Lakland 55-01 upgrade

ms747 · #1 11-18-2009, 08:09 PM

Hi all,

Im looking into upgrading the electronics in my 55-01 and am after suggestions, looks like nordstrand pups the way to go with the NTMB pre amp? i just feel the bass at the moment lacks a bit of clarity.

cheers

mikezimmerman · #2 11-18-2009, 09:42 PM

I liked the NTMB pre in my 55-01, but I don't necessarily remember it being more clear, just smoother and a bit more natural sounding than the stock pre. I had a another 55-01 with the Demeter pre, and that one did sound clearer, but the controls were more subtle. Other folks have liked the Aguilar and Audere preamps in the 55-01.

I've never swapped out the pickups, but Nordies seem to be the most popular upgrade.

Mike

basadam · #3 11-19-2009, 04:15 AM

a) Nordy fat-stacks, no preamp. Vol-vol-tone and two switches for each pickup (between stacked and single-coil). Passive monster.
b) Nordy Big Splits or Big Singles. Sadowsky or Aguilar OBP-1 (both 2-band, boost only), passive tone control.

dougray · #4 11-19-2009, 04:01 PM

big singles w/aguilar obp-3....

EricF · #5 11-19-2009, 04:09 PM

I LOVE the sound of the Nord 3B-5a pre and Big Splits in my 55-01. Very clear, big, and defined.

(Unfortunately, I don't love playing a 5'er

)

ms747 · #6 01-02-2010, 11:25 PM

Thanks guys for the replies. I'm leaning towards the nordie pre with big splits. Seems the stock pre is playing up at the moment so the upgrade may happen sooner. Cheers

capnsandwich · #7 01-02-2010, 11:30 PM

I had a 55-01 with the Big Singles and the NTMB 18v and it killed. It took that bass from a budget bass to a very giggable professional sounding instrument, not that the 55-01 isn't giggable or unprofessional sounding but the Nordies and the NTMB brought it to an even greater professional level sound. I sold it and curse that day and will until the day I die.

ms747 · #8 01-02-2010, 11:53 PM

Thanks for that I've been looking into the ntmb as it's a bit cheaper don't know if I'd go 18v though as I want to install it all myself. I like the hum cancelling aspect of the splits over the singles. From what it sounds any combination I go with will sound much better than stock. Cheers

capnsandwich · #9 01-03-2010, 12:07 AM

Splits, singles, fat stacks, it doesn't matter. You already have a great bass. It just needs great electronics and the Nordies are great. Bartolini or Aguilar will be better than the MK-1 preamp. You'll more than likely be happy with your bass.

ms747 · #10 01-03-2010, 12:16 AM

Cheers for that. Any recommendations on the cheapest place to buy from?

capnsandwich · #11 01-03-2010, 12:24 AM

Not off the top of my head. I had the guy who installed them order them since he's a Nordstrand dealer. My guess would be to Google Nordstrand pickups and see who's selling them and compare prices.

jmain · #12 01-03-2010, 06:37 PM

bestbassgear.com

ms747 · #13 01-07-2010, 04:54 AM

Thanks all for the advice I've today ordered bart ntmb pre and nord big splits. Can't wait :-)

ms747 · #14 01-26-2010, 03:40 AM

Hi all once again thanks for the advice it's all installed and gee what a difference it's clear crisp and fat all at once! Couldn't be happier. Cheers

RevGroove · #15 03-10-2010, 01:14 AM

Hey, a friend of mine just picked a 55-01 up off the local Kijijji and is wondering if he can just add a second battery to run the stock MK1 electronics at 18v...doable?

capnsandwich · #16 03-10-2010, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RevGroove

Hey, a friend of mine just picked a 55-01 up off the local Kijijji and is wondering if he can just add a second battery to run the stock MK1 electronics at 18v...doable?

It depends the preamp. If it's a Bart NTMB or Aguilar OBP-3 then yes but I'm not sure about the MK-1's. Something tells me "NO." They're just a cheap foreign preamp so an extra 9 volt may be enough to fry it. The NTMB and Aguilar, however, both say 9 or 18 volts. Sounds to me like he needs to swap the preamp out before he does that.

RevGroove · #17 03-10-2010, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnsandwich

It depends the preamp. If it's a Bart NTMB or Aguilar OBP-3 then yes but I'm not sure about the MK-1's. Something tells me "NO." They're just a cheap foreign preamp so an extra 9 volt may be enough to fry it. The NTMB and Aguilar, however, both say 9 or 18 volts. Sounds to me like he needs to swap the preamp out before he does that.

Thanks...really just wondering if anyone else had done it...we were told the same for overseas copies of another builders preamps and tried it anyway, and two years later, that's still going strong...maybe it'll improve things, or it may fry things...which will give him an excuse to do a major overhaul!

I'll let you guys know how it turns out, I think he's planning on doing it tomorrow!

mikezimmerman · #18 03-10-2010, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RevGroove

Hey, a friend of mine just picked a 55-01 up off the local Kijijji and is wondering if he can just add a second battery to run the stock MK1 electronics at 18v...doable?

I agree with capnsandwich that it could possibly fry the stock preamp. Heck, putting the battery in backwards will fry the stock preamp! (Ask me how I know...)

The real question is, what is it that he expects to gain by adding a second battery? Folks seem to automatically assume that 18v is magically "better". The truth is, whether or not switching from 9v to 18v makes any difference in headroom, gain, or anything at all depends on the preamp design.

Mike

stflbn · #19 03-10-2010, 07:50 AM

Personally I vastly prefer Bartolini preamps when paired with Bartolini pickups. If using different pickups I almost always prefer a non-bart preamp.

RevGroove · #20 03-10-2010, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikezimmerman

I agree with capnsandwich that it could possibly fry the stock preamp. Heck, putting the battery in backwards will fry the stock preamp! (Ask me how I know...)

The real question is, what is it that he expects to gain by adding a second battery? Folks seem to automatically assume that 18v is magically "better". The truth is, whether or not switching from 9v to 18v makes any difference in headroom, gain, or anything at all depends on the preamp design.

Mike

It's all about more headroom, better transients...

...did it with my MTD Kingston Z5, didn't fry a thing, still going strong after two years...and the increased headroom is appreciated. The theory is that since it's modeled on the Bartolinis (Both MTD and Lakland use Barts and offshore Barts or copies depending on place of manufacture) it should react the same, so should be safe...worked with the MTD Kingstons, we're hoping the Skyline's electronics will react the same!