Philip Kubicki EX Factor 4 Purple Burst

We've quietly received a Factor bass guitar that was released in 1985 and is still quietly made in the USA.

It was invented by Philip Kubicki (pronounced "kubicki" rather than "kubicki"), who worked at Fender.

Not just a headless bass, it was patented for various features, making it a unique bass then and still is today.

It was apparently produced under license in Japan for a while, but even after Philip passed away in 2013, his family has continued to make them just as they were back then.

Now, taking a closer look, we see a three-dimensional shape that's hard to believe is 40 years old.

The sophisticated purple burst finish has a strong purple finish even in the contoured areas, further emphasizing the already three-dimensional shape.

When you actually touch it, you'll find that the body design fits perfectly.

The classic alder body is fully original, with an original headless bridge, humbucking pickups, and an original amp.

The body design has been carefully thought out, so there's no sense of it being an afterthought.

The neck is made of 34 layers of maple, another feature that seems to be a factor.

The baumkuchen-like layers give it a very solid feel.

It seems that the neck needs to be particularly reinforced for a headless guitar, and it also has a truss rod for added security.

Even though it's headless, the ebony fingerboard extends all the way to the headstock, securing the strings and featuring a patented "STRING CLIP" mechanism that instantly switches from open E to D.

(Apparently, models equipped with this feature are prefixed with "EX.")

The fingerboard extends to the E string, making it an open D, and there's even a fret for D#.

It's like an extended fingerboard, like the ones you see on double basses.

There's a black clip attached to the bottom; you lift it with your thumb, then use your other fingers to shift the E string (like a choking motion), then return your thumb to its original position.

When the clip is above the string, it's a standard open E.

When the clip is below the string (the fingerboard is hollowed out to fit it), it extends the open D.

I tried it out and it didn't go out of tune at all, which shows that it was well thought out back then.

The scale length looks long because of the extension, but it's actually only a short 32 inches.

Even so, the tension doesn't feel particularly loose, and although it feels a little short, it's just the right size to allow you to concentrate on playing without any discomfort.

Just looking at this mechanical thing, I never stop discovering new things, but I'd like to try playing it.

Well, where should I start...

I'd like to start by actually playing it!

The output jack is in a recess behind the bridge, and it doesn't seem to get in the way even when it's placed on a stand, which is another clever design detail.

I plugged it in and quickly turned all the knobs up...but no sound came out.

Starting from the neck, the stack pot is on top and the balancer is below the volume.

The knobs, which are even larger than they appear in the photo, also give a sense of originality.

The central stack pot has the bass on top and the treble on the bottom, both of which are boost-only.

The reason for the no sound lies in the third knob, which is a dial.

From the far right, clockwise:

1. Standby (Mute; apparently does not consume power)

2. Active Flat (Treble and Bass active)

3. Active Mid-Cut (Treble and Bass active)

4. Passive Flat (Treble and Bass inactive)

5. Passive Mid-Cut (Treble and Bass inactive)

6. Passive Hi-Cut (Treble and Bass inactive)

And because it was turned all the way to the right, no sound came out.

As you can see from these six positions, the internal preamp is also original.

Of course, the humbucker pickups are original as well.

Simply switch between the pickups with a click, then add the treble and bass on the active pickups and enjoy.

The pickup itself has a clear, crisp sound without any blurring, even for a humbucker.

The flat setting of 2 seems to have the most punch and projection, but if you tone it down with the mid-cut setting of 3 and then raise the treble and bass...

It's as if you can hear the sounds of the bassists who used it back in the day.

There's so much more I'd like to share about this bass.

It's so well-made that it needs no tinkering, even after 40 years.

When you play it, you can tell in every detail that Philip used to work for Fender! This is a very practical, well-thought-out, and original bass.

It's not a headless bass, but perhaps it's not an exaggeration to say that this bass is part of the "Factor" genre? That's the kind of excitement you'll find in this bass.

*The paint finish may be a little rough in some areas, but please understand that this is a product of the careful craftsmanship of the Kubicki family.

[Key Specifications]

・Color: Purple Burst

・Body: Alder

・Neck: Laminated hard rock maple bolt-on neck, 23 frets, 32 inches (plus 2 extra frets)

・Fingerboard: Ebony

・Pickups: Two Kubicki humcancelling pickups

・Preamp: Kubicki 18v Preamp

・Controls: Volume/Balance, Bass/Treble (Boost Only), 6-Way Rotary Switch

・Tuning Tuners: None

・Bridge: Kubicki with internal tuning machines, 19mm pitch

・Weight: 3.94 kg

・Hard case included

・Warranty: 1-year manufacturer's warranty

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