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Lakland Owners Group #52

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#102
I try not to get geeked out about knobage. Probably blasphemy to think what it would look like with Sad-----y style knobs. But then again, the vintage jazz knobs are a classic look, what's not to love?
 
#104
roadkill2309 said:
I remain unconvinced about the AJs' sound, but I'll readily admit that it's purely due to the garbage Guitar Player mag video review from some time ago. I seem to remember someone pointing me to a better, more representative video at some point, but I don't remember who it was or the vid in question. Maybe he can chime in here...
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I just got back from Chicago (it's my kind of town) and a visit to Bass Club Chicago's new location.

The bad: there's some sort of electrical (or something) issue in the store as every bass with one exception buzzed like mad when you solo'd a pickup. Hopefully they can work that out and even more hopefully set up a demo room. It gets pretty noisy with even two people trying stuff out.

As for the AJ's, I tried a Skyline 5 and a US 4.

The Skyline 5 has no active/passive switch. I thought the B had pretty decent tension, better than a US JO5 I also tried. The EQ was far broader than the video posted a few pages back might indicate. The buzzing made it impossible to get a good idea of each pickup though. The neck, like any other Lakland 5, was very comfy.

Does the Skyline have a fotoflame finish? It looks "okay" but not quite convincing, especially next to the US.

The US was another animal. First, no buzzing! I assume each pickup is hum-canceling on its own? There is an active/passive switch. There's plenty of low end. I liked this bass a lot.

Truth be told though, the one I wanted to walk out with was a US passive JO4. It felt great, sounded awesome.

Not exactly an in-depth review but I was doing my best to work quickly and try as much as I could. I don't think you'll go wrong with a Skyline but the US still has the edge in my opinion. They are big-sounding, no doubt about that.
 
#105
I know that for the skylines, they use more of a veneer than an actual fancy top. Maybe it just doesn't work as well with flamed maple as with quilted?

Interesting that the Skyline doesn't have an active/passive switch. I wonder why?

I'm not really in the market for one of these, as the Standard that Roger Sadowsky's making for me right now is an active Jazz, but I'm still glad to see Lakland start to offer a fancy-topped Jazz. If these had appeared before I entered my discussions with Sadowsky, I'd have priced out a spalted-topped one.

ModuMan said:
I just got back from Chicago (it's my kind of town) and a visit to Bass Club Chicago's new location.

The bad: there's some sort of electrical (or something) issue in the store as every bass with one exception buzzed like mad when you solo'd a pickup. Hopefully they can work that out and even more hopefully set up a demo room. It gets pretty noisy with even two people trying stuff out.

As for the AJ's, I tried a Skyline 5 and a US 4.

The Skyline 5 has no active/passive switch. I thought the B had pretty decent tension, better than a US JO5 I also tried. The EQ was far broader than the video posted a few pages back might indicate. The buzzing made it impossible to get a good idea of each pickup though. The neck, like any other Lakland 5, was very comfy.

Does the Skyline have a fotoflame finish? It looks "okay" but not quite convincing, especially next to the US.

The US was another animal. First, no buzzing! I assume each pickup is hum-canceling on its own? There is an active/passive switch. There's plenty of low end. I liked this bass a lot.

Truth be told though, the one I wanted to walk out with was a US passive JO4. It felt great, sounded awesome.

Not exactly an in-depth review but I was doing my best to work quickly and try as much as I could. I don't think you'll go wrong with a Skyline but the US still has the edge in my opinion. They are big-sounding, no doubt about that.
Click to expand...
 
#110
drpepper said:
No hate. I love the color of that body. I don't dig the knobs. But I don't really dig those knobs on anything.

I'd like to see plain wood knobs that match the fingerboard.
Click to expand...

I like a touch of retro to all my basses. For me wood knobs would be too coffee table-ish. This bass has vintage style long post tuners too because I like the look.
 
#114
76Dub said:
It looks awesome bro!! Well done..AGAIN!!!
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sneha1965 said:
Looks shweet!
Click to expand...

Thanks dudes!

roadkill2309 said:
I love long post tuners. If I didn't think they'd look kinda dumb on a 5ver, I'd do the same.

EDIT: I also agree about the wooden knobs.
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Yeah...love how they stick out farther. Plus...they turn in the same direction as all my other basses. On the wood knobs..I wanted the body wood to be the hero, but different strokes!
 
#117
MarkusBass said:
Thanks dudes!

Yeah...love how they stick out farther. Plus...they turn in the same direction as all my other basses. On the wood knobs..I wanted the body wood to be the hero, but different strokes!
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No, I mean I agree with *you* about the knobs.

Did you have any issues putting in the tuners? I know there's apparently some issue with changing the tuners in Skylines, but I'm guessing that US Lakkies are a different story...
 
#119
ModuMan said:
I just got back from Chicago (it's my kind of town) and a visit to Bass Club Chicago's new location.

The bad: there's some sort of electrical (or something) issue in the store as every bass with one exception buzzed like mad when you solo'd a pickup. Hopefully they can work that out and even more hopefully set up a demo room. It gets pretty noisy with even two people trying stuff out.

As for the AJ's, I tried a Skyline 5 and a US 4.

The Skyline 5 has no active/passive switch. I thought the B had pretty decent tension, better than a US JO5 I also tried. The EQ was far broader than the video posted a few pages back might indicate. The buzzing made it impossible to get a good idea of each pickup though. The neck, like any other Lakland 5, was very comfy.

Does the Skyline have a fotoflame finish? It looks "okay" but not quite convincing, especially next to the US.

The US was another animal. First, no buzzing! I assume each pickup is hum-canceling on its own? There is an active/passive switch. There's plenty of low end. I liked this bass a lot.

Truth be told though, the one I wanted to walk out with was a US passive JO4. It felt great, sounded awesome.

Not exactly an in-depth review but I was doing my best to work quickly and try as much as I could. I don't think you'll go wrong with a Skyline but the US still has the edge in my opinion. They are big-sounding, no doubt about that.
Click to expand...


We must have been in the shop roughly the same day, I just got back as well. I didn't notice the hum issue, were you playing thru the Aggie? I played at least 3 of the same basses you did, the AJ4, the AJ5 and the JO4CS. I agree with your reviews. My favorite, as yours, was that JO4 with the chi-sonics and stacked pots. What a light, comfy, perfect bass. Some one please buy that before I do something I'll regret.
 
#120
roadkill2309 said:
No, I mean I agree with *you* about the knobs.
Click to expand...

Hmm, Markus, he sent me a PM say he agrees with me about the wood knobs...see

PM by roadkill2309 said:
Hey, Thanks for backing me up on the crowded look. I actually agree with *you* about the knobs.

Best,
Jes
Click to expand...

:p

Eh, it's totally a personal preference thing. I actually have a set of maple knobs, but I personally think the 55-94/02 knobs just set things off right.
 
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