Kubicki club, part 2

[Relsom]

I hoped you would ask! After stripping I stained it orange and then hand-applied multiple coats of tung-oil. There was a deep ding on the lower 'horn' area so I left it and added a rhinestone. (sold many years ago)

View attachment 5239437

That's really nice. Love trans orange. Great work!

 

[JIO]

Wow! In that case, you uncovered a beautiful (one) piece of wood! Nice work. I think the orange really fits Phil's aesthetic.

That's really nice. Love trans orange. Great work!

Thanks! The '80s were all about bright, bold pastel colours and PK didn't shy away from that. (Bahama Green, Salmon Pink, and the rare Yellow colour) It was 'in the air'. I spoke with him on the phone in the mid-'90s and he said the pink was a late '50s DeSoto colour. I played a pink late '80s Ex-Factor in an SF shop then but had just bought the black one.

 

[ModuMan]

Who knew such nice-looking wood was under there?

I like the rhinestone too.

 

[Relsom]

I like the rhinestone too.

Kind of reminds me of a nose stud though, but who am I to judge.

 

[ModuMan]

Kind of reminds me of a nose stud though, but who am I to judge.

ha! I kinda like that you can call even more attention to a spot that you might otherwise feel bad about. Sorta like a kintsugi repair where you use gold instead of trying to hide a crack.

Probably looks cool under lights too.

 

[JIO]

ha! I kinda like that you can call even more attention to a spot that you might otherwise feel bad about. Sorta like a kintsugi repair where you use gold instead of trying to hide a crack.

Probably looks cool under lights too.

Yes, it's a feature, not a bug... (wabi sabi) like a face mole ("beauty mark") on a beautiful woman...

 

[ZuluFoxtrot]

Had a great 1st Kubicki gig today. Ergonomics are a little odd with the 32” scale but the neck is far out so felt more like a 34” scale. I loved and used the D Extender for 2 or 3 songs. Very functional.

DR Pure Blues installed using the 9” rule. Old strings were measured at 4” past the saddle.

 

[zuma]

What's the round fan looking thing on your gig bag?

 

[ZuluFoxtrot]

It is a portable USB battery powered fan. I clip it to my iPad stand for those gigs that get warm. I LOVE it!!!

https://a.co/d/6IUW94W

What's the round fan looking thing on your gig bag?

 

[zuma]

It is a portable USB battery powered fan. I clip it to my iPad stand for those gigs that get warm. I LOVE it!!!

https://a.co/d/6IUW94W

I'm a fan of your idea.

 

[txhawaii]

First off...great page. I love that there's a Kubicki club. Let me also say I do not own one. When they were affordable, I had no money. Now that I do, they are unaffordable. I think there was one listed on tb recently and it was like over $4k!!! I remember when they were under $1k. I also remember when Apple was like a penny stock but I had no dinero then either. Oh well...

My question is what is the true sound of the 80s? Is is the exFactor or is it the Aria Pro II?

Back in the late 90s, the SB 1000's were also in the $1k range but they haven't shot up as much as the Factors. They are still in the "unaffordable" category if you ask me.

I'd love to own a Kubicki and/or an SB but it really doesn't matter because JT plays a Dingwall today. And what a custom model with that Nagel touch!!!!

 

[JIO]

First off...great page. I love that there's a Kubicki club. Let me also say I do not own one. When they were affordable, I had no money. Now that I do, they are unaffordable. I think there was one listed on tb recently and it was like over $4k!!! I remember when they were under $1k. I also remember when Apple was like a penny stock but I had no dinero then either. Oh well...

My question is what is the true sound of the 80s? Is is the exFactor or is it the Aria Pro II?

Back in the late 90s, the SB 1000's were also in the $1k range but they haven't shot up as much as the Factors. They are still in the "unaffordable" category if you ask me.

I'd love to own a Kubicki and/or an SB but it really doesn't matter because JT plays a Dingwall today. And what a custom model with that Nagel touch!!!!

I've owned a few Ex-Factors back when they were under $1k ($750-$800) but I wasn't a big '80s music advocate - I liked the Ex-Factor because of its design. And, I love the sound of a Kubicki pre - I can pick it out before I see the bass. (this actually happened once!) And it is his pre that sounds like that - I have two Fender/Kubicki 9v pre's in two of my basses (a J and a T-bird) and both live and recorded - they both sound like a Kubicki. However, they don't have Phil's exceptional drop-D Ex-tention which makes a Kubicki Ex-Factor exceptional to this day. So to answer your question, I'm not familiar with the SB 1000 so I can't say how they are different, but I don't think an Ex-Factor sounds '80s, unless it's slapped maybe. To me it sounds like a very distinctive bass, one that could be picked out in a blindfold test by those who have internalized that sound.

But I hear you, they are prohibitively priced now. When I bought my 1st Ex-Factor (a black '86) I called the Kubicki phone # (pre-internet, at least for me!... about '94) thinking I'd be talking to a rep. Phil himself answered and generously gave me a lot of info. (I knew very little about them then) In the conversation he asked how much I bought the '86 for, and I said $800. He said "I'd have paid that!" As much as they are now going for over what they were new - if Phil was still alive I think he'd be happy that his basses are now going for such prices.

I'd like a birth year bass too... but a '53 P-bass is a bit out of my reach.

 

[Relsom]

I've owned a few Ex-Factors back when they were under $1k ($750-$800) but I wasn't a big '80s music advocate - I liked the Ex-Factor because of its design. And, I love the sound of a Kubicki pre - I can pick it out before I see the bass. (this actually happened once!) And it is his pre that sounds like that - I have two Fender/Kubicki 9v pre's in two of my basses (a J and a T-bird) and both live and recorded - they both sound like a Kubicki. However, they don't have Phil's exceptional drop-D Ex-tention which makes a Kubicki Ex-Factor exceptional to this day. So to answer your question, I'm not familiar with the SB 1000 so I can't say how they are different, but I don't think an Ex-Factor sounds '80s, unless it's slapped maybe. To me it sounds like a very distinctive bass, one that could be picked out in a blindfold test by those who have internalized that sound.

But I hear you, they are prohibitively priced now. When I bought my 1st Ex-Factor (a black '86) I called the Kubicki phone # (pre-internet, at least for me!... about '94) thinking I'd be talking to a rep. Phil himself answered and generously gave me a lot of info. (I knew very little about them then) In the conversation he asked how much I bought the '86 for, and I said $800. He said "I'd have paid that!" As much as they are now going for over what they were new - if Phil was still alive I think he'd be happy that his basses are now going for such prices.

I'd like a birth year bass too... but a '53 P-bass is a bit out of my reach.

I was aware of Kubickis but was not in pursuit when I happened upon mine. I remember the photo of Vail Johnson in Viking horns holding what weird headstock up beside his face in a Bass Player magazine. And then much later saw Kenny Gradney several times with one.

My first encounter was at an open mic. I was the host bass player for the night. An acquaintance got up at one point while I was standing at the bar. All I remember was this fantastic fat, ballsy, yet articulate, unique, and wonderfully gut punching tone that immediately grabbed my attention.
Right after his few tunes I approached him and made all kinds of fuss about how I loved his tone. Just off the cuff I offered him an AVRI57 Precision in trade. To my surprise he shot back "OK". I was not there with the P-Bass so we set up a meeting at his house the next day. That's when I learned the real magic of the Kubicki... I love the clasp, and all the other great features of these basses.

Anyway, I had somewhere between $700 and $750 in that Precision, so almost 15 years ago, I think I did alright.

That one is still my #1.. a black 9v FCS. 5 more over the years, both 9v and 18v, and I can say the 9v setup is my preferred sound. For the last 10 years I've carried 2 '90 9v basses to each and every show. To me, they have a more balanced and manageable tone across the board without excessive boomy lows or shrill highs. I can't make comment about the highs on the 18v, but the lows can be overkill and somewhat difficult to tame.

I want to aqcuire a Pre-FCS '86~'89 if I can stumble on a decent deal, but my last 2 were over $3K and I don't see them trending any lower. So I'll likely not succeed in that quest.

 

[ThomasTronics]

My first experience was meeting a bass player to buy some gear and he showed me his kubicki. I had an "idea" about these basses but never played or seen one in person. He was open to selling it and got one for under $3k. I've been in love since.
Mines a '93 with the 18v and i will agree with Relsom that the 18v bass van get must wick so its too be used lightly but the treble signs great and classic kubicki.
They are great players and instruments. Live mine, will hate to pay with it one day.

 

[ThomasTronics]

@zuma don't you have a aria and a kubicki?

 

[JIO]

I was aware of Kubickis but was not in pursuit when I happened upon mine. I remember the photo of Vail Johnson in Viking horns holding what weird headstock up beside his face in a Bass Player magazine. And then much later saw Kenny Gradney several times with one.

My first encounter was at an open mic. I was the host bass player for the night. An acquaintance got up at one point while I was standing at the bar. All I remember was this fantastic fat, ballsy, yet articulate, unique, and wonderfully gut punching tone that immediately grabbed my attention.
Right after his few tunes I approached him and made all kinds of fuss about how I loved his tone. Just off the cuff I offered him an AVRI57 Precision in trade. To my surprise he shot back "OK". I was not there with the P-Bass so we set up a meeting at his house the next day. That's when I learned the real magic of the Kubicki... I love the clasp, and all the other great features of these basses.

Anyway, I had somewhere between $700 and $750 in that Precision, so almost 15 years ago, I think I did alright.

That one is still my #1.. a black 9v FCS. 5 more over the years, both 9v and 18v, and I can say the 9v setup is my preferred sound. For the last 10 years I've carried 2 '90 9v basses to each and every show. To me, they have a more balanced and manageable tone across the board without excessive boomy lows or shrill highs. I can't make comment about the highs on the 18v, but the lows can be overkill and somewhat difficult to tame.

I want to aqcuire a Pre-FCS '86~'89 if I can stumble on a decent deal, but my last 2 were over $3K and I don't see them trending any lower. So I'll likely not succeed in that quest.

Good description of your first impression hearing what became your 1st Ex-Factor. And yes - you did very well on that trade. I feel the exactly the same - when I got that used '86 in '93, for whatever reason it had the 9v pre in it. I don't really remember if it had Fender printed on it like FCS 9v's do. When Phil was installing the fretless neck in '94, he said he could 'return it to stock' by putting in an 18v. I said ok and that's when I experienced his original pre. But at that time I only used the 1st click (active boost) and never used the 2 passive settings. Even today, I barely use the one passive setting on the 9v. I think his characteristic sound/tone is that active boost setting. Helps save on cranking the amp gain too. Lately I've been playing through the passive setting just to experience it and it sounds really good too.

Long live Phil Kubicki.

 

[txhawaii]

Good description of your first impression hearing what became your 1st Ex-Factor. And yes - you did very well on that trade. I feel the exactly the same - when I got that used '86 in '93, for whatever reason it had the 9v pre in it. I don't really remember if it had Fender printed on it like FCS 9v's do. When Phil was installing the fretless neck in '94, he said he could 'return it to stock' by putting in an 18v. I said ok and that's when I experienced his original pre. But at that time I only used the 1st click (active boost) and never used the 2 passive settings. Even today, I barely use the one passive setting on the 9v. I think his characteristic sound/tone is that active boost setting. Helps save on cranking the amp gain too. Lately I've been playing through the passive setting just to experience it and it sounds really good too.

Long live Phil Kubicki.

View attachment 5242531

back in the 90s when I was broke, I remember emailing them to get info and surprisingly Phil wrote back and we talked about JT and the bass, etc.

 

[txhawaii]

@zuma don't you have a aria and a kubicki?

@zuma has played both in his yt videos. they sound awesome as does he.

 

[txhawaii]

I've owned a few Ex-Factors back when they were under $1k ($750-$800) but I wasn't a big '80s music advocate - I liked the Ex-Factor because of its design. And, I love the sound of a Kubicki pre - I can pick it out before I see the bass. (this actually happened once!) And it is his pre that sounds like that - I have two Fender/Kubicki 9v pre's in two of my basses (a J and a T-bird) and both live and recorded - they both sound like a Kubicki. However, they don't have Phil's exceptional drop-D Ex-tention which makes a Kubicki Ex-Factor exceptional to this day. So to answer your question, I'm not familiar with the SB 1000 so I can't say how they are different, but I don't think an Ex-Factor sounds '80s, unless it's slapped maybe. To me it sounds like a very distinctive bass, one that could be picked out in a blindfold test by those who have internalized that sound.

But I hear you, they are prohibitively priced now. When I bought my 1st Ex-Factor (a black '86) I called the Kubicki phone # (pre-internet, at least for me!... about '94) thinking I'd be talking to a rep. Phil himself answered and generously gave me a lot of info. (I knew very little about them then) In the conversation he asked how much I bought the '86 for, and I said $800. He said "I'd have paid that!" As much as they are now going for over what they were new - if Phil was still alive I think he'd be happy that his basses are now going for such prices.

I'd like a birth year bass too... but a '53 P-bass is a bit out of my reach.

aaahhh so its the 18v pre...and they fit into a jazz cavity? did you route the body for the double 9v?

 

[JIO]

aaahhh so its the 18v pre...and they fit into a jazz cavity? did you route the body for the double 9v?

Sorry if I wasn't clear - the FCS/Kubicki pre is 9v and that's what I have in my J & T-bird. In both basses I did have to create a specific rout for it. Any Kubicki Ex-Factor will fit one or two 9v batteries.