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Lakland Shorty!

#3
It's pretty awesome, actually. I got to play the prototype last weekend. It's actually an 18 fret neck that's a drop in for the Decade, Joe Osborn, or Bob Glaub basses. Seems like I recall a scale of 30.5", but I could be wrong. They also had two versions, a P width and J width neck. I think they are still finalizing some things, but it sounded AMAZING!
 
#8
Here it is:

shorty.jpg


Being a fan of the short scale I like the idea.
 
#14
lousybassist said:
Oh, and the Fender V is a long scale bass, if you didn't know that already. :)
Click to expand...

Actually I didn't know that. I guess that would explain the weird elongated body. (I haven't had the opportunity of ever seeing one of these "in the flesh," but I've thought that an E to C five string would be useful).

I then have to ask, if they were making a long scale instrument already, why the short (in terms of the number of frets) neck? Wouldn't it have made more sense to have just adapted the design of the already available J or P body and neck types and manufacture a five string much like the ones we see today?
 
#15
I did not get a chance to play it but I did hear it...sounded amazing!!!

I like "long necks" (in basses and beers) so this is not for me.....I know the "first person in line" for the first production model (If he did not already blow all of his cash last saturday!!!) Evan - where art though????
 
#16
emor said:
Actually I didn't know that. I guess that would explain the weird elongated body. (I haven't had the opportunity of ever seeing one of these "in the flesh," but I've thought that an E to C five string would be useful).

I then have to ask, if they were making a long scale instrument already, why the short (in terms of the number of frets) neck? Wouldn't it have made more sense to have just adapted the design of the already available J or P body and neck types and manufacture a five string much like the ones we see today?
Click to expand...
According to Dave Pomeroy, in a Bass Player column that can be read read here:

"The Bass V was obviously intended for bass players wanting to expand their playing into the upper register while staying in the lower fingering positions; with only 15 frets, the instrument facilitates across-the-neck playing. The Bass V’s highest note is still Eb, just like on a Precision or Jazz Bass."

And I agree, it is a very odd design. A regular P or J neck with an extra high string on it would maybe had been more "intuitive".
 
#17
emor said:
I then have to ask, if they were making a long scale instrument already, why the short (in terms of the number of frets) neck? Wouldn't it have made more sense to have just adapted the design of the already available J or P body and neck types and manufacture a five string much like the ones we see today?
Click to expand...

The idea was, instead of having 20 frets with the high notes high up on the neck they put a high C string, which gave you those same notes lower down. That gave you the same notes that were on a regular 4 string bass, but without having to move as far on the neck to play high notes. It didn't need more than 15 frets because the notes above the 15th fret were now on the C string within easy reach.

It was a fairly good idea, but it just never caught on.

This was long before the idea of a 5 string with a low B came about.
 

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