The Ex Factor 4 bass is available on a made-to-order basis. For detailed ordering information please complete our Contact Form or email info@kubicki.com
Available in any color, here’s a link to our Gallery showing examples of some of our more recently made basses.
Body Material: Alder
Finish: Gloss Polyurethane
Neck: Laminated hard rock maple; bolt on
Fingerboard: Ebony; 7-1/2 inch radius
Nut: Phenolic
Scale Length: 32 inches (36 inches with extension)
Number of Frets: 23 (plus 2 extra frets on the headstock extend the E to a D string)
Markers: Resin side dash™
Truss Rod: Single; adjustable at headstock
Neck Width: Nut 1-17/32 inches; 23rd Fret 2-15/32 inches
Bridge: Kubicki with internal tuning machines; .750 inch spacing
Pickups: Two Kubicki humcancelling ™
Controls: Kubicki 18v Preamp
2 stacked pots (Vol/Pan and Treble/Bass boost) and 6 position rotary selector switch (three passive, two active and standby playing positions)
Overall Length: 44-1/2 inches
Body Length: 19-3/4 inches
Body Width: 13-1/2 inches
Body Depth: 1-9/16 inches
Weight: 8-1/2 lbs
Models Options: Fretless; Fretless with Black or White inlaid fret slots
Case: Deluxe hard shell included
The Factor bass was conceived and developed using the design criteria of human factors – also known as ergonomics – and the belief that a musical instrument should be inspirational to the player. The science of human factors was the foundation for the engineering of the patented bridge tuner device, the patented string clasp “D” string tuning mechanism and other unique and innovative features.
The Factor playing experience is enhanced by:
• its perfect balance in playing position due to the body mounted bridge/tuner module that redistributes the weight from the head to the body.
• the ergonomic position of the tuning knobs mounted at a comfortable 35 degrees from the body that allows for easy, fast and accurate tuning.
The patented string clasp is available only on the Ex Factor 4. While holding the bass in playing position, push the spring loaded string clip up with the thumb of the left hand. Pull the string out from under the clip head with your middle finger and release the lever. The clip will now be recessed into the fingerboard surface. You are now in concert tension “D” and all the notes on the scale remain the same – no transposing. Pushing the lever up causes the lever to re-grab the string, and you’re back in “E” again. It’s very quick and easy to become adept at pushing the lever to the desired position. When the string is in “D” tuning, you also have a “D#” note available.
The shorter scale of the Ex Factor 4 bass requires the use of a slightly heavier gauge string. This is because the 32″ scale is 6 per cent shorter than the 34″ scale with a corresponding net loss of 6 per cent tension. We offer packaged strings in either stainless steel or nickel specifically for the Ex Factor 4 which do not require trimming.
String Installation Technique: Instructions are on the back of the package. A copy is included on our Customer Support page.
Because there are no keys on the headstock to counteract the weight of a vibrating string, the neck had to be made stiffer. Using a 34 laminate neck addressed this issue. The laminates are glued perpendicular to the ebony fingerboard with the added benefit that the accumulated glue joint tension makes the neck unwilling to twist.
The truss rod adjusting nut is located in the head end of the neck and uses a standard screwdriver – either Phillips or slot type. While sighting down the neck, rotate the nut to increase or decrease the curvature created by the pull of the strings. There is no need to loosen the strings or remove the neck during this process.
Our basses are equipped with Kubicki designed and engineered hybrid passive and electronic circuitry. A rotary switch is used to select between the playing positions. Volume, blend and tone are controlled by stacked volume/pan, bass/treble potentiometers.
The special humcancelling™ pickups work as either active or passive pickups, depending on how the circuit board controls are set. They are fully adjustable for height and tilt. The pickups plug into the circuit board.
The patented bridge/tuner module is a body mounted tuning system that replaces tuning keys on the head. To install a string, place the ball end into a bronze cup in the head of the neck. The tail end is then inserted into a hole in a wheel in the bridge. Bend the string towards the neck and with the string off the saddle, roll the wheel by hand to ratchet up all the excess. Lift the string onto the saddle. The tuning knob can then be rotated to tune the string to pitch.
The tuning knob glides on a ball bearing and tunes at an 80 to 1 ratio. Removing a string involves loosening the tuning knob until the string is loose, removing the string from the saddle, then pressing down on the ratchet spring head while controlling the spin of the wheel, allowing the wheel to rotate in the opposite direction as the string is pulled off.
The patented bridge is an integral part of the tuner. The bridge head holds an assembly comprised of a saddle post that is threaded into a saddle slider. The saddle slider can be adjusted to achieve intonation and can then be locked in place with a screwdriver.
The saddle post can be adjusted for string height by rotating it up or down. The saddle and saddle slider are made of stainless steel.
