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D. Lakin - first batch of basses!

#45
I like them, I am planing to buy a jazz this Christmas so these basses are a good option to me. I am sure that the quality will be excellent plus Hipshot hardware, bone nut, graphite reinforcement ,matching headstock, wheel truss rod and what I like the most: several colors to choose from. Probably cheaper than Fender which is great too. My only problem is that Carvin also came with a jazz bass and I love the way you can customize your bass with Carvin, good thing is that I have six months to decide which one I am going to buy
 
#47
Fender and Fender clones sell, period. He already sold out of the first batch, so it seems that Dan knows what people want.

Secondly, as unpopular as it is around here, just because something is American Made, does not mean that it's better than foreign made. Japanese Fenders seem well built, so do the new Squiers made in China and the Japanese built Sadowsky's are pretty much spot on compared to the US built, then of course you have F-Bass, Lefay, Warwick, etc. I've also seen some American made Fenders that are dogs and Wishbass is US made and well, they are not really considered "well built" especially the finish. The only thing you get via foreign, Asian mostly, built basses is generally lower prices. His prices are a little high, but he is a small business, he doesn't have the buying power of Fender.

Also, a bone nut and matching headstock is cool and *any color*, how many colors can you get the US Fenders in, without involving the custom shop?
 
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#48
It's not about any kind of xenophobia for me re: this, it's waaay moreso that it's just a boring and obvious move.
Then again, it sucks when any brand once revered for being different, or offering a compelling argument to the limitations of, and a cool solution (the 44-94 style stuff vs. original Stingrays) then goes full circle to only offer clones...I mean, why bother unless you're bringin something actually new to the table?
Sorry, but a vast selection of colors ain't it. What else is there being offered here?

In the Carvin J thread I listed no less than 30 manufacturers already making P & J clones, both foreign and domestic, and that's only scratching the surface. And a good lot of them are just clones, and a lot offering some new ideas.

And to me, a lot of this initial batch sellout furvor is attributive soley to Lakin's reputation and I feel it's misplaced, I at the very least hope these basses don't have him fall flat on his face.

I personally think this is a money grab more than anything, and I am free to feel that way.
Like what you like, play what you play, I could give a crap...I'm not justifying my choices any more than I am asking you to yours.
 
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#49
hover said:
It's not about any kind of xenophobia for me re: this, it's waaay moreso that it's just a boring and obvious move.
Then again, it sucks when any brand once revered for being different goes full circle to offer clones...I mean, why bother unless you're bringin something actually new to the table?
Sorry, but a vast selection of colors ain't it.
In the Carvin J thread I listed no less than 30 manufacturers already P & J clones, both foreign and domestic, and that's only scratching the surface.
And to me, a lot of the initial batch sellout it attributive to Lakin's reputation, I at the very least hope these basses don't have him fall flat on his face.

I personally think this is a money grab more than anything, and I am free to feel that way.
Like what you like, play what you play, I could give a crap...I'm not justifying my choices any more than I am asking you to yours.
Click to expand...

All business could be construed as a money grab, in that I'm sure that Dan would like to make more money that it costs to make. His reputation is deserved, so I would have no problem spending money on one of these. Again, there is a reason that there are so many clones, they sell. He could have tried a new design,and that might have been a success, or it could have flopped miserably, my point is that he knows the market. He will be coming out with models akin to the 44-02/55-02's which are more up my alley, so I am actually in a wait and see stance with these.

Yes, you are entitled to your opinion and you don't have to justify anything to anyone. You don' like them, fine, plenty of people will.
 
#50
pedroims said:
I like them, I am planing to buy a jazz this Christmas so these basses are a good option to me. I am sure that the quality will be excellent plus Hipshot hardware, bone nut, graphite reinforcement ,matching headstock, wheel truss rod and what I like the most: several colors to choose from. Probably cheaper than Fender which is great too. My only problem is that Carvin also came with a jazz bass and I love the way you can customize your bass with Carvin, good thing is that I have six months to decide which one I am going to buy
Click to expand...

The new Carvin and the G&L JB seem to offer some stiff competition for a jazz bass.

This new Lakin won't budge me from my G&L JB.
 
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#52
From a business standpoint I think it's a brilliant move. The $1250 price point is probably the sweet spot for a majority of potential buyers. And let's face it, most basses sold these days are some variant of a 4 string Fender P or J (that includes Sadowky et al.). These D. Lakins appear to be good looking and very well appointed basses with an emphasis on the basic features that most players want. AND he is giving us something Fender can't (or won't) - custom colors and matching headstocks. Not to mention a proper 1-3/4" nut on the P-bass. If QC is good as one might expect, these will prove to be real workhorses and a great bang for the buck.

Clearly he is not competing with the likes of Sadowski (or is he?) as those products are sold at a much higher price point so comparisons are pointless.

As for offshoring, welcome to the new global economy. We're going to see more and more companies like this where the vision and design are in the hands of one or two people while manufacturing and operations are outsourced to offshore/nearshore locations. The idea that MIA somehow automatically yields a superior product is a fast=dying notion. Don't get me wrong, I really like my AVRI basses but can't justify the expense of the new American Vintage series. That leaves the American Standards which are nice enough I suppose but with limited options.

All things considered, I think Dan is doing exactly what Leo would do if he were around today, and for that I applaud him.
 
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