Calling all Lakland experts..........My Lakland is toooo aggressive.......how to fix?

g4string · #1 10-15-2009, 08:10 PM

I have a Bassline equipped Lakland (w/ Bart pre).....I think I coming to terms that it is a tad too aggressive for me. I am leaning towards swapping out the Basslines w/ a set of Barts, maybe some Lakland pups. However, I am open to other suggestions. I have some questions;

-Does Lakland still have/offer Barts [I am assuming the Barts Lakland used were custom wound and NOT "off the shelf general population" pups]

-How much do the Lakland pups differ from the Barts

-How do you think the Glock pre would sound in this bass.....that 18K treble seems real "glasssssy".....I think I could dig that!!

-Are there any pre/pup combos you would recommend to smmmmoooooth out my Lakland??

5string5fingers · #2 10-15-2009, 08:11 PM

have you tried flats?

g4string · #3 10-15-2009, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5string5fingers

have you tried flats?

I really like round wounds.....However, I am open to trying flats. I still would like to try some different electronics.

mccartneyman · #4 10-15-2009, 08:19 PM

I found that using nickel rounds instead of stainless make s substantial difference in the "aggressiveness" of my 55-94, but it has Barts. With flats its still has bite but the overall tonal range is better balanced.

mattq · #5 10-15-2009, 08:22 PM

too aggressive?!??!!!? TOO AGGRESSIVE??!?!! that's like having too much money.

g4string · #6 10-15-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattq

too aggressive?!??!!!? TOO AGGRESSIVE??!?!! that's like having too much money.

OK......how about harsh, its too harsh. I would like to "sweeten" the bass up a bit. How is that??

afroman · #7 10-15-2009, 08:37 PM

I do agree with you that Basslines are a lot more aggressive than Barts, which I consider smoother and more compressed sounding.

The easiest way is like another member suggested. Try some nickel strings or halfrounds. SS strings are to bright for my tastes and I love new-string sound.

Flats would get you a whole different sound which you will either like or dislike.

If not, contact Dan Lakin, they will change you pickups for the new Laklands which are very good ones. Call him and ask him, he can be really helpful and sincere.

bassplayershane · #8 10-15-2009, 09:44 PM

Nordstrand?! What model Lakland is it?

Blues Cat · #9 10-15-2009, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayershane

Nordstrand?! What model Lakland is it?

+1 on the Nordstrand.

phat daddy · #10 10-16-2009, 12:11 AM

I have the Barts in both my 55-94's and would not exchange them for any other. They have a "velvetine" smooth high end flat and if you boost the preamp they can get more aggressive but not harsh. The low mid bump that those pickups get naturally and the smooth, even response is what made me choose those over Basslines and Lakland pickups, all of which I played and weighed out, although I haven't heard the Nordies. Everyone I've talked to says the Nordies are much more aggressive than the Barts, more like the Basslines. Hope that helps.

Munjibunga · #11 10-16-2009, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g4string

I have a Bassline equipped Lakland (w/ Bart pre).....I think I coming to terms that it is a tad too aggressive for me. I am leaning towards swapping out the Basslines w/ a set of Barts, maybe some Lakland pups. However, I am open to other suggestions. I have some questions;

-Does Lakland still have/offer Barts [I am assuming the Barts Lakland used were custom wound and NOT "off the shelf general population" pups]

-How much do the Lakland pups differ from the Barts

-How do you think the Glock pre would sound in this bass.....that 18K treble seems real "glasssssy".....I think I could dig that!!

-Are there any pre/pup combos you would recommend to smmmmoooooth out my Lakland??

I think the Barts would do the trick. I have them in my 55-94, and would not characterize them as aggressive. I like aggressive tone so, when I want it from the 55-94, I need to roll it all the way back to the bridge pickup, then boost the mids.

phat daddy · #12 10-16-2009, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

I think the Barts would do the trick. I have them in my 55-94, and would not characterize them as aggressive. I like aggressive tone so, when I want it from the 55-94, I need to roll it all the way back to the bridge pickup, then boost the mids.

+1 on what Munji is saying. If I really want it to bite, I solo the bridge pickup and boost bass and mids to get a more "Music Mannish" tone. I don't do this all that often these days because those Barts sit in the mix really well with both pickups on full for me.

I chose the Barts particularly because they were less aggressive and more refined sounding than the alternatives, yet can get aggressive when you need it.

kalle74 · #13 10-16-2009, 01:38 AM

I have a spare set of Barts that I´d like to swap for SD´s, but I live halfway around the world...

theaterbass29 · #14 10-16-2009, 01:51 AM

Not very qualified to give an opinion, as Ive only owned two Lakland's, one a passive Dual J, and the other a US 55-94. The latter had Bart pre and pups, and I didnt get rid of it because of the tone, but because it felt awkward to play, with an odd feeling neck, narrow string spacing, and the 35 inch scale thing.
I agree with one poster earlier, I cant imagine having too much aggression, unless were talking Rickenbacker. But it is hard to get a traditional bass sound without a passive tone control. There are some effective outboard passive tone controls on the market, if you like the bass and simply want to tame it. I believe Wishbass makes one, probably available on Ebay for cheap. Or you could build your own out of parts and a metal or wood box. One 250k pot with a quarter inch input with the hot wire going to the right post, and a .05 capacitor in the middle, then tie another hot wire to the other hot on the right post and send it to another quarter inch for the output and ground the insides to something metal or use copper foil sheilding tape. You could even go as far as to put a stomp switch with true bypass on it if you just wanted that sound for a song or two. Probably would cost you around $20 to make, or have a guitar tech build it for you, but for that, you might as well go ahead and buy the wishbass piece, as it will be twice or three times the price. Just a thought.

Poon · #15 10-16-2009, 01:53 AM

I definitely dug the Nordstrand NJ5S and MM5.4 when I had my last 55-02. It wasn't harsh at all. I felt like it was more authentic (sonically) to the Fender / Ernie Ball Families than the Barts. I left my controls flat most of the time and I loved the sound of it with the Bart Pre. It was really just the pickups I didn't dig. Too polite for me. But I think the Nordstrands would be a good compromise between the two.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #16 10-16-2009, 04:34 AM

Is the bass too aggressive in passive mode as well? If it's just too aggressive when active, you can turn down the internal gain trimpot for the Bart pre- it makes a noticeable difference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by theaterbass29

There are some effective outboard passive tone controls on the market, if you like the bass and simply want to tame it. I believe Wishbass makes one, probably available on Ebay for cheap.

Do you mean the Birdsong Bbox?
http://www.birdsongguitars.com/inventory.htm

Darkstrike · #17 10-16-2009, 05:11 AM

Uhhhh, roll off the mids some, on the bass, or the amp? Cheaper than a pile of new guts......

g4string · #18 10-16-2009, 08:11 AM

Thanks for all the input......FWIW, my bass is a 55-94. I will give Lakland a call to inquire about pup options for my bass. I have had Nordstrands in other basses, so that is always an option as well.

JTE · #19 10-16-2009, 08:40 AM

My 4-94 came to me used with the Duncans in it. I used it that way for about six months, then decided I wanted to try something a bit more refined. I got a set of Barts from Lakland and love them. That happened about 2001, well before they developed their own pickup brand. By the accounts of the Lakland fans, the Lakland PUPs sit in between the Barts and the Duncans.

John

Bob C · #20 10-16-2009, 08:55 AM

Have you tried lowering the pickups yet? That would be an inexpensive experiment. Also, I'm one of those guys who used to use SS strings, but switched to nickel plated. Over the years, my tastes have changed to favoring a rounder tone.

I have not owned a million basses, but all the ones I've auditioned with Barts sounded pretty smooth and "polite". That may get you where you want, or it might be too far in the opposite direction.

There are so many different pickup/preamp combinations to try. But I'm not qualified to recommend one. Talking to Dan at Lakland is a good idea.