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Gibson EB 2013 / 2014 vs. Lakland Decade

Gibson EB 2013 / 2014 or Lakland Decade?

  • Gibson EB 2013 / 2014

    Votes: 7 43.8%

  • Lakland Decade

    Votes: 9 56.3%

  • Carrots, because they're far better for you

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    16
N

Nerve

May 2, 2007
208
182
#1
Brethren, I am not a greedy man but I find myself at odds between two beautiful and useful basses; the Gibson EB (produced 2013 and 2014 only) and the Lakland Decade (Skyline for price parity, single coil Chi Sonics for the win).

I like unique basses, but only when they sound good too. I also value tone versatility. Both the Gibson and the Lakland offer these things with their own brand of mojo. I could get into the specifics of what I like (thinner neck, etc) but instead I thought I'd open this question up to the TalkBass faithful and make it about you.

So what say you? If you were making this decision for yourself, what would you pick?
 
#3
I have a 2013 EB. I like it. The finish is rough (intentionally), which it seems that a lot of people didn’t care for. The pickguard was brittle and a very ugly fake tort, so I replaced mine. It’s not wholely Gibson, with ash body and maple neck, but it leans that way. Kind of the gateway Gibson for Fender players. While not huge, the neck isn’t thin either, more like a D-profile P neck. I enjoy it for what it is - a solid bass that I don’t have to baby, plays well, hot thunderous pickups. It has a lot of tones, but like any other bass, I tend to stick to just two or three.

No experience with the Lakland.
 
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#4
TDR1138 said:
I have a 2013 EB. I like it. The finish is rough (intentionally), which it seems that a lot of people didn’t care for. The pickguard was brittle and a very ugly fake tort, so I replaced mine. It’s not wholely Gibson, with ash body and maple neck, but it leans that way. Kind of the gateway Gibson for Fender players. While not huge, the neck isn’t thin either, more like a D-profile P neck. I enjoy it for what it is - a solid bass that I don’t have to baby, plays well, hot thunderous pickups. It has a lot of tones, but like any other bass, I tend to stick to just two or three.

No experience with the Lakland.
Click to expand...

Fantastic feedback, thanks! Do you think it's able to cop a Thunderbird tone if coaxed?
 
#5
Nerve said:
Fantastic feedback, thanks! Do you think it's able to cop a Thunderbird tone if coaxed?
Click to expand...

I haven’t A/B’d with a Tbird directly. Gets kind of in the range, I guess. The pickups aren’t traditional Tbird pickups, though I think they share the same shape/footprint and I think they used them on the Tbird for a couple of years. They’re still using them in the current EB.
 
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#6
TDR1138 said:
I haven’t A/B’d with a Tbird directly. Gets kind of in the range, I guess. The pickups aren’t traditional Tbird pickups, though I think they share the same shape/footprint and I think they used them on the Tbird for a couple of years. They’re still using them in the current EB.
Click to expand...

Ah, I thought I had read something about that. Thanks for confirming. Not as aggressive I assume?
 
#8
Nerve said:
Brethren, I am not a greedy man but I find myself at odds between two beautiful and useful basses; the Gibson EB (produced 2013 and 2014 only) and the Lakland Decade (Skyline for price parity, single coil Chi Sonics for the win).

I like unique basses, but only when they sound good too. I also value tone versatility. Both the Gibson and the Lakland offer these things with their own brand of mojo. I could get into the specifics of what I like (thinner neck, etc) but instead I thought I'd open this question up to the TalkBass faithful and make it about you.

So what say you? If you were making this decision for yourself, what would you pick?
Click to expand...

I own a 2013 built in 2012 EB and have wound on half rounds since almost day 1. It has everything I was looking for. The info to wind on the halves came from this forum so I'm not the innovator for this idea.
 
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#9
I had a 2016 (not faded finish).

I adore Gibson treble guitars, but just didn't get along with the SG bass.

What's the Lackland patterned after?
 
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#10
WillyW said:
I had a 2016 (not faded finish).

I adore Gibson treble guitars, but just didn't get along with the SG bass.

What's the Lackland patterned after?
Click to expand...
The 2013/2014 EB's have essentially nothing in common with the SG bass other than the name on the headstock, it's a completely different animal. Long vs Short scale, Ash vs mahogany, different body shape, bridge, pickups, tuners. It would be perfectly understandable that a player could bond with one but not the other. Personally I have and enjoy both!
 
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#11
swamp2 said:
The 2013/2014 EB's have nothing in common with the SG bass, completely different animal. Long vs Short scale, Ash vs mahogany, different body shape, bridge, pickups, tuners. Only thing in common is the name on the headstock. It would be perfectly reasonable to bond with one but not the other. Personally I have and enjoy both!
Click to expand...

Ohh long scale.... pics please....
 
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#12
Much different animals!!! But both pretty cool. The SG is actually a 2007 SG Supreme from Gibson's guitar of the week program. Has a maple cap which does sound a bit different than a "normal" all-mahogany SG bass, I've had both.
IMG_2435 90.jpg

IMG_2436.JPG
 
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#13
swamp2 said:
Much different animals!!! But both pretty cool. The SG is actually a 2007 SG Supreme from Gibson's guitar of the week program. Has a maple cap which does sound a bit different than a "normal" all-mahogany SG bass, I've had both.
View attachment 4105967
View attachment 4105954
Click to expand...

see that’s where the confusion sets in... they called ANOTHER bass “EB”.... eb-0, eb-1, eb-2, eb-3, eb-4L, ebgb, heebeejeebee, etc...

At least the older odd balls were caller “ripper” or “grabber”

I have a 2018 “EB”.... my number one fretted bass....

in that case, I change my vote... get the Gibson.


9A442B5E-3CFC-40D3-8CA3-07C8757F9F8A.jpeg
 
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#14
jsbraga said:
I own a 2013 built in 2012 EB and have wound on half rounds since almost day 1. It has everything I was looking for. The info to wind on the halves came from this forum so I'm not the innovator for this idea.
Click to expand...

Good call. I’d probably look at GHS Pressurewounds. Then again, I’m been digging the latest Gibson strings too. The rounds have some depth and the flats are quite bright.
 
#15
WillyW said:
I had a 2016 (not faded finish).

I adore Gibson treble guitars, but just didn't get along with the SG bass.

What's the Lackland patterned after?
Click to expand...

I think you’ve already noted this, but the SG bass is different. Easy to confuse, given it is like a cross between the EB-0 and the EB-3. Ugh, Gibson.

The Lakland Decade is its own thing. It was designed to celebrate 10 years of Lakland (thus “Decade”). One of the best looking basses I’ve seen. I read somebody compare it to a cross between a Wal and ... was it a Teisco? Anyways, I think that’s fairly apt.
 

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