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Kubicki club?

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#881
Ever since a couple of years ago, when someone offered to trade me an Ex Factor, (a trade that never happened, unfortunately) my awareness and interest has been picqued in these unique instruments.

A random search on CL early Sunday evening, followed by a couple of emails, and a Monday lunchtime visit to my workplace, resulted in this.

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Set it up last night, and been discovering it's capabilities.
It's a 1988, 18volt system. The active modes kind of hint at an Alembic-like tone for me, and the passive....... I don't know what, but I'm really digging the scooped and the Low pass. Now I have to fight the temptation to send it to Mr. Kubicki to get it as snuffy as he can.

I'm bummed I won't be playing with my band for another 3 weeks. I need to hear it in a combo setting, can't wait......
 
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#883
Wally Malone said:
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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Yes, one extra fret on the Key Factor models but they also add 2 inches to the scale. It's not much of a difference but depending on how much muscle memory you have going on with some of those chordal structures, it could take some getting used to.
 
#890
zuma said:
That's pretty awesome...not trying to be negative or anything but was he licensed to use the Fender logo since he was affiliated with them or what is the story with the decal?
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I got the bass used from a shop and they didn't know how the Fender logo got there. All I can do is speculate.
1. Looking closely, it appears that the logo was part of the original neck finish.
2. It looks like the neck was finished to be a dead-on match the body finish.
3. Bass finish is Fender original Natural.
4. The entire bass, neck and body, is fitted with 1980s-style brass and brass plate hardware.
Collectively, it looks like the neck was logoed and finished-matched to the body, and the whole works was assembled and set up at the same shop.

Here's a better pic of that logo.

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#894
smcd said:
I owned a seafoam green Ex Factor. Very interesting seeing these photos. I always thought the neck wood in the body, below the frets, was painted black by the previous owner. Apparently not.
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I have been talking with Mr. Kubicki lately. The official name for that color is "Bahama Green".

My Ex-Factor just came back from a Phil Kubicki tune up/restoration, and I couldn't be happier. The bass looks and plays like new, and Phil is one of the nicest folks I've dealt with. I can't wait to get more playing time on it.
 
#897
Hey guys,

So nice to see people using and loving their Factor basses. I ordered a brand new one from Phil about a month ago. I sold my Status Graphite Kingbass Retroglide for it.

I have been using another Ex-factor (Pictures coming soon) which was made in 1985. It's a little worn and beaten up (I got it a few years back from someone), got the electronics fixed and it sounds awesome!

Phil sent me tiny pictures of what the new one looks like. Sorry about the picture size.

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Hopefully it's coming at the end of the month. Will keep you guys posted.
 
#899
Love Kubicki Factors - have owned a few over the years and built a hybred fretless using his lined-neck and tuner/bridge that I still use and love.

As much as I'd love to, I don't have time to view all 24+ pages here so I apologize if someone else has addressed this prior.., Does anyone out there have a multi-lam hard-rock maple Kubicki neck? (Ex-Factor or 34" scale non Ex-Factor w/o the ebony fingerboard-only maple) Phil originally had it on an order list, and when I asked him if he had one he said he had none and they were not common. Do they exist? Does anyone have one? :confused:
 
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