Dan Lakin has SOLD Lakland basses???

[JAUQO III-X]

I wonder if this will differ from all those other MBO's where at the time of the buy-out the management makes all the right noises about keeping the brand not making any changes etc. Cut to a few months later when the financiers have brought reality home and all of sudden its above cost cutting and improving cash flows to make the financiers happy. I could be wrong, but I see a lot of this stuff in my line of work and I have yet to see an MBO where all the "warm and fuzzy" noises arn't made at the point of acquisition. The test of brand continuity isn't at the point of acquisition, its 6-12mo's latter when the first interest payments start to fall due. Hopefully i'm wrong because I used to enjoy the US JO 4 that I had and Lakland really was a great brand to compete with the big 3 in the bass world.

Well time can only tell. But John has many years of hands on with helping Lakland develop and stay above water. And now that he's part owner(along with his brother Bo) I can only see it going in a very positive direction.

 

[Marlat]

Well time can only tell. But John has many years of hands on with helping Lakland develop and stay above water. And now that he's part owner(along with his brother Bo) I can only see it going in a very positive direction.

I would hope that is the case too. The problem is what part John and Bo own versus what part the banks own. Its usually the latter rather than the former than drive the decisions that affect cost and quality.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

I would hope that is the case too. The problem is what part John and Bo own versus what part the banks own. Its usually the latter rather than the former than drive the decisions that affect cost and quality.

Well what I know of John I don't think he would make a stupid move as to purchase a company with the high % potential aspect of losing it to a bank.


John and Bo really do know how to play the game.

 

[57pbass]

I wish the new owners nothing but great success...

The fact that they are investing in a money losing business speaks volumes about their commitment to the Lakland brand...

 

[JAUQO III-X]

The fact that they are investing in a money losing business speaks volumes about their commitment to the Lakland brand...

Integrity with a little logic thrown in and some vision is powerful.

 

[otis_thick]

I congradulate Dan on his run and dedication. I don't know if some of y'all remember waaaaay back when Dan was only a Musicman Fender fan and all he had was a Ebay type newsletter, yeah sent through the mail! The letter was mostly used Music Man and Fender basses and parts and want adds. If I can find one, I'll post it. He was kind of a Subways Guitars' "Fat Dawg". Then he announced he was going to start building his own and the rest is history. I really regret not getting one back then. I had called him to put in a request for a natural pre-EB Sabre... he was asking anyone if they would be interested in one of what he called "...its like a cross of a Stingray and Jazz"...but noooooo, I wanted a Sabre or nothing! (I justed slapped myself in the head AGAIN).....

 

[Rocky]

I hope he comes out with a boutique Fender clone, and then has it manufactured in Korea and Indonesia.


(kidding, don't shoot me, I have nothing against Dan)

Umm, not meaning to be antagonistic, but isn't that what lakland basses pretty much are?

 

[Marlat]

Well what I know of John I don't think he would make a stupid move as to purchase a company with the high % potential aspect of losing it to a bank.


John and Bo really do know how to play the game.

Based on what I know about MBOs wherethe company is in financial distress, it's the "playing the game" part that fans on the brand they know now should reflect on. There arnt many secrets to quickly making an unprofitable business profitable. Cuts in unecessay expenditure such as licensing artists names, superior QC and customer service and staff tend to be where easy dollars are found. The key is to make sure you are on par with or just better than the competition. Anything else is great for customers but expensive to maintain. It's dimininshjng returns stuff. I hope they keep the brand going well. As I said earlier it's a great alternative to the big 3.

 

[Tonedeaf Hack]

I don't know squat about Lakland other than recognizing the name, but I'm glad to hear that the company didn't go the way of Carbon Acoustics.

 

[engedi1]

I don't know squat about Lakland other than recognizing the name, but I'm glad to hear that the company didn't go the way of Carbon Acoustics.

What happened to Carbon Acoustics? I was just playing one of their guitars in a Franklin, TN music store and thought it was really nice!

 

[The_Robster]

I had no idea that Lakland US necks were carved in Montana. Hopefully the company doesn't go under because of profit visioned leadership...

 

[t0t0m]

Based on what I know about MBOs wherethe company is in financial distress, it's the "playing the game" part that fans on the brand they know now should reflect on. There arnt many secrets to quickly making an unprofitable business profitable. Cuts in unecessay expenditure such as licensing artists names, superior QC and customer service and staff tend to be where easy dollars are found. The key is to make sure you are on par with or just better than the competition. Anything else is great for customers but expensive to maintain. It's dimininshjng returns stuff. I hope they keep the brand going well. As I said earlier it's a great alternative to the big 3.

Who are the Big 3?

Fender, Musicman,..?

 

[Dan B]

Fender, EBMM, Rickenbacker?

 

[NoobOnRoad]

Maybe Gibson?

 

[t0t0m]

or maybe SX?LOL

 

[abngourmet]

I own a Lakland 4-94, serial number 245. My take is that it is a mid 90s early model. Ash body, quilt maple top, rosewood board with birdseye maple inlays. Bart electronics. It came with the original case (cream colored) and is in 9.5 out of 10 condition.

It's been my experience (I've played bass for over 30 years) that when a company is bought out by another company or entity, they generally go into the land of suck. This isn't a hard and fast rule, mind you, but there are too many examples for me to think otherwise (Fender under CBS, Harley under AMF, Gibson under Norlin, etc.).

I just hope that the new owners realize what they have here - an incredible product. I also hope that they not only maintain what is there, but make it profitable for them and their shareholders.

This being said ...

There is a reason that my 4-94 is one of the basses out of my collection (I have about 30) that I will never sell ... it combines the best of what I consider two of the best bass designs ever concocted - the Fender Jazz Bass and the Musicman Stingray (oddly enough, created by the same guy - I think he knew what he was doing ... ). I got my 4-94 off eBay, and when I got it, I sat down and plugged it in. Immediately I recognized both the Fender and MM influences, and it immediately felt completely comfortable. It was like I'd just picked up my '79 Stingray and my '73 Jazz, and placed both on my knee at the same time - it was like an old shoe. Comfortable. What really sold it though, was the coil tap on the MM pickup. For once, I could go from MM, to P-Bass, to J, to ... you name it and back at the flick of a switch. It's for this reason that I will never sell this bass. It can do so much. Dan and Hugh had it right, and it shows.

Here's to hoping the new owners never lose sight of what Dan and Hugh set out to do.

Alan

 

[denchiq]

good point Alan

 

[GregC]

I own a Lakland 4-94, serial number 245. My take is that it is a mid 90s early model. Ash body, quilt maple top, rosewood board with birdseye maple inlays. Bart electronics. It came with the original case (cream colored) and is in 9.5 out of 10 condition.

It's been my experience (I've played bass for over 30 years) that when a company is bought out by another company or entity, they generally go into the land of suck. This isn't a hard and fast rule, mind you, but there are too many examples for me to think otherwise (Fender under CBS, Harley under AMF, Gibson under Norlin, etc.).

I just hope that the new owners realize what they have here - an incredible product. I also hope that they not only maintain what is there, but make it profitable for them and their shareholders.

This being said ...

There is a reason that my 4-94 is one of the basses out of my collection (I have about 30) that I will never sell ... it combines the best of what I consider two of the best bass designs ever concocted - the Fender Jazz Bass and the Musicman Stingray (oddly enough, created by the same guy - I think he knew what he was doing ... ). I got my 4-94 off eBay, and when I got it, I sat down and plugged it in. Immediately I recognized both the Fender and MM influences, and it immediately felt completely comfortable. It was like I'd just picked up my '79 Stingray and my '73 Jazz, and placed both on my knee at the same time - it was like an old shoe. Comfortable. What really sold it though, was the coil tap on the MM pickup. For once, I could go from MM, to P-Bass, to J, to ... you name it and back at the flick of a switch. It's for this reason that I will never sell this bass. It can do so much. Dan and Hugh had it right, and it shows.

Here's to hoping the new owners never lose sight of what Dan and Hugh set out to do.

Alan

FYI, your 4-94 was made in 1997 according to the serial number sheet on Lakland's site. Sounds like a sweet one!
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There's no denying the dark history of MI company takeovers. But in this case, the new owners are different from the typical acquirers. JP and Bo were employees and shareholders for nine years, and their offices have literally been next door to Lakland's. Also, they've turned out some awfully nice, well-reviewed guitars since starting that business last year. Nothing's for certain, of course, but I'm very optimistic at this point.

 

[sps500]

I have US DJ which I think is the bee's knees. From the weight to the tone it is just amazing. I wish to thank Dan for making amazing basses and all the best to the new owners! Lets hope its a great success!

 

[bongomania]

Umm, not meaning to be antagonistic, but isn't that what lakland basses pretty much are?

Yeah that was why my joke was supposed to be funny.