Bass Dilemma

[Bassworship1]

You would be crazy to trade that Lakland for that particular Fender.

 

[Robert Sperling]

Pass...unless YOU just gotta have the Fender!

 

[LUCE]

Just say "no" to crack.

 

[pcake]

i don't like the look of that crack - i vote keep the lakland.

 

[Johnny Alien]

Based on the pickups that is a Japanese Skyline series that generally uses lower end hardware and electronics. Value would be much lower than the average skyline unless the buyer doesn't know what it is. The trade is probably very good price wise but I not sure if I would be comfortable with that crack.

 

[BAG]

I can't comment on the quality or playability of either of those but the Lakland looks sooooo much nicer and doesn't have a crack in the headstock.

 

[RNG1]

I'm a Fender guy and I wouldn't do this trade. That's a nice Lakland, I'm sure you can find a crackless trade if you are set on a trade.

 

[Ellery]

Run, Forrest, run!

 

[offhand35]

Really, why would you do that? If you do make that trade, not too far down the road, you will be saying, "Why did I do that?"

 

[carsbybigd]

If you really want the Fender , you could always pick up a used neck and change it out . Good luck with the decision .

 

[bassstrangler]

I own a Lakland Skyline 55-01 made in Indonesia and knowing how much my bass kicks butt, I wouldn't trade it for that Fender. Your Lakland is nicer than mine so you do the math.

 

[Pet Sounds]

The crack may be completely stable, but as you can tell from the comments here, it could create a resale problem for you down the road. But if you really love the Fender it may be something you won't part with in the foreseeable future.

 

[ashtray]

If you really want the Fender , you could always pick up a used neck and change it out . Good luck with the decision .

Might not be so easy. The 4 string Am Dlx have a deeper lower cutaway and longer fretboard resulting in the neck being mounted in a different position than a standard Fender. Not sure if the V is the same, but if so, finding a proper neck could be challenging.

OP - I would keep the Lakland. I don't know much about the Japanese Skylines, but the Korean and Indonesian 55-02's are pretty killer instruments. That Fender looks a bit beat.

I have an Indonesian 44-01 as well as a Suhr era Fender Am Dlx - the Lakland was cheaper to buy but definitely holds it own against the Fender. The Lakland also seems to have a wider dynamic range and a crisper/cleaner voice.

 

[Johnny Alien]

Just for clarification on the bass (in case any of you come across one and to put a framework around the value of the trade) Lakland licenses their designs to ESP in Japan. ESP makes the Lakland Shoreline series in Japan and they are really expensive but similar to the quality of the Skyline series with alder instead of ash but all of the same hardware and USA Lakland electronics. I don't know when but a few years back they introduced the Japan Skyline series. These are also licensed by ESP but they are built in China to be a lower end Lakland bass for the Japanese market exclusively. They use lower quality woods, the hardware is still licensed Hipshot but built in China (their are different levels of Hipshot licensed apparently), there is no graphite in the neck and they don't use Lakland pickups. I have never played one but I assume they are nice basses. The one in the OP looks great. That said they are Chinese made and a tier lower than the standard Skyline. They seem to pop up in the USA from time to time usually from people buying them used from places like Ishibashi. While a normal Skyline 55-02 would sell from $800-900 a Japanese Skyline version would probably be valued around $500 or so. I would assume that the 5 string jazz would be in the $1000-1100 used range in good shape? I am a little out of touch with their price on the used market. That would make this trade very good for the OP but the crack would probably put me off from doing it personally.

 

[Geddaric]

Bought a Ric. Played a Ric. Could say "I own a Ric". Sold the Ric.
Hopefully you`re not wanting a Fender for the same reason.
That Lakland shore is purdy. I`d keep it.

 

[spacepet]

All the opinions, views and experiences here in the thread helped me a lot. Thanks so much. Im keeping the Lakland. Happy New Year! Cheers!

 

[jaybones]

Personally, I'd stay away from crack dealers.....

Never do a drug named after a part of your a$$.

I wouldn't trade a Lakland for crack.

I doubt the average crack dealer would know what to do with a Lakland.