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DLB (Dan Lakin Basses) Coming Soon!
- Thread starter Tommy Lotus
- Start date
I could be looking at the best playing, best-sounding and otherwise best-looking bass in the world but if it has an ugly headstock I'm not even going to pick it up. I think you'd be surprised at the number of people who feel the same way.
I didn't like the knobs on my Shuttle 9.0, so I changed them.
<edit> BTW, I don't think Dan's headstock is ugly, but it could use a little more chin.
Agreed, never understood how Alleva-Coppolo survives with their boat oar headstock and $6k pricetags.
I remember that there was a article from "Forbes"
about Dan's business acumen. From having read it, I'm really kind of astonished that he would want all the headaches of running a musical instrument company again. Originally, it took Lakland 10 years to be profitable, and that was due, in large part to the success of the Lakland Skylines. For the original U.S. made Laklands, the bodies were cut and finished in California, the necks were made in Montana, so much of the production was outsourced. They were assembled in Chicago. One of the reasons it cost more was
the outsourcing of so much of the production. You can read the article here. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Ric
about Dan's business acumen. From having read it, I'm really kind of astonished that he would want all the headaches of running a musical instrument company again. Originally, it took Lakland 10 years to be profitable, and that was due, in large part to the success of the Lakland Skylines. For the original U.S. made Laklands, the bodies were cut and finished in California, the necks were made in Montana, so much of the production was outsourced. They were assembled in Chicago. One of the reasons it cost more was
the outsourcing of so much of the production. You can read the article here. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Ric
Evidently, there are enough serious players who don't find fault with minor cosmetic differences. Excessive pickiness about little things seems to be a Talkbass phenom. Like Fender bashing.
Same answer for the high $$ cost for an AC. Apparently, they're worth it for those who can afford them.
I agree, AC basses may play and sound great but I just can't get past the headstock. I'm shallow. I admit it. I also am not a fan of the Carvin headstock.
That was kinda half sarcasm... The argument I was replying to was that bass players are picky about headstocks and I was trying to point out that Alleva does ok with their headstock (which many think looks terrible) at a much higher price point.
I agree. Aesthetics make a huge difference for me, It's gotta be attractive to me and play well. I also like traditional shapes and headstocks (Fender, Musicman, Lakland, etc.).
How did they become "traditional" headstocks? Just stick around long enough. I wonder what people thought when they first saw all the tuners on a guitar in a row on the top side? Never!
To be fair though, the only thing that kept me from getting one of Brian Bromberg's basses, whether they be Peavey, Carvin, whatever was the headstock. I'm sure they are excellent basses.
To be fair though, the only thing that kept me from getting one of Brian Bromberg's basses, whether they be Peavey, Carvin, whatever was the headstock. I'm sure they are excellent basses.
Even though I think the AC headstock looks ridiculous,
almost like an afterthought, perhaps designed on a bar
napkin by someone who has no sense of balance and
symmetry - - I acknowledge the fact that there are some
people of like mind who don't mind their bass looking like
a canoe paddle. I accept that. And here's why:
Being a jeweler for over 30 years, I have learned that there
is no accounting for "taste" or the lack thereof. I had a
ring in the showcase once that everyone remarked how
ugly it was . . . until one day a lady walked in and immediately
fixated on that same ring, let out a loud >GASP!< and
announced "That is the most BEE-YEW-TEE-FUL ring I have
ever SEEN!!!
She tried it on, oooh'd and ahhh'd for ten minutes
about it, went home & got her husband, and
came right back with him and his eyes lit up and he said,
"you are RIGHT! IT's so BEAUTIFUL!!!"
He threw down his plastic and they left as happy campers with
her new ring on her finger.
Needless to say, I was thrilled.
So . . . the moral of the story is "There's no accounting for taste".
almost like an afterthought, perhaps designed on a bar
napkin by someone who has no sense of balance and
symmetry - - I acknowledge the fact that there are some
people of like mind who don't mind their bass looking like
a canoe paddle. I accept that. And here's why:
Being a jeweler for over 30 years, I have learned that there
is no accounting for "taste" or the lack thereof. I had a
ring in the showcase once that everyone remarked how
ugly it was . . . until one day a lady walked in and immediately
fixated on that same ring, let out a loud >GASP!< and
announced "That is the most BEE-YEW-TEE-FUL ring I have
ever SEEN!!!
She tried it on, oooh'd and ahhh'd for ten minutes
about it, went home & got her husband, and
came right back with him and his eyes lit up and he said,
"you are RIGHT! IT's so BEAUTIFUL!!!"
He threw down his plastic and they left as happy campers with
her new ring on her finger.
Needless to say, I was thrilled.
So . . . the moral of the story is "There's no accounting for taste".
I didn't like the knurled aluminum. I think they look cheesy. So I put some nice gray plastic ones on there.
Right! So true and something we could all be reminded of from time to time.
In a similar vein, there's a line I like from one of the essays Neil Peart does for the Rush tour books. I think this was from the Presto tour.
As the Zen farmer says: "That's why they make different-colored neckties."
When offshore companies started duplicating Fender and Gibson's designs in the 1960, the courts settled on the shape of the headstock as being the distinguishing characteristic for guitar and bass trademark infringements. It's became so rampant, that most companies don't even bother going to court. Dan Lakin got sued by Fender and their was a cease and desist order, So I could see where he would want to be very careful about his headstock design.
Ric
im guessing "soon"is somewhere between "waiting for modulus to fold" and "waiting for the new brutes to come out".
Perfect example as, like your ring, I'm "oohing and ahhh'ing" over Dan's headstock design. Love it! I even dig Alleva-Coppolo's headstock design. Go figure.Being a jeweler for over 30 years, I have learned that there
is no accounting for "taste" or the lack thereof. I had a
ring in the showcase once that everyone remarked how
ugly it was . . . until one day a lady walked in and immediately
fixated on that same ring, let out a loud >GASP!< and
announced "That is the most BEE-YEW-TEE-FUL ring I have
ever SEEN!!!
She tried it on, oooh'd and ahhh'd for ten minutes
about it, went home & got her husband, and
came right back with him and his eyes lit up and he said,
"you are RIGHT! IT's so BEAUTIFUL!!!"
He threw down his plastic and they left as happy campers with
her new ring on her finger.
Needless to say, I was thrilled.
So . . . the moral of the story is "There's no accounting for taste".
