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$800, 5-String Bass Shoot-Out

Features, Tone, Customer Service, Reliability, and Bang-for-Buck

  • Ibanez BTB675 BTB

  • Lakland Skyline 55-01

  • Schecter Guitar Research Stiletto Studio

  • Sterling by Music Man RAY35

  • Warwick Rockbass Fortress


Results are only viewable after voting.
I have one with the nordy's. It took me about a month to get used to them, but my BTB1406 is probably the nicest instrument I've ever played.

I do however, agree that the low end ibanez instruments sound a tad artificial. That's what happens when a company doesn't differentiate their high from low end product like fender/ squier.

but poopie, the only fender pickups that sound bad are the MIA and MIM ones. Custom Shop and squire stuff are all fine. Which Makes me wonder why ibanez is using pickups that generally sound worse than all of these even when you buy a decent quality bass.
 
I briefly owned a Lakland 5501. Beautiful bass and I really wanted to love it, but the B-string just rattled all over the place despite the 35" scale, medium/high action and supposedly being Plek'ed in Chicago. I traded it for a SBMM Ray5, which just had way better build quality and a super tight B. And better-sounding stock electronics.

you realize the bass doesn't really decide the tension of the B string. It's the actual string itself. Other than the bridge action and relief, and the way you play (which are on you to adjust properly) the only other affecting factors are the scale length (which supposedly on the one you had was longer than usual) and the type of string. I've never had B problems. I just set the b string's height higher at the bridge, increase relief and even using really light strings I have zero problems on 34 inch scales.
 
but ****, the only fender pickups that sound bad are the MIA and MIM ones. Custom Shop and squire stuff are all fine. Which Makes me wonder why ibanez is using pickups that generally sound worse than all of these even when you buy a decent quality bass.
I don't think any of fender's pickups sound bad. But what fender has done that works is differentiating between their high end and entry level instruments to keep the public image of their highest quality products very high. Gibson did the same thing with epiphone.

Btw I have a fender MIM jazz and a squier P that I adore, jut prefer my ibby.
 
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Yeah, but I've never even seen a Lakland in person, so I wouldn't know if I liked the way it felt. I know I would be thrilled with the tone of it, but I've bought basses that sounded great and I just couldnt stand the way the neck played.

I've had Pedullas, German Warwicks, US Spectors, Fenders, Carvins, Ibanez, US Peaveys and Alembics. The Lakland necks are my favorites. They just feel incredible. I bought my first Lakland without ever playing one. All of my other basses were on the block within two weeks and 2 more Laklands joined my stable.

If you are going to be in Houston any time soon, let me know and I'll let you check out my 55-01.
 
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The Lakland necks are my favorites. They just feel incredible. I bought my first Lakland without ever playing one. All of my other basses were on the block within two weeks and 2 more Laklands joined my stable..
I have three Laklands total; the 55-01, a 55-64 & a 55-60. They're some of the best basses I've ever owned. Had some issues with the 55-60 but I've remedied them and the bassplys and sound like buttah! I'd love to add a 55-02 to the stable eventually.
 
I've already got a nice jazz 5 so I don't need a Lakeland. I voted BTB but ice gotten a dealer shipping in the Btb685sc for $850. It looks so good and plays so nice! I'll be dropping in nordys in a couple Months.
I have the 6 string version of this and it is an amazing bass. I don't think it needs PU or preamp changes though. I think it sounds great stock. My other basses are much more $$$ with super expensive preamps and the BTB686SC holds it's own.

I much prefer the sound of the Barts in a BTB than the Nordys in the Premium SRs in any case. Nothing against Nordy's (my Valenti has Big Singles), but Ibanez really nailed it with the BTB686/685SC basses.
 
I've had Pedullas, German Warwicks, US Spectors, Fenders, Carvins, Ibanez, US Peaveys and Alembics. The Lakland necks are my favorites. They just feel incredible. I bought my first Lakland without ever playing one. All of my other basses were on the block within two weeks and 2 more Laklands joined my stable.

If you are going to be in Houston any time soon, let me know and I'll let you check out my 55-01.

What other necks would you compare the Lakland's to? My fingers curl inwards instead of straight to the palm and this has me always liking the small necks. One of the American Standard Jazz Fender's had a great feeling neck to me and I thought all Fender necks were like that one. I started picking up all the rest of the Fenders in the shop and that 1 was the only one I actually liked. My favorite neck is my Takamine GE400 and I've just recently gotten used to the Ibanez 305DX's neck.

I tell you what, You've already got me thinking about giving that guy a call on it.
 
What other necks would you compare the Lakland's to? My fingers curl inwards instead of straight to the palm and this has me always liking the small necks. One of the American Standard Jazz Fender's had a great feeling neck to me and I thought all Fender necks were like that one. I started picking up all the rest of the Fenders in the shop and that 1 was the only one I actually liked. My favorite neck is my Takamine GE400 and I've just recently gotten used to the Ibanez 305DX's neck.

I tell you what, You've already got me thinking about giving that guy a call on it.

The best description that I can think of would be that Fenders have shoulders, but Laklands don't. The necks are not thick, they are very easy to play. I have small hands and nerve damage in my fret hand, the Laklands are totally comfortable to me.
 
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This looks pretty nice. How does it compare to the atk805? I would imagine the atk805 will be cheaper once this comes out.

The 815 is brand new and I haven't had a chance to try it yet. Its specs are identical to the 805 and 1205 but in a different finish. I owned a 1205 and played several 805's. They sound exactly the same and I was actually very surprised how good they sound. Bridge pup only does a very convincing Stingray tone. Bridge and neck are its own thing and sounds very good. Neck and top coil get close to a 60s jazz vibe. Neck and back coil do the 70s jazz thing well. The 1205 I had was honestly the versatile bass I've owned outside of my Big Al SSS. The big difference to me was the Big Al has tons of tonal options but I generally only use 1 or 2. The ATK tones were all usable and that bass will fit into any situation.

Both the 805 and 815 run $800 less any coupons or special offers (usually 15% off, 20% if you are lucky).