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Considering a Lakland...

#41
dannylectro said:
Warning: GAS saga to follow:
So... I just sold my house and have some cash to spare and have decided to buy a "dream bass". I've pretty much decided to have a Lakland built to my specs in terms of wood choice, finish, etc.
Background: I regularly play a '73 P bass, and a new 2015 American Std Fender Jazz. I'm a four string guy. To spice things up, I throw a Jerry Jones Longhorn and a Epi Jack Casady into my mix of instruments, but, at heart, I'm a Fender guy.
So... I have a couple of basses I'm going to sell to at least partially "justify" my purchase to my skeptical, er, significant other. The aforementioned Jazz (love, my new go to bass) and a '63 AVRI P bass (love, but the neck is too wide for me). I am keeping the '73 P and the others.
Here's my (admittedly 1st world) dilemma: I am choosing between a Lakland 44-60 (J style) and a 44-64 Custom (P style with Jazz neck) and I cannot make up my mind. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Really tough call. I'm a big Lakland fan, great instruments made by good folks (the shop is 15 minutes by car from me). The two forever-keepers in my arsenal are both US Laklands, a 44-64 with a 1 and 5/8" nut that I ordered and a Dark Star-loaded 44-64 that I picked up used. I've had two US Lakland J basses, and they were my favorite jazz basses ever, but I'm ultimately a P bass guy.

One option you may not be aware of is that Lakland now has a "Classic" series which is US-made, but has limited options for finishes and other items but comes with a significantly lower price. So if your preferred specs are pretty "mainstream", you can save a big chunk of change. For example, if you wanted a 44-60 with all the options, it would run $3,200 plus whatever for the extras. OTOH, if you want a 44-60 in sunburst, LPB, or black with a RW or maple board, you can get one for $2,180. Invalid Link Removed
I believe the Classic models are finished in house rather than being sent out to Pat Wilkins, who does all other US Lakland finishes (as well as NYC Sadowskys).
 
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#43
dannylectro said:
Warning: GAS saga to follow:
So... I just sold my house and have some cash to spare and have decided to buy a "dream bass". I've pretty much decided to have a Lakland built to my specs in terms of wood choice, finish, etc.
Background: I regularly play a '73 P bass, and a new 2015 American Std Fender Jazz. I'm a four string guy. To spice things up, I throw a Jerry Jones Longhorn and a Epi Jack Casady into my mix of instruments, but, at heart, I'm a Fender guy.
So... I have a couple of basses I'm going to sell to at least partially "justify" my purchase to my skeptical, er, significant other. The aforementioned Jazz (love, my new go to bass) and a '63 AVRI P bass (love, but the neck is too wide for me). I am keeping the '73 P and the others.
Here's my (admittedly 1st world) dilemma: I am choosing between a Lakland 44-60 (J style) and a 44-64 Custom (P style with Jazz neck) and I cannot make up my mind. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
 
#44
I'll repeat what I've often said in the past, I use my 63 AVRI Precision Bass for everything that requires the sound of a real bass. For everything else, my Lakland 44-14 is perfect. The Jazz and MM active/passive pickups allow for a huge range of available tones.
 
#45
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Well, these two Skylines (2003 DJ-4 on the left, 2011 44-64 Custom on the right) were stolen out of my house last week. They are just phenomenally easy to play. The red one was kinda heavy (10+ lbs.) but it sounded good, and it's the only bass I ever owned that got comments like "Gee, that's a great color, it looks like a Ferrari." I've already bought a 44-60 to replace the DJ-4 (I wanted a maple neck) and I'll replace the 44-64 as soon as the ol' insurance check comes. FWIW, I had just bought a 2008 Fender American Standard Jazz when I played a friend's Lakland at a jam. I sold the Fender the next day and got the DJ-4.
 
#46
I have a Skyline 4401 and this is my second. I sold the first and regretted it. I have a 72 pbass that is retired. I would love to get a Duck Dunn or Bob Glaub pbass. Hope eventually to make that happen. But as everyone states the Skylines play so well and the fit and finish are outstanding.
 
#52
distortion81 said:
lakland would not be the company i would have in mind for custom specs. If you like fender, why not fender customshop? or maybe slight less commercial brand like Sadowsky or Mike Lull?
Click to expand...
Strictly my own take, but I prefer US Laklands to Fender Custom Shop basses. And in a lot of cases, US Laklands these days are cheaper to boot.
 
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#54
haha, just before this thread turns into another fender bashing thread, please keep in mind there are so many good bass makers that I have mentioned or not mentioned, it will be good to try out some before buying isn't it? But keeping the thread starter's objective in mind, lakland are great basses too...never heard bad things about them before. So should be a no regrets purchase.
 
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#55
distortion81 said:
haha, just before this thread turns into another fender bashing thread, please keep in mind there are so many good bass makers that I have mentioned or not mentioned, it will be good to try out some before buying isn't it? But keeping the thread starter's objective in mind, lakland are great basses too...never heard bad things about them before. So should be a no regrets purchase.
Click to expand...
No bashing intended on my part, I certainly wouldn't kick a Custom Shop bass outta bed. In fact, I played a used CS '55 in a store just yesterday and it was quite nice.:)
 
#57
dannylectro said:
Warning: GAS saga to follow:
So... I just sold my house and have some cash to spare and have decided to buy a "dream bass". I've pretty much decided to have a Lakland built to my specs in terms of wood choice, finish, etc.
Background: I regularly play a '73 P bass, and a new 2015 American Std Fender Jazz. I'm a four string guy. To spice things up, I throw a Jerry Jones Longhorn and a Epi Jack Casady into my mix of instruments, but, at heart, I'm a Fender guy.
So... I have a couple of basses I'm going to sell to at least partially "justify" my purchase to my skeptical, er, significant other. The aforementioned Jazz (love, my new go to bass) and a '63 AVRI P bass (love, but the neck is too wide for me). I am keeping the '73 P and the others.
Here's my (admittedly 1st world) dilemma: I am choosing between a Lakland 44-60 (J style) and a 44-64 Custom (P style with Jazz neck) and I cannot make up my mind. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I'd seriously consider checking out the traditional Lakland layout (J + MM) - -I have played one for years and *love* the tones I get out of it.
 
#59
Sounds like some good advise... Not much to add except that I love Lakie quality and CS ...

Since of da best!!

As for a custom build.... If you are getting a US model you can do pretty much anything you want...

I only play 5 strings so I cannot comment on the neck differences.

Since you like 70s... Consider some cool blocks.... Again... You can do a wide variety ( wood....abalone... Mother is pearl....or ????)
 

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