A Tale of 5 Laklands

[Lorddaftplayer]

Fellow TBers,

I am here to share information, usually I just learn from y'all, lol. About a year ago I decided to pick up a 5 string and I have been on a quest of self discovery ever since. I love low B strings but it took me awhile to learn two key things about myself. First, I have no problem with 35" scale basses. Second, I need 19mm (3/4" for us Americans) string spacing to play my very best.

Having read so many good things about Laklands, I sought them out but couldn't find a music store that had one I could demo in my area. So I ordered one from Guitar Center (GC), a 55-01. When it arrived, I loved the way it played but the sound wasn't that great to me and it had a cracked finish where some yahoo overtightened the mid pot, so back it went. I ordered Lakland #2, a 55-02 in the hopes that I would like the sound better. I did, and it played great but the preamp was noisy, so back it went. Lakland #3 was a 55-02 that had a nasty slice through the finish on the upper horn right out of the box. Played great, though, and had a quiet preamp. Back it went, though, as a new bass should not be damaged, IMO. That's for me to do! Lakland #4 never made it to me. UPS shipped that 55-02 to Missouri. I live in New Jersey.

Lakland #5, a 55-02, arrived and had no damage. The preamp was quiet. It played and sounded great! It was a keeper! So the moral of the story is: watch out for Lakland, GC and UPS. It almost goes without saying that I named my 55-02 "#5."

Peace!

 

[Runnerman]

Wow....sad story but a good ending.

 

[Pet Sounds]

My Duck Dunn was excellent right out of the box. It's been my "#1" player ever since.!

 

[lpcarter]

Good thing that GC worked with you through the whole process! I don't do business with them, but I'm happy that there's a good ending here. As a Lakland junkie, I've only come across very very few problemed Laklands. Enjoy your #5!

 

[mark beem]

My Duck Dunn was excellent right out of the box.

As was my 55-64.

 

[DWBass]

Glad you finally found your baby. I have been lucky as I got all my Laklands from the TB classifieds and they have all been excellent basses.

 

[mpdd]

a lakland guy hurt my feelings, i was checking out their basses and the guy wouldn't even engage me, grant it i look like a homeless person who never sleeps, but i mean come on dude, i could have bought one of those basses if i wanted to

 

[chris_b]

I'm glad that you persevered and finally got the right bass.

I’m a 10 year Lakland veteran and I always recommend Lakland basses.

In the past they had a good reputation for their QC. Maybe you should send this to Lakland and ask for their opinion? I would have thought it should concern them.

 

[basspraiser]

I agree with Chris....

Lakland QC and CS have always been great for me.

Sorry it took 5 to get you "the one".

Send the story to: [email protected]

If you ever get a bass with an issue...check directly with lakland....they will fix it and they like to know when there are issues ...

Enjoy the great bass! A 5502 is a very versatile bass!

 

[basspraiser]

a lakland guy hurt my feelings, i was checking out their basses and the guy wouldn't even engage me, grant it i look like a homeless person who never sleeps, but i mean come on dude, i could have bought one of those basses if i wanted to

What do you mean?

Where?

Lakland does not have sales reps in stores....

 

[kohntarkosz]

As was my 55-64.

Is the pickup closer to the neck on that model than on a standard P bass, or is it my eyes?

 

[mark beem]

Is the pickup closer to the neck on that model than on a standard P bass, or is it my eyes?

It's a 35" scale so it may have been pushed a little closer. Not really sure to be honest.

 

[rojo412]

Is the pickup closer to the neck on that model than on a standard P bass, or is it my eyes?

It's also a 22 fret neck, not a 20 like a regular P.

 

[kohntarkosz]

It's also a 22 fret neck, not a 20 like a regular P.

Ahha!

A very pretty bass, Mark! I like that '50s burst and mint pickguard look!

 

[mark beem]

Ahha!

A very pretty bass, Mark! I like that '50s burst and mint pickguard look!

Thanks! It plays and sounds as good as it looks! It came Plek'd and perfectly setup! It's like butta!!

And at 9.5 lbs, very comfortable!

 

[mark beem]

If you're thinking of picking one up Bass Central has them at $1,099 shipped through December 31.

I hope to snag a 55-AJ from them before the sale is over.

 

[kohntarkosz]

If you're thinking of picking one up Bass Central has them at $1,099 shipped through December 31.

I'm a UK citizen, so I cannot probably make any use of that offer sadly. By the time shipping and import charges are factored into the equation.

 

[mark beem]

I'm a UK citizen, so I cannot probably make any use of that offer sadly. By the time shipping and import charges are factored into the equation.

Ahh, I didn't know.

 

[kohntarkosz]

I should set my location up in my profile... and populate it with gear information as well... I hope somebody makes good use of this deal!

 

[Lorddaftplayer]

Thanks for all the comments, guys. Basspraiser, I certainly will follow up with Lakland, they should hear about this from a customer. Totally digging the 55-02! I've gigged with it and it sits real nice in the mix and gets positive reviews from my classic rock band. When girls dance you know the bass is workin'. Plays very well, too, right out of the box. I love the neck profile. Wish it was 24 frets, but, oh, well - this bass is about the low B, not a high G, lol. I've played Pedullas, Music Man, MTD 535s, Modulus, Sadowskys, and other more expensive instruments and the 55-02 is right up there with them in terms of feel and playability, and in many cases tone, IMO. It's more of a machine designed for mass production than a work of art, but it is a very well realized design. String it through the body or the bridge, plek'd neck, five big screws, an easy opening door for the battery, adjustable midrange frequency boost, hipshot tuners, countersunk backplate - what's not to like? You get a lot of bang for your buck with these basses.

Thanks again,