Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

One of the thing I don't like about most active basses, is that they usually don't have a passive mode. My Gibson Victory and Carlo Robelli 12 string have a passive mode, as well as the PRS I used to have. My StingRay5's, TUNE Bassmaniac and Ibanez BTB do not have a passive mode and the Ibanez BTB takes two 9V batteries!!

Go to Phil's website: http://www.kubicki.com/

Check out Vail Johnsons soundbytes.

The Kubicki has two 9 volts as well. I haven't played it in full band yet. I play my Rics with a Sansamp. What I'll try is playing the Kubicki with the Sansamp as well in passive mode to make the A/B'ing a little smoother. It'll be interesting to see if the bass sounds better with the onboard actives or with the external Sansamp.

I think it should be a requirement of basses with active EQ to have an active/passive switch.

Sometimes that is not possible, particularly in the case of instruments with piezo pickups that have an onboard buffer preamp.

I didn't think of that. I've never used a piezo before (all the acoustics I've played were unplugged) . . . I was referring more to like when you have passive pickups hooked up to active electronics, I don't want the bass to start cutting out when the EQ's battery dies . . . and sometimes, active EQ just doesn't do what I want.

Steve, as a man in love with the colour blue, I've got to say that your pic left me salivating. That blue Kubicki is awesome! (that yellow is pretty cool too Scott). I really like the idea of Kubickis but whenever I've picked one up to play it's had an action you could drive a bus under, and as a low action kind of guy, I just can't get an idea of what the bass would be like. One day maybe, I WILL find one that's set up ok...then we'll see...

Scott, I've owned two Kubicki's in the past. A
Blueburst, and a Crimsonburst. Both had the 18 volt circuit. I usually used the "midboost" setting with the band, and trust me, it was awsome sounding live. Sound engineers loved me. These basses are made for live playing and are dead quiet in the studio!!!!!

I had to sell both of them at different times in my life due to financial problems. They are among the best basses you can find in my opinion. I will own another again. Good score!

It's a monster!! The word coming out of mouth was WOW. The Blue Beast met the yellow monster. I should have taken a pic of them together.