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Dan Lakin has SOLD Lakland basses???

#101
Interesting... I saw someone comment the same topic in another forum, saying that when Leo Fender left Fender, we got Musicman, and when he left Musicman, we got G&L...

You never know what can happen - could be something amazing... Only time will tell, I guess.

BTW, as I have understood, Leo Fender continued his work with Fender a number of years after CBS took over (bound by a contract or something), but eventually, he did go ahead and created new designs. So, I do think it's likely that Dan keeps in touch with Lakland in one way or another - at least for a while.

Anyway, the best of luck to Dan (and Lakland), they make great basses. I have a Skyline 55-02 from the 'Korean era'... Very vintage! :ninja:
 
#102
engedi1 said:
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!
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They quietly closed the plant/factory a few months ago; I don't know if all the details have yet been made public. Apparantly the investors didn't think it wise to continue putting money into CA when it became clear that things would not turn around anytime soon. One story floating around was they had at least one person interested in buying the company, but CA's debt was too large. I read a lengthy thread at Acoustic Guitar Forum.
 
#103
I've had a wonderful business relationship with Dan and Lakland Guitars and Basses for almost 15 years now. I wish Dan the best and I know he'll land on his feet and do something real good over the next few months. I've known John and Bo for a very long time and know that they are very smart businessmen. They are not going to do anything to Lakland that won't be completely in the spirit of what Dan created years ago. I'm sure that you won't notice any difference between pre-Dan and post-Dan, Lakland Basses. I'll continue to completely support the new company as I have in the last 15 years.
 
#106
Tonedeaf Hack said:
They quietly closed the plant/factory a few months ago; I don't know if all the details have yet been made public. Apparantly the investors didn't think it wise to continue putting money into CA when it became clear that things would not turn around anytime soon. One story floating around was they had at least one person interested in buying the company, but CA's debt was too large. I read a lengthy thread at Acoustic Guitar Forum.
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That is really too bad. I thought they were much more "woody" than Rainsong guitars, which I used to play until my EA Iamp500 (the original white one) issued the magic smoke and I had to sell my beloved rainsong to buy a new amp. Of course when I say I was playing a CA recently, I mean a few months ago. I will have to go and buy one quick before it is too late!
sorry for hijacking the thread here, but I was very curious when I saw the post about CA. Bass to Lakland! (gotta go buy one of those too!)
 
#107
I too would be more of a lakland fan if they made 34 inch fivers. I sold my 55-94 deluxe to buy a Sadowsky because I could never get used to the 35 inch neck. I loved it actually, until I got with a band that was rehearsing 5 days a week and then my hands started to hurt (I have small hands with stubby fingers) Really happy with the Sadowsky5, but I actually plan on switching back to 4 strings.
 
#108
Sorry to add to the derail, but CA's were fantastic players! I had one a few years ago and sold it to put money towards a car. (Invalid Link Removed) Lovely piece of work and best playing acoustic I've ever played. If you come across that thread, post the link or send it to me.
 
#111
Jim Carr said:
Yes. However, my 2003 55-01D (Skyline) says Korea. I think production was moved two or three years ago from ROK to Indonesia. Anyone have the date? :cool:
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It was late 2008. I think the first Indo-Skylines were the Decades, and I recall them rolling in around October or November. That's about when the Plek machine came in, too.
 
#114
those early Lakalnds do have some form of "magic" to them....

as for the "new owners" having the same vision, they do....John and Bo have been involved personally in Lakland for 10+ years.....they know what they have and want to keep the vision alive...that is the whole reason they took it over from Dan.....

I think of it more as a trasfer than a purchase.....

abngourmet said:
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
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#115
Pat:

nice to hear from you! great post!

Wilkins said:
I've had a wonderful business relationship with Dan and Lakland Guitars and Basses for almost 15 years now. I wish Dan the best and I know he'll land on his feet and do something real good over the next few months. I've known John and Bo for a very long time and know that they are very smart businessmen. They are not going to do anything to Lakland that won't be completely in the spirit of what Dan created years ago. I'm sure that you won't notice any difference between pre-Dan and post-Dan, Lakland Basses. I'll continue to completely support the new company as I have in the last 15 years.
Click to expand...
 
#117
engedi1 said:
I too would be more of a lakland fan if they made 34 inch fivers. I sold my 55-94 deluxe to buy a Sadowsky because I could never get used to the 35 inch neck. I loved it actually, until I got with a band that was rehearsing 5 days a week and then my hands started to hurt (I have small hands with stubby fingers) Really happy with the Sadowsky5, but I actually plan on switching back to 4 strings.
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well as a matter of fact they do. I've seen a few 54-94s around and in sold galleries. 54-94 stands for 5-string 34" scale 94s. And the necks on the fivers are all interchangeable save for the older DJ5 version so you could have another model if you wished.
So if you order one you can have one made
 
#119
denchiq said:
well as a matter of fact they do. I've seen a few 54-94s around and in sold galleries. 54-94 stands for 5-string 34" scale 94s. And the necks on the fivers are all interchangeable save for the older DJ5 version so you could have another model if you wished.
So if you order one you can have one made
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Really, my 55-94 is 35" scale
 
#120
GregC said:
Apparently because it started with a press release. It's too bad, there was some good discussion in there.

3tsb, there is a thread on the LOG board about this (Lakland Changes) in the Markus' Corner forum. I'd link it, but I'm not sure that's kosher, either.
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that really pisses me off that they deleted it. regardless of speculation, the thread should have been locked. not deleted. that goes against the whole reason that i and i assume a lot of other people use forums. to have this huge archive of data that you can search at anytime. most forums lock threads.
 

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