I'm borrowing my friends 44-01 right now, but unfortunately it sounds like poop because the strings are old as dirt.
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Lakland 01 Club
- Thread starter Supertanker
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You guys are giving me mega G.A.S. right now because all of these basses...and especially when they're Laklands!!
I talked to IotaNet about the Audere preamp he put into his 55-01. He was impressed with the preamp but didn't like the sound at all. The problem wasn't the Audere but the stock Bartolini MK-1 pickups in the 55-01. Audere preamps are VERY transparent, so if your pickups sound lousy they're going to sound lousy through the Audere. That's why I'm asking folks around here what replacement pickups they've used and how they sound.
Brian at Bestbassgear.com says he gets lot's of unsolicited praise for Bartolini MK5's, which are the USA made replacements for the MK-1's in a 55-01.
I have the MK4s and Audere pre in my 44-01 and it sounds really great. My favorite bass now. They are great sounding pickups.
That's really great to hear! I think that's the route I'm going to go. I had originally thought to use Norstrand Big Split pups but I've heard they have a "ballsy J tone" but I'm not really looking for something that is "in your face". I want something that is smooth with a full range tone - I can always make it sound aggressive by boosting or using the Z-mode switch.
How do these pups sound with the Z-mode switch, by the way?
They are smooth, full range pickups and may be just what you are looking for. They tamed the aggressiveness of the 44-01 very well. They sound great with the Z-Mode switch. I don't have mine mounted yet, I have to drill a hole so it is tucked away in the control cavity, but I've tried it on all three settings and they sound great. I really like the low Z.
Supertanker has them in his 55-01 too, so you might want to ask him about it. He really likes them, but he will probably want to speak for himself.
That sounds good. I was debating between the cheaper 4-band "classic bass" preamp and the 3ZB version, but I'll spring for the 3ZB. Those pickups sound right up my alley! I'm not looking for an aggressive pickup.
Is a stock 55-01 a gig worthy bass? Good enough for the studio? Is a new preamp/new pickups a necessary thing to make this a good bass? Is it good as is and replacing the electronics takes it from good to great?
I've got a new 55-01 coming this Tuesday and was planning on replacing the pickups and the preamp but I think I need to replace my amp first. I've got a crappy Behringer 300w combo amp which is super hissy but I never use it when I play - I play at my church and we go direct. I'm going to start playing in a venue where I'll need my amp and I thought it would work going through a Hartke Bass Attack pedal into the FX return but it's super hissy even still.
It'll take me at least a year to save up for a good amp, so I'm stuck using this crappy Behringer when I need an amp. Will a stock 55-01 be good enough for playing in a worship setting?
Thanks!
I've got a new 55-01 coming this Tuesday and was planning on replacing the pickups and the preamp but I think I need to replace my amp first. I've got a crappy Behringer 300w combo amp which is super hissy but I never use it when I play - I play at my church and we go direct. I'm going to start playing in a venue where I'll need my amp and I thought it would work going through a Hartke Bass Attack pedal into the FX return but it's super hissy even still.
It'll take me at least a year to save up for a good amp, so I'm stuck using this crappy Behringer when I need an amp. Will a stock 55-01 be good enough for playing in a worship setting?
Thanks!
absolutely!!! the uprades just make an allready amazing bass, even more amazing IMHO
+1
I had a 55-01 that I gutted and installed a Bart NTMB preamp and a pair of Nordstrand Big Singles and I'd put it up against any high-end main gigging bass that anyone uses. The ONLY thing that the 55-01 lacks in it's stock set up is the electronics and once that's fixed then you've got a nice bass. Even with the stock pups and preamp it's still a decent one.
Absolutely!
Absolutely!
No, the pickup and preamp upgrade make it a world beater, on par with any boutique bass.
I think the pickup upgrade is the most important of the two...
Absolutely!
5501's kick arse!!!
The Bart pickups are amazing.
I could not imagine any pickup sounding better.
They are smooth, balanced between strings.
To me they sound like a bass should.
Great slap sound, perfect chord sound, thick meaty B string, great for solos.
Full, rich and smooth bass tone.
I played mine today at practice and the band was loving it!
Okay - this is making me feel much better. I'm going to start saving for this amp:
Carvin BR610
I know there are better amps out there but I'm no professional and you get a whole lot for your $550! I've heard from a TB'er that the 10's handle the low B flawlessly - no farting, but just deep articulate sounds.
I definitely think I'll eventually upgrade the pickups to USA Bartolini MK5's and the preamp to an Audere 3ZB. Knowing that the 55-01 is a good bass now (and that the upgrades make it a stellar bass) sets my priority on getting an amp that is a good match.
Thanks, guys!
Carvin BR610
I know there are better amps out there but I'm no professional and you get a whole lot for your $550! I've heard from a TB'er that the 10's handle the low B flawlessly - no farting, but just deep articulate sounds.
I definitely think I'll eventually upgrade the pickups to USA Bartolini MK5's and the preamp to an Audere 3ZB. Knowing that the 55-01 is a good bass now (and that the upgrades make it a stellar bass) sets my priority on getting an amp that is a good match.
Thanks, guys!
Okay - this is making me feel much better. I'm going to start saving for this amp:
Carvin BR610
I know there are better amps out there but I'm no professional and you get a whole lot for your $550!
I have the BX600 head that is in that combo and I like it. A lot of clean power, with a lot of EQ options. I use it with a couple of different cabs depending on the volume I need, and it sounds great with both, a Nemesis 210 and a Carvin BRX 212 (no longer made). I can use it with just the 210 for small gigs, just the 212 (which is a huge cabinet the size of a 410) for larger or with both since the amp will go down to a 2 ohm speaker load. I've never needed to use both, but I have the option. That gives me a lot of flexibility. And of course my main bass is a 44-01......
The Carvin should work out well for you. You should be able to cover just about any gig with it.
I used to own an RC210 - a Carvin 600w (2 X 300w) 210 combo. I appreciated the ability to biamp but you had to bridge the amps to use it as a combo and the two 10's could only take 400w total. I always felt like I was going to blow the speakers when I used it as a combo.
The BR610 is a definite improvement in that the amp only puts out 400w (only 400w) so there's no worry about overloading the speakers. I don't mind losing the biampability either.
Eventually I'll have the Lakland 55-01 with USA Barts and an Audere 3ZB, and the Carvin BR610. I can't think of any venue that I couldn't play in at that point!
The speakers they use now are MUCH better than the old Redline speakers. They will handle more than the amp will put out. A lot of people complained about the old speakers, saying they farted out and couldn't handle loud volume, but I haven't heard any complaints about the new ones. The new amps are better too. You should like this combo much better than your old one. And I use my 44-01 with US Barts and Audere 3ZB through the same head and a similar Carvin cab (but 212) and it sounds great! And plenty of power.
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