should. I put on a set of DR Lo-Riders and we like them. Love to hear some Chromes. Next time.
I feel real lucky to make this grab! I'm going to enjoy this for a while!
View attachment 4924289

congrats looks awesome! Enjoy!

 

[JIO]

humm... can you say, pricy? Someone is free to 'ask' what they want, but at least get the info on it straight. It's Ex-Factor (extended E string) not X-Factor - that was a TV series. And I think Phil called it Graffiti Yellow? (not canary yellow) but that colour seems pretty rare, you don't see them come up. (not rare enough to justify that price though) It's also someone with 0 sales (1st eBay post) Sounds like someone inherited their uncles Ex-Factor and is attempting to cash out. Of course I could be wrong about all this - it's merely idle conjecture on my part.

X Factor bass | eBay

 

[PaulS]

The finish on this one is just…idk

Phillip Kubicki ex-Factor bass | eBay

 

[JIO]

the first 500 +/- FCS units were equipped with the 18V board and weren’t stamped as I’m sure you’re privy to. I’ve got an Ivory 89 that falls into this era. 90 though? Much past the cut off and nearly impossible it was made by Phil.

Edit: Phil spent much of not all of his time working on Key factors and the few 5 strings he made in 90. I’d be surprised if he made even one ExFactor that year.

This is from The Kubicki Factor fb page ;

Hello Factor friends! Your help is needed. We are trying to pinpoint the earliest appearence of the Fender 9 volt circuitboard. Initially Fender used 18 volt boards and we would like to pinpoint the time frame for the change to 9 volt. I have a documented example, 2111 from 02/90. If you have a lower number, please post the serial number and date here. Please do not post if your number is not lower than the previous post! Thanks for your help. Lowest number so far is JR from Australia! 1823 11/89

 

[JIO]

The finish on this one is just…idk

Phillip Kubicki ex-Factor bass | eBay

Interesting ... yah, never seen a Kubicki in sparkle. But getting all the original parts might be worth resurrecting. (and stripping that disco finish) Here's what looks like a silver-leaf/gilded base and top trans-colour fade finish that looks pretty cool. I've done similar gilded/trans-colour finishes.

 

[IanStephenson]

This is from The Kubicki Factor fb page ;

Hello Factor friends! Your help is needed. We are trying to pinpoint the earliest appearence of the Fender 9 volt circuitboard. ... Lowest number so far is JR from Australia! 1823 11/89

Seems like they're only tackling half the problem... The other part of the question is what's the highest 18v? Only when you get that will you know you've found the lowest 9v!

I can't help much - my 18v is very early Fender (not FCS stamped) and my 9v is far later.

 

[shriekback]

The finish on this one is just…idk

Phillip Kubicki ex-Factor bass | eBay

From the seller's description, it likely started out as Bahama Green. Unconventional, for sure, but ugly? Not in my book. I miss my old Bahama Green Ex-Factor (sold in the '90s to pay for a term of grad. school) a lot.

Worse than the refinish, in my opinion, are the mods to the electronics. I'm a huge nut for Steinbergers, so it's not like I have anything against EMGs (I love them in fact), but I think this Factor has been about half-wrecked. It sounds "dark"? I can make my unmodified 18v fretless Factor (34'' scale) sound dark if I want it to. I'm mighty glad I have other options, however.

The multiple re-frets suggest that, if it hasn't been entirely well-cared for, it has at least been much played in its life. So cheers to that!

 

[JIO]

From the seller's description, it likely started out as Bahama Green. Unconventional, for sure, but ugly? Not in my book. I miss my old Bahama Green Ex-Factor (sold in the '90s to pay for a term of grad. school) a lot.

Worse than the refinish, in my opinion, are the mods to the electronics. I'm a huge nut for Steinbergers, so it's not like I have anything against EMGs (I love them in fact), but I think this Factor has been about half-wrecked. It sounds "dark"? I can make my unmodified 18v fretless Factor (34'' scale) sound dark if I want it to. I'm mighty glad I have other options, however.

The multiple re-frets suggest that, if it hasn't been entirely well-cared for, it has at least been much played in its life. So cheers to that!

A Kubicki Ex-Factor is one if those basses that there is no reason in the world to 'mod', short of a re-finish. The guy should have just bought a Steinberger -he made one that sorta' looked like an Ex-Factor.

 

[IanStephenson]

I saw this video a few months ago. Recorded in 2002, it includes some close ups of the legendary factor 5. While this may have been the first time I saw such good coverage of it, I was previously aware that (as shown here) it's blue. No electronics fitted.



However today I found this excellent 1990 factory tour video, and Phil is pretty explicit that the 5 WILL be launching in Jan 1991... And we shows off the bass [18 mins in] that's ready to go into production. No pickups but it does have electronics...but... IT'S RED!!!!!

The legend (as I heard it) is that there's only one, blue factor 5 prototype.

Of course there's a simple explanation - that it was resprayed blue. But why strip the bass back and refinish a prototype that's just been built? Or... the project was further along than previously thought. If Fender were due to start building this thing in a few months, then wouldn't Phil be sending them a prototype at this stage?

By all accounts Phil loved to talk, except about the things he didn't want to talk about. The ONE blue factor 5 we all know about, but when the deal with Fender went south, did he stop talking about the OTHER prototype?

Is there a RED Factor 5 locked in a vault somewhere at Fender R&D?

Maybe it was just resprayed. There is only one... in which case ignore my crazy talk and enjoy the factory tour vids...

 

[ModuMan]

Red 5, you say? The Force is strong with this one!

Yeah, it's definitely red. Would be very interesting to find out what became of it

 

[zuma]

Wow. Great detective work and I look forward to watching that video soon.

Red 5, you say? The Force is strong with this one!

Nice one! How did I miss that?!

 

[ThomasTronics]

Haven't we all watched these videos many times lol
I watch the one of Phil in the 90s and I have a 90s Kubicki, Maybe that was my bass.