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This week’s bass guitar of the week has great looks, great function and a very interesting take on headstock design.
Builder Paul Kincaid writes:
For quite awhile I have wanted a bass with a tremolo, but I also like Drop D tuning; this is what I came up with. A friend gave me some big pieces of maple from a big leaf maple that his family was taking down a few years earlier, so I decided to use some of it. I like using stereo effects paths, so I chose a P pickup that has low noise even when split. The magnetic capo is a first for me, but it works great. Hipshot ultralight tuners, recessed straplocks, and french polish finish round it out.
Well done, Paul!
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I think there may be a patent or two on that headstock design..? Kubicki Ex-Factor anyone?
I love it!!!!! With apologies to Kubiki Factor, I have always thought this is a superior design, especially for those who can’t get around on a 5-string. My particular playing needs the low Db and C, so I have not followed this particular solution, but if all I needed were low Eb for horn bands and low D for other genres, this is the configuration I would use. I also like the reverse P, so that there is a little more articulation on the E string, and the G string isn’t so twangy. Great bass!
Kubicki comes to mind….
I would like more details on the magnetic capo, please.
There are three magnets embedded into the side of the neck; one each at “E”, “Eb”, and “D”. The capo has another magnet that can be placed in any position and holds the string with a steel pin, but allows enough movement for stable tuning with vibrato use.
Relax everybody. The extended fingerboard concept goes back well before Kubicki to the double bass C-extension. And this particular capo implementation is substantially different as well. Kudos for innovation and implementation!
That is TOTALLY cool!m Never seen that kind of capo before…
What an elegant way to create the low B… Like a double bass in a baroque orchestra.
Gerard
Marvelous artwork. What kind of tremolo system is that. A very big thumb up.
I love this! Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems like I looked at kubickis and X factors before, but I wasn’t thrilled about the smaller scale. I’m wondering, is this 34″ from the bridge to nut (the main nut on the three strings)?
Would like to hear what it sounds like.
Beautiful – the headstock is similar in design to one that Zeta used, but I really like the addition of the string extender. Nice work!
Ahh, with the tuners on the correct side, so no unnatural wrist contortions required! Sweet.
*cough* Kubicki
Looks nice overall but the long headstock looks a little unbalanced design-wise
Very nice. Would make a nice addition to any Bass players collection; without frets of course.
Where can we hear it?? Link anyone??
fantastic innovation
Looks really good. Great idea regarding tremelo. Well done Cobba
Superb innovation mixed with an understated but beautifully finished body design, very impressive.
Gorgeous instrument. Well done. We symphonic bassists have been using similar set ups on our E strings for years to get down to C and sometimes B. Very cool implementation and beautiful wood.
a factor kubicki idea 😉
Maybe carve some of the body by the pickups and paint it blue…I dunno!