Philip Kubicki Factor Bass

Period	1983 - present
Body type	Solid
Neck joint	Bolt-on
Neck	maple
Fretboard	ebony
Bridge	Fixed, with tuning machines
Pickup(s)	two humbucking

Body type	Solid
Neck joint	Bolt-on
Neck	maple
Fretboard	maple or rosewood
Bridge	Fixed
Pickup(s)	two humbucking

The Philip Kubicki Factor Bass is a brand of electric bass guitar made in America and sold factory-direct. Bass guitars designed by Kubicki are distinguished by a unique tuning module located in the body of the guitar rather than the , as seen on most bass guitars today. The design criteria are based on human factors, or ergonomics, and the belief that a musical instrument should be inspirational to the player.

Phil Kubicki first became interested in guitars when he saw Andrés Segovia playing classical guitar on TV and then saw his first guitar on family visits to his grandparents' house. "For some reason my grandfather had a guitar in the closet," recalls Philip. "And that's where I'd head: to play with that guitar. It had one string that was a mile off the fingerboard. I think all of us instrument makers have had that kind of fascination - some little spark, back at the very beginning." A few years later, while Kubicki was in high school in Whittier, California, a friend introduced him to Ernie Drumheller. "His hobby was making guitars. He invited my friend and me to come to his shop on Saturdays, and he taught us how to make guitars. I took off with it and built a half dozen classical guitars during my high school years."

In 1964, while attending Fullerton Junior College, close to Fender Musical Instruments, Kubicki took a factory tour, filled out an application, and was hired by Roger Rossmeisl to work with him in his Acoustic Guitar Division. Roger Rossmeisl then became head of the Research & Development for acoustic and electric guitars and asked Phil to be his assistant. The R&D position led to many prototypical, experimental instruments like the Fender Telecaster Thinline, the electric violin, the LTD and Montego Jazz guitars, and the first rosewood Telecaster for George Harrison and the first rosewood for Jimi Hendrix – which was the last guitar Fender made for Jimi Hendrix. In late 1973, Kubicki left Fender to start his own business.

The early products created after leaving Fender were acoustic guitars and various guitar-making supplies. During this time, an acoustic guitar and a dulcimer were made for Joni Mitchell. Until 1985, the primary products were guitar-making supplies that evolved into the manufacture of bodies and necks emulating the Fender design. Short-scale guitars called the "Arrow" and "Express" were a major effort during this period resulting in 275 numbered instruments.

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