D. Lakin - first batch of basses!

[MoireBass]

Fender didn't (and can't) sue because a bass is similar to what they produce. A car company cannot for example sue another because they produced a car that has four wheels. What CAN be *trademarked* is design elements that create a brand identity like the shape of the headstock, which is I believe what Lakland was sued over. Headstock shape is pretty much a BFD to me though.

I love my Lakland, and unlike my Warwick Thumb or Rick 4001 or MusicMan or Ibanez, it can sound like a really good Jazz or a P-bass when that's what's needed for a given song. For most rock, soul or R&B, the Lakland's now the first choice. When working on an new original song though, I'll often try it with different basses to find which one sounds most appropriate for that song. Same way that a master carpenter has multiple saws, each is best for a different use.

 

[wvbass]

I don't spend much time on the DB forums, or on violin or cello message boards, either. Do you suppose those guys complain when a new manufacturer surfaces with instruments that look like other double basses, cellos, and violins?

 

[mongo2]

Fair enough, but I think that he needed to start with designs that are proven before spreading his wings.

First time around he didn't need to do that. Why now?

 

[mongo2]

I am not a Lakland expert but wasn't Dan sued and given a cease and desist order by Fender? Not really a track record of originality...

The original Laklands were not P or J clones. That came later. I wasn't fond of those either.

Early on he quickly changed his headstock design to satisfy Fender's objections.

In fact, the new headstock design looks much more like a Fender than his earlier design. I wonder if Fender will object?

 

[hover]

First time around he didn't need to do that. Why now?

That's what I'm sayin.

 

[fuzzychaos]

First time around he didn't need to do that. Why now?

Don't know, you better ask Dan that. Though with that in mind, why did he offer them later? He didn't have to add p and j clones to their offerings, maybe he did because he knew they would sell?

 

[JTE]

First time around he didn't need to do that. Why now?

The economy is markedly different twenty years later. Dan knows the MI business a lot better than he did in '94, and I imagine he'd like to make a living.

 

[mongo2]

The economy is markedly different twenty years later. Dan knows the MI business a lot better than he did in '94, and I imagine he'd like to make a living.

From the looks of this thread more than a few are disappointed in the designs. Aren't there enough Fender clones out there?

 

[fuzzychaos]

From the looks of this thread more than a few are disappointed in the designs. Aren't there enough Fender clones out there?

So, you are not his target audience. A few naysayers on TB will, I've no doubt, have very little impact on the success or failure of his new venture. Please note, I don't actually have a dog in this hunt, I love Lakland basses, and would consider getting a xx-02 like model from Dan when they become available, especially if they offer the any color option. I suppose I just don't get why you and a vocal minority care...if you don't want a Fender clone there are several companies that will satisfy you, do you have a vested interest in his company and you think he's making a mistake, or do you just need to keep griping about the excess of clones in the market, which I am sure does not hurt you in the least? There is another thread about the new JB series Carvin and the same gripes are happening there, yet when Fender does try something new, at least to them, the Dimension line, there were excessive gripes about that. You can't please everyone, I guess. I, for one, am glad we have so many choices, even if there are several Fender clones.

 

[mongo2]

So, you are not his target audience. A few naysayers on TB will, I've no doubt, have very little impact on the success or failure of his new venture. Please note, I don't actually have a dog in this hunt, I love Lakland basses, and would consider getting a xx-02 like model from Dan when they become available, especially if they offer the any color option. I suppose I just don't get why you and a vocal minority care...if you don't want a Fender clone there are several companies that will satisfy you, do you have a vested interest in his company and you think he's making a mistake, or do you just need to keep griping about the excess of clones in the market, which I am sure does not hurt you in the least?

I care because I purchased the original Laklands because they weren't the run of the mill Fender clone and had more to offer. I was hoping for another more original approach this time around as well. Is there something wrong with that?

 

[fuzzychaos]

I care because I purchased the original Laklands because they weren't the run of the mill Fender clone and had more to offer. I was hoping for another more original approach this time around as well. Is there something wrong with that?

No, not at all. We are all entitled to our opinions. Hopefully, if they have success with these clones, they will be able to offer other models that are more suited to you. Like I said, I want an MM/J like the xx-02 series, and it would be cool if I could get any color, the bone nut, graphite rods, etc. The current Lakland Skyline series has very limited color options. So I say " go Dan! Sell those clones and then expand your offerings!"

 

[nostatic]

I don't spend much time on the DB forums, or on violin or cello message boards, either. Do you suppose those guys complain when a new manufacturer surfaces with instruments that look like other double basses, cellos, and violins?

If it is off-shored, yes, they do get complaints. Also, not quite apples-apples comparison. Building a double bass isn't quite ordering a bunch of parts and bolting it together. Electric bass construction runs the gamut from a lot of hand work to literally ordering parts from different places and screwing them together. Many builders are somewhere in-between - up to the buyer to determine where to send their money.

 

[mongo2]

No, not at all. We are all entitled to our opinions. Hopefully, if they have success with these clones, they will be able to offer other models that are more suited to you. Like I said, I want an MM/J like the xx-02 series, and it would be cool if I could get any color, the bone nut, graphite rods, etc. The current Lakland Skyline series has very limited color options. So I say " go Dan! Sell those clones and then expand your offerings!"

Hopefully we will see more of his originality surface in future designs.

 

[fuzzychaos]

Hopefully we will see more of his originality surface in future designs.

Absolutely.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Granted I know nothing about business, but why sell Lakland if you're just going to end up doing virtually the same business?

I don't mind Fender clones. I like the fact that there are choices based on popular designs with minor variances (e.g. truss rod wheel). The more choices we have, the better. I understand the logic; you cannot make anything too drastically different (to start) to appeal to the masses. I have often heard the same about music: give them about 80% of what they already know.

 

[4andnomore]

One of the most common reasons for a founder to sell out an operating business is because they have gotten too far away from doing the thing that inspired them to start the business in the first place. For example, managing people and running day-to-day operations vs designing and building products. And more often than not they are not so great/interested in their newly acquired role. Its also happens that the business cannot remain competitive without a sizable cash infusion so one has no choice but to seek investment capital which means surrendering control to the accountants. The best case scenario is often a decent buyout for the founder with a 3-5 year non-compete after which they start up a smaller and more enjoyable venture. The new company may be in the same business, but it is not the "Same Business", if that makes sense. This is basically what Leo Fender did.

No idea about Mr. Lakin, but I certainly wish him the best.

 

[Fun Size Nick]

The economy is markedly different twenty years later. Dan knows the MI business a lot better than he did in '94, and I imagine he'd like to make a living.

I think that this is a fair thing to say. Let's not forget that we're talking about a real person here! I'm sure Dan has bills to pay like the rest of us, and a responsibility to provide for himself and his family. The 4-94/55-94 was a pioneering design, to be sure, and it caught on, but how many pioneering instrument designs can we honestly say have caught on and sold well in the bass world? Can we really expect another brand new thing from this guy? Not that I'm saying that it wouldn't be a great thing if he did do something new, but let's face it - very few people other than Leo himself (in a different, less mature market) can really claim to have designed and successfully marketed multiple innovative bass designs. Heck, Leo did that and still sold his companies within a fairly short timeframe.

Let's not forget, also, that Lakland were not exactly making a lot of cash before the introduction of their Fender clones and particularly their Skyline series. That has got to be weighing heavily on Dan's decisionmaking process.

 

[Dragan]

no 5 strings?

 

[xroads]

You guys are way overthinking this - it's just another bass brand in the world of basses. If you like them, buy them and play them, if not, choose something else. I am happy to have more choices, and an expert like D. Lakin building basses is certainly good for the consumer.

 

[ShowKing]

You guys are way overthinking this - it's just another bass brand in the world of basses. If you like them, buy them and play them, if not, choose something else. I am happy to have more choices, and an expert like D. Lakin building basses is certainly good for the consumer.

+1


Sent from my iPhone using TalkBass