LAKLAND OWNERS GROUP #50!!!

[nick lorenz]

I'm a little late in posting this but I've been so busy lately. I kicked myself for not buying this from the original seller over a month ago and contacted the buyer asking him if he decided to part with it to let me know and that I would be interersted. Shortly thereafter, he contacted me and offered me the same deal that he received, so now she is mine. Now excuse me while I go stain the deck and plant some grass seed...

 

[ShowKing]

Any of you outside-US Lakland customers have experience with the Schenker shipping service that Lakland uses?
Anyone know how to track those shipments?
I got a customer reference # from them but can't track on the website

 

[GregC]

I'm a little late in posting this but I've been so busy lately. I kicked myself for not buying this from the original seller over a month ago and contacted the buyer asking him if he decided to part with it to let me know and that I would be interersted. Shortly thereafter, he contacted me and offered me the same deal that he received, so now she is mine. Now excuse me while I go stain the deck and plant some grass seed...

Excellent snag! I've been digging on that bass when it's appeared in the Classifieds here, it just oozes cool! If you ever get a chance to record clips, I'd love to hear how it sounds.

If you'd like a LOG number, send a PM to basspraiser. Also, check out Link Removed for more Lakland info and discussion.

 

[natw42]

Nick, that Hollowbody makes me have dirty dirty thoughts (mostly involving my checking account )

Nice grab man!

 

[Kwesi]

I gots me a a question and I figure that this is the best place to ask it short of creatign a new thread. So, I've been giving Lakland a good amount of consideration for my next bass and I was wondering how do the MIA Fender Jazz Vs compare to the Skyline JO or 55-60? Also, if anyone has gotten their hands on one, how do the 55-AJs compare to the American Deluxe Jazz Vs?

Thanks!

 

[JEDI BASS]

I gots me a a question and I figure that this is the best place to ask it short of creatign a new thread. So, I've been giving Lakland a good amount of consideration for my next bass and I was wondering how do the MIA Fender Jazz Vs compare to the Skyline JO or 55-60? Also, if anyone has gotten their hands on one, how do the 55-AJs compare to the American Deluxe Jazz Vs?

Thanks!

Do you have a preference: 34" scale or 35"? Med jumbo vs tiny frets? Poly necks vs satin finish?

 

[Kwesi]

Do you have a preference: 34" scale or 35"? Med jumbo vs tiny frets? Poly necks vs satin finish?

I like to say that I prefer 34" scale but I can't remember the las time 35" scale was actually uncomfortable to me. Fenders have med jumbo fret and I don't mind but I think I prefer smaller frets. I prefer satin, or oil finished necks but, again, I've played poly necks that I like just fine (like my Fender).

 

[Luke.Walton]

I think almost everyone in this thread will tell you to go for the Lakland, and I am as well . Seeing as you don't have a particular preference regarding scale, frets, finish etc, I think the main decision you need to make is if you want the "Fender sound" or something similar.
The 55-60s now have Hanson's single coil pickups, which apparently are more "modern" sounding (although I don't particularly like using that term in this context).

An advantage to Lakland is that the quality is generally higher, although there are exceptions to every rule, and the newer MIA Fenders are supposedly a much higher quality than what they used to be, although I havn't had any experience with them.

Also, I would be surprised if there were many TBers who had played one of the new AJs yet, and the Skyline AJs are yet to be released, so if you're sold on them there may be a bit of a wait.

Phew, long post!

Good luck

 

[JEDI BASS]

I like to say that I prefer 34" scale but I can't remember the las time 35" scale was actually uncomfortable to me. Fenders have med jumbo fret and I don't mind but I think I prefer smaller frets. I prefer satin, or oil finished necks but, again, I've played poly necks that I like just fine (like my Fender).

I prefer smaller frets and satin finishes, but I still love my Fender 4 strings. The BIG deciding factor for me is my preference for a 35" B. But, I still own a 34" BEAD tuned Decade. Not really loving the feel of the B anymore and thinking of re-nutting it for EADG.

Anyways, I'd closely inspect a Skyline as I'm not too impressed w/ their QC lately.... I'd do that w/ any other brand and non-US Lakland though.

 

[lowendblues]

I've been gassing for a new P or J. This may be a stupid question, but Do Laklands sound like a good Fender bass??? Or do they have their own tone???

I live in a very rural area and have never played a lakland, would like to have one though, but looking for the vintage Fender tone.

 

[jsbarber]

It might be helpful if you were more specific regarding your expectations wrt "a good fender sound". To me that would be a '59P w/ Alder/Rosewood or an early sixties Jazz also Alder/Rosewood. These are the "vintage" fender instruments, in my mind. But others may think of the 70s basses, and some younger folks may even think of current fenders as their reference.

You should also differentiate between the Lakland Skyline series and the Lakland US series, as there is a significant difference between the two lines.

As far as reproducing any reference sound, that comes in degrees so your definition of "sounds like" may differ from someone else's.

I think Lakland US JO (aka 44-60) does a reasonably good job of sounding like the vintage jazz.

FWIW,

Jim

 

[roadkill2309]

I'm on record around here as really *not* liking the GB, but I think that's pretty durned nice. Is it a fancy top of some sort, or is it a rough finish on the body? Also, It looks like the body shape's a little different... and much nicer. ON the whole, it looks pretty rough (probably due to that whole 'prototype' thing), but I think it works.

I gots me a a question and I figure that this is the best place to ask it short of creatign a new thread. So, I've been giving Lakland a good amount of consideration for my next bass and I was wondering how do the MIA Fender Jazz Vs compare to the Skyline JO or 55-60? Also, if anyone has gotten their hands on one, how do the 55-AJs compare to the American Deluxe Jazz Vs?

Thanks!

I have an American Standard P V and a Skyline 55-02. The Skyline's very nice for a far east-made bass, but it's not really better than the Fender, quality-wise. I'm having a little bit of trouble getting the PLEK-ed neck to stop buzzing, actually. The Fender's getting 90% of my stage time these days.

Quick comparison: The neck on the Lākland feels fabulous. It's fast, especially for someone with tiny freakin' hands like me. The 35" scale is no problem so long as I stay north of the 5th fret. String spacing seems the same, and the weight is usually pretty good on both the Am. Stds and the Skylines, so there's no winner there.

Okay, I'm short, so the slightly less... traditional tuner setup on the Lākland 5vers is pure magic. I'm not kidding: I have a Godin currently up for sale in the classifieds that is fabulous, but because of the bass's length, I can hardly reach the D-string tuner. The Fender's not that bad, but the Lākland's shorter headstock is pure joy.

Generally, my experience with Skylines hasn't impressed me as much as others around here. I've sat down with a few US-made Lakkies and found them bloody exquisite, though.

For me, it all comes down to not buying a Skyline without playing it first.

As for the AJs, there's a link to a completely inadequate review a few posts back. Still seems like a pretty nice bass, though if the reviewer's right about the bass sounding a little too polite, that's not a plus for me.

Of course, I have a suspicion regarding the competence of the reviewer, so it's possible that one of these basses will out-grind a Stingray and we just don't know it yet.

 

[drpepper]

I've been gassing for a new P or J. This may be a stupid question, but Do Laklands sound like a good Fender bass??? Or do they have their own tone???

I live in a very rural area and have never played a lakland, would like to have one though, but looking for the vintage Fender tone.

Listen to your heart's content [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Holdsg]

Although some may argue to the contrary, in my experience the Lakland P's, especially with the Lindy Fralin pickups, completely nail the vintage Fender P tone that has been heard on so many recordings over the years. The build quality/feel/balance is just better with the Laklands. Maybe I was lucky, but the MIK Bob Glaub I just sold on the LOG was in every way as good or better than any mass-produced MIA/MIM Fender P I have ever played.

 

[natw42]

I just got off the phone with American Airlines and they say you can carry it on "as long as there is room for such an oversized item,; otherwise it will have to be checked. An there is a $25 charge for it."

If I show up with a hard case, does that mean I HAVE to check it? If I have it in a soft gig bag and then, if there is no room, have to check it, I would guess I'd be doomed.

Can't believe I'm unique on this, so what am I missing? Overly worried about checking? Will the hardshell case greatly improve my odds of surviving checked baggage? (he asked breathing into a paper bag!!) MY BABYYYYYY....

Can I order the Hardshell Lakland case online?

And what's it like getting thru Security with a bass?

Hey Lakland Lovers, one of my friends (he's a guitard, but he's getting better ) pointed me to this online petition to have the FAA regulate checking of musical instruments. Check it out!

Link Removed

 

[basspraiser]

He he he!!!

John: welcome to the nausea of this addiction we call Lakland!!!!

you only have 50 more pages to look through!

Oh jeez...I only have one! Just looking at all the great Laklands on this page is making me queasy.

Link Removed

 

[basspraiser]

wow!!!

that speaks VOLUMES of the case manufacturer (G&G)!!!

glad it still sounds good....I can see now why you want to keep her....kind of a pheonix rising....

It was worse - it was covered in black soot and the preamp had to be replaced. The hard case also was completely destroyed - it took the brunt of the force of the fire I think. The guys at Lakland were great (of course) and gave me the deluxe cream case for the price of the regular skb style one since they only had that in stock and I was severely poor when I got it fixed up.

And yes, still platys like a dream. The pickups are definitely microphonic now, but I like em that way - a bit more sensitive now if you ask me.

 

[basspraiser]

OMG!!!!! congrats!!!!!!!!!

Me want....

how does it sound?????

PS - stain and planta away! but I can tell you...NO ONe is looking at teh deck with that beauty hanging out on it!!!!

I'm a little late in posting this but I've been so busy lately. I kicked myself for not buying this from the original seller over a month ago and contacted the buyer asking him if he decided to part with it to let me know and that I would be interersted. Shortly thereafter, he contacted me and offered me the same deal that he received, so now she is mine. Now excuse me while I go stain the deck and plant some grass seed...

 

[basspraiser]

I have played both and like the Lakie better for feel and sound.....

no 55-AJs have made it to "public" hands yet so no one will be able to comment...short of this review:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

all in all...a win-win!

Also - you cannot beat Lakland for customer support and personal assistance.....

if you like smaller frets and teh satin finish....go for a US Lakie and you will LOVE it!

In a Skyline you will get the same frets, same elecronics, but a poly finish on the necks (which can be changed....several folks here can tell you how to change it!)

good luck!!!

I gots me a a question and I figure that this is the best place to ask it short of creatign a new thread. So, I've been giving Lakland a good amount of consideration for my next bass and I was wondering how do the MIA Fender Jazz Vs compare to the Skyline JO or 55-60? Also, if anyone has gotten their hands on one, how do the 55-AJs compare to the American Deluxe Jazz Vs?

Thanks!

 

[basspraiser]

as always ...SAGE advice young Luke!!

post not as long as some of mine!!!

I think almost everyone in this thread will tell you to go for the Lakland, and I am as well . Seeing as you don't have a particular preference regarding scale, frets, finish etc, I think the main decision you need to make is if you want the "Fender sound" or something similar.
The 55-60s now have Hanson's single coil pickups, which apparently are more "modern" sounding (although I don't particularly like using that term in this context).

An advantage to Lakland is that the quality is generally higher, although there are exceptions to every rule, and the newer MIA Fenders are supposedly a much higher quality than what they used to be, although I havn't had any experience with them.

Also, I would be surprised if there were many TBers who had played one of the new AJs yet, and the Skyline AJs are yet to be released, so if you're sold on them there may be a bit of a wait.

Phew, long post!

Good luck