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Kubicki club?

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#864
I have been in the same position for years, either too cheap and in a bad shape or too expensive.

The one I have found was affordable at £1000 English pounds that's about 1562 of your green notes. (US$)

And actually in extremely good conditions, no buckle rush, big dents, just a few blemish that are difficult to note unless you start inspecting it against the light.

As for what to come to expect from it, well it's a lunatic of a bass, jeckill & hyde.

Extremely easy to play fantastic action and a strange preamp which baffled me a bit at first, with but eventually I got used to it now. Here is a mini review I wrote on the EX Factor:
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cheers
 
#865
zuma said:
That's an easy one for me. We have a similar story. I was definitely influenced by seeing John Taylor in Power Station and the Live Aid performances with his Kubicki but what really sealed the deal was the 1987 Strange Behaviour tour. Oh man, I was 14 or 15 and my older buddy took me with him to Irvine Meadows. We were RIGHT NEXT to one of the sidefills in the cheaper seats and that Factor sounded MASSIVE! I was in love with that tone ever since. I didn't get one til around 2003. It's one that I will never let go.
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Yeah I was a closeted Duran Duran fan. I love his Aria Pro bass he plays. That one is also on my list. A lot of my fav bands of the early 80s used those Arias. The Fixx and Haircut 100 being two of them.
 
#866
IntrepidCellist said:
I'd love to join you guys, but I'm unsure as to what to expect to pay for a Kubicki in reasonably good shape. Valuations are all over the place, from $800 to $2000+! The first I can do, the second one is out of my reach.

Any guidance?
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Make sure they specify if they are the Fender era or not, and whether they have 9v or 18V active systems. My 1990 black one is a Fender 9V era one when Fender took over production for a few years. I believe the early Kubicki-made ones were 9V systems and then went to 18V systems in early 90s after they took over again from Fender. My red one is post Fender and 18V. On average tho, expect to pay $1300-$1800 average for a regular painted finish with an 18V system depending on year and condition. IIRC, those listed for $2995 new.
 
#867
I posted my 1988 Pre Fender Kubicki ex factor serial number 1165 yesterday in the TB classifieds. I can't get used to the fretless and have had no luck finding a fretted neck for it.
 
#868
th_utf-8BSU1BRzA5OTcuanBn.gif


After some money issues,attempts and more attempts, I finally was able to get another Kubicki. This is my first since 1996,I've had 2 previously.

This is a 2005 spalted maple I bought from a fellow who no longer plays.

"Can I get a number"... now?
 
#870
patrickm said:
th_utf-8BSU1BRzA5OTcuanBn.gif


After some money issues,attempts and more attempts, I finally was able to get another Kubicki. This is my first since 1996,I've had 2 previously.

This is a 2005 spalted maple I bought from a fellow who no longer plays.

"Can I get a number"... now?
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Oh man that is a gorgeous Kubicki congrats and very nice.


As far as numbers, the TB'ers that started this thread are long gone as far as I can tell. We just haven't done the numbers thing here I guess. I've been toying with the idea of starting the next thread but just never got around to it. That would probably be a good time to do it.
 
#874
IntrepidCellist said:
Many thanks sir! :)

Also, for string changing, how long do you need the extra string length to be? Any idea how many inches past the center of the wheel? I don't want to waste a set of strings in the "learning" process!
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Well that is an easy one... doh :D Take out the string that is on the bass now measure it against the new string (if you are not using original Kubicki strings that is) and cut to the exact same length as that of the used string, but....... if you buy the original Kubicki Strings which is what every Kubicki owner here has rightly recommend, you don't have to worry as they arrive pre-cut to the correct length.

Here is a link to purchase Kubicki strings directly from Phil Kubicki:

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#876
First of all, that is a beauty Intrepid. I always loved that color. I think the Factor shape lends itself quite well to those brighter colors. I think Ernie Ball Slinkys work quite well on the Factor. If you are that corrosive you could try their coated line. The new DR Dragon Skins look pretty promising as well.
 
#877
IntrepidCellist said:
I might be going for some Elixirs, actually, as my sweat is corrosive and strings lose the "newness" after a very short while. I wonder if there are Kubicki strings on there now... they feel and sound great.
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I use Elixirs and I love them. I also use DM Blue Steels. As for trimming, I generally trim them about 8" past the end of the bass and that has worked fine for me for many years.
 
#878
Have any of you Kubicki X Factor users strung it A D G C? I've been working on chordal theory with my Alembic Orion Six and actually found this done easier on my Kubicki. I'm thinking of getting a second X Factor for chordal work. My other thought is setting it up with piccolo strings. Another option is the Key Factor 5.

Any thoughts?

Wally
 
#880
Thanks for the reply zuma! The Key Factors only have one more fret but I haven't played one to realize any difference in the feel. On the X Factor the extra note on each string can be played as a harmonic. I've had my X Factor since 1987 and no matter what other basses I've added to my arsenal I always gravitate back to my Kubicki. It feels so natural and an extension of me.

Wally
 
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