Lakland great instrument but ...I HATE THE SHAPE OF THEIR BRIDGES

[Geroi Asfalta]

I've only played a lakland once and it was amazing. I was looking through the NAMM pictures people had posted here, and soe I thought- "Oh....nice fend-oh...sadowsky.....nevermind"

but the oval bridge sets it apart. I like it.

[hibachiduck]

The oval shaped bridge is one of the things that I like about Laklands. The fact that they also offer Chi-Sonic pickups and a body style that's kinda unique (though similar to some others) in the Decade is yet another. Every bass I've bought felt like something is missing -- my Lakland is the first one that I wouldn't change a damn thing on. And it's not just yet another Jazz or Precision clone. Holy crap am I sick of buying basses that look like Fenders (this is coming from a guy who loves the 3 J basses he owns)

[datsaxguy]

The vanity of bass players crack me up. Nobody is paying ur bass or the bridge on ur bass any attention.
The singers, guitarists, pianists, trumpets and saxophonists get all the love.

-a fellow Lakland bass player who also plays sax. (Yes I'm running w/ the hares and hunting w/ the hounds)

BTW - The bridge is fairly light, it holds adjustments well and I never had one go bad. Sounds like a pretty nice bridge to me

[mattbass6945]

Originally Posted by jasonbraatz

If we're going to start requiring that all topics have points we're going to need a lot more moderators.

ha! this, this, a million times this!!!

i think aesthetically, they look better on the p style than the jazz. however, it wouldn't stop me from owning one, my wallet does that for me.

[hibachiduck]

Originally Posted by datsaxguy

The vanity of bass players crack me up. Nobody is paying ur bass or the bridge on ur bass any attention.
The singers, guitarists, pianists, trumpets and saxophonists get all the love.

-a fellow Lakland bass player who also plays sax. (Yes I'm running w/ the hares and hunting w/ the hounds)

BTW - The bridge is fairly light, it holds adjustments well and I never had one go bad. Sounds like a pretty nice bridge to me

While I disagree with the majority of your post (boring bass players who stand like statues next to the drummer and wonder why nobody pays attention to them crack me up), your "BTW" section is spot on.

[sclift]

I have a 55-02 that is the bass I use most, but the bridge is the thing I like least about it. I bugs me every time I change strings. The oval shape is OK and recognizable from a distance, but otherwise it's just a cheap piece of bent steel that is amateurish compared with the the top-loaders on my Warwicks and Ibanez. It is better than the Rick bridge, but that isn't saying much.

[GregC]

Originally Posted by FunkRenegade

Lol at all the laklandphiles jumping out in defense. Can't stand the bridge myself.

I Lol at your Lol. I didn't realize only negative views on the topic were acceptable. Besides, some folks who like the bridge said they don't even own Laklands.

As for me, when I first joined TB and saw them for the first time, I didn't like them either. After playing a couple Laklands, I warmed up to the bridge pretty quickly.

[sikamikanico]

I like Lakland bridges on Lakland's original design basses. But for a classic looking J or P bass, I prefer a rectangular bridge...

However, this is pointless - one, when you play the bass, you don't really see the oval shape (both because it's nearly impossible to see it's oval from that angle and because you're so much enjoying just playing the bass ), and two, you can replace the bridge and enjoy the rest of the package

[oboylebass]

The Lakland bridge is inspired by the original Music Man bridge which was designed by...Leo Fender.

I like the Lakland bridge.
I like the Music Man bridge.
I like the Fender bridge.
I like the Leo Quann BADASS bridge.
I like bridges!!!

[wvbass]

I'd like to see a Decade with those oval Delano pickups...that would make the OP's b### pucker!

[blowinblue]

I say most of you are missing the genius of the Lakland bridge. If you play in a country band you don't have to wear a belt with a big cumbersome buckle that digs into your belly (or digs into the back of your instrument). You've got a buckle on the front of your bass. And a shiny one at that.

M. M.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by jasonbraatz

A Lakland is an incredible Fender-style bass, but so is a Sadowsky, or a Lull, an AC, a Valenti, etc.

and from a distance we'd be hard-pressed to tell any of them apart except for the lak and its oval bridge!

that's why it's awesome.

also, it's not a "cheap piece of bent steel", it's the "classic tone recipe of low-mass bent steel"

[wvbass]

Originally Posted by walterw

also, it's not a "cheap piece of bent steel", it's the "very expensive piece of bent steel"

Fixed it for you.

[kai_ski]

Well, I'll be one to say that the oval bridge is probably the #1 reason I have never owned a Lakland. I'm sure that it functions just like any other bridge, but on the "vintage" style basses it ruins the look for me.

So there

[M.R. Ogle]

Originally Posted by Bassamatic

From a design point of view, a square bridge on a round instrument is not a good design at all. The oval bridge echos the shape of the body - MUCH better. For those that don't like it, I think it is a case of being too used to the old style to accept the change.

This. I think the oval bridge was a stroke of genius.

[ShowKing]

looks damn good to me..

[zachoff]

I think the Decade is one of the coolest looking basses ever made... Bridge and all... Period.

[capnsandwich]

Originally Posted by Bassamatic

From a design point of view, a square bridge on a round instrument is not a good design at all. The oval bridge echos the shape of the body - MUCH better. For those that don't like it, I think it is a case of being too used to the old style to accept the change.

If that's the case then go ahead and throw in a set of those oval shaped Delano pickups as well.

[Jazz Ad]

And oval Fender 66 machine heads, with oval inlays a la Alembic.
We are onto something.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by Holdsg

it's part of their trademarks, and one of the things that makes it immediately recognizable as a Lakland. If you don't like it that much, don't play it. Lots of other good choices out there.

Amen. I like 'em.