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Kubicki X Factor on SBL
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
My guess is that if you've got a low B, you don't need to get lower
But more seriously, the Factor series has a lot more going on than that extender on the headstock. The neck construction is kind of amazing, and the body shape is eye-catching but surprisingly comfortable. It was a package full of great ideas, the lack of one of them didn't diminish the others.
Just to add here, you now have the option to order it with either the 9v pre-amp, same one that is in my Jazz Plus, or the original 18v pre-amp. Some people prefer the sound of the 9v. Plus, think of all the money you will save on batteries!
Not the only innovation around the headstock...
The laminate neck.
running the strings backwards
the "mini" headstock shape to anchor the strings
the truss rod runs straight through the headstock so is the most accessible possible.
It's the one that sets it apart from 99.9% of all other basses in the world. The Factor, Key Factor, and Factor 5 are cool and comfortable, but don't have the secret sauce.
That’s reasonable for a special order bass these days.
Hardly the first laminate guitar neck. How about Alembic and Pedulla, they both predate Kubicki.
Is the skunk stripe on a Ric just for truss rod access or is it a laminate neck?
I remember some el cheapo Japanese instruments in the 1960s had lamintaed necks, but more like plywood laminations.
I don’t know much of the history, and am going on the description for THIS red one on Reverb, but apparently they considered moving manufacturing to Japan and changed the model name to Blaster. Again, no idea if this is true, or whether there were any manufacturing changes that would significantly impact quality, but the price is a lot more palatable and my experiences with Japanese bases has nearly always been positive. @Dr. Cheese GAS circuits activated. …strangely I don’t mind Scott’s pink one.
A friend of mine just let me borrow one and its so comfortable. The neck is amazing. Still messing with the settings, alot of tonal options. Ive always loved the look too. My gig this weekend was cancelled so Im not going to get to try it out live...unless he lets me hold onto it for a bit.
The side position markers were much easier to see ovals rather than dots.
Pickups were contoured to make them less in the way
Zero neck dive. Zero neck heaviness.
Mine was heavy though.
The Ex Factor was another victim (along with Steinberger) of the general Bass Snobbery that couldn't wrap it's mind around a headless bass "It's just too 80's". Glad to see it's been resurrected after Phil's passing. When I bought my Steinberger XP-2 ( CF bolt-on neck and maple body) in 1986, I compared it with the L2 (which I couldn't afford) and the Kubicki, which in retrospect I wish I'd bought. At the time I think it was something like $300 more than the Steinberger, and I simply didn't have it. Shoulda bit the bullet and charged it or put it on layaway. No complaints about the Steinberger, I still have it, and it NEVER goes out of tune, but the laminated wood neck construction on the Kubicki, and the brilliant D-tuner system, along with accepting standard bass strings, made it a superior bass in many respects. There's a TB builder named @MPU who recently built his own copy, including the D-Tuner, but used a different bridge tuner system, worth checking out his build on Luthier's Corner, impeccable workmanship. Alas, $4500 on a bass (when I already own 6 basses) would be tough to explain to my wife. 
My 86 Kubicki is one of my most prized possessions!
I emailed and it is $5800 for solid colors and $6100 for bursts etc. 18v pre is standard or you can request 9v and knock off $100. Current back order is around 16 months.
I've never played one but have always been intrigued when I saw them in guitar magazines. I'd love to play one.
Blasters were made by a Japanese company that really, really wanted to be endorsed by Phil, but weren't.
The only licensed non-Kubicki made versions were made by Fender, and were 9V.
Blasters are not Kubicki.
I love the pink, and it sounds great in the SBL video. Too ‘80s for me to consider purchasing one though.
“Ex factor 4” sounds like a bloke thats on his 5th wife.
“Ex factor 4” sounds like a bloke thats on his 5th wife.
They're still on the website. Did you email/call them?
It’s still cheaper than MTD,Ken Smith, or Fodera.
These basses rock so hard. I used to play a red X factor through my old GK800. The single most dynamic bass I have ever played. The sustain… oh the sustain!
I should buy a bass today.
I should buy a bass today.
