Lakland or Ibanez?

[Makatak]

You are always going to get the default " get a Lakland" answer because of its perceived higher quality or more exclusive status. They are of course fine instruments but the new generation high end Ibanez Basses are of exceptional build quality with open pored bodies, Bubinga/Wenge necks etc, they are so light and fast it just makes you want to play `em.
Play both and make your own mind up and DONT OBSESS OVER PEOPLES OPINIONS ON BLOGS !!. You will know what you like more and don`t feel you are of a lesser player because you have Ibanez on the headstock instead of Lakland. I find myself leaving the $3000 Sadowsky at home and taking out the $500 G&L Tribute quite often. I`ll never forget proudly taking my freshly acquired `78 pre EB Ray to its first gig after everybody spouted on about how they were the dogs bollocks, lasted one set and went back on the auction site. Made good coin on it though........
One more thing, you`ll probably be able to pick up the Ibby way cheaper than the Lakland too I suspect.

 

[Hounddog409]

I was wondering which bass would be better? The Lakland Skyline Deluxe 55-02 or the Ibanez SR1805E Premium? Both cost around the same price. I have played Ibanez basses before, but only the lower level SRs. The SRs play very nice with low action. I have never played a Lakland before, but heard that they are great basses. If you were choosing between these two basses which one would you pick?

I would pick the Ibanez Premium. The SR1805 is a sweet bass. Very sweet

Fender copied just don't so it for me.

 

[Lowness]

I was wondering which bass would be better? The Lakland Skyline Deluxe 55-02 or the Ibanez SR1805E Premium? Both cost around the same price. I have played Ibanez basses before, but only the lower level SRs. The SRs play very nice with low action. I have never played a Lakland before, but heard that they are great basses. If you were choosing between these two basses which one would you pick?

Ok, so people love the name Lakland though they are either:
- both coming the same factory in Indonesia; or
- the premium Ibanez is coming from a better factory in Japan or Korea.

I just sold a Lakland 4-string: it was a well built bass though very light weight and BORING. OMG......was it boring. It was the bass equivalent of drinking lemonade.

I am looking keenly at premium Ibanez basses now for something different; I can't see myself getting a Lakland again.

 

[Humbled]

Picture Time !

 

[tfer]

Picture Time !

View attachment 806436

Beautiful upright.

 

[basslyon]

Lakland - try and find a second hand korean one.
They growl like a tiger and play as smooth as a panthers fur

 

[Humbled]

Beautiful upright.

Thank you.

 

[Matthew Barrack]

ehh. Lakland.

 

[Matthew Barrack]

Like you heard, they are great basses.

 

[Lowness]

Here is my Korean Lakland - nice, though so glad to see it go - very beige.

It didn't growl and had a very unstable neck in humidity.

It played well with really light guage strings.

 

[stringthrough]

I'd choose a high-end Ibby over an off-shore lakland. The Ibby preamp, whether coupled with nordstrand or bartolini pickups sound awesome to me. Before I heard them I was a Ibby hater for years ('cept for the wonderful ones they made from the late 70's through mid-80's which were great).

 

[Humbled]

I sense a turning in this thread.

 

[Gizmot]

I haven't read any of the other comments, but in my mind the Lakland has the cool-guy factor (worth something when you sell it), but there is absolutely nothing wrong with Ibanez basses.

I had a mid-priced Ibanez back in the mid 90s and it served me very well. It was $400 brand new and it had 3 band EQ and a decent neck.

 

[Humbled]

I kinda like this thing...

 

[bearclaw87]

Was in the same situation some time back. Build quality of the new ibanez models seem to be on par with the Indonesian Laklands. The ibbys seem a tad more modern sounding (the nordstrand loaded ones), while the laklands seem smoother and more versatile to my ears.

Preferred the lakland (55-02) in the end, but the main consideration which swung me that way was the string spacing and the feel of the neck. Was getting a 5-string and the 16.5mm spacing was too narrow for me on the Ibanez. But I know some people prefer the smaller neck Ibanez basses are known for.

 

[Humbled]

Maybe it's all about whether you'd rather be set-up optimally to slap or chord?

 

[GregC]

Here is my Korean Lakland - nice, though so glad to see it go - very beige.

It didn't growl and had a very unstable neck in humidity.

It played well with really light guage strings.

That's an -01 model, not an -02. Pretty different pre and pickups.

I've never had a problem with the necks on my Skyline fours moving. But the Skyline fives also have graphite rods.

 

[Daniel Piper]

So many great Ibanez options right now!

 

[Humbled]

Umm... Why don't I see any more pictures ?

 

[Humbled]

You all have a smart phone in joe pocket...