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Club Decade!

#881
I thought this bass couldn't be as good as I was expecting it to be... And it isn't. It's better! :D

I strung it with TI flats upon receiving it, it had GHS Bass Boomers on and while testing they didn't quite make it for me.

After a day of playing it with the TIs it's almost too easy to play! The old ''what if TI made a higher tension'd flat set''... Love the tone and versitality, ergonomics and feel of the bass.

Thinking of maybe getting some Sadowsky flats instead, as I don't play rounds much anymore, I noticed a lot of people here put LaBella flats on theirs and I can see why, having played some different gauges of their flats on other basses for years.
But I get it Sadowskys are a bit more all-round, which I never felt the LaBellas to be, despite their great sound.

I reckon the Fender flats would sound great on this bass though, I have a set on my jazz which is my main player and the tone and feel is killer with the 'CL' set that is quite balanced. I don't know if I want such a metallic tone however...

Any suggestions? No tapewounds, I hate all the brands I've tried despite all efforts of trying to like them on different basses in various times of my life.

Why don't you make a higher tension'd set, TI....
 

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#887
MarkusBass said:
There it is! Nice man!! How do you like it?
Click to expand...

I like it a lot. Been playing the hell out of it. Went back and forth between the two all day yesterday. Trying to decide which pickups I like better. The Vintage Alnicos are clearer, more articulate and have a piano like treble clang and punch that is really great. The Original Neos are slightly darker but warmer and woolier. Both great just different. I want to put Chi buckers in one of them. Right now I'm leaning towards the shorty. How would you compare the buckers to the other two having played all three?
 
#894
Yeah, that's what I'd imagine. I think the body shape is really cool, but I often play a P bass, or over the neck pup on a J. So I'm curious about a Decade with a pickup in that position and if there's an actual "technical" reason as to why the current pup placement works better.

I think there's something really cool about the Decade body but my right hand doesn't feel as comfortable playing over those positions. Maybe I need to give Leo or Brian a call for a quick chat about it? :D
 
#895
I tend to naturally play right in front of the bridge pup on my Decades. Those pups are plenty hot to bark without playing right on top of them. Just a little digging in and they get nicely aggressive. My new to me sparkle rootbeer Decade would be way too bright with the Vintage Alnico Chis that are in there in the jazz positions. Another cool option would be a three pick up Decade. Yeah I said it. Maybe a little over the top but really cool. Theres a three pickup Skyline out there somewhere, it might even be pictured back in this thread. The original owner had Carl put a third pup in between the other two. I love the Decade body shape too (obviously). It's one of my favorite body shapes ever. It's uniquely Lakland and reminds me of cool old 60's basses like Danos and Tokais that look like rock and roll space machines.
 
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#898
I'd go with three before I'd do that. A five way strat type switch, like they put in the Decade VI, would give you all the options. I think it'd be too bright with the neck pup moved that far. You'd be loosing that full deep neck pup tone Markus mentioned. The magic of the Decade comes from both pickups. I've never soloed either one for more than a minute or two. The tone just doesn't compare. But the neck pup isn't tubby. Full and deep is an apt description.
 
#899
That makes sense. I had acquired a Darkstar'd Decade a short while back, but circumstances didn't allow me to keep it for long. :crying: I didn't really have enough time to "figure it out". I'm so used to standard P and J basses. But I want to give one another try, and thus, my inquisitions. I really appreciate the feedback.
 

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