Kubicki Ex-factor

Chris K · 10-14-2005, 06:34 AM

yes, here it is, the review of my new bass, my 1989 Kubicki Ex-Factor.

Yes, there she is.

I picked this one up at a steal, only £600 plus postage and packing costs.
This, I think is a great deal, as I see them going for upwards of £800 on Ebay. Without further ado, I'll get on with the review...

Features: 5/5 This thing is fit to burst with features man, it's still a design ahead of it's time, imo. Lets start at the head stock.

here we have the D-clip. This is a patented design by Phil, and works to extend the length of the E string, making it a D. It takes the 32" scale, 23 fret range and makes it 36" with 25 frets. The open note is now a D, but all the notes of the E string are still in plae (eg, the 5th fret is technically the 7th, but is still in the "right" place and still plays an A note.). The D-clip is incredibly stable, it's solid metal. You must lift the clip and bend the E string, and this allows you to "unhook" it to detune.
Also, the truss rod access is in the top of the headstock, meaning the bass can be adjusted while the strings are still on it. Amazing!

The fretboard is ebony, with no postion markers (but rather elegant block markers on the side of the neck). This doesn't affect your playing, but it sure does look good!

other design innovations include the postion of the jack socket (you try and find it!), the pop contours on the pickups, the bridge system and so forth. Ah yes.

here is the back of the neck, it looks cool.

feel: 5/5 with this thing, it has opened my playing up so much. It taps like a dream, it's perfect for slap and fingerstyle, it has a nice low action with no buzz whatsoever. In short, it plays like a dream, even better than a Streamer LX I played and loved.

reliability: 5/5 This thing was made in 1989, and is still in ace condition (only 3 very very minor dings). Everything else is solid.

Tone: 5/5 This baby is a Fender Custom Shop bass, but is loaded with the orginal 18Volt active/passive electronics that kubicki basses had before Fender started using 9Volt systems. In the passive mode, you can select and fiddle with 3 tones, one of which is particularly beautiful, a nice thump, but still crisp and clear. When you're messing with the active channels, the sky is the limit. Think Stuart Hamm's "kings of sleep" album, and all the varied tones off that. This thing is my dream bass.

Overall: Well, if players like Stuart Hamm, Vail Johnson, Victor Wooten and Steve Bailey use it, I guess it's good enough for me!

Thank you for reading....

Shyanel · 10-14-2005, 07:13 AM

I hate you Chris

Nah, in all truth, gratz mate, you deserve it, you're a good player who will do it justice. Nice bass man

-Stu

EDIT: Oh and nice review! Almost missed that, hiding between that pr0nography.

Chris K · 10-14-2005, 07:15 AM

Thanks man, I must say, it is love

Teh Glees0rz · 10-14-2005, 07:45 AM

Chris... I'm going to hunt you down and steal it. It's so secksy!

Nice review. How long have you had it?

*looks at Chris' shirt* You don't happen to come from The North, do you?

Chris K · 10-14-2005, 07:49 AM

I've had it a week and a day now, and yes, I'm from Newcastle. Funnily enough, I just had a guy in Alaska telling me he wasgoing to steal it, I might need more security for it!

Led_Zeppelin678 · 10-14-2005, 08:19 AM

Great buy.

Chris K · 10-14-2005, 08:26 AM

Yeps, I'm finally attempting the fast tapping arp's from Country Music

Phalanx · 10-14-2005, 08:52 AM

sounds really cool, it reminds me of computers though

Esp Griffyn · 10-14-2005, 08:59 AM

Awesome bass, I love it too

/has had a few goes on it

Teh Glees0rz · 10-14-2005, 09:18 AM

You have to post some recordings! Please!!

Or you can shove it in a box and mail it to me.

I live in south east England.

Esp Griffyn · 10-14-2005, 09:30 AM

He wont post recordings, he thinks he cant do it justice without a Bass PodXt to direct in by.

Chris K · 10-14-2005, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teh Glees0rz

You have to post some recordings! Please!!

Yeah, when i get a pod, I'll recor some stuff I'm working on

Led_Zeppelin678 · 10-14-2005, 12:06 PM

Line 6 makes incredible products (and the Bass PODxt really does everything they say it does), but that thing was just too much for me.

Esp Griffyn · 10-14-2005, 12:33 PM

Its definatly an amazing bass though, I'll say this, Chris's Tapping has come in leaps and bounds since he got this bass!

edgebass5 · 10-14-2005, 01:19 PM

.....once again, I take no review seriously that points out no flaws because I sincerely believe that NO product if flawless.

Esp Griffyn · 10-14-2005, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgebass5

.....once again, I take no review seriously that points out no flaws because I sincerely believe that NO product if flawless.

So you refuse to believe that a bass can be perfect for a certain player?

Perhaps you think you'll never find a perfect bass for you, But Chris K seems to have found his.

eriatarka · 10-14-2005, 01:55 PM

Nice **** bass.Where is the jack socket?I dont know much about kubickis(but i do have a polish friend with that last name

).IS IT AT THE TOP OF THE NECK??!

Esp Griffyn · 10-14-2005, 02:00 PM

No, that thing at the top of neck is the Truss Rod Access

eriatarka · 10-14-2005, 02:11 PM

Right you are.Im not familiar at all with kubickis. were is the jack then?

Esp Griffyn · 10-14-2005, 02:30 PM

Its a Secret

10-14-2005, 06:34 AM	#1
Chris K We Supply Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Adventuring in RadioLand Posts: 9,516	Kubicki Ex-factor yes, here it is, the review of my new bass, my 1989 Kubicki Ex-Factor. Yes, there she is. I picked this one up at a steal, only £600 plus postage and packing costs. This, I think is a great deal, as I see them going for upwards of £800 on Ebay. Without further ado, I'll get on with the review... Features: 5/5 This thing is fit to burst with features man, it's still a design ahead of it's time, imo. Lets start at the head stock. here we have the D-clip. This is a patented design by Phil, and works to extend the length of the E string, making it a D. It takes the 32" scale, 23 fret range and makes it 36" with 25 frets. The open note is now a D, but all the notes of the E string are still in plae (eg, the 5th fret is technically the 7th, but is still in the "right" place and still plays an A note.). The D-clip is incredibly stable, it's solid metal. You must lift the clip and bend the E string, and this allows you to "unhook" it to detune. Also, the truss rod access is in the top of the headstock, meaning the bass can be adjusted while the strings are still on it. Amazing! The fretboard is ebony, with no postion markers (but rather elegant block markers on the side of the neck). This doesn't affect your playing, but it sure does look good! other design innovations include the postion of the jack socket (you try and find it!), the pop contours on the pickups, the bridge system and so forth. Ah yes. here is the back of the neck, it looks cool. feel: 5/5 with this thing, it has opened my playing up so much. It taps like a dream, it's perfect for slap and fingerstyle, it has a nice low action with no buzz whatsoever. In short, it plays like a dream, even better than a Streamer LX I played and loved. reliability: 5/5 This thing was made in 1989, and is still in ace condition (only 3 very very minor dings). Everything else is solid. Tone: 5/5 This baby is a Fender Custom Shop bass, but is loaded with the orginal 18Volt active/passive electronics that kubicki basses had before Fender started using 9Volt systems. In the passive mode, you can select and fiddle with 3 tones, one of which is particularly beautiful, a nice thump, but still crisp and clear. When you're messing with the active channels, the sky is the limit. Think Stuart Hamm's "kings of sleep" album, and all the varied tones off that. This thing is my dream bass. Overall: Well, if players like Stuart Hamm, Vail Johnson, Victor Wooten and Steve Bailey use it, I guess it's good enough for me! Thank you for reading....

10-14-2005, 08:52 AM	#8
Phalanx www.myspace.com/tactusa Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 6,078	sounds really cool, it reminds me of computers though
	Digging: Ion Dissonance - Cursed

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

10-14-2005, 07:13 AM	#2
Shyanel Thunderbirds are GO! Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,131	I hate you Chris Nah, in all truth, gratz mate, you deserve it, you're a good player who will do it justice. Nice bass man -Stu EDIT: Oh and nice review! Almost missed that, hiding between that pr0nography.

10-14-2005, 07:15 AM	#3
Chris K We Supply Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Adventuring in RadioLand Posts: 9,516	Thanks man, I must say, it is love

10-14-2005, 07:45 AM	#4
Teh Glees0rz The baby needs stuff Join Date: May 2005 Location: Berkshire, England Posts: 852	Chris... I'm going to hunt you down and steal it. It's so secksy! Nice review. How long have you had it? looks at Chris' shirt You don't happen to come from The North, do you?

10-14-2005, 07:49 AM	#5
Chris K We Supply Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Adventuring in RadioLand Posts: 9,516	I've had it a week and a day now, and yes, I'm from Newcastle. Funnily enough, I just had a guy in Alaska telling me he wasgoing to steal it, I might need more security for it!

10-14-2005, 08:19 AM	#6
Led_Zeppelin678 myspace/golgotha Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 5,919	Great buy.

10-14-2005, 08:26 AM	#7
Chris K We Supply Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Adventuring in RadioLand Posts: 9,516	Yeps, I'm finally attempting the fast tapping arp's from Country Music

10-14-2005, 08:59 AM	#9
Esp Griffyn Time is the Enemy Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Indra Bridge Posts: 24,222	Awesome bass, I love it too /has had a few goes on it

10-14-2005, 09:18 AM	#10
Teh Glees0rz The baby needs stuff Join Date: May 2005 Location: Berkshire, England Posts: 852	You have to post some recordings! Please!! Or you can shove it in a box and mail it to me. I live in south east England.

10-14-2005, 09:30 AM	#11
Esp Griffyn Time is the Enemy Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Indra Bridge Posts: 24,222	He wont post recordings, he thinks he cant do it justice without a Bass PodXt to direct in by.

10-14-2005, 12:06 PM	#13
Led_Zeppelin678 myspace/golgotha Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 5,919	Line 6 makes incredible products (and the Bass PODxt really does everything they say it does), but that thing was just too much for me.

10-14-2005, 12:33 PM	#14
Esp Griffyn Time is the Enemy Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Indra Bridge Posts: 24,222	Its definatly an amazing bass though, I'll say this, Chris's Tapping has come in leaps and bounds since he got this bass!

10-14-2005, 01:19 PM	#15
edgebass5 overpriced trendy garbage Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 10,699	.....once again, I take no review seriously that points out no flaws because I sincerely believe that NO product if flawless.

10-14-2005, 01:55 PM	#17
eriatarka () Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Toronto,Ontario. Posts: 356	Nice **** bass.Where is the jack socket?I dont know much about kubickis(but i do have a polish friend with that last name ).IS IT AT THE TOP OF THE NECK??!

10-14-2005, 02:00 PM	#18
Esp Griffyn Time is the Enemy Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Indra Bridge Posts: 24,222	No, that thing at the top of neck is the Truss Rod Access

10-14-2005, 02:11 PM	#19
eriatarka () Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Toronto,Ontario. Posts: 356	Right you are.Im not familiar at all with kubickis. were is the jack then?

10-14-2005, 02:30 PM	#20
Esp Griffyn Time is the Enemy Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Indra Bridge Posts: 24,222	Its a Secret