Lakland 5594 / 5502 : Ebony vs Maple fingerboard

[Mich656]

Hello !

I'm about to buy a new Lakland bass, I already own a 5501 with maple fingerboard. I love this bass.
That said, I want a complementary bass with the kind of possibilities that a 5502/5594 offers.

My experience with ebony is very limited, I've only try and compare Sire Marcus Miller basses, and I've heard a difference : the ebony fingerboard looks like a "cut trough the mix" thing, more the maple one ; but in both way the basses had good sound.

In my case, the "maple way" sounding of my 5501 is good, but as a complementary bass (with a different sound) it looks like ebony is a good idea ; I am looking for a kind of "cut trough the mix" Lakland (because I like very much the feel of the neck, the 19mm string spacing, the 35", etc)

I'm aware that the Lakland Basses are basses made to "sit in the mix" more than "cut trough". So looking for a Lakland bass to "cut trough" is maybe asking to do something which these bass aren't made for ?

So I would like to know if anyone have ever compared on a 5502 or 5594 with ebony and maple fingerboard, and can tell the difference, please...

Thank you in advance...

 

[basspraiser]

I've had/have a few Lakies and Carlos with ebony boards. (Both fretted and fretless)

IMHO...the ebony is a bit snappier... And can sound " Brittle" to some.

I personally like it better than maple.... But it is unique and not for everyone.

Cut through it will!

 

[JEDI BASS]

There’s thousands of threads, posts, comments, etc online discussing ebony versus maple. Google will find them and keep you occupied for days. Reality is, a 55-94 or 55-02 will cut through or sit in with any fretboard you choose. Picking the right strings, amp and speaker cabinet, tweaking the onboard EQ, amp EQ, and most importantly how you play the bass will determine the overall sound obtained.

So, in short, buy whatever fretboard looks best to you- maple and ebony sound more similar than different.

 

[JEDI BASS]

I'll add that neck and fretboard woods matter more than body woods, tonally. The density and weight of the body and neck are factors in how the instrument responds and sounds. But, with that considered, I feel the neck matters more. But, like I said above, there's not much difference in a maple neck with ebony board versus a maple/maple neck. You'd hear a marked difference comparing those necks to a wenge/wenge or mahogany/rosewood.... all of which could be covered up or EQ'd away.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Maple is bright and snappy. Ebony is brighter and snappier. Both are very hard woods.
The best way to test a fingerboards tone is to try that particular fingerboard wood in fretless format. I've got fretless basses in ebony, wenge, cherry, cocobolo. Both my maple fretboards are fretted.

 

[Mich656]

Hello !
Thank you for your point of view !
I'm speaking about fretted instrument. And really wit my (little) expérience with other basses that Lakland, I hear a difference between maple and ebony fingerboard. I just wanted different point of view for ebony on a Lakland 5502/5594

I've had/have a few Lakies and Carlos with ebony boards. (Both fretted and fretless)

IMHO...the ebony is a bit snappier... And can sound " Brittle" to some.

I personally like it better than maple.... But it is unique and not for everyone.

Cut through it will!

Thank you basspraiser, this is the kind of experience I was looking for

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Hello !

I'm about to buy a new Lakland bass, I already own a 5501 with maple fingerboard. I love this bass.
That said, I want a complementary bass with the kind of possibilities that a 5502/5594 offers.

My experience with ebony is very limited, I've only try and compare Sire Marcus Miller basses, and I've heard a difference : the ebony fingerboard looks like a "cut trough the mix" thing, more the maple one ; but in both way the basses had good sound.

In my case, the "maple way" sounding of my 5501 is good, but as a complementary bass (with a different sound) it looks like ebony is a good idea ; I am looking for a kind of "cut trough the mix" Lakland (because I like very much the feel of the neck, the 19mm string spacing, the 35", etc)

I'm aware that the Lakland Basses are basses made to "sit in the mix" more than "cut trough". So looking for a Lakland bass to "cut trough" is maybe asking to do something which these bass aren't made for ?

So I would like to know if anyone have ever compared on a 5502 or 5594 with ebony and maple fingerboard, and can tell the difference, please...

Thank you in advance...

I have no experience with any Lakland basses, but I do have over 50 years of playing basses. Cutting through the mix or sitting in the mix is more about your EQ than your fingerboard wood. IMO.

 

[Chrisk-K]

The difference is about the look. Even Eric Johnson wouldn’t tell a tonal difference, if it exists, in a blind test.,

 

[chris_b]

I played a Lakland 55-94 for almost 14 years, and last week I bought a 55-02. Both with maple fret boards.

I'd say there was very little between them. The 55-02 is exceeding my expectations.

The preamp is very flexible and so far I've gigged it in a 60's Soul band, Reggae, Blues band and top 40 covers. It's fitted perfectly into all my gigs.