DLB (Dan Lakin Basses) Coming Soon!

[Johnny Alien]

A few pickup makers might disagree. This would be much more appealing, at least for me, if it had SDs or Fralins, but that would probably bump it into a new class

Of course pickup makers want you to believe that but it's all marketing. Just like Fender with their hand signed pickups that go through the same winding process as any of their other pickups. A Fralin could be wound with the same materials to the same spec anywhere in the world and sound like a Fralin. As long as the materials are equal it's largely a machine done process.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

That sounds like more than just a neck profile issue.

When I checked the J bass out the first thing I noticed was that the neck was a little chunkier than a J bass, it was kind of in between a P bass and J bass neck, I mentioned this to Dan and asked him to change the profile more to that of a J bass especially since it is a J bass and he agreed and understood why and got on it right there on the spot and we went with a more traditional J profile and earlier this week the new specs went out. There were no neck issues at all just a reference to have the J neck closer to an actual J neck than a P bass neck (on a J bass).

 

[bassdude51]

It's a good thing too, because I was worried there weren't enough Fender copies out there.

You are dead on correct, Brother!

 

[the yeti]

As long as the materials are equal...

odd how the "usa made hardware" makes such a great improvement and is accepted (obviously accepted because it goes unchallenged), but a comment on non-usa pickups (that could possibly be seen as a negative on the bass overall) is defended so vigorously. maybe a little too vigorously.

 

[sigmafloyd]

odd how the "usa made hardware" makes such a great improvement and is accepted (obviously accepted because it goes unchallenged), but a comment on non-usa pickups (that could possibly be seen as a negative on the bass overall) is defended so vigorously. maybe a little too vigorously.

I agree, if All USA hardware is in the top 3 selling points you're kind of scraping the bottom of the barrel, especially when it's one of the cheapest and easiest things to do yourself.

Pickups might not be aaaaas important as the pickup manufacturers make it sound, but I believe they are far more important than the tuners.

 

[sigmafloyd]

Of course pickup makers want you to believe that but it's all marketing. Just like Fender with their hand signed pickups that go through the same winding process as any of their other pickups. A Fralin could be wound with the same materials to the same spec anywhere in the world and sound like a Fralin. As long as the materials are equal it's largely a machine done process.

The fender hand signed ones are the Abby handwound pickups that are hand wound by the same woman that has been doing it since the 60s.

I'm less concerned with the country than I am that he did 4 or 5 takes and 'nailed it'

 

[bassdude51]

I agree, if All USA hardware is in the top 3 selling points you're kind of scraping the bottom of the barrel, especially when it's one of the cheapest and easiest things to do yourself.

Pickups might not be aaaaas important as the pickup manufacturers make it sound, but I believe they are far more important than the tuners.

All American made hardware? Yeah, right! Screws, bridges, tuners, pots, pickguard plastic and other things are not made in the USA! exmple CTS pots, Taiwan. AVRI tuners, Japan. Plastic pickguard material, Korea. On and on it goes.

Had an all American made Mesa bass amp and one of the first things I saw was the cooling fan made in China.

Even Fender's Custom Shop guitars and basses do not have made in the USA hardware because this stuff is not made in the USA.

Very likely even the copper wire for the pickups and electronics is not made here.

Welcome to the wonderful world of the international market.

We make pizzas, hamburgers and things used to kill people.

 

[BigDBass]

I agree, if All USA hardware is in the top 3 selling points you're kind of scraping the bottom of the barrel, especially when it's one of the cheapest and easiest things to do yourself.

Pickups might not be aaaaas important as the pickup manufacturers make it sound, but I believe they are far more important than the tuners.

For me, the USA hardware is a big selling point. I've looked into replacing all the "licensed" hardware on one of my Skylines with US Hipshot parts. There is quite a bit of hardware to purchase, and modifications are necessary, such as to the headstock to accommodate different sized tuners, body for neck bolts, and the like. For me personally, replacing pickups with aftermarket of my choice would be far easier and more cost effective.

 

[Johnny Alien]

Hipshot stuff is made in the US not sourced out, so yes the bridge and tuners are made in the US. I assume that sourcing screws from the US you would actually know they are made here.

I am not vigorously defending the pickups. I have not heard the pickups yet. I happen to talk frequently with a guy that winds pickups local to me. He is very good and he will tell you that it is largely marketing. Talk honestly with Lollar and he will tell you the same...heck he wrote a book telling you how to do it yourself. I can buy a pickup to put in for under $100 so if it bothers me I will swap it out. The tuners and bridge would cost well over that to replace so I will reserve judgement until I hear it and then replace if I want to. Heck I replace pickups in basses with US pickups too.

 

[the yeti]

the number 1 mod on a 5501 is to swap out the korean pu's/pre. it's not exactly cheap. i can say from experience it makes a huge difference. swapping hardware? looks nice but no real impact on tone "as long as the materials are equal".

the basses look great. based on my experience with laklands i'll bet they ARE great. to argue that usa hardware is some sort of improvement and at the same time say korean pu's is not a downgrade is (to me) ridiculous.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

the number 1 mod on a 5501 is to swap out the korean pu's/pre. it's not exactly cheap. i can say from experience it makes a huge difference. swapping hardware? looks nice but no real impact on tone "as long as the materials are equal".

the basses look great. based on my experience with laklands i'll bet they ARE great. to argue that usa hardware is some sort of improvement and at the same time say korean pu's is not a downgrade is (to me) ridiculous.

No matter where pickups are made sound is subjective but because some pickups are not USA made some people have issues with that.

I have played Dam's new P bass and J bass and I tried the pickups over six months ago in a couple of USA made basses.


At the end of the day there is no one who would be able to tell origin of build of these pickups.

These Korean made pickups really do not sound bad at all.




And again it really doesn't cost that much to build pickups.

All one is doing is paying for choices of brands that are made in the USA that may sound good to you or not. Throw a few Korean made ones in the pile and one wouldn't even know.

 

[WoodyG3]

Funny how the discussion is centered around the shape of the headstock and where all the parts are made instead of how the bass feels, plays and sounds.

 

[sigmafloyd]

Funny how the discussion is centered around the shape of the headstock and where all the parts are made instead of how the bass feels, plays and sounds.

Until they are in the hands of the general public that's all we can really do. I think so far we have only heard from endorsers and friends of Dan's on how they play/sound

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Until they are in the hands of the general public that's all we can really do. I think so far we have only heard from endorsers and friends of Dan's on how they play/sound

For the record I would have nothing at all to say about the basses if they weren't what they are.

High quality and great sound at a price that will appeal to a market that is in need of such an instrument.

 

[mmbongo]

Bored at work!

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[Handyman]

Any news of a time frame for these shipping, or who will be distributing them? I'd like to give one of these a spin.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Any news of a time frame for these shipping, or who will be distributing them? I'd like to give one of these a spin.

After the first 12 are ordered they should be ready for shipment in Sept or Oct and there will be no distributors. DLB is dealing directly with the players.

 

[sigmafloyd]

High quality and great sound at a price that will appeal to a market that is in need of such an instrument.

I appreciate your enthusiasm for these basses, but I don't think you can honestly say that there is a lack of quality precision and jazz basses at this price point. Fender alone has the classic series, American special and road worn series all around the same price or less. Not to mention that you can buy a used American standard any day of the week on the classifieds or your local guitar store for about $700-800. For 1k you might even be able to get a used American vintage.

Not saying these won't be good, but I still don't see the gap they fill and when you're selling someone else designs with your name on it you need to be able to communicate to the customer why they shouldn't buy the real thing.

My guess will be that these are big on talkbass with people who have written Fender off because they feel like they need something different yet really want a p or j.

 

[Chef]

Well now:
you could say the same thing about Sadowsky, Alleva, Nordstrand, Valenti, and virtually every other player at every other pricepoint in the market.

My guess will be that these are big on talkbass with people who have written Fender off because they feel like they need something different yet really want a p or j.

 

[Handyman]

After the first 12 are ordered they should be ready for shipment in Sept or Oct and there will be no distributors. DLB is dealing directly with the players.

That may be smart business move, this sort of arrangement allows builders like Carvin to offer incredible price/performance while still turning a profit.