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BTW, I hate my brand new Lakland...

Spin Doctor

Spin Doctor

In Memoriam
Nov 14, 2008
2,459
3,164
Southern Maryland, USA
#1
I’d been sipping the Lakland Kool-Aid, and really warmed to the idea of these being great instruments. I always wanted a better Fender P to replace my trusty MIM P, and Lakland was supposed to be making better Fenders than Fender.

So last week, I saw a beautiful Lakland, Bob Glaub 3 tone sunburst P-bass Skyline in an ad. Hardcase and Tort pickguard were nice add-ons. Price was really pretty good and having talked to the guys at Lakland, I knew they were only gonna be making Teal Green and some other "different" color basses for the next 6 months and sun burst were getting scarce. Never played a Lakland, Never even seen one up close, but I had to have it and the closest dealer was at least 3 hours away... Oh look! Shinies!!!

So I get this thing and in my ignorance, thought, it’s a signature bass so it should be just like my P, only better. Nope. I ass-u-med it was a Fender knockoff, but turns out, Lakland changed some critical stuff which makes it different from my Fender in exactly the wrong ways. Bumnmer. The nut width and string spacing are totally different, the Lakland being much wider. The fretboard has like zero radius, which should not have been too big a deal since my Ibanez Prestiege is flat as a board and a dream to play...

But it did it did take me awhile to figure out why it felt so hard to play. It’s a nice instrument in many ways, hardware being the main one, but dimensionally, it’s too different and all those dimensional differences become additive and total up as a huge pain in the ass for me to fool with. So I guess I’ll unload it with the time is right, with a total of 5 hours play time on it. It is indeed a pretty bass and I know Lakland has a following. It's just not for me.

Having said that, it didn’t knock me out tone-wise either, so it’s definitely going back in the case, the case going into the shipping box... Pretty friggen ironic that I’d prefer an old Mexican P-bass over the Junior Boutique Lakland. Could have been worse – it could have been a $4,000 American made one...

Lesson learned. 1) Don’t buy sight unscene...:scowl: 2) You want a Fender, buy a Fender...
 
#3
Happens to the best of us. I've purchased several basses sight unseen and unplayed and been completely disappointed with the feel and/or sound, while other times being completely enamored with the whole package. GAS is hard to fight sometimes, but I have learned that if you do your research it is easier to be successful. While even with similar dimensions, two basses may feel very different, I have learned what key dimensions I do and don't like, and even if I can't play the exact bass I want, I can find a similar model to give an indication of how it will feel in the hands. Then I search everywhere for sound clips whenever possible to get an idea of the tone. With the extra legwork, I've been pretty successful overall in recent months by getting the basses I want. The few I wasn't as successful in were either a result of me jumping the gun and letting GAS get the best of me, or because I only took into account one aspect (feel or tone) and was let down by the other that I didn't research.
 
#4
Every new Ric I've had has disappointed me thoroughly. The only one I loved, I had to sell to keep my head above the water. Dumped all that money into a POS car that broke 3 months later.

If you just bought it from an online vendor, you can return it and maybe even have return shipping covered if you're that dissatisfied with the product. I know both of my Rics went back on the vendors' dime.
 
#5
Hmmm, I didn't think instruments were returnable, But I'll check it out... Maybe I'll keep it packed away for 20 years and sell it later for $10,000. It'd be a mint condition Lakland... Should be worth something then, lol...

It was my first GAS attack... I couldn't help myself.
 
#7
Spin Doctor said:
I’d been sipping the Lakland Kool-Aid, and really warmed to the idea of these being great instruments. I always wanted a better Fender P to replace my trusty MIM P, and Lakland was supposed to be making better Fenders than Fender.

So last week, I saw a beautiful Lakland, Bob Glaub 3 tone sunburst P-bass Skyline in an ad. Hardcase and Tort pickguard were nice add-ons. Price was really pretty good and having talked to the guys at Lakland, I knew they were only gonna be making Teal Green and some other "different" color basses for the next 6 months and sun burst were getting scarce. Never played a Lakland, Never even seen one up close, but I had to have it and the closest dealer was at least 3 hours away... Oh look! Shinies!!!

So I get this thing and in my ignorance, thought, it’s a signature bass so it should be just like my P, only better. Nope. I ass-u-med it was a Fender knockoff, but turns out, Lakland changed some critical stuff which makes it different from my Fender in exactly the wrong ways. Bumnmer. The nut width and string spacing are totally different, the Lakland being much wider. The fretboard has like zero radius, which should not have been too big a deal since my Ibanez Prestiege is flat as a board and a dream to play...

But it did it did take me awhile to figure out why it felt so hard to play. It’s a nice instrument in many ways, hardware being the main one, but dimensionally, it’s too different and all those dimensional differences become additive and total up as a huge pain in the ass for me to fool with. So I guess I’ll unload it with the time is right, with a total of 5 hours play time on it. It is indeed a pretty bass and I know Lakland has a following. It's just not for me.

Having said that, it didn’t knock me out tone-wise either, so it’s definitely going back in the case, the case going into the shipping box... Pretty friggen ironic that I’d prefer an old Mexican P-bass over the Junior Boutique Lakland. Could have been worse – it could have been a $4,000 American made one...

Lesson learned. 1) Don’t buy sight unscene...:scowl: 2) You want a Fender, buy a Fender...
Click to expand...

Don't hang on to it. Send it back immediately! If you just bought it you have a few days to get it back in mail. :rollno:
 
#8
FWIW, your lakland Glaub is a vintage P, thus would have a 1.75 nut width vs the modern 1.625 of your MIM P, as well probably having a chunkier neck to match. The fretboard radii should be similar, the lakland is 10" and IIRC the MIM P is 9" or 9.5", both of which are different from vintage fender specs (7.5" I think).

Definitely need to do thorough research when buying sight unseen.

I've bought a few basses unplayed, most of which I didn't like. But I've also bought just as many that I've played and liked in a store/from a seller and eventually fell out of like with them, so I guess that's just how it goes.
 
#9
Spin Doctor said:
Hmmm, I didn't think instruments were returnable, But I'll check it out... Maybe I'll keep it packed away for 20 years and sell it later for $10,000. It'd be a mint condition Lakland... Should be worth something then, lol...

It was my first GAS attack... I couldn't help myself.
Click to expand...

Well, we can forgive you for GAS. How in the world did you ever get the idea that a Lakland was a decent bass? Next, I fear you'll be chiming in the SX threads. Anyway, welcome back to your senses and I trust that you once again have learned the lesson that there are only three kinds of basses in the world: Fender P, Fender J and upright! Nothing else is really a bass.
 
#11
Fixed it! :p

bassbenj said:
Well, we can forgive you for GAS. How in the world did you ever get the idea that a Lakland was a decent bass? Next, I fear you'll be chiming in the SX threads. Anyway, welcome back to your senses and I trust that you once again have learned the lesson that there [DEL]are[/DEL] is only [DEL]three[/DEL] one kind[DEL]s[/DEL] of bass[DEL]es[/DEL] in the world: [DEL]Fender P, Fender J and [/DEL]upright! Nothing else is really a bass.
Click to expand...
 
#12
I had the same sort of problem with Alembics. I had 3 of them and sold all three. They were beautiful and the best made things I've every had in my hands. I just hated playing them. One of them even hurt to play.(Although, I'm certain that with a few changes, I'd buy another Orion, but, I'd have to purchase new).
 
#15
christw said:
If you just bought it from an online vendor, you can return it and maybe even have return shipping covered if you're that dissatisfied with the product. I know both of my Rics went back on the vendors' dime.
Click to expand...

Yeah, cuz THIS situation really seems like it's the vendor's fault :rolleyes:

If they'll take it back, great, but being dissatisfied with something because it wasn't what you expected because you didn't research it 1st is not really the vendor's problem.

I can't stand it when people bitch about things that AREN'T a defect, or something that's NOT damaged or broken, but act like it's someone else's fault just because they don't like it, or thought it would be different.
 
#16
bassbenj said:
Well, we can forgive you for GAS. How in the world did you ever get the idea that a Lakland was a decent bass? Next, I fear you'll be chiming in the SX threads. Anyway, welcome back to your senses and I trust that you once again have learned the lesson that there are only three kinds of basses in the world: Fender P, Fender J and upright! Nothing else is really a bass.
Click to expand...

Oh great enligntened one, thank you for helping clense all of us unwashed masses. (oops, there's no smiley for "BS").

Just because you don't like them doesn't exclude them from being a "decent bass". Wake up my friend, opinions are like a%&holes, everyone has one and they all stink, yours and mine included. I owned a Warwick thumb 5 bolt on, and couldn't stand it. It's still a fine bass, just not my type.

People with "It sucks because I don't like it" attitudes instantly go to the bottom of my list of people who's opinions I value. Relax though, it's pretty crowded at the bottom of that list. :D
 
#20
So you spent a $1000 on a bass you never played and didn't bother to check out the specs to see if it is really what you wanted?

I would guess the lesson should be: If nut width, string spacing, fingerboard or neck radius are important to you you may want to quickly look up what they are on the instrument you are about to buy. Before spending your hard earned money...
 

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