Man! That mistake with the saddles was NOTHING. You deserve a medal for having the courage to take that thing apart. Those bridge systems are amazing. I had two Ex-Factors. Almost never went out of tune. Probably the best bass ever made. And Philip Kubicki was such a nice guy. RIP. I wasn’t sure if I wanted a blue one because I didn’t know if the shade on the laptop was true to the shade in person, so Phil took a flake of paint from the control cavity and Fed-Exed it to me in the UK, completely of his own volition. Thanks for sharing. It was really interesting to see the workings.
This was a great video. I always wondered how that system worked. Thanks for making it. As far as the saddles are concerned… now we can make a new shirt. “Bass Players, we do it right, cause we do it twice!” 😀
John Taylor had #2 & #3 plus he had the prototype which he used in the Some like it hot video. The neck pick up is closer to the neck, it was moved back for production. I own #2016, an amazing bas the picked up for £900 14 years ago.
My anxiety was way high through this teardown! I own my Kubicki since 1986 and had it refurbished by the shop a few years back… I can’t imagine performing that teardown. Great job on the Stu lines with your playing… My favorite bass, but it sounds like crap through my Helix Stomp. Hopefully I’ll get it resolved to as I want to play the Kubicki again live. Great video… thanks!!!
I disagree. The first time i saw Stu's Factor i was in love. I wanted one from the very first minute. Ive still never even touched one unfortunately. Thats some good as slap plyain too my friend. Kick ass! I LOVE THAT BASS
I can accept you’re smarter than me when it came to first impressions. Probably you wouldn’t have put the saddles on backwards either. In all seriousness, this is my favorite bass. I absolutely love it! And thanks for the nice words about my playing, that’s really cool. One day I’ll finally record the albums worth of music I have in my head and hope people like it.
Ok. I just finished the video and it was awsome. I laughed out loud at your little notes about your goofs. I absolutely love that you take stuff all the way appart like that and show us whats inside. Excellent video tonight my friend. And i could very well have put those in backwards as well. But no harm no foul. Thats one beautiful machine.
Thank you 🙏 I actually won the green river community college radio station’s talent contest for playing that on 2 basses, one for each hand at the same time.
As far as hideous basses go, the Ex Factor is pretty darn sexy! It didn't seem to hurt John Taylor's game at all. What a wonderful Rube Goldberg bridge! Mistakes are memorable moments that make us (and others who'll listen) better. I once tore a JCM 900 apart to 'diagnose' it when it didn't work. I'm so used to Fender amps I didn't realize I had plugged the dang guitar into the footswitch jack. Could've left that on the cutting room floor but it was just too funny. Awesome bass, great video - thanks, Eddie!
Wonderful video. Loved your honesty and knowledge. I have #140 made in Nov 1985. One owner 😊 Haven't played it in a long time, needs some TLC, your video help me refresh some knowledge and learn some new things too. Thank you!
I love that! These basses are just amazing and those of us that have them are very fortunate. I’m so glad you enjoyed the video. I have a bunch like it. I invite you to check out my channel and see if you see other things you enjoy
I bought an early pre-fender bright red one used for $700 back in the late 90's. Played the crap out of it for a few years but it got pretty beat up doing bar gigs. The body was cracked, the gears chewed up, frets worn, especially the little one that's constantly under pressure from the extender capo. It got to the point where I just stopped playing it, put it in its case and it sat untouched for 20 years. I finally got interested in it again so I took it over to Mike Haney, The Guitar Doctor, for a complete rebuild. He fixed the cracked body and I had him repaint it black, replaced all the worn parts in the bridge with new parts and basically turned it into what it was when it came out of the factory brand new. It's so perfect that I'm afraid to gig with it so I still use a 5-string Tobias for gigs and the Kubicki just for playing at home or special occasions. I also used elixir strings and like them but Mike recommended DR pure blues nickle silver 45-105. They sound fantastic. A couple of notes, we all know to loosen the strings a bit when storing for a while but with the ex-factor, don't forget to undo the extender and leave the E in drop D so you don't flatten that little fret. I do that every time I put it away.
Own 2 KUBICKIS, been playing them since the late 80s. Bought a Fender Custom Shop as a back up in mid 90's and the difference in electronics is HUGE. Fender unit has basically the same electronics as the Stu Hamm Urge bass. If you want to buy one, make sure it is from before, or after Fender ownership. Still a nice bass, but with out the actual Kubicki 18v pre-amp it's not the same punch. Although Kubicki has passed, the guys at the shop are still producing a few per year. Price is not for the faint of heart, north of $5k depending on options. Have to agree, best 4 string ever made, both in tone and playability.
Essa briga é antiga , haha, o próprio kubicki disse sobre a era fender : "eles não sabem fazer os meus baixos" e voltou a produção de 18v, é questão de gosto pessoal, e não melhor ou pior
Hey Rexy! I had such a blast watching the tear down of your fabulous Kubiki X Factor. I always thought it wasn’t too complicated, also amazed how more involved it is compared to a Steinberger Transtrem. I never knew it was 32” scale. It’s solid sounding like a full scale bass. I always wished these basses would be reproduced. They were awesome basses!
Thanks, this was a fun one to make despite putting the saddles in backwards. As for a reissue there is no need because you u can still buy new ones from the Kubicki website, but they are big money now!
@@REXYLAB Man! It’s awesome to find out they never went away! I worked at GC 30 years ago, GC purchasing said they quit carrying them because they were out of business, turns out a lot of companies just didn’t want to work with GC after their 1st experience. Btw if I didn’t take pics of the bass bridge I probably would have put them backwards as well!
@@donsmith5385 yeah, GC has steadily declined. The one here in Lafayette is the worst one I’ve ever seen. You might enjoy this. Saving and 80s Classic From Guitar Center 1989 5 String Fretless Guild Pilot Bass th-cam.com/video/G99F4GF9wHE/w-d-xo.html
wow i didnt even clock first time watching that Stuart Hamms first album combines some of my fav creative talents in the world; sci fi author Philip K. Dick who wrote the titular book it references and Allan Holdsworth who plays guitar on that track!
I have read both radio free albumuth and flow my years the policeman Sid because of Stu Hamm and this album. I’m lucky enough to have met Stu a hand full of times and he even kind of vaguely sort of knows who I am too. He’s one of my big three bass heros and he’s a really nice guy and a great player. If you dig bass stuff check out this playlist. My Three Biggest Bass Heros All Have Signature Fender Bass Guitars th-cam.com/play/PLrFyjrwqOCJzd_pTIbmWACN-gmW5BCjEo.html
There was a Kubicki clone back in the late 90s. It used a BIG Gotoh headless bridge, it had the same neck construction and knife-shaped headstock, but the body was much prettier than the Kubicki. They sold under the name Gould Guitars (no relation with Geoff Gould of Modulus Graphite).
cool af man, your videoes are great and informative. minor suggestion if i may, during the fast forward portions while youre working on guitars/basses in your videos, usually you have the audio from the camera on sped up. maybe that appeals to some but for me i would really like it if you replace it with you noodling on whichever instrument youre working on at the time (more work, i know). thanks for all your work. i stumbled on your channel after having bought a Hohner St Lead '87 strat copy that has a bent Accutone 2 bridge and am trying to figure out if its fixable or if i should just buy a Kahler and replace it. all the best from Iceland.
What a great idea! It won’t happen quickly but it will happen. The accutune 2 is a hunk of crap and should be replaced asap, unless you are like me and building an archive of every whammy bar ever made. There are issues with installing a Kahler but they make adapter plates, I’ll look into if that would help. I’ll make a short now to show why.
@@REXYLAB that would be awesome man, ive done some basic internet research and thought a Kahler 7300 would be a like for like almost replacement since the Accutone is a knockoff of it, but if there are issues in replacing it id greatly appreciate any info
@@REXYLAB WOW, You're right I looked it up I didn't know they started back making them. Starting at $4,500+ WHEW!! But that sound it's worth it. Thanks for letting me know. I remember back in the 80s I saw them for $1,500+ then that was unheard of. They always have been on the high/expensive side.
Not ugly at all IMO.
You know, I don’t see anything but beautiful since I first played one. I only remember thinking it was ugly.
Man!
That mistake with the saddles was NOTHING.
You deserve a medal for having the courage to take that thing apart.
Those bridge systems are amazing. I had two Ex-Factors. Almost never went out of tune. Probably the best bass ever made. And Philip Kubicki was such a nice guy. RIP. I wasn’t sure if I wanted a blue one because I didn’t know if the shade on the laptop was true to the shade in person, so Phil took a flake of paint from the control cavity and Fed-Exed it to me in the UK, completely of his own volition.
Thanks for sharing. It was really interesting to see the workings.
This really is probably my favorite bass ever. I can’t believe how amazing it is in every level.
@@REXYLAB I wholeheartedly agree. Until you play one, you won’t understand.
@@damianrf6309 totally!
This was a great video. I always wondered how that system worked. Thanks for making it.
As far as the saddles are concerned… now we can make a new shirt. “Bass Players, we do it right, cause we do it twice!” 😀
Great video and dismantling of Kubicki. I got mine three years ago and love it. Any other bass doesn't sound like Kubicki.
@@JariBehm you are so right! I love my factor so much it’s hard to imagine my life without it.
Quite an extensive teardown! You are a braver man than me.
@@samlelowitch thank you! It was spooky at times.
John Taylor had #2 & #3 plus he had the prototype which he used in the Some like it hot video. The neck pick up is closer to the neck, it was moved back for production. I own #2016, an amazing bas the picked up for £900 14 years ago.
I wish I would’ve got a few more when they were cheap myself but I have mine and that’s enough.
My anxiety was way high through this teardown! I own my Kubicki since 1986 and had it refurbished by the shop a few years back… I can’t imagine performing that teardown. Great job on the Stu lines with your playing… My favorite bass, but it sounds like crap through my Helix Stomp. Hopefully I’ll get it resolved to as I want to play the Kubicki again live. Great video… thanks!!!
@@scottbryan9912 thank you. I just have to say this bass really sounds best through my old early 90s Hartke stack.
I disagree. The first time i saw Stu's Factor i was in love. I wanted one from the very first minute. Ive still never even touched one unfortunately. Thats some good as slap plyain too my friend. Kick ass! I LOVE THAT BASS
I can accept you’re smarter than me when it came to first impressions. Probably you wouldn’t have put the saddles on backwards either.
In all seriousness, this is my favorite bass. I absolutely love it!
And thanks for the nice words about my playing, that’s really cool. One day I’ll finally record the albums worth of music I have in my head and hope people like it.
Ok. I just finished the video and it was awsome. I laughed out loud at your little notes about your goofs. I absolutely love that you take stuff all the way appart like that and show us whats inside. Excellent video tonight my friend. And i could very well have put those in backwards as well. But no harm no foul. Thats one beautiful machine.
I love the bit you play at the end (@31:18)
Thank you 🙏
I actually won the green river community college radio station’s talent contest for playing that on 2 basses, one for each hand at the same time.
@@REXYLAB Showoff 😉
As far as hideous basses go, the Ex Factor is pretty darn sexy! It didn't seem to hurt John Taylor's game at all. What a wonderful Rube Goldberg bridge!
Mistakes are memorable moments that make us (and others who'll listen) better. I once tore a JCM 900 apart to 'diagnose' it when it didn't work. I'm so used to Fender amps I didn't realize I had plugged the dang guitar into the footswitch jack. Could've left that on the cutting room floor but it was just too funny. Awesome bass, great video - thanks, Eddie!
Absolutely, are you going to play all the bass licks I did in this one too?
Wonderful video. Loved your honesty and knowledge. I have #140 made in Nov 1985. One owner 😊 Haven't played it in a long time, needs some TLC, your video help me refresh some knowledge and learn some new things too. Thank you!
I love that! These basses are just amazing and those of us that have them are very fortunate.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the video. I have a bunch like it. I invite you to check out my channel and see if you see other things you enjoy
I bought an early pre-fender bright red one used for $700 back in the late 90's. Played the crap out of it for a few years but it got pretty beat up doing bar gigs. The body was cracked, the gears chewed up, frets worn, especially the little one that's constantly under pressure from the extender capo. It got to the point where I just stopped playing it, put it in its case and it sat untouched for 20 years.
I finally got interested in it again so I took it over to Mike Haney, The Guitar Doctor, for a complete rebuild. He fixed the cracked body and I had him repaint it black, replaced all the worn parts in the bridge with new parts and basically turned it into what it was when it came out of the factory brand new. It's so perfect that I'm afraid to gig with it so I still use a 5-string Tobias for gigs and the Kubicki just for playing at home or special occasions.
I also used elixir strings and like them but Mike recommended DR pure blues nickle silver 45-105. They sound fantastic.
A couple of notes, we all know to loosen the strings a bit when storing for a while but with the ex-factor, don't forget to undo the extender and leave the E in drop D so you don't flatten that little fret. I do that every time I put it away.
Own 2 KUBICKIS, been playing them since the late 80s. Bought a Fender Custom Shop as a back up in mid 90's and the difference in electronics is HUGE. Fender unit has basically the same electronics as the Stu Hamm Urge bass. If you want to buy one, make sure it is from before, or after Fender ownership. Still a nice bass, but with out the actual Kubicki 18v pre-amp it's not the same punch. Although Kubicki has passed, the guys at the shop are still producing a few per year. Price is not for the faint of heart, north of $5k depending on options. Have to agree, best 4 string ever made, both in tone and playability.
Well said! I agree with everything you stated 100%!
A lot of people actually prefer the 9v pre in the Fender Custom Shop models. They are great and not necessarily inferior in any way.
Essa briga é antiga , haha, o próprio kubicki disse sobre a era fender : "eles não sabem fazer os meus baixos" e voltou a produção de 18v, é questão de gosto pessoal, e não melhor ou pior
I love the look of them. Always have. It helps to think of it as a machine gun with a bayonet on the barrel🤣
It was nice seeing you last month. I was nice talking to you.
I gotta tell you it’s amazing I recognized you after all these years, Ted. It was really cool though. Small world.
Hey Rexy! I had such a blast watching the tear down of your fabulous Kubiki X Factor. I always thought it wasn’t too complicated, also amazed how more involved it is compared to a Steinberger Transtrem. I never knew it was 32” scale. It’s solid sounding like a full scale bass. I always wished these basses would be reproduced. They were awesome basses!
Thanks, this was a fun one to make despite putting the saddles in backwards.
As for a reissue there is no need because you u can still buy new ones from the Kubicki website, but they are big money now!
@@REXYLAB I didn’t know they still made them!!!
@@donsmith5385 pretty cool, huh?
@@REXYLAB Man! It’s awesome to find out they never went away! I worked at GC 30 years ago, GC purchasing said they quit carrying them because they were out of business, turns out a lot of companies just didn’t want to work with GC after their 1st experience. Btw if I didn’t take pics of the bass bridge I probably would have put them backwards as well!
@@donsmith5385 yeah, GC has steadily declined. The one here in Lafayette is the worst one I’ve ever seen.
You might enjoy this.
Saving and 80s Classic From Guitar Center 1989 5 String Fretless Guild Pilot Bass
th-cam.com/video/G99F4GF9wHE/w-d-xo.html
Great video. One of these is for sale locally. Definitely have to check it out. It doesn't have the extender, though. But not fussed about that.
“Hideous looking”? Are you crazy?? It looks as great as it plays. One of the coolest basses!
@@markdaniels7174 believe it or not I used to think it was extremely ugly… until I played it.
Fantastic bass !!! From Brazil
I agree!
That's just great!❤
Thank you!
wow i didnt even clock first time watching that Stuart Hamms first album combines some of my fav creative talents in the world; sci fi author Philip K. Dick who wrote the titular book it references and Allan Holdsworth who plays guitar on that track!
I have read both radio free albumuth and flow my years the policeman Sid because of Stu Hamm and this album.
I’m lucky enough to have met Stu a hand full of times and he even kind of vaguely sort of knows who I am too. He’s one of my big three bass heros and he’s a really nice guy and a great player.
If you dig bass stuff check out this playlist.
My Three Biggest Bass Heros All Have Signature Fender Bass Guitars
th-cam.com/play/PLrFyjrwqOCJzd_pTIbmWACN-gmW5BCjEo.html
My bass teacher Chris Wyse had one when i was taking lessons from him 91-93
Great video much love I have a 91 kubicki ex factor I relish this bass
@@atreyuprincipalh4043 possibly the best bass ever.
I’m modding my vox starstream bass to a headless and was considering doing just like the kubicki
Email me a pic if you do to eddie@rexylab.net if you do.
There was a Kubicki clone back in the late 90s. It used a BIG Gotoh headless bridge, it had the same neck construction and knife-shaped headstock, but the body was much prettier than the Kubicki. They sold under the name Gould Guitars (no relation with Geoff Gould of Modulus Graphite).
I don’t remember that one. Must be better than the blaster, that thing was a blatant ripoff.
I felt the same about my Parker Fly the first time I saw it
This thing and the Parker are kind of in the same innovation category if that era of instrument.
cool af man, your videoes are great and informative. minor suggestion if i may, during the fast forward portions while youre working on guitars/basses in your videos, usually you have the audio from the camera on sped up. maybe that appeals to some but for me i would really like it if you replace it with you noodling on whichever instrument youre working on at the time (more work, i know). thanks for all your work. i stumbled on your channel after having bought a Hohner St Lead '87 strat copy that has a bent Accutone 2 bridge and am trying to figure out if its fixable or if i should just buy a Kahler and replace it. all the best from Iceland.
What a great idea! It won’t happen quickly but it will happen.
The accutune 2 is a hunk of crap and should be replaced asap, unless you are like me and building an archive of every whammy bar ever made.
There are issues with installing a Kahler but they make adapter plates, I’ll look into if that would help.
I’ll make a short now to show why.
@@REXYLAB that would be awesome man, ive done some basic internet research and thought a Kahler 7300 would be a like for like almost replacement since the Accutone is a knockoff of it, but if there are issues in replacing it id greatly appreciate any info
@@presmach Accutune 2 Or Kahler 2300? #kahler #guitar #floydrose
th-cam.com/users/shortsrq5_rS9-2LU?feature=share
buddy of mine had a yellow one, it was wild
I have one in white. I’ve not taken it apart. It was David Hood’s.
That’s a cool thing to have.
“It stings the nostrils “…
“Sixty percent of the time it works every time “
@@profoundsinger truer words have never been spoken!
I just wish that I could find one today.
You can still get new ones but it will cost you.
@@REXYLAB WOW, You're right I looked it up I didn't know they started back making them. Starting at $4,500+ WHEW!!
But that sound it's worth it. Thanks for letting me know. I remember back in the 80s I saw them for $1,500+ then that was unheard of. They always have been on the high/expensive side.
I wish these weren’t so expensive now otherwise I’d own one
@@AJBone that’s so funny because I remember when everyone was practically giving them away.
Am left wondering how it sounds as a bass.
I played it a bunch of times, do you not consider slapping a valid form of bass playing?
Kubicki....pronounced 'Koobitski'.
Beutifull instruments.
If Stu Hamm calls it a Kubicki it’s a Kubicki.
🤔...And it doesn't has any truss rod...? 🤨
Of course it has a truss rod, why would you say something like that?
@@REXYLAB
Coz I don't see any tool access to it...🤷🏻♂️