55-64 Review

[xroads]

What strings do you use with a 5-string P? Flats or Rounds?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

What strings do you use with a 5-string P? Flats or Rounds?

I am using the rounds that came on it.

 

[mark beem]

I'm looking to purchase a P5 in the near future. A 35" scale is a must and up until now I had only been considering a Lull. Would you consider the Lakland a good, cost-effective alternative? I understand that it's likely you haven't had the opportunity to compare the two. I just wanted to know what your thoughts would be were you in my situation.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I'm looking to purchase a P5 in the near future. A 35" scale is a must and up until now I had only been considering a Lull. Would you consider the Lakland a good, cost-effective alternative? I understand that it's likely you haven't had the opportunity to compare the two. I just wanted to know what your thoughts would be were you in my situation.

I've played Lull Jazzes before, and they definitely feel like $2,000+ instruments. My Lakland feels like a very nice production bass, complaints about fret sprout aside. The Lull is 18mm at the bridge like a Fender. Lakland definitely has wider string spacing if that matters to you.

 

[Chasarms]

I'm looking to purchase a P5 in the near future. A 35" scale is a must and up until now I had only been considering a Lull. Would you consider the Lakland a good, cost-effective alternative? I understand that it's likely you haven't had the opportunity to compare the two. I just wanted to know what your thoughts would be were you in my situation.

I have not owned the Skyline P5 specifically, but I have owned three Skyline jazz basses. They are very, very solid instruments for the price point. I would gig all day, everyday on a Skyline if not for the fact that I just can't connect with Lakland basses in general. I don't care for the necks.

I share Cheese's sentiments on the size. My JO5 felt really large for some reason as did my U.S. Lakland. And, all three of my Skylines were close to 10 lbs. To me, that's heavy. To others, it's nothing.

The Lull is going to be in a little different class. I have only played one, but it was of the Sadowsky, Nordy, U.S. Lakland level of instrument. It's a super-refined, hand-tooled bass.

One consideration is that the Skyline is passive. That may be fine, but if you intent is to install a preamp, you'll be creeping ever close to the price of a nice, used Lull or maybe even a Sadowsky Metro PJ5 (not 35" but still a SOLID bass).

 

[mark beem]

I've played Lull Jazzes before, and they definitely feel like $2,000+ instruments. My Lakland feels like a very nice production bass, complaints about fret sprout aside. The Lull is 18mm at the bridge like a Fender. Lakland definitely has wider string spacing if that matters to you.

I have not owned the Skyline P5 specifically, but I have owned three Skyline jazz basses. They are very, very solid instruments for the price point. I would gig all day, everyday on a Skyline if not for the fact that I just can't connect with Lakland basses in general. I don't care for the necks.

I share Cheese's sentiments on the size. My JO5 felt really large for some reason as did my U.S. Lakland. And, all three of my Skylines were close to 10 lbs. To me, that's heavy. To others, it's nothing.

The Lull is going to be in a little different class. I have only played one, but it was of the Sadowsky, Nordy, U.S. Lakland level of instrument. It's a super-refined, hand-tooled bass.

One consideration is that the Skyline is passive. That may be fine, but if you intent is to install a preamp, you'll be creeping ever close to the price of a nice, used Lull or maybe even a Sadowsky Metro PJ5 (not 35" but still a SOLID bass).

Thanks for the feedback gents! I have a Lull M5V jazz that I love and it's from that experience I want the Lull P5. I think it would behoove me to try to find a Lakland in my area to try. The neck issue has me worried. I'll check the Lakland website and see if there's a dealer relatively close to me.

Thanks again!

 

[basspraiser]

What strings do you use with a 5-string P? Flats or Rounds?

I have one with each.....they both have great unique sounds.

 

[basspraiser]

Thanks for the feedback gents! I have a Lull M5V jazz that I love and it's from that experience I want the Lull P5. I think it would behoove me to try to find a Lakland in my area to try. The neck issue has me worried. I'll check the Lakland website and see if there's a dealer relatively close to me.

Thanks again!

I personally love the lakland neck profile

I like it better than sadowsky
I have no real Lull experience

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I personally love the lakland neck profile

I like it better than sadowsky
I have no real Lull experience

I have to agree about how wonderful Lakland necks are. That is why I may just add another pickup to my 55-64, because it is comfortable enough to be my main player.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

One thing that important that I have not mentioned so far is the B string. My 55-64 has a sensitive B string. It is floppier than any Lakland I have ever played. My Affinity J5 has a noticeably tighter B, and it a far cheaper bass with a 34" scale. I have also had some buzzing on the B and E that I can't get sorted out, so I am going to send my Lakie off for a pro set up.

 

[jim nolte]

I know I am being wishy washy, but as much as I can see fret sprout happening, I have seen it on a few too many new basses from the Skyline series. Usually, I see fret sprout on basses that have been in a shop for a while, not new basses.
I think that the overall finish on he Skylines I have seen from the last year or two has been great, but those fret ends do worry me.

+1. I've been playing basses for over 40 years and I didn't even know what fret sprout was until I bought my 55-02 from MF in 2004. Nice bass other than that. Maybe it was inspected at Chicago on a Friday or something,but I have owned many US and Japanese made basses and that bass was the only one that had that issue. Jim