Lakland or Warwick

[coughingskunk]

I own a 55-02 and a german made bubinga vette 5 as my two main basses. I practice at home with the vette and at band with the lakland. I used to play shows with both but have since retired the vette to proactice duty only.

I prefer the neck spacing and ergonomics on the lakland. The long neck on the vette makes for some difficult positioning below the 5th fret even though it is only 34" scale. Also, somehow I get lost on the dark fretboard of the vette above the 15th fret or so. Don't have that issue with the lakland.

Tone wise, they're completely different with the vette being very very dark and the lakland not so much. Both are recording monsters. The lakland has so much versatility with its pickup and preamp config but the vette sounds arguably better recorded.

+1 for the Lakland vote

 

[paradog]

Lakland stands behind their products! This I know. Warwick? Look at the experience after sale!

 

[radioface]

Try the Warwick 6 on a strap and see if it is a neck diver. I tried a Warwick 5 once and almost made the purchase but luckily tried it on a strap and, put it back on the rack.

 

[coughingskunk]

Try the Warwick 6 on a strap and see if it is a neck diver. I tried a Warwick 5 once and almost made the purchase but luckily tried it on a strap and, put it back on the rack.

Odd, I've never had an issue with neck dive on my vette. IMO its very well balanced.

 

[flipper_gv]

2 totally different animals. For > 4 strings and low B.....35" Lakland for me every time.

Every Warwick I played had better B strings than the US Joe Osborn I tried or the Skylines.

But, in this case, go with Lakland, much more versatile.

 

[HesslerGerard]

I have both. I say get both if you can!

 

[GBassNorth]

I've played a lot of Laklands as well as Warwicks. I have yet to find a Lakland that has the sound I want (deep dark lows, some mid presence and smooth not harsh highs) and for some reason I just can't get past the oval bridge plate and body shape. They are built fantastic and play very nice but just don't have the sound or look I'm after.

Warwick on the other hand has exactly the sound I'm after and some very diverse looks for their basses. I have a Thumb BO5 and a Vampyre 5 LTD NT. Both play and sound better than just about any bass I own. No serious neck dive and utterly breathtaking B strings. Build quality is top notch and I've not had any problems with customer support or replacement parts. My next Warwick purchase will be a Corvette $$ 5 string.

I kinda view the Laklands as an improved Fender, but I'd put Warwick in a whole different category well above that, nearly a boutique look and feel. At the end of the day both are great basses, you really cant make a wrong choice, so follow your ears and buy the one that makes you feel more passionate and confident!

 

[f'nar f'nar]

Thanks everyone for the awesome responses! I went in to the store this morning and had a bit of a play around with both basses plus some others and here's what I decided.

The Warwick was gorgeous, they also had a 5er 'vette in as well so I played that too. I was really surprised by the difference in tone between the 5 and the 6 string 'vettes. The 6 string had a lot of rumble and the 5er had more of a midrange punch! Both sounded great! My issue with Warwicks however has always been the tight string spacing, I love it for fingers rule but I play a lot of varying styles and I just can't slap properly on the Warwicks, which is probably more about my playing ability than the bass itself, but still.

I played the Lakland 55-01 as well and I loved the playability of the neck and the ample string spacing made this one of the best 5ers for slap I have ever played. I had a good listen to the electronics and the 01 seemed very modern sounding. Very, very clear treble response that I would describle as 'crystalline', but I found the preamp to be a little to black or white. Boosting the treble made it sound a bit to crazy for me and rolling it off below the 12 o'clock mark left the bass a bit muddy.

But then I had a play of a used 55-02 and, boy, was I ever blown away. The sound was instantly familiar to me because I come from a fender/jazz bass background and I love the sound of the older fenders from the 70s and 80s. The 02 seemed to capture this vibe a lot more than the 01. The pre-amp was lovely, exactly what I wanted and the humbucker in the bridge position allowed me to dial in a pretty damn good facsimile of a stingray tone (especially playing with the series/parallel toggle switch). Couple that with the excellent playability, similar to the 01 and I was in love.

So in the end I went with the 55-02. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the sound of a Warwick but when it comes to how the 2 basses fit with my style and technique, nothing in that price range even compared to the 55-02.

Sorry to disappoint all you warwick fans who have posted on here but I won't be posting in the 'wick owners club any time soon. Come Christmas though, when I give the bass to myself, I'm going to be making an appearance in the Lakland owners thread I see why you guys love Warwicks, but they just aren't for me.

One last thing, I have been coming to this forum
For over 10 years now and you guys are always helpful, polite and just plain awesome! So thanks for posting on here and being super helpful! Lots of love to you all!

 

[lomo]

The 5502 is a superb instrument with a very high quality/price ratio IMHO. It's no Fender clone, by any means. The electronics are astoundingly versatile, with J and MM tones galore. The neck and short reach for the fretting hand (esp considering the 35" scale) are a joy, and the B kills. I know many love their 34" Bs, but for me the extra inch matters. Just play a double stop on the B and E strings and the difference becomes easily audible IMHE.

Enjoy!!!

 

[anavar]

you didnt buy it from bass centre in melbourne did you?

man...i dream about going there. Perth has nothing...

 

[f'nar f'nar]

you didnt buy it from bass centre in melbourne did you?

man...i dream about going there. Perth has nothing...

I sure did! That place is a dream come true for any bassist! Awesome guys and an awesome range with pretty darn good prices. It's worth the drive from Perth IMO

 

[anavar]

il come over for the Krispy kremes and to try my hand on the dolphin bass they have haha. might get some lord of the fries too.

ahh......one day

 

[cronker]

I might just come over there if they had anything nice lefty??

 

[f'nar f'nar]

I might just come over there if they had anything nice lefty??

Send them an email! I'm sure they can help you out! Best bass retailer in Australia, I'd be very surprised if they couldn't help you out!

 

[dkelley]

I got a 55-01 that had upgraded Bart Mk5 pups and a LH3 pre in it.. I changed out the pre to an Audere MZ4 band and the difference is fantastic. The few Warwicks I did play were heavier than I would have liked.. For me the Laklands are hard to beat.

my Warwick is the lightest bass I own.

depends on model, year and wood choices and number of strings

 

[dkelley]

Try the Warwick 6 on a strap and see if it is a neck diver. I tried a Warwick 5 once and almost made the purchase but luckily tried it on a strap and, put it back on the rack.

definitely try it because again they're all different. my ww 5 balances fine with skinny strap

 

[dkelley]

Ah sorry missed the decision LoL. Op u seem like one if the fairest and most genuinely good people I've met on here.... Good decision based on your findings.

I always thought the 02 with mm bridge pup might have been what Leo himself would have designed had he lived longer. Very cool.

 

[mark beem]

Having owned three Warwicks [two Thumbs BOs (4 & 6 strings respectively) and a Fortress Masterman], and currently owning 3 Lakland Skylines (55-60, 55-64 & 55-01), my personal choice would be Laklands. They (Laklands) just fit what I'm doing musically at this point.

Addendum to my previous post, though my choice would be Lakland, I'm am having a serious GAS attack (for a while now) for one of the Warwick Rock Bass Star Basses..

 

[basspraiser]

Addendum to my previous post, though my choice would be Lakland, I'm am having a serious GAS attack (for a while now) for one of the Warwick Rock Bass Star Basses.. View attachment 568029

oooooo.....a fiver HoBo!

I have asked Lakland for this several times and they keep saying no....something to do with the added string tension and the bridge on a piece of "thinner" wood....Maybe I can use this as "leverage" that it can be done!

That is a great looking bass and I am NOT a Warwick fan.