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Kubicki club?

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#661
AJ Brown said:
Just wanted to gauge opinion on the following..

I just purchased the '86 powder blue Ex-Factor in the classifieds. I'm definitely planning on having Phil perform at least the Package 1 service, and depending on the condition of the neck perhaps a neck refinish. I'm also wondering about refinishing the body. It's not that I don't like the color, but it's not my favorite. So here are the choices:

1) Send the body to Pat Wilkins to refinish in the color of my choice.

2) Send the body to Pat Wilkins to see how close he can come to the original color while preserving the logo. I'd at least want to get all dings and cracks taken care of.

3) Not refinish at all and deal with the dings, dents, cracks (aka "mojo")

I most likely won't base my choice on what is said here, but I'm curious as to the results.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I'm going to have to go with either #1 or #3. You should either leave it be--it looks pretty cool--or, if you don't care for the relic look, go the total custom route. Imagine an Ex-Factor in tangerine orange or silver! Perhaps some stripes or even, as I suggested before, a pickguard. All you'd have to do is become a famous player, and it would be worth a mint. How much more would a Rickenbacker that Geddy Lee customized to his liking be worth, compared to a standard model he just happened to play?

Either way, congrats on the purchase. I hope the gig goes well.
 
#662
Well, the '86 Ex-Factor came early Saturday morning. It was in a little bit better shape than I thought and sounds incredible. I was able to rock it at the gig for a set...

dsc04990-640.jpg


I'm still on the fence about painting it. I think the blue is growing on me, but I can't help but think that this would look spectacular in Candy Apple Orange.
 
#666
AJ Brown said:
Well, the '86 Ex-Factor came early Saturday morning. It was in a little bit better shape than I thought and sounds incredible. I was able to rock it at the gig for a set...

dsc04990-640.jpg


I'm still on the fence about painting it. I think the blue is growing on me, but I can't help but think that this would look spectacular in Candy Apple Orange.
Click to expand...


LEAVE IT BROTHER!!! That blue kicks ass!
 
#673
Man, the Kubicki just killed at last night's gig. Once I got a handle on the preamp and controls, I was able to dial up almost anything I was thinking.

BTW - does anyone know what mids frequency is boosted for the second active selection? To me it sound like more like a bass boost, so I'm guessing it's low. Also, I'm guessing that the pre-Fender preamps didn't have the accessible trimmer to adjust that frequency either, cause I coulnd't find it.
 
#675
shriekback said:
I am not sure what is boosted in the various preamp selections, but you are right that there is no trim pot in the non FCS licensed preamps (either pre- or post-Fender). They are amazingly versatile even without that control, however, aren't they?
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Absolutely versatile! I would have loved to trim that mid boost though.
 
#676
I should have said that it sure doesn't sound like a mid boost to me, but more like a mid cut with a low boost. I have to be careful with it--turn that knob with the volume very far up and my Acme cabs will rattle windows across the street.

I know that many here tend not to use the passive settings on their Factors. I didn't either for a long time. The gain is substantially lower, but if you compensate on your preamp, they sound really, really good. Granted, my Factor 4 is fretless with Chrome flats on it, which may make a difference, but recently I have been really enjoying the clarity and airiness of the pickups in passive mode. Don't write those settings off just because the gain is lower. They sound like how people describe Lane Poor pickups.
 
#677
No joke - that 2nd active setting is some serious bass boost! Personally, I rarely use it. Some folks here have a copy of Phil's manual for the non-FCS Factors, it probably says in there.

but yeah it is almost all bass.
 
#678
The Kubicki manual just says it has "middle frequencies" boosted, but yeah, it's pretty damn low all the same. I use that setting when gigging to fatten up my overall tone, and roll off some of the bottom end with my amp to avoid it being overpowering on the lower strings. Very versatile. I'm also very fond of the 5th setting (passive, middle frequencies cut) for a nice, warm sound. Whatever the setting, though, you can rely on the Kubi to carve its niche nice and deep in the mix - really distinctive and complements the other instruments wonderfully.
 
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