lakland 55-64 vs fender p5
 

looking for opinions besides the obvious things like 34" vs 35". what do you think is the better bass? why?

First BIG difference is plek vs. not. I just sold my fender p5 and picked up a LOG 55-64. I noticed the Lakland is smoother to play. My opinion only.

I've owned both, and (minus the 35" scale) the Lakland was the clear favorite for playability for me. If the Lakland was 34", I'd probably still own a bunch of them.

I kinda figured the lakland would get props..I did own a 55-01 and played nicely...I am looking for a P bass sound for more rock tones..theses kind of basses seem to fit the bill

I have both (including cegrants old P5) . The 55-94 has a world class neck and playability. The P5 gives up nothing to the 55-94 in terms of playability, I actually prefer the neck with its slightly wider nut spacing. It delivers the P sound the 55-94 can't deliver (it can get close though). The B is great on both. For Country, my band prefers the P5.

Disclaimer: neither is plekked

get a P5 and go get it plek'd...that's what i would do.
and hopefully will do. ;)

I'm guessing plek is like the new Harley frame, you don't know what you're missing unless you try it. I've never played a plek'd bass, so mine, like my Harley, feel great to me ;)

so by saying the P bass should be pleked, the fret job is less than good?

Plek-snobs.....
RE: the OP, I too was considering the same choice. I love my 44-64 Skyline for playability and sound. Needed a 5 string and was going to get the 55-64, but there was no where to play one, and the color choices are only the 1 TSB. I ended up with the P5, which is a great player and no complaints with the sound.

I had a fender p5 and sold it. It never felt right to me and the B string felt floppy and weak. I do love my MIA fender P four string, but something about the P5 just wasn't right for me. My main player is a Lakland 5594, and it gets close enough to the 5 string P vibe when I need that sound.

yea I was worried abut a floppy B string on a fender....

I dont get the popular "Floppy" B string notion. A given string size on any 34 inch scale bass would resonate the same. I dont see why it would be floppier on a P5.
:confused:

The B is fine on the Fender P5 IMO. Floppy if you use floppy strings, maybe.

No, I have played many basses and was never super impressed with the B, lakland and status lead the pack by a lot..but they are 35" and most others were 34". Just my experience talking...

The P5 B string IS NOT FLOPPY! I have owned the following 5ers: 2 Sadowskys, 4 55-94s, 2 Fbasses, Elrick, Nordstrand, 4 Roscoes, Modulus Quantum, Modulus Genesis, Sukop, Warwick Infinty, MTD 535, Zon 5/1, Benavente, Rob Allen, Pedulla Rapture, so I feel qualified to give an opinion. A few had a floppy B string, and I was less than happy with a few DR B strings, but I think I know what floppy feels like. The P5 B string (at least with Sadowsky Black Label Stainless Lites) is not floppy.

Perhaps Cegrant has another opionion about this particular P5. And it is the only P5 I have played, but still that is IMO.

ok: flop 1 no flop 1 tie breaker anyone ahaha.
Obviously this is a subjective opinion...Not looking to start a flame here, just want opinions...

P5 is too floppy for me. I like 35" B strings, like my 55-01D and MTD passive "MM" Kingston (Korean).

I have owned both basses in question. My Fender P5's B string was not floppy, but I have owned better. Not stellar, but not bad by any means. The Lakland's was better. But I do not like the 35" scale of the Lakland.

I own 2 Lakie 55-64s (1 US and 1 Skyline) and have played a few Fender P5s.

to me, the Lakland neck feels better and the B is much (much) more useable.

The smell of sulfur is strong, but not unpleasant to a sinner....(Mark Twain on the topic of Hawaiian volcanoes).

Back on topic: 35" IS NOT SO BIG. My 9 and 1/2 year-old bass student plays a 1/2 size upright with no problem. BTW, that is a 37 1/2" scale FRETLESS played with a bow!!!

Go for the Lakland and fear not the 35" scale, which is a few mm bigger per fret.