Lakland Owners Group #54 - Page 46

Tom P · #**901** 03-19-2012, 01:10 PM

I owned the US Glaub PJ that is currently listed. It has the Neo Punch pickup config. Lots of punchy tone options. I am just as happy with the straight P setup.

MarkusBass · #**902** 03-19-2012, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom P

It has the Neo Punch pickup config. Lots of punchy tone options. I am just as happy with the straight P setup.

Ditto.

JEDI BASS · #**903** 03-19-2012, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom P

I owned the US Glaub PJ that is currently listed. It has the Neo Punch pickup config. Lots of punchy tone options. I am just as happy with the straight P setup.

I have a P/J frankenbass w/ Neo punch p'ups. I'm not a fan of any solo'd J p'up tones, but I love the split P p'up w/ a little bridge J blended in.

I saw/played a black US Glaub P/J w/ 1.65" nut at the East TN TB GTG yesterday. It won over everyone who played her, myself included!

BobaFret · #**904** 03-19-2012, 02:47 PM

I did promise some AJ-44 review stuff but most of it is going to have to wait a week or so. My original plan wasn't to keep the Bart MK-1 preamp in it. I figured I would give it a chance but it falls right into the same stuff I dislike about Bartolini preamps. That isn't to say they aren't good, they just aren't for me.

So, the bass plays really nice ( go figure it's a Lakland ). The only thing that isn't up to par for my taste is the preamp. The first reason is there isn't a passive option. I like to have that available. The second reason is I just don't like the way it sounds.

Which brings me to what I intended to do anyway. Which is create something new and unusual. I'm going to call it "The Big Lakowsky".

Sadowsky is sending me a preamp that I'll put in and THEN do sound clips. It also allows the blending of single coil pickups without the 60 cycle hum.

This entire package will end up being exactly 1287.00 shipped to my door so it's not a real bank breaker IMO.

MarkusBass · #**905** 03-19-2012, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobaFret

I did promise some AJ-44 review stuff but most of it is going to have to wait a week or so. My original plan wasn't to keep the Bart MK-1 preamp in it. I figured I would give it a chance but it falls right into the same stuff I dislike about Bartolini preamps. That isn't to say they aren't good, they just aren't for me.

So, the bass plays really nice ( go figure it's a Lakland ). The only thing that isn't up to par for my taste is the preamp. The first reason is there isn't a passive option. I like to have that available. The second reason is I just don't like the way it sounds.

Which brings me to what I intended to do anyway. Which is create something new and unusual. I'm going to call it "The Big Lakowsky".

Sadowsky is sending me a preamp that I'll put in and THEN do sound clips. It also allows the blending of single coil pickups without the 60 cycle hum.

This entire package will end up being exactly 1287.00 shipped to my door so it's not a real bank breaker IMO.

How does it do that?

BigBeatNut · #**906** 03-19-2012, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkusBass

How does it do that?

'Dummy' coil perhaps ? One that responds to ambient magnetic fields but too far away from strings to pick them up ?

MarkusBass · #**907** 03-19-2012, 03:04 PM

I know of the dummy coil thing, but in the preamp?

jkramer5 · #**908** 03-19-2012, 03:39 PM

Aww I missed the J retro talk. I've got a Skyline 5 string Jazz that has one in it and like a few other guys said, I'd tried other brands but felt they were lacking. The 5'er came with it (bought it used here on the TB classifieds) and I was sort of wary about it but figured I could go back to passive if I wanted to.

Man am I happy with it's tone. The only problem I have is that it's got a couple scratchy pots. I'll take care of that soon enough though. I really does sound great.

BobaFret · #**909** 03-19-2012, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBeatNut

'Dummy' coil perhaps ? One that responds to ambient magnetic fields but too far away from strings to pick them up ?

I really don't have all the specifics but it had something to do with a passive buffer I believe.

BigBeatNut · #**910** 03-19-2012, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobaFret

I really don't have all the specifics but it had something to do with a passive buffer I believe.

Really ? Passive buffer sounds like a contradiction in terms to me. I'm interested to know more.

BobaFret · #**911** 03-19-2012, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBeatNut

Really ? Passive buffer sounds like a contradiction in terms to me. I'm interested to know more.

I'll try to find what I read. I know nothing of what I speak ( outside of how to solder it into place and use it ).

MarkusBass · #**912** 03-19-2012, 05:08 PM

Yes... interesting...seems like everyone would do this.

BobaFret · #**913** 03-19-2012, 05:24 PM

Here are a couple of the things I found on TB concerning this.

Specifically speaking about Sadowsky pre's.

"There are some benefits to this phenomena. One, obviously, is the fact, that you still have the functionality in passive mode. But another is the fact that if you are using single coil PUs, you are able to get the character of the bridge PU sound without introducing a great deal of noise into the signal chain."

"The is a secret to favoring one pickup with out losing all of the other with a Sadowsky preamp. When the blend control is in the center detent position, you get both pickups full. If you want to favor one, move the blend control just slightly, and I do mean slightly, off center. (say 10% or less) I do this to favor the bridge pickup, and still get plenty from the neck pickup. The beauty of that design is when using single coils, you are able to get more of a soloed pickup sound without any of the single coil related hum."

BigBeatNut · #**914** 03-19-2012, 05:32 PM

That doesn't sound to me like anything different to any other active pre with a blend. I'm not understanding what, if anything, is special about the Sadowsky yet. Unless perhaps they've organised things so that the centre of the pot travel is 'broadened' ... i.e. so it's easier to fine tune the blend.

MarkusBass · #**915** 03-19-2012, 05:40 PM

+1...not bashing..just don't get it. Seems like every other blend.

**Kinetic Shadow** · #**916** 03-19-2012, 08:21 PM

+1... sorry not bashing as well, just not understanding perhaps? I can do the same thing with the LH3, Fender Active Pre and John East I use.

**Kinetic Shadow** · #**917** 03-19-2012, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkramer5

Aww I missed the J retro talk. I've got a Skyline 5 string Jazz that has one in it and like a few other guys said, I'd tried other brands but felt they were lacking. The 5'er came with it (bought it used here on the TB classifieds) and I was sort of wary about it but figured I could go back to passive if I wanted to.

Man am I happy with it's tone. The only problem I have is that it's got a couple scratchy pots. I'll take care of that soon enough though. I really does sound great.

Curious, does your J-Retro not have an active passive switch by the jack?

jkramer5 · #**918** 03-19-2012, 08:28 PM

Yeah it does but if I hadn't liked the pre I would have sold it. No sense letting it go to waste if that would have been the case. The seller included the stock controls and plate when he sent me the case.

**Kinetic Shadow** · #**919** 03-19-2012, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkramer5

Yeah it does but if I hadn't liked the pre I would have sold it. No sense letting it go to waste if that would have been the case. The seller included the stock controls and plate when he sent me the case.

Gotcha, was just curious if they ever made a model without the switch as that is kind of a big marketing point for them that if the battery goes dead during a live performance you're covered by the active passive switch.

**Mrfstop** · #**920** 03-19-2012, 09:14 PM

uh oh G.A.S. is stirring