• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Lakland 44-02 weird A string problem

Drienvyftigcent

Drienvyftigcent

Aug 18, 2013
98
32
Netherlands
#1
I've bought a second hand Lakland 44-02 about a year ago and have noticed that the output on the A string is lower than the output on the other strings. But recently I noticed that it's only the case when I use a plectrum and pick downwards and when I bend the string downwards. Basically I can't play with a pick at all because the volume drops on every downstroke and every bend downwards. I'm thinking it has to do with he position of the A string above the magnet on the pickup because it only happens when the string is off position, to the downside, but I'm not sure. I already had the bass setup and checked by a luthier but he didn't know what it was. He said that the pickups were built like that but that's just weird to me. Does anyone know what it could be or what I could do?
 
Last edited:
#5
Smooth_bass88 said:
Ok, so 1 person (out of thousands of users) is having a problem with their A string and you're calling Lakland morons?
Click to expand...

Two people. My 44-02 now has Lace Sensors because of it. Maybe it's a problem isolated to these two pickups? Have you noticed it with the 44-02 you own?


Drienvyftigcent said:
Split? what do you mean by that? and is it fixable?
Click to expand...

The Lakland branded bridge pickup in the 44-02 is a quad coil pickup...two split coils side by side. Looks like this inside:

MMbucker.png



As you can see, there is a 'dead zone' right smack in the middle which normally is not an issue. For whatever reason, Lakland put the split closer to the A string so you get dropout on that string when you pluck down, because you are pulling it down out of the magnetic field. The Bartolini quad coils they used to use did not have this problem. The fix is to replace the pickup, or do not pull the string down.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Russ1981
#6
I have 4-94 with the Lakland/Hanson pickups and preamp and there are no issues whatsoever. I'd contact Lakland if I did happen to have an issue because their service is outstanding. They stand behind their products fully.
 
#9
mmbongo said:
Two people. My 44-02 now has Lace Sensors because of it. Maybe it's a problem isolated to these two pickups? Have you noticed it with the 44-02 you own?




The Lakland branded bridge pickup in the 44-02 is a quad coil pickup...two split coils side by side. Looks like this inside:

MMbucker.png



As you can see, there is a 'dead zone' right smack in the middle which normally is not an issue. For whatever reason, Lakland put the split closer to the A string so you get dropout on that string when you pluck down, because you are pulling it down out of the magnetic field. The Bartolini quad coils they used to use did not have this problem. The fix is to replace the pickup, or do not pull the string down.
Click to expand...


This makes sense if all the pickups on my 44-02 malfunction like that, but I forgot to say that it's only the case with the neck pickup and the bridge pickup when solod to either of both coils. When I select the entire humbucker I recently noticed that there is very little volume drop, almost not noticable. It's much more present on the neck pickup and the coils of the bridge pu soloed. I also have to add that the previous owner had the humbucker changed to series, but I recently had it changed back to parallel by the luthier. Maybe that has to do something with the fact that the humbucker has less volume drop. Do you guys think the problem could dissappear if I asked a luthier to re-solder all the pickups if that makes sense? I'm sorry but I'm not really wise when it comes to the inside of the pu's and electronics.
 
#10
Drienvyftigcent said:
This makes sense if all the pickups on my 44-02 malfunction like that, but I forgot to say that it's only the case with the neck pickup and the bridge pickup when solod to either of both coils. When I select the entire humbucker I recently noticed that there is very little volume drop, almost not noticable. It's much more present on the neck pickup and the coils of the bridge pu soloed. I also have to add that the previous owner had the humbucker changed to series, but I recently had it changed back to parallel by the luthier. Maybe that has to do something with the fact that the humbucker has less volume drop. Do you guys think the problem could dissappear if I asked a luthier to re-solder all the pickups if that makes sense? I'm sorry but I'm not really wise when it comes to the inside of the pu's and electronics.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I never noticed it on my neck pickup, but then again I never use the neck pickup alone.

Are you saying that you didn't notice the problem until you had the pickup wired back to parallel? It didn't do it in series?

I got my Lakland MM pickup out to inspect it, and I don't think it uses bars inside like the diagram I posted, they feel like individual pole pieces but still split coil. There's just a little dead spot right in the middle, at the edge of the A string. Pulling it down out of the magnetic field causes dropout, but pulling up it sounds fine. Had I not seen it a few times before I would have also had no idea what the problem was!
 
#11
mmbongo said:
Interesting. I never noticed it on my neck pickup, but then again I never use the neck pickup alone.

Are you saying that you didn't notice the problem until you had the pickup wired back to parallel? It didn't do it in series?

I got my Lakland MM pickup out to inspect it, and I don't think it uses bars inside like the diagram I posted, they feel like individual pole pieces but still split coil. There's just a little dead spot right in the middle, at the edge of the A string. Pulling it down out of the magnetic field causes dropout, but pulling up it sounds fine. Had I not seen it a few times before I would have also had no idea what the problem was!
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure it was a problem when it was series.
 
#12
Drienvyftigcent said:
I'm pretty sure it was a problem when it was series.
Click to expand...

yeah makes sense then. Definitely pole piece drop off. Can be a drawback with split coil pickups. I put split coil Barts in my Warwick and have the same issue with my D string of the neck pickup. Not Barts fault though, it's because the neck pickup is installed at an angle and that puts the D string right at the edge of the magnetic field. I had the same Barts in my 44-02 before the Lace Sensors and they had zero dropoff anywhere.
 
#13
My 44-02 had a dead coil on that bridge pickup (closer to the neck) from new, replace it it with Basslines Alnico, because it will be to much for me to sent the pickup to Lakland. I ended up also replacing neck pickup with Alnico Basslines SJB-1. My 44-02 has some sort of vintage vibe sound now due to those alnicos which i really like....lucky me..:)
 
#15
Same here...bought a used '17 55-02 which I'm in love with, but I can't downstroke the A string with a pick without losing all the body of the note. Luckily I need to use a pick on very few tunes, but that's a drag ... Slap on that string is comparatively quiet also. This happens with either pickup.
Wish there was a fix without changing PUps, since I definitely like their sound.
 
#16
So I contacted Lakland, told them about the issue a while back ago and received pretty much the same pickups but in a single coil variant rather than split coils. I think they call it the LH-3B or something. Problem completely solved, no more volume drop off on the A string when downpicking, and the sound of the pickups is identical. Next to no hum as well, it is indistinguishable to me at least.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chad Michael

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back