Fender American P or Lakland Duck Dunn

Livewire · #1 08-20-2010, 11:00 AM

Hey guys

I've been playing bass for 7 years. Looking to buy a high end bass, so I've decided on either an Fender American P or a Lakland Duck Dunn P. I've heard great things about both, played an american p a few times at GC but never a duck dunn before. The Fenders have more color choices while the duck dunn has only a couple. Which would you guys choose and why? I plan on possibly swapping out the nordstrand Np4 pickup in my mim p into either bass and selling the mim.

Also, does anyone know if the Lakland Bob Glaub (which is out of my price range) have Lake Placid Blue with a maple neck as a color option?

Thanks!

basspraiser · #2 08-20-2010, 11:10 AM

You can get a US Lakie in any color you want (pretty much)....there was a used BG in LPB and maple for sale recently but it sold...

LPB was a color on the Skyline BG for a year or so in the early 2000s. these do sometimes come up for sale used.....

Actually, the BG (44-64) is cheaper than the 44-64 custom (Duck Dunn) due to the lack of a mother of pearl blocked neck....

You can find some very nice deals on used Lakies right now (both US and Skyline).

I say go Lakland because:

1) Even on the Skyline series the quality is more consistent (IMHO) than MIA Fenders...there are good MIA Fenders but you have to play it before you buy it. you can pretty much buy a Lakie site unseen and you will not be dissapointed.

2) I think the Lakies (overall) feel and sound better

3) You get personalized customer service with Lakland and they really care about each customer (even those who buy used).

The combination of quality and customer service is what drew me to them a few years ago and - over time - my Fender and RIC left and were replaced with Lakland basses....

good luck and let us know what you decided...

peace:

Doug

KramerBassFan · #3 08-20-2010, 11:12 AM

Lakland all day matey.

GregC · #4 08-20-2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livewire

Hey guys

I've been playing bass for 7 years. Looking to buy a high end bass, so I've decided on either an Fender American P or a Lakland Duck Dunn P. I've heard great things about both, played an american p a few times at GC but never a duck dunn before. The Fenders have more color choices while the duck dunn has only a couple. Which would you guys choose and why? I plan on possibly swapping out the nordstrand Np4 pickup in my mim p into either bass and selling the mim.

Also, does anyone know if the Lakland Bob Glaub (which is out of my price range) have Lake Placid Blue with a maple neck as a color option?

Thanks!

As you may know, the Dunn has a J-width neck (1.5"), so it's a bit narrower than the Fender. It normally comes only in CAR (but Lakland's CAR looks fantastic, even on the Skylines). However, Lakland is doing limited edition runs this year of the Glaub/44-64 and the Dunn/44-64 Custom (as well as the Joe Osborn) in teal metallic--close to sold out, but there are some out there--and inca silver, which should come out in September.

I think the build quality on a good MIA Fender P and a Skyline DD is fairly similar. But I find the Laklands to be a bit more consistent in quality, I like the feel of the fretboards a little better due to the Plek'ing Lakland does and I like the sound of their pickup better. Also, I'm a sucker for the blocks, binding and matching headstock of the Dunn (which still costs less than the Fender).
http://lakland.com/ac_dunn.htm

P. Aaron · #5 08-20-2010, 11:31 AM

Like my MIA Precision. Don't know much else.

BillMason · #6 08-20-2010, 02:58 PM

Pretty sure the latter-day MIA Fenders are every bit as consistent as any Lakland, but consistent-conschmistent; as a consumer you only need one to be damned good, not a whole production run. A Fender has an actual P-bass neck.

Gord_oh · #7 08-20-2010, 02:59 PM

i deal with this question on a daily basis.

treekiller · #8 08-20-2010, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillMason

Pretty sure the latter-day MIA Fenders are every bit as consistent as any Lakland, but consistent-conschmistent; as a consumer you only need one to be damned good, not a whole production run. A Fender has an actual P-bass neck.

I got a new Maple/Oly White this year and absolutely love it! The only thing I changed was the pickguard, it plays & sounds great, and worth every penny I spent. They are very likely the best deal for the $$$. I ordered mine thru the local dealer so I bought it sight unseen and was pleasantly surprised. I have a 2008 Jazz and I think the P is the better of the two, if I had to part with one it wouldn't take very long to decide!!!

basspraiser · #9 08-20-2010, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillMason

Pretty sure the latter-day MIA Fenders are every bit as consistent as any Lakland, but consistent-conschmistent; as a consumer you only need one to be damned good, not a whole production run. A Fender has an actual P-bass neck.

well....I "need" more than one...LOL!

as for the "P" neck thing...a BG has a P neck...a DD - J neck...all about preference....I prefer the P neck BTW - more comfortable to play for me!

KingRazor · #10 08-20-2010, 03:32 PM

I could buy 3 American Ps at Guitar Center for the same price as a US Lakland 44-64. Really hope they're worth what they cost.

alembicbones · #11 08-20-2010, 03:44 PM

I was in the market for a P earlier in the year and A/B/C'd a used MIA P, a new Skyline DD, and a used MIA Bob Glaub. Of the three I think the Glaub sounded the best but I didn't want to spend the cash. The MIA P sounded very nice but the DD had a smoothness to the tone that I really liked. I ended up buying the DD and am very happy.

You probably can't go wrong with either but my vote is the DD.

Happy Hunting,

Bones

SactoBass · #12 08-20-2010, 03:48 PM

I have owned both.

The Lakland is, in my opinion, a far better instrument in all respects.

I should note that I have only owned US made Laklands and Fenders, so that is where my opinion is coming from.

IMO/IME. YMMV.

mcm · #13 08-20-2010, 04:08 PM

lakland no doubt

GregC · #14 08-20-2010, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillMason

Pretty sure the latter-day MIA Fenders are every bit as consistent as any Lakland, but consistent-conschmistent; as a consumer you only need one to be damned good, not a whole production run. A Fender has an actual P-bass neck.

Well, the point of consistency is obviously how easy or difficult it is to find a good one.

As for an actual P-bass neck: Would that be the 1.75" necks of the early days, the modern 1.625" necks or the 1.5" A necks custom-ordered in the '70s?

retardedpossum · #15 08-20-2010, 04:25 PM

I've never owned a fender but I got a BG and JO skyline last week. There was a wiring issue with the BG and I contacted Lakland about it. Leo and John the owner both called me several times about it. It was no biggie and it only took a few minutes to fix. I got to play both and band rehearsal last night and Goshamighty they both sounded great. I mean really really great. I cant say enough about how great they sound. did I mention they sound great? very impressed with the folks at Lakland.

TC.65 · #16 08-20-2010, 04:43 PM

I played a skyline DD the other day it was by far the smoothest,and most comfortable bass i've ever played with awesome tone. It will be my next bass purchase.

**juriscon** · #17 08-20-2010, 05:16 PM

I have a 2008 Fender American Standard P and I love it. It cops a perfect rock tone with pick or motownish with finger style and a tone know adjustment. The perfect P bass IMO. The consistency and quality has greatly improved since Fender made significant changes and increased QC in 2008. Lakland makes a great product so you can't go wrong with either one. BUT Skyline Ps (44-64) are ash and Am Stds are alder and according to laklands website their Ps are either 1.5" at the nut or 1.75" whereas Am Stds are 1.625" which, IMO, is the perfect nut width (fill in your own joke). So I prefer and recommend Fender because of the Alder and 1.625" nut width AND if you watch the TB classifieds you can get a used one for around $800 shipped which is a great deal. Just make sure to get 2008 or later.

dave_bass5 · #18 08-21-2010, 04:04 AM

Ive had two Duck Dunns (Skylines) and both were perfectly made and had no issues.
Fantastic looking instruments and a very fast neck. Not for everyone though as its not a P neck.
In my (very recent and ongoing) experience Fender have issues with QC and i would be very weary about buying one without playing it.

carlos840 · #19 08-21-2010, 05:27 AM

Could i advise you to try a G&L SB2!
They are PJ basses but you dont have to use the J pickup if you dont fancy it, they have a J width neck, they are pretty cheap used and are really nice basses! My SB2 fills the gap of a Pbass perfectly...
(well i still want a 60s Pbass but thats another problem!)

BillMason · #20 08-21-2010, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregC

Well, the point of consistency is obviously how easy or difficult it is to find a good one.

The post 2008's are well-known for being consistently high-quality.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregC

As for an actual P-bass neck: Would that be the 1.75" necks of the early days, the modern 1.625" necks or the 1.5" A necks custom-ordered in the '70s?

Is this a sarcastic question? The "modern" 1.625" neck has been made since the '60s, so it is what most people would consider a P neck. Obviously I wouldn't have been discussing custom necks, or I would have said custom necks, and would have also been totally out of context to the thread. Aren't all the Lakland P necks either the Jazz width or the wider '50s style P neck? Versus the width that P basses are famous for?