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Lakland 44-02

subtraction

subtraction

Feb 13, 2014
110
35
36
Canton Georgia
#1
I think I've finally found the one I've been looking for...

In the past year I've owned then ultimately sold/traded.... 2014 American Standard Jazz, two 2014/2015 American Standard Precisions, Ibanez ATK premiun, Ibanez sr1200 premium (this was the biggest let down of them all), Fender Road Worn Precision, Fender Aerodyne import model, and an MPG level 5.

They were all very well crafted for the most part but they just didn't feel "right". So I went and blindly ordered the 44-02 based on all the positive reviews online. I have to say it's a winner and has all of them beat in comfort feel and playability. Fit and finish is at least on par with the Fender American Standards.

Couldn't be happier so far and feel this will finally be putting an end to the constant trading and selling!
 

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#2
Glad you like it. I love my 55-01. The feel and finish is awesome. It's one of those instruments that makes me feel like a better player. I have been leaning toward swapping out the pups though...
 
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#3
Eilif said:
Glad you like it. I love my 55-01. The feel and finish is awesome. It's one of those instruments that makes me feel like a better player. I have been leaning toward swapping out the pups though...
Click to expand...

The pickups in mine seem fine and there isn't anything I feel like I need to change out except the strings. I am just pleasantly surprised how much I like this bass. The neck is really nice too.
 
#4
subtraction said:
The pickups in mine seem fine and there isn't anything I feel like I need to change out except the strings. I am just pleasantly surprised how much I like this bass. The neck is really nice too.
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Yeah, I didn't mean to rain on your parade. They really do have great necks. I think they're one of the great bass values out there. The stock electronics are just fine and have a nice range of tones. I used it alot in pop rock and gospel music and it really worked well.

The truth is that I just got bit by the chi-sonic bug and we know where that leads...
 
#6
mmbongo said:
There's a huge difference in the electronics in a 55/44-01 and a 44-02 though. There's no real reason to upgrade the 44-02.
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Oops, I somehow read 44-01 instead of -02. You're absolutely right, there is no reason to swap anything on an -02. They are fantastic!

I was a fan of the original Bart loadout, but I've been very impressed by the in-house Lakland/Hanson electronics and pups. I had a chance to visit Lakland's open house when they were previewing/developing what I think is now the stock preamp. Very cool stuff.

At a later open house I tried out a bunch of the then-new Chisonics and that's when I got the still-buzzing bug to upgrade my 55-01.
 
#8
Congrats! Coincidentally my last bass before biting the Lakland hook 8 years ago was an MPG Level 5 as well... It never got bad comments, but it never got accolades either... The next gig I played at after leaving it in a shop in Austin and buying the 55-02 the sound man came up and told me to never sell that bass... I did eventually, only because I had 4 other laklands at the time!
 

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