• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Rewinding Kubicki pickups? Or replace?

Peter Lufrano

Peter Lufrano

Blues. and nothing but the Blues.
Apr 18, 2004
955
466
64
Berkeley, CA
www.myspace.com
#1
Hi all,

I picked up a very sweet Kubicki ex factor a few weeks ago.
However there is a problem with the pickups.
I have spoken with Mike ( the guitar doctor) who is handling most of the Kubicki business in the wake if Phil's untimely passing. However he does not have any replacement pickups available.
So I am wondering if any of the knowledgable peeps on this forum might be able to point me in the direction of someone who could refurbish/rewind the pickups, or know of another pickup that can replace the existing pickups without requiring the body cavities be routed etc as I'd hate to ruin this bass.
Thank you all in advance!
 
#5
The problem seems to be a phase issue. When the pickups are solo'd, they seem to be ok, except that the bridge pickup is exceedingly "nasal" sounding.
But as the pickups are blended together, the output drops, until when at full blend there is a dramatic output level drop.

Along with the output level drop, the low frequency output on the lower two strings (E and A) is dramatically reduced as well, to the point where it sounds like there is a huge difference in the right hand plucking/strumming velocity even though there is no difference actually occurring with my right hand technique (I hope that makes sense)

I've replaced the preamp electronics, and the problem is uneffected by the change in electronics. Leaving the pickups themselves as the last remaining component in the electronics signal path.
 
#6
autofile said:
The problem seems to be a phase issue. When the pickups are solo'd, they seem to be ok, except that the bridge pickup is exceedingly "nasal" sounding.
But as the pickups are blended together, the output drops, until when at full blend there is a dramatic output level drop.

Along with the output level drop, the low frequency output on the lower two strings (E and A) is dramatically reduced as well, to the point where it sounds like there is a huge difference in the right hand plucking/strumming velocity even though there is no difference actually occurring with my right hand technique (I hope that makes sense)

I've replaced the preamp electronics, and the problem is uneffected by the change in electronics. Leaving the pickups themselves as the last remaining component in the electronics signal path.
Click to expand...

Phase issues are resolved by swapping the leads on one pickup.
 
#9
iiipopes said:
No, what I meant was ask Mike who he recommends to rewind.
Click to expand...

Ah! yep, I will do that.

One reason I ask about perhaps using a different pickup is that besides the obvious difficulty sourcing replacements, I would also like to be able to get a more "organic" tone.

I am very happy with the tone I have playing my Fender CS Jazz basses with Fralin pickups. and if I can dial in that tone I will be very happy.
The only reason I really really want to play my Kubicki so much is because of the comfort the medium scale, as well as the overall Kubicki design gives me.

Of course I could be becoming skewed because of these Kubicki pickups malfunctioning also......
 
#11
By the inherent construction of the bass, "organic" probably isn't going to be in the picture. But whoever rewinds your pickups can add about 5% to the windings to get a tad more rounded mids.
 
#12
iiipopes said:
By the inherent construction of the bass, "organic" probably isn't going to be in the picture. But whoever rewinds your pickups can add about 5% to the windings to get a tad more rounded mids.
Click to expand...

Why do you say this? The "inherent construction" of the bass is an extremely high quality, rigid neck, with a superbly tight, well fitted neck joint, quality tone wood body...... I don't see why any if this will not lend itself to an organic tonal quality.
If there were graphite, composite, steel, or some other man made materials used, I could understand.
But the bass is all wood, and has a beautiful resonant I amplified tone.
 
#14
autofile said:
Why do you say this? The "inherent construction" of the bass is an extremely high quality, rigid neck, with a superbly tight, well fitted neck joint, quality tone wood body...... I don't see why any if this will not lend itself to an organic tonal quality.
If there were graphite, composite, steel, or some other man made materials used, I could understand.
But the bass is all wood, and has a beautiful resonant I amplified tone.
Click to expand...

+1 - well said :-)

Also, imho organic (which is meaningless in music but I think I know what is meant here.. complex series of harmonic peaks and possibly slightly vintage sounding) can be had with any nicely resonant instrument even if it's made of artificial materials.
 
#15
Ironically, it is exactly this attention to detail that makes a bass more linear and even sounding throughout the spectrum, like a fine Yamaha grand piano, which most people describe as anything from "linear" to "sterile," as compared to something like a Baldwin or Steinway, which have different subjective descriptions, including "organic."

The construction techniques of a 1-to-3 piece body, one piece neck and simple plate bridge and passive pickups tend to engender resonances and response characteristics that foster such descriptions as "organic," while laminates to reduce or eliminate resonances, hardware to damp body vibrations and retain sustain through the strings over the pickups, and pickups wound with a geometry that reinforces low-Q and low resonant peak tend to be described in good ways, such as the Ex-Factor, as "linear" and "versatile," or in bad cases, "sterile."

So the Kubicki Ex-Factor is one of the best engineered and built basses ever made. This in and of itself is, ironically, the antithesis of "organic."
 
  • Like
Reactions: mjm0
#16
iiipopes said:
Ironically, it is exactly this attention to detail that makes a bass more linear and even sounding throughout the spectrum, like a fine Yamaha grand piano, which most people describe as anything from "linear" to "sterile," as compared to something like a Baldwin or Steinway, which have different subjective descriptions, including "organic."

The construction techniques of a 1-to-3 piece body, one piece neck and simple plate bridge and passive pickups tend to engender resonances and response characteristics that foster such descriptions as "organic," while laminates to reduce or eliminate resonances, hardware to damp body vibrations and retain sustain through the strings over the pickups, and pickups wound with a geometry that reinforces low-Q and low resonant peak tend to be described in good ways, such as the Ex-Factor, as "linear" and "versatile," or in bad cases, "sterile."

So the Kubicki Ex-Factor is one of the best engineered and built basses ever made. This in and of itself is, ironically, the antithesis of "organic."
Click to expand...

Ah, I get what you're saying.

Maybe I should restate what "ideally" I would be preferring from the pickups/electronics:

I'd prefer to have an option to have a less "hifi" tone available, if possible.

I hope that makes sense :^)
 
#17
autofile said:
I'd prefer to have an option to have a less "hifi" tone available, if possible.

I hope that makes sense :^)
Click to expand...
Perfectly: have the pickups (compared to Fender stock specifications) overwound 5% or so to get a little more mids, 250 kohm pots to lessen the resonant peak, .047 or .068 tone cap to roll off a little more top end when desired. Run a cab with, whatever other drivers are there, a 15-inch slightly higher than average compliance driver with a tad smaller ported cabinet to get a broad response curve of @ +3 db @ somewhere between 100 and 150 Hz before a dropoff in the high-40's Hz.
 
#18
iiipopes said:
Perfectly: have the pickups (compared to Fender stock specifications) overwound 5% or so to get a little more mids, 250 kohm pots to lessen the resonant peak, .047 or .068 tone cap to roll off a little more top end when desired. Run a cab with, whatever other drivers are there, a 15-inch slightly higher than average compliance driver with a tad smaller ported cabinet to get a broad response curve of @ +3 db @ somewhere between 100 and 150 Hz before a dropoff in the high-40's Hz.
Click to expand...

Ah, now we're speaking the same language!

My rig typically consists of either a single 15 cab, or two 12 cabs, powered by a Morgan MP200 tube amp.

On smaller gigs I use either an Ashdown LB30 (really small venues) or a 65amps Apollo. All of these amps have a pretty "vintage" character.

I play 99% Blues/R&B/Soul genre.

Essentially what I am saying is that I'd like to be able to get the tone that I get from my Fender CS Jazz basses, which I use Fralin pickups on, only while playing my Kubicki.

I am getting older, and I have smallish hands, so the medium scale of the Kubicki is far more comfortable for me LOL
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back