A CALL FOR ALL LAKLANDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Motorhead Mark]

Umm, just found this thread...and I had just talked myself out of buying any more Lakland bass'...but now....might have to visit my local dealer and see if he has any goods for me...

I own a '05 sunburst 44-01 with maple neck and I love it. Great price, great value, quality, attention to detail, feel etc etc...

One of the best built bass's around.

 

[cgworkman]

Really -- What were you thinking?

I'm serious -- I'm not trying to be a smarta$$ or start a flame war -- and I think the world of Laklands. As someone who sold/traded Laklands to get Sadowskys, I'm just curious about your reasoning. Was it sound? Feel? Appropriateness for the music you play?

A MIA Lakland and a MIA Sadowsky can easily compete. Tone is subjective. Who's to say either MIA basses are better or worse. Me personally I'd rather have a Lakland (having played both that is).

 

[IotaNet]

Does it really make a difference? Peoples tastes are different. I own a Sadowsky and a Lakland and I don't plan to sell either. IMO, Your statement is a gallon of gas with a lit flame hovering over it.

Come on Dwayne,let him have what he feels is best for his needs.

A MIA Lakland and a MIA Sadowsky can easily compete. Tone is subjective. Who's to say either MIA basses are better or worse. Me personally I'd rather have a Lakland (having played both that is).

Fellas. Stop right there. You are reading what you want to read into my comments.

What I said was, "What were you thinking?"
(I didn't say, "WHAT in the HECK were you thinking, you stupid fool?")

I also didn't ask him to justify his decision -- I didn't say one was better or worse -- I didn't call him stupid for the decision he made. -- I wanted to learn something (and I qualified my statement thusly.)

That's not the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd time I've asked such a question here and as always, I wanted some insight. After 2 years and 1600 posts on Talkbass, I have never been a flame-starter nor a troll ... and I didn't start today.



Ain't no trouble here unless somebody wants to start some.

 

[cgworkman]

Doesn't change what I said

 

[KJung]

Fellas. Stop right there. You are reading what you want to read into my comments.

What I said was, "What were you thinking?"
(I didn't say, "WHAT in the HECK were you thinking, you stupid fool?")

I also didn't ask him to justify his decision -- I didn't say one was better or worse -- I didn't call him stupid for the decision he made. -- I wanted to learn something (and I qualified my statement thusly.)

That's not the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd time I've asked such a question here and as always, I wanted some insight. After 2 years and 1600 posts on Talkbass, I have never been a flame-starter nor a troll ... and I didn't start today.

Ain't no trouble here unless somebody wants to start some.
Govern yourself accordingly.

I totally got what you were asking, and it was a reasonably question. The Lakland 55-94 with Barts is a very, very, very different sounding instrument than the Sadowsky J (or any J for that matter). My guess is, he wanted a more mid present tone with less high end and deep low end, and more 'warm Bartolini punch'.

While I greatly prefer a J tone over what I hear as a somewhat 'muffled' Bartolini 55-94 tone... I can TOTALLY understand why some would prefer it in certain context.

I too am interested in the answer to your question, since I always am interested in opinions of those who have a different tone prefence as I do.


K

 

[witness]

I just recently picked up a Skyline JO5, ash body, tort pickguard, maple fretboard. The serial number indicates a 2004 model. The pups are bartolini 57J, an OB-2 pre w/500k vol/bal pots, the nut was replaced with a bone nut, the control knobs looks like the old fender type. This bass is very powerfull/monsterous in the tone department along with plenty of volume. The string spacing is just a little bit wider than I would prefer @ 19mm, but nevertheless, it plays and handles well

 

[pickles]

Really -- What were you thinking?

I'm serious -- I'm not trying to be a smarta$$ or start a flame war -- and I think the world of Laklands. As someone who sold/traded Laklands to get Sadowskys, I'm just curious about your reasoning. Was it sound? Feel? Appropriateness for the music you play?

I did the same thing. I also really like Sadowskys and am thinking about buying another (PJ Metro!), but the 55-94 has much more mid punch, especially with both bridge coils on. I find the sounds have more of a traditional J-bass "burp" to them. I also find that having the "burnished" bartolini top top end goes very well with a maple board and some hi beams. I get plenty of bite and brightness, but it always sounds more polished than raw, which I like.

The sadowskys sound like sadowskys ... bright, deep, and very snappy ... the laklands to me sound closer to a fender J but with an extra kick all their own. Through big amps I get sounds very much like a great J-bass studio recording, and that makes me very happy. Then you can pan to the bridge coil, give it a scoop, and it takes that same great sound and injects some MM-ish personality while not really sounding like a ray which for me is often too over-the-top.

BTW -- running the 55-94 passive through a Sadowsky outboard pre also gives me access to a pretty convincing Sadowsky tone. Not quite as immediate and precise, but pretty close.

 

[Nino Valenti]

Fellas. Stop right there. You are reading what you want to read into my comments.

I'm not reading what I want to read. Like I said and like you highlighted red/bold. IMO. I read what you wrote and I made a statement from my opinion.

 

[IotaNet]

... I also find that having the "burnished" bartolini top top end goes very well with a maple board and some hi beams. I get plenty of bite and brightness, but it always sounds more polished than raw, which I like ...

I totally "get" that. That Lakland/Bart sound (to my ears) is very unique and quite pleasing -- it reminds me of Hot Chocolate -- smooth, sweet, and warm!

Interestingly enough, some people don't think it "cuts through" as well as it might but I still think it's a great tone!

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Dwayne exactly why did you get rid of all your Laklands to get Sadowskys ?

and what was it about the Laklands that you didn't care for ?

 

[IotaNet]

Dwayne exactly why did you get rid of all your Laklands to get Sadowskys ?

and what was it about the Laklands that you didn't care for ?

It wasn't that I didn't care for all the Laklands ... quite the contrary! I personally like Dan and I admire/respect the way he does business as well as the products he puts out. As a fellow Chicagoan, I also have a parochial interest in seeing his business become successful.

Regarding the basses themselves, here's the deal:

1) The 55-01 -- I zigged when I should have zagged putting the Audere preamp in it. Tonally, the Audere is so transparent that it magnified the sound of the Bart MK1's -- and that was not pleasing to my ear. If I had that to do over again, I would have replaced the Korean preamp with a Bartolini.

2) The Dual J -- I just didn't like the sound of the passive Fralins. And as you know, I wanted to love that bass -- it is so uncommon that I dug the idea of having it. Unfortunately, the tone left me wanting something ... more. It just sounded thin and tinny to me.(OTOH, the fella who bought it from me is digging it like cooked food!)

3) The 55-02 -- That was a tough one. I liked that bass a lot. But to stay sound financially, something had to go and the 55-02 was the odd-man-out.

The Sadowsky thing was just something that hit me -- the tone from the first one I played (an MV4) was "the tone that I've always heard in my head" ... it was like "Damn -- THAT'S the sound you've been looking for!

The Modern 5 is the best playing bass from a "feel" standpoint that I've every played in my life. It just felt perfect in my hands ... plus, the Modern sound was very versatile to me -- something I just wanted to have. (Oddly enough, this what what I REALLY wanted when I bought my 55-01 but back then, I couldn't afford it. Check out this thread: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=266678&)

Trouble was, in order to afford them, something had to go and I made the (tough) decision to let go of the 55-02. I doubt I'll be without a Lakland forever but for now, that's what made sense for me.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Thanks Dwayne.

 

[fralim01]

Really -- What were you thinking?

I'm serious -- I'm not trying to be a smarta$$ or start a flame war -- and I think the world of Laklands. As someone who sold/traded Laklands to get Sadowskys, I'm just curious about your reasoning. Was it sound? Feel? Appropriateness for the music you play?

Hi Iota,

Your comments were exactly like those of the guy I traded with when I first made the offer! ( I didnt trade straight across, I got cash on my end too). I never got comfortable with the Sadowsky. It was the one of the only bass that I have owned that I always felt I had to "muscle" into the playing. The Lakland on the other hand, plays effortlessly. I got tired of the hyped high end on the Sadowsky too. Im a mids guys, not a bright highs kind of guy. In that way the Lakland fits me much better.

BTW, I didnt take your comments to be antagonistic. I can see you were just asking a honest question.

I dont want to derail this thread, but I will throw out this observation. If you read enough TalkBass, you get the strong sense that most people here feel that Sadowskys are the best possible bass that exists. Reality is that they are just another really good bass in a market full of really good basses. Different strokes for different folks..I am very thankful for the incredible amount of choice available in the bass market.

Now back to the pretty Lakland pics

 

[RobinBetton]

used US 55-94 deluxe w/finger ramp (added after i bought it). i've had it for 2 years but it's been used so it has a couple more years tacked on to it. Sounds amazing! I love it because i can dial in most everything i've been listening to(meshell w/david dyson,d'angelo(pino palladino), as well as matt garrison type tone and a steve swallow (w/paul motian's electric bebop band) sound. i've had it with a high c on for a while but just switched it up with a low b until i get a hipshot detuner on there. i'm running it through an epi UL 1x12 and an eden traveler 400. also, i have dr strings on thereee It sounds amazing solo and live. The reason why i like this bass so much is because it lets me sound like ME.

 

[IotaNet]

... If you read enough TalkBass, you get the strong sense that most people here feel that Sadowskys are the best possible bass that exists ...

VERY astute observation. That's one of the reasons I resisted them for so long. After a while, the Sadowsky discussions can sound like so much Kool-Aid

... Reality is that they are just another really good bass in a market full of really good basses. Different strokes for different folks..I am very thankful for the incredible amount of choice available in the bass market ...

Total + 1 here.

And the true beauty is that it doesn't have to be an either/or proposition. We can have the Lobster AND the Cracked Crab!

 

[Nino Valenti]

And the true beauty is that it doesn't have to be an either/or proposition. We can have the Lobster AND the Cracked Crab!

MAN!!! Now you got me hungry!!!!!

 

[silvermaneZ]

Strange question:

When the band finished playing last Thursday, I did my normal routine of rubbing down my 55-94 to get rid of some oil before I closed the case. I did not play on Friday, and then last night when I opened the case to get set up for that gig, my volume knob was sticking. It would still turn, but it was tight. Now when I pulled it out to go passive, it would turn just fine. There was no scratchiness(sp?) through the amp when I turned it. This is the first time I have had a volume knob go tight in active mode but not passive mode.

This is probably a really stupid question with an easy answer, but it's the first time I have come across it. Ideas?

 

[xparis001]

Strange question:

...This is the first time I have had a volume knob go tight in active mode but not passive mode.

This is probably a really stupid question with an easy answer, but it's the first time I have come across it. Ideas?

THis happens to mine on occasion. it seems that the soft-touch knobs they use can be pushed down too far. i think they get worn down after a while. Try pulling the knob up on the shaft about a milimeter or so. it should stop rubbing or feeling weird after that.

I want to replace theknobs on my two 55-94s with sadowsky metal ones, but I havent gotten around to it yet....

 

[55-02]

ok................ BACK TO PICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All those basses Rock!!!!! its all good

 

[turindev]

Ive been in the mood to buy a bass to mod (to some degree), and was leaning towards a fender jazz clone but the more I research the more I am leaning towards a 44-01. The price seems to be very reasonable, and leaves me some room for upgrades. With that said, I have seen a 44-01 on eBay with the older quilted top that is no longer available, quite pretty.

Do the older 44-01's with QM tops have different electronics? They are still bart soapbars so I am assuming they are the same, but I wanted to make sure from the lakland folks on TB.

Thanks for your help, and if this was already in a thread that I missed, I did search first, but must have missed it.