4401 or 4402?

[SteveC]

I've had both the stock 44-01 with Barts and the 44-02 with Lakland pickups and electronics. I loved the feel of the 44-01 but after a while I longed for a punchier j bass sound. I upgraded the preamp, but still wasn't completely content. I sold it to get the 44-02 before I put more money into it.

I love my 44-02. I find that it can get a variety of tones and the switch makes a huge difference with the pickups. If that wasn't enough, you can take the cover off the back and select a different mid frequency for the mid gain/fade. I've used it for jazz and rock and it does a nice job. You'll like the stock 44-01, but you'll love the 44-02. Thats just my opinion.

I had a 55-02 that played like butter and sounded incredible, but I'm just not a 5 string player.

I think part of the reason I'm having trouble picking a new 5 sting is because my 44-02 is so awesome.

 

[DWBass]

I just don't understand the hate on the 44-01 electronics. I think since the preamp is made overseas it puts a bad taste in everyones mouth. I bought one on a whim a few months ago for an amazing price and can't believe how great it sounds stock. Very versatile too. Can get a decent P sound , a nice bridge pickup bite. Roll off the treble and its smooth city. It can sound pretty mean too. Much better IMO for rock than the 44-02.

The stock pre is pretty unmusical in my opinion. Bass and Treble boost is way too much to the point of overkill! Yeah, it's usable (my 55-01 is still stock but I'm replacing that pre as soon as I get a chance) but I need something more subtle and more musical. But that's just me.

 

[Pet Sounds]

Just got a 44-01 for a good price and think it sounds great, but have played and loved the -02.
Question for those who upgraded the electronics: What did you use?

 

[ster]

The stock pre is pretty unmusical in my opinion. Bass and Treble boost is way too much to the point of overkill! Yeah, it's usable (my 55-01 is still stock but I'm replacing that pre as soon as I get a chance) but I need something more subtle and more musical. But that's just me.

Just back off the treble and bass
I agree that the 44-01does not have a very refined sound, but I love the grunt I get out of it. The mids are a little muddy (or thick depending on whom you ask) but fit well in a band context better than clean mids IMO. The 44-02 is too refined for me and doesn't growl as much, it's a great bass for sure if you like a more polite Stingray sound with a bridge pup to add some more versatility.
I am not saying that this bass is better than that bass, the OP asks for advice and not everyone is going to like the more expensive model with the more refined sound. The guy plays rock and IMO the 44-01 does rock better. Heck, alot of people like the good ol' Passive P bass sound than a Ken Smith!!

 

[Stranger Danger]

Just back off the treble and bass
I agree that the 44-01does not have a very refined sound, but I love the grunt I get out of it. The mids are a little muddy (or thick depending on whom you ask) but fit well in a band context better than clean mids IMO. The 44-02 is too refined for me and doesn't growl as much, it's a great bass for sure if you like a more polite Stingray sound with a bridge pup to add some more versatility.
I am not saying that this bass is better than that bass, the OP asks for advice and not everyone is going to like the more expensive model with the more refined sound. The guy plays rock and IMO the 44-01 does rock better. Heck, alot of people like the good ol' Passive P bass sound than a Ken Smith!!

No you're right, thats exactly what I'm looking for in this thread. Thanks! That's what I'm still kinda afraid of. That the 02 may be too "refined".

 

[ster]

No you're right, thats exactly what I'm looking for in this thread. Thanks! That's what I'm still kinda afraid of. That the 02 may be too "refined".

Let your own ears decide. I am partial to basses with an edge to them. It is true that you don't want to dime the treble on the 44-01 but you wouldn't do that with a Stingray or a Spector in my experience either. I also think the slap sound is amazing too but I would give the edge to the 44-02 in that category but the 44-01 is no slouch by any means. You also gotta love the price–especially used.
Also the fit and finish are the same IME. Lakland necks are exceptional across the board.

 

[drpepper]

Just got a 44-01 for a good price and think it sounds great, but have played and loved the -02.
Question for those who upgraded the electronics: What did you use?

Check the 01 thread (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/lakland-01-club-part-2-a-586391/). Lots of upgraders have posted lots of different configurations.

I went with USA MKs and an LH-3 in my 55-01

As I said in the the 01 thread, I'm really not one to feel good about my descriptions of sonic differences. I can never get comfortable with the idea that I necessarily mean the same thing that you do when we both say things like "refined" and "organic" that are (IMO) removed more than one step from being descriptive of aural perceptions.

That said, you obviously gain the potential capacity for a wider range of sounds in upgrading an 01. If you do dc pickups and multiple switches, you can spend all day trying alternate path and coil configurations...front coil/back coil/inside pair/outside pair/parallel/series.

I got mine set up wired series and I have a single, two position switch for both pick ups with options of dual coil/outer coils. I don't even switch between those much.

Leaving EQ out (both active and flat), my opinion on the difference between the MK1/MK1 and MK5/LH-3 is most apparent in the middle. I felt the MK1 was less hefty or thinner in the middle. I perceived a slight, airy grind in the heart of the sound of the MK1. With the MK5/LH-3, that heart is smooth, with more heft and punch. I have never felt that these were night and day differences, just the best way I can describe the differences when really listening for them.

Moving away from flat EQ, the pre-amp change has some differences that are more significant. One, I can dime the treble with completely usable sound on the LH-3. It has a very subtle operation (it might actually be too subtle - I'm toying with the idea of getting it re-wired in parallel to hear that voice). I can also complete cut without it going into unnaturally muted sounds. The bass boost on the LH-3 with the MK5 just creates this buttery smooth, thick, round, fat sound sensation. All this said, the MK1/MK1 is fine on the 01. I believe the character of the bass comes through and it's a good pairing. The same electronics on an SR505 sound different (thin in a way that can easily go into "brittle").

 

[Pet Sounds]

Thanks, Dr. Pepper!

 

[Sparkdog]

Just back off the treble and bass
I agree that the 44-01does not have a very refined sound, but I love the grunt I get out of it. The mids are a little muddy (or thick depending on whom you ask) but fit well in a band context better than clean mids IMO. The 44-02 is too refined for me and doesn't growl as much, it's a great bass for sure if you like a more polite Stingray sound with a bridge pup to add some more versatility.
I am not saying that this bass is better than that bass, the OP asks for advice and not everyone is going to like the more expensive model with the more refined sound. The guy plays rock and IMO the 44-01 does rock better. Heck, alot of people like the good ol' Passive P bass sound than a Ken Smith!!

This is my take exactly. I just bought a 44-01 yesterday, the store had 2 of them and 2 44-02's as well so I tried them all. The 44-02 sounds good, but "polite" is definitely the word I would use to describe it. Yes, it can kind of cop a Stingray sound but it's not as raw. Yes, it can kind of cop a Jazz sound but it's not as punchy or growly. Yes, it can kind of cop a P-bass tone but not as deep or muscular.

All the tones were just sort of watered down versions of those basses to my ears.

The 44-01 sounds like NONE of those basses, but has instead huge hulking slabs of bass and icepick treble, more than you will ever need, but that's great because it has tone to spare and I found I could easily dial in a great sound with any combination of the pickups. The EQ on this bass is really powerful. It's a beast!

EQ on the 44-02 might be more "musical" but there simply isn't as much of it and I don't think those subtleties would be audible in a band mix. And at nearly twice the price? Just didn't make sense to me.

YMMV