Lakland MM-J (Standard) vs. CS (Chi-Sonic) Series Pups

[snakesandarrows]

I'm thinking about buying a U.S. Lakland 4-94 and was wondering if it was worth the upgrade to the Lakland Chi-Sonic pickups, passive or active. Does anyone have any advise/opinions? Also do you guys prefer the humbucker or coil Chi-sonics? Thanks.

[JEDI BASS]

I have a Bart-loaded 55-94 and the custom Lakland called Sexual Chocolate that I had the Bart MM/J pups and pre replaced w/ Chisonic humbuckers and LH3 preamp. Here's pics:





My band and I slightly prefer the more hi-fi Barts over the more aggressive Chi-buckers. But, they're just 2 different flavors of AWESOME IMO. I tend to record w/ the 55 and gig w/ Sexual Chocolate .

My point in posting pics is that if you replace the MM pup in a 4-94 w/ a Chi-bucker, you will have to either use a MM pup cover like I did, OR you will have the MM pup screw route holes showing.... they extend beyond the chrome Chi cover. I feel at home w/ MM covers, so it was a win/win scenario for me, but some folks are in love w/ the chrome of the Chis.

I would call Lakland and tell them what you like tonewise and what you would want out of the Chi pups. They'll steer you right. You wouldn't wanna chew up the face of a US Lakland only to find out that you liked the MM/J sound better .



Now, if it was a jazz bass, I'd say DEFINITELY replace the pups w/ Chis single coils. I think that they're the best jazz pups on the market! Check out the soundclips on Lakland's site.

[mattygbass]

here you go, keep in mind that ed's bass has enie ball group 4 flats

but the video it has rounds

http://www.thebasswhisperer.com/tonetest_lakie.html

[snakesandarrows]

Originally Posted by JEDI BASS

I have a Bart-loaded 55-94 and the custom Lakland called Sexual Chocolate that I had the Bart MM/J pups and pre replaced w/ Chisonic humbuckers and LH3 preamp. Here's pics:





My band and I slightly prefer the more hi-fi Barts over the more aggressive Chi-buckers. But, they're just 2 different flavors of AWESOME IMO. I tend to record w/ the 55 and gig w/ Sexual Chocolate .

My point in posting pics is that if you replace the MM pup in a 4-94 w/ a Chi-bucker, you will have to either use a MM pup cover like I did, OR you will have the MM pup screw route holes showing.... they extend beyond the chrome Chi cover. I feel at home w/ MM covers, so it was a win/win scenario for me, but some folks are in love w/ the chrome of the Chis.

I would call Lakland and tell them what you like tonewise and what you would want out of the Chi pups. They'll steer you right. You wouldn't wanna chew up the face of a US Lakland only to find out that you liked the MM/J sound better .



Now, if it was a jazz bass, I'd say DEFINITELY replace the pups w/ Chis single coils. I think that they're the best jazz pups on the market! Check out the soundclips on Lakland's site.

Awesome! The Ed Freidland video helped a lot!

I've got a potentially stupid question for you... I'm new to Lakland's pickups (hence this thread) but are the Chi-sonics switchable from humbucker mode to single coil? I remember reading that some type of Lakland pickup had this capability... Do you know?

[Grateful]

Originally Posted by snakesandarrows

I've got a potentially stupid question for you... I'm new to Lakland's pickups (hence this thread) but are the Chi-sonics switchable from humbucker mode to single coil? I remember reading that some type of Lakland pickup had this capability... Do you know?

The humbuckers are switchable, or (I think) you can order single coil in the Humbucker casing. Although some reports are that the switched Humbucker single coil mode is not quite as 'full sounding' as the straight singles.

I have the Singles in a JO5 and love them.

[MarkusBass]

Originally Posted by snakesandarrows

Awesome! The Ed Freidland video helped a lot!

I've got a potentially stupid question for you... I'm new to Lakland's pickups (hence this thread) but are the Chi-sonics switchable from humbucker mode to single coil? I remember reading that some type of Lakland pickup had this capability... Do you know?

Yes...humbuckers are switchable to single coil, but in single coil mode they don't have quite the character of the straight singles. I think ChiSonics the cat's meow! All of my basses have them!

[snakesandarrows]

Originally Posted by MarkusBass

Yes...humbuckers are switchable to single coil, but in single coil mode they don't have quite the character of the straight singles. I think ChiSonics the cat's meow! All of my basses have them!

So you guys are saying that the standard pickups are switchable back and forth, but you don't like the coil mode as much as the real coils?

are the chi sonics classified as a single coil or humbucker? or a hybrid pickup?

[MarkusBass]

Originally Posted by snakesandarrows

So you guys are saying that the standard pickups are switchable back and forth, but you don't like the coil mode as much as the real coils?

are the chi sonics classified as a single coil or humbucker? or a hybrid pickup?

The humbuckers are switchable to single coil mode, but while in single coil mode, they don't have the same tone as the straight single coils.

Chisonics come in straight single coils, and in humbuckers that can be switched to single coil.

[snakesandarrows]

Originally Posted by MarkusBass

The humbuckers are switchable to single coil mode, but while in single coil mode, they don't have the same tone as the straight single coils.

Chisonics come in straight single coils, and in humbuckers that can be switched to single coil.

cool, that's what I was looking for.

[snakesandarrows]

Originally Posted by MarkusBass

Yes...humbuckers are switchable to single coil, but in single coil mode they don't have quite the character of the straight singles. I think ChiSonics the cat's meow! All of my basses have them!

so off topic from this forum, why did you get two Jazzes and not a glaub or a dunn or something?
oh and i forgot to add that your collection is incredible!

[MarkusBass]

Originally Posted by snakesandarrows

so off topic from this forum, why did you get two Jazzes and not a glaub or a dunn or something?

Thanks!!! The silver one is a fretless with an ebony neck. Glaub is on the way!