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5'er Shootout - Help pls! Lakland DJ5/JO5 vs Musicman Stingray5/Sterling5 vs Warwick

Musicman20

Musicman20

Jan 6, 2002
4,004
78
45
North West, UK.
#1
So...if you had the choice of a Lakland Skyline DJ5/JO5, a similar priced Warwick, or a Musicman Stingray 5/Sterling 5 with H or H+S, which would you go for an why?

Its going to be my first 5 string purchase....and normally I play 08/09 USA Fenders or Stingrays, (4 String).

I want something that has a great B, awesome looks, and a really great neck.

In addition, the weight has to be good.

Ideas?

Thanks...sorry it vague!
 
#2
Really different animals to be honest.If you want a Jazz type of bass...Lakland is my choice. They have the best B IMHO, and the best feeling necks (again IMHO). If you want more of a musicman HS type of arrangement, I would look at a lakland 55-02. I prefer the neck profile of a lakland to a warwick...and I prefer the spacing of a lakland (19 mm)to a musicman. Regarding finish, the laklands are impeccable, but I have never personally seen a bad finish on a Stingray either. I think the DJ wins in the awesome looks catagory with the bound and blocked neck.

Good luck!
 
#3
bamabass said:
Really different animals to be honest.If you want a Jazz type of bass...Lakland is my choice. They have the best B IMHO, and the best feeling necks (again IMHO). If you want more of a musicman HS type of arrangement, I would look at a lakland 55-02. I prefer the neck profile of a lakland to a warwick...and I prefer the spacing of a lakland (19 mm)to a musicman. Regarding finish, the laklands are impeccable, but I have never personally seen a bad finish on a Stingray either. I think the DJ wins in the awesome looks catagory with the bound and blocked neck.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Tom Clement bass :bassist:
 
#7
I'd go with the Warwick because I prefer the tones and the feel of the bodies and necks (love me some oil finishes :)) Plus, I like the blank fretboards and the 'unconventional' styling. I've spent some time with a 55-02 and a Sterling and did not like tones (nice. but kinda bland to my ears) or the necks on either... can't really say why other than I really dig the silky feel of ovangkol.
 
#8
bamabass said:
Really different animals to be honest.If you want a Jazz type of bass...Lakland is my choice. They have the best B IMHO, and the best feeling necks (again IMHO). If you want more of a musicman HS type of arrangement, I would look at a lakland 55-02. I prefer the neck profile of a lakland to a warwick...and I prefer the spacing of a lakland (19 mm)to a musicman. Regarding finish, the laklands are impeccable, but I have never personally seen a bad finish on a Stingray either. I think the DJ wins in the awesome looks catagory with the bound and blocked neck.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

I agree...all of those are completely different animals.

IMHO, the things that BAMABASS pointed out are the key points to consider when you go to try any of those out....scale, neck, pickup config\electronics (if applicable).

FWIW - I had a Lakland 55-01. Awesome B string. Great neck. But the spacing was too wide for me and the electronics were 'blah'. The 55-02 is yet another completely different beast. The few I've played at Sam Ash..awesome B string, great neck, excellent electronics (same as US Laklands) but alas 19mm spacing just doesn't agree with me.

If you already play a Stingray 4 then you're obligated to try the Stingray 5! :D

I have no experience with Warwicks or the Lakland JO.
 
#10
Really different basses, but i've had several warwicks, a lakland JO and now a Sterling HH.

I've owned a few Warwick Corvettes, but have now settled on a Neck Thru Thumb 5er, which is slightly less warm than the Corvettes but growls a whole heap more in the low mids. Love it, she's a keeper.


I recently traded my Lakland Skyline JO5 for a new Sterling 5HH. The Lakland was an older model with Lindy Fralin pups, and it was warm and had a great low end, however even with the 35inch scale, the Low B didn't get close to the clarity of the Thumb. The Sterling is a great bass, and I do prefer it to the Lakland, although its a close one.

All 3 have unique but very useable sounds and I'm happy having the Thumb for the hard rock tunes, and the Sterling for the funky and softer songs and for slapping. If a clear Low B is what your after, in my experience the 4 warwick's i've owned have been my Top 4, with the Thumb at Number 1. Lakland's low B is good in its own right, but floppy and undefined compared to the Warwicks.
 
#11
I really like the EBMM SR5 neck alot. I love the looks and sound. I'm not thrilled with the 17.5mm string spacing though.

I'm in the minority probably but I don't like the Lakland 5 necks. Sound wise, I prefer the SR5 in H or HH over the Laklands.

Warwicks sound great but I don't like the neck or the weight.

That's why I'm looking at a BN5!
:bassist:
 
#14
bamabass said:
Really different animals to be honest.If you want a Jazz type of bass...Lakland is my choice. They have the best B IMHO, and the best feeling necks (again IMHO). If you want more of a musicman HS type of arrangement, I would look at a lakland 55-02. I prefer the neck profile of a lakland to a warwick...and I prefer the spacing of a lakland (19 mm)to a musicman. Regarding finish, the laklands are impeccable, but I have never personally seen a bad finish on a Stingray either. I think the DJ wins in the awesome looks catagory with the bound and blocked neck.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Bamabass pretty much nailed it. I would look at a 5501 though. You can get a like new one in the TB classifieds for a great price already modded if you are patient. Some guys don't like 5'vers and end up selling. Great neck, great B string, great price.
 
#16
datsaxguy said:
Bamabass pretty much nailed it. I would look at a 5501 though. You can get a like new one in the TB classifieds for a great price already modded if you are patient. Some guys don't like 5'vers and end up selling. Great neck, great B string, great price.
Click to expand...

+1

55-01'S are great....especially at the pricepoint. Very easy to mod and have fun with and they don't sound to shabby out of the gate although with very little work they can really shine.
 
#18
FunkMetalBass said:
Spector Euro 5, Dingwall Combustion 5, or a Warwick.

All others are weak-sauce.
Click to expand...

I disagree w/ the "weak" comment.

I've got a Spector Euro 6er, have had 2 Dingwall AB-1s (6er and 5er), and don't like/haven't owned Warwicks because of the 34" scale and neck shapes.

Dingwall's B strings are the best, 37" of piano-like harmonic richness and clarity, after that... give me the 35" Bs of my Laklands and Spector. I prefer Lakland necks to all others and the 19mm spacing makes it a breeze to go from 4 to 5 string basses.
 
#19
JEDI BASS said:
I disagree w/ the "weak" comment.

I've got a Spector Euro 6er, have had 2 Dingwall AB-1s (6er and 5er), and don't like/haven't owned Warwicks because of the 34" scale and neck shapes.

Dingwall's B strings are the best, 37" of piano-like harmonic richness and clarity, after that... give me the 35" Bs of my Laklands and Spector. I prefer Lakland necks to all others and the 19mm spacing makes it a breeze to go from 4 to 5 string basses.
Click to expand...

Ah yes, you are quite correct. I was thinking of a custom shop Streamer that I'd played. I forgot that it isn't standard on anything but the Vampyre.
 

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