Lakland 55-94 pickups; LH-3 vs. Barts

[Fezzey]

I have two Lakland 55-94s.

One of them is a Standard with Bartolini pickups and a translucent white finish and birdseye maple fingerboard. This one was purchased new, recently.

I picked up another one used on E Bay. This one is a Classic also with Bartolini pickups. It has the opaque white sparkle finish and a birdseye maple fingerboard. It appears to be one of the older ones because it doesn't have the separate battery compartment.

Two questions:

1) Are the electronics in these two basses identical or was there something different about either the pickups or the preamp with the earlier 55-94s? Plying both basses flat, they sound quite different. I was wondering if there might be some difference in the voicing of either the pickups or the preamp between the older 55-94s and the newer ones or if that difference in sound is solely attributable to the difference in body woods. The Classic seems to have a much more pronounced midrange compared to the Standard. I understand that the Classic is made of Alder with a maple top and the Standard is Swamp Ash.

2) If you were to swap out the pickups and preamp in one of these basses for the Lakland LH-3 system, which one would you choose? I'd want to keep Bartolinis in one of them, just for variety.

Fortunately, I live fairly close to the Lakland factory in Chicago and I can go there and compare what they have to what I have. I was just wondering if any TBers had any knowledge or opinions on this topic.

By the way, the rig I'm running through is a Thunderfunk TFB-550, preamp out to a QSC PLX 3602, into two Acme Low B2 cabs. I also use a BBE Opto Stomp and Sonic Stomp.

[JAUQO III-X]

Lakland Bart's or Lakland LH-3 system.

The best thing you can do is go to the factory and spend some serious time to get the best answer(s) to your question(s) yourself.

[Fezzey]

I visited the Lakland factory today and brought my 55-94s with Bartolinis with me to compare them to the LH-3 pickups and preamp.

At Winter NAMM, Dan Lakin offered to swap out the Bartolinis in the new 55-94 I had just purchased with Barts. After a lot of comparison, playing both of my 55-94s and a 55-94 and a 55-02 with the LH-3 system, I decided that I prefer the Bartolinis. Nothing wrong with the LH-3 Lakland pickups, just a matter of personal preference.

The LH-3s have higher output. I tried them in passive mode as well as active. To my ear, they sound as though they are strong in the lower midrange and perhaps a bit weak in the high end. The Barts sound a bit more natural and transparent to me. Again, just a matter of preference. Could be that I have just become accustomed to the sound of the Barts.

One thing that is clear is that the reason that Lakland decided to manufacture their own pickups is that they became frustrated with their ability to get a steady supply of pickups from the various pickup makers that they buy from and the irregular supply was hampering their ability to complete and ship basses that were already built. That "just in time" delivery wasn't working for them, so they made a move in the direction of "vertical integration."

Thanks for the suggestion to go to Lakland and compare for myself. Fortunately, I live in Suburban Chicago and I can get there easily.

The staff at Lakland is really extraordinary! They are incredibly accomodating, friendly and glad to take the time to chat. They have a wealth of knowledge as well and are happy to share what they know. Kirk and Carl are great.

I still haven't found a bass guitar that I like as much as my Laklands. I have a Darryl Jones 5 string with an Audere preamp as well and I'd have a tough time parting with any of them. They build a superb product and back it with the best customer service imaginable.

[pickles]

Odd -- thats the opposite of the usual description of the difference.

Same strings on both basses?

[Dr. Cheese]

To me the new pickups have bit more sizzle, and the humbucker is closer to a Stingray sort of sound. Split, I don't think they got as good of a jazz sound as the old Barts did.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Fezzey

One thing that is clear is that the reason that Lakland decided to manufacture their own pickups is that they became frustrated with their ability to get a steady supply of pickups from the various pickup makers that they buy from and the irregular supply was hampering their ability to complete and ship basses that were already built. That "just in time" delivery wasn't working for them, so they made a move in the direction of "vertical integration."

A position that they indeed were forced into.

Originally Posted by Fezzey

Thanks for the suggestion to go to Lakland and compare for myself.

You're welcome.