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D. Lakin - first batch of basses!

#2
"Other wonderful features include Hipshot US bridge and tuners and a bone nut; high-end indeed. The addition of a bone nut is huge in my experience. I had one installed on one of my instruments, a Squier 5-string, and the effect on every note on the neck was astonishing. I had thought that the nut only affected open strings, but apparently not."​

The basses look great, but IMO this paragraph damages the writer's credibility.
 
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#5
wvbass said:
"Other wonderful features include Hipshot US bridge and tuners and a bone nut; high-end indeed. The addition of a bone nut is huge in my experience. I had one installed on one of my instruments, a Squier 5-string, and the effect on every note on the neck was astonishing. I had thought that the nut only affected open strings, but apparently not."​

The basses look great, but IMO this paragraph damages the writer's credibility.
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I read this as a fine musician sharing his opinion. I guess I see this differently - I don't believe one paragraph is going to diminish Brad Houser's credibility. In my opinion, his enthusiasm for a bone nut is mild in comparison to some other artists and their claims. (Ridiculously priced power cables, anyone?)

I'd like to at least try one of these.
 
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#6
+
wvbass said:
"Other wonderful features include Hipshot US bridge and tuners and a bone nut; high-end indeed. The addition of a bone nut is huge in my experience. I had one installed on one of my instruments, a Squier 5-string, and the effect on every note on the neck was astonishing. I had thought that the nut only affected open strings, but apparently not."​

The basses look great, but IMO this paragraph damages the writer's credibility.
Click to expand...
+1. That is dumb. Like saying a bass with a zero fret sounds better than a bass without when playing fretted notes. How? Brad is a good writer though.

The basses are growing on me though. The ones in the article look better than the early protos. Not sure why they are all 4 strings though!
 
#11
Smallmouth_Bass said:
I am surprised that the Lakland sale did not include some sort of "no competition" clause. I looks like they will doing a lot of Lakland-like models, including getting two of Lakland's previous endorsers on board. But hey, a good bass is a good bass!
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I have no doubt he did - but those things run out, usually after 5 or 7 years.

More thoughts:

You know, thing I used to really like about Lakland basses (I have two older ones) is that they were a bit different - different you could really see and hear; The MM p'up in the bridge, body shape - all just touch non-fender.

It looks to me that Dan has gone the way of everyone else - Nothing but well made fender clones. No slam intended I'm sure they're really nice high-end Fender Clones - but... they aren't interesting (to me, at least). If I wanted a P-bass, I'd buy a used Fender. Sorry.
 
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#14
wvbass said:
"Other wonderful features include Hipshot US bridge and tuners and a bone nut; high-end indeed. The addition of a bone nut is huge in my experience. I had one installed on one of my instruments, a Squier 5-string, and the effect on every note on the neck was astonishing. I had thought that the nut only affected open strings, but apparently not."​

The basses look great, but IMO this paragraph damages the writer's credibility.
Click to expand...

Seeing as how he has a Squier, it probably had a the crappiest nut possible. If he replaced it with a properly cut nut it could well have changed his action to where his bass actually sounded better by having proper action or proper downforce at the headstock.
 
#15
mmbongo said:
Seeing as how he has a Squier, it probably had a the crappiest nut possible. If he replaced it with a properly cut nut it could well have changed his action to where his bass actually sounded better by having proper action or proper downforce at the headstock.
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I hadn't considered that. But, the fix you are describing isn't about the nut; it is about a proper setup. Tone-wise, the nut itself can't do anything on a fretted note. This is like the power cord myth in that it is spreading bad information.

And he plays Squiers? The article's footer says he plays Laklands.
 
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#16
wvbass said:
I hadn't considered that. But, the fix you are describing isn't about the nut; it is about a proper setup. Tone-wise, the nut itself can't do anything on a fretted note. This is like the power cord myth in that it is spreading bad information.

And he plays Squiers? The article's footer says he plays Laklands.
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This is from the article:
The addition of a bone nut is huge in my experience. I had one installed on one of my instruments, a Squier 5-string, and the effect on every note on the neck was astonishing.

Here's how I see it, but as always..I could be wrong! If the nut is cut too low, seems that the note being played would fret out easily, choking the sound out. Having it properly cut would prevent that. Slots being too wide also would not be good. Just some thoughts!
 
#17
mmbongo said:
This is from the article:
The addition of a bone nut is huge in my experience. I had one installed on one of my instruments, a Squier 5-string, and the effect on every note on the neck was astonishing.

Here's how I see it, but as always..I could be wrong! If the nut is cut too low, seems that the note being played would fret out easily, choking the sound out. Having it properly cut would prevent that. Slots being too wide also would not be good. Just some thoughts!
Click to expand...

I missed that part. And....good thoughts. The problems you describe have nothing to do with the nut material, though, and that was his point. So, IMO, your points are good; his is not.

I like bone nuts. Bone is hard and durable, and a good addition to this bass. Not as good as Brad Houser makes it out to be, but that doesn't stop me from being interested in these basses.
 
#18
Meh. If Dan wanted to stay in the bass game he should have kept his original company, kept it smaller and more in his control and just made the US a smaller custom shop and imported skylines.

Not sure where personal passions play into it when yer just slappin your name on clones.
I know that is a simplistic take but whoopdiedoo lotsa colors.
 
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#19
SanDiegoHarry said:
I have no doubt he did - but those things run out, usually after 5 or 7 years.

More thoughts:

You know, thing I used to really like about Lakland basses (I have two older ones) is that they were a bit different - different you could really see and hear; The MM p'up in the bridge, body shape - all just touch non-fender.

It looks to me that Dan has gone the way of everyone else - Nothing but well made fender clones. No slam intended I'm sure they're really nice high-end Fender Clones - but... they aren't interesting (to me, at least). If I wanted a P-bass, I'd buy a used Fender. Sorry.
Click to expand...
I used to feel that way until I tried Lakland's Fender style bass at which point it was game over.
 
#20
hover said:
Meh. If Dan wanted to stay in the bass game he should have kept his original company, kept it smaller and more in his control.

Not sure where personal passions play into it when yer just slappin your name on clones.
Click to expand...
That might be the lesson Dan learned. Lakland has employees. Employees like to see pay raises from time to time. In order to afford that, you have to grow your business because the market will limit you ability to continually raise your prices.

This time around, it doesn't sound like Dan has a staff. It sounds like he is using contract labor to build these.
 

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