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Kubicki X Factor on SBL
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,582
- 221,924
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- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Even the cheap Japanese short-scale basses from the '60s with multi-lam necks functioned the same way. (stayed true) Obviously Phil knew of that and just updated/re-introduced the concept. I would have to think that both 22-24 and 34 solved the same function.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,582
- 221,924
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Way too cool! I don't know but I have to believe it was a 'one-off' custom commission.
Then this bass isn't for you.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,582
- 221,924
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
With all due respect, I feel you are over-thinking it. It's basically a drop-D capo that can be activated/deactivated mid-song if wanted that requires no transcribing. It replaces the much used Hipshot Drop-D tuner which does require transcribing. That's all it does. A standard capo is a set & play device. And 5 or 6 string bass obviously offers more so there's no need to compare one to the other. Some classical double basses are made with 5 strings, but most symphony/concert players use 4-string basses with an extended fb on the E or lowest string.
Exactly. It's perfect for when you need the occasional low notes in a song, or maybe a whole song with low D, and then go back to normal.
I used my Kubicki in an 80's band (surprise!) and it was the perfect swiss army knife for those situations without feeling I needed a 5-string.
I used my Kubicki in an 80's band (surprise!) and it was the perfect swiss army knife for those situations without feeling I needed a 5-string.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,582
- 221,924
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Exactly. The styles of music we play in my two bands do not require a 5-string and I only use a drop-D on a couple songs and not for the whole song. It just depends on one's needs to do the job. I use my Factorbird fretless (strung BEAD) more for jam-sessions which offers more sonic diversity, but I have also used it for recording.
I have a country band and an 80's band. It was actually the country band that got me loving the Kubicki. So many songs in drop D. I have 2 Ex factors and a Blaster. I just received my new Ex factor a couple of months ago. It looks like the price has gone up $1000 in the year since I ordered mine
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,582
- 221,924
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Isn't there a famous contemporary country bass player who plays an Ex-Factor? Does the Blaster have a similar 9 or 18v pre like a Kubicki?
I had one in the 80's, very good if not great bass in that era. I think I sold it to by a Pedula Buzz. As I was listening to a lot of Metheny and Jaco at the time. The Factor was very stable, very good note consistency with few dead spots. I must admit I saw a used one a couple of years ago at Elderly and king of realized why I grew out of it. As others mentioned it was modern sounding, a bit "hi-fi" something I've moved away from, and the one I tried was heavy, it weighed a ton!
I believe it was Carla that stated that Kubicki parts, particularly the bridge parts, will not fit a Blaster. I've never been in possession of a Blaster and don't plan on it. I know how Phil felt about them, and I feel that I owe it to the man to respect that.
I've seen a few people comment on having a heavy Ex-Factor but my '86 is 8.6 pounds. No idea what the "average" was but there must have been some variation.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,582
- 221,924
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I wasn't one to weigh my basses back when I owned my '86 but it was no heavier than my other basses at that time. Kinda' like vintage Fenders - some are heavy, some aren't. I don't remember mine being excessively heavy. My Factorbird body is solid Koa and although thin, it is quite heavy due to the inherent denseness of the wood. But for a T-bird shaped object - no neck dive!
Also, I never thought of the sound as being "hi-fi", although it has a very identifiable character. Studio engineers loved it.
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I loosely recall that one of the former Kubecki guys works for Fender's custom shop ... at one point you could could order one from Fender. But it's been a hunk of time.
About 10 years ago I was playing with a group with a brother-band. I had a Dingwall (before people really knew about them) , the other bassist had a Factor... those shows were bass-nerd heaven for some.
About 10 years ago I was playing with a group with a brother-band. I had a Dingwall (before people really knew about them) , the other bassist had a Factor... those shows were bass-nerd heaven for some.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,582
- 221,924
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
It was considered an "ergonomically" designed bass.
I asked Phil about that shade as I played a (late '80s) one right after I bought my black '86 Ex-Factor. He said it was a late '50s DeSoto finish and not many Ex-Factors then were done in that colour. The one Scott Divine was playing looked like a more recent bass finished in that rare colour.
Not quite country but Kenny Gradney / Little Feat uses one...saw him grinding on one via PBS. IIRC, they were revisiting "Waiting for Columbus" with guest performers.
Riis
Yes, he udes Kubickis for years. More recently, I've seen him playing different basses though ...mainly Fenders. He was also a long time SWR amp user, but I've seen recent clips where he's using Aguilar rigs these days.
I own two 1990 Fender Jazz Plus V with Lace Sensors with the Kubicki preamp in it. This one pictured is my main squeeze and my first Fender. I don't mind the Lace Sensor pick ups but I pulled the battery because it doesn't sound to me like a Fender Jazz with the Kubicki pre on.
This bass has been my primary and daily driver since I bought it new in 1990 from Guitar Center in Berkeley, CA (when there was a GC there). I was so heavily reliant on it in the 1990s that I bought another one of the same model and exact same year from Bass NW in the late 1990s. Her sister bass doesn't sound or play as well as the first bass shown here. Odd how that can be, hmm? </s>
It was made I think as some sort of knee-jerk marketing response to the new-at-that-time 5-string 'boutique bass kiddies' and only lasted a few years before they went back to the standard controls on the chrome plate. I heard that they stopped making them because of a problem between Kubicki & Fender but I can't imagine that they sold many of these either. They weren't the Jazz Bases that the kiddies were looking for so they didn't buy them. Despite all of that I still love this well made instrument.
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