Lakland Owners Group #55!

[Johnny Alien]

Jazz necks rule! All the Skylines I've had have been satin as well, wonder if the previous owner gave it a coat of somethin for that slick & shiny feel?

Easily fixable, just give it the US treatment, DONE!

It doesn't look sprayed over at all. And it's not super glossy but it's glossier than my 2004 Skyline. Maybe it's just from polishing and playing.

 

[Rumblefisher]

Sorry I couldn't pick up the 4-94 but it's for the best probably.

I bet they'd move the pickup... anytime you fret a note you are in essence shifting nodes, so don't fret over moving a pickup 1/4" or so.

No worries JEDI

I'll pretend I didn't read that pun

 

[JEDI BASS]

Love that BEM board!

Thanks. The neck is birdseye too. More pics later....darn work!!

 

[Tom P]

It doesn't look sprayed over at all. And it's not super glossy but it's glossier than my 2004 Skyline. Maybe it's just from polishing and playing.

I had a DPLE2/Skyline - I played the satin finish to a gloss over time. A great bass!

 

[JEDI BASS]

No worries JEDI

I'll pretend I didn't read that pun

Oh... lol, unintended too haha.

IIRC Markus' rootbeer Decade has the neck p'up shifted toward the bridge a smidge.

 

[Black Bart]

Not much to report as yet I as just got the strings and subsequently tore into the packaging as I was just too curious about this "buttery feel" that has been touted about them.

Mind you, I mostly play nickel coated steels, but have played straight steels in the past including Dean Markley Blue Steels.

The reason I mention the Blue Steels is because that is what they kind of feel like straight out of the package. Not as "drying" to the touch but have a kind of "tack" to them.

I'll report back more later once I've had a chance to string up the 44-02 and play them a while. Perhaps this initial feel will change once they are under tension.

One more thing: They do not have any blue hue to them as in the marketing material. Not that I thought they would, but thought I would mention it just in case anyone was curious about that.

Well after a few hours of playing - only quit as I injured my shoulder shoveling snow last week - I am really liking these strings.

That initial "tack" feel I mentioned is not present when under tension and yes these have quite a bit more tension than the EB 2833 Hybrid Slinky's - BTW the comparable product number for the Cobalt's is 2733 and cost ~ $13.00 more. I could feel the difference not only in tuning up, but responsiveness during playing as well.

After stringing up and stretching them a couple of times I tuned up to pitch and played for almost two hours straight. Trying different styles of playing; pick, fingerstyle, slap, even Indian slap. As I always do after playing, I went to tune back up and found that all the strings were still within 1 cent of being in tune. So the claims made that you can just string up and go and not really have to break them in may hold water, we'll see how they are in the morning.

Tonally, and mind you I realize these still have the new string zing, remind me of when I first got the 44-02 with the factory Lakland stainless strings which I loved the sound of, but generally don't care for the tactile feel of steels so I removed them. I would say that so far these are a good blend of the sound of steel with a feel closer to nickel.

One more thing: As I mentioned earlier, they don't have an overt blue hue to them, but are bluer than nickel - which when held next to the Cobalt's appear to have a yellow tinge to them. I would say they have more of a chrome appearance color-wise.

 

[roadkill2309]

After stringing up and stretching them a couple of times I tuned up to pitch and played for almost two hours straight. Trying different styles of playing; pick, fingerstyle, slap, even Indian slap. As I always do after playing, I went to tune back up and found that all the strings were still within 1 cent of being in tune. So the claims made that you can just string up and go and not really have to break them in may hold water, we'll see how they are in the morning.

When you say 'indian slap,' do you mean like Jayen Varma, or is there another 'Indian slap' technique?

 

[Rumblefisher]

Well after a few hours of playing - only quit as I injured my shoulder shoveling snow last week - I am really liking these strings.

That initial "tack" feel I mentioned is not present when under tension and yes these have quite a bit more tension than the EB 2833 Hybrid Slinky's - BTW the comparable product number for the Cobalt's is 2733 and cost ~ $13.00 more. I could feel the difference not only in tuning up, but responsiveness during playing as well.

After stringing up and stretching them a couple of times I tuned up to pitch and played for almost two hours straight. Trying different styles of playing; pick, fingerstyle, slap, even Indian slap. As I always do after playing, I went to tune back up and found that all the strings were still within 1 cent of being in tune. So the claims made that you can just string up and go and not really have to break them in may hold water, we'll see how they are in the morning.

Tonally, and mind you I realize these still have the new string zing, remind me of when I first got the 44-02 with the factory Lakland stainless strings which I loved the sound of, but generally don't care for the tactile feel of steels so I removed them. I would say that so far these are a good blend of the sound of steel with a feel closer to nickel.

One more thing: As I mentioned earlier, they don't have an overt blue hue to them, but are bluer than nickel - which when held next to the Cobalt's appear to have a yellow tinge to them. I would say they have more of a chrome appearance color-wise.

Thanks for the review. Very thoughtful and useful descriptions.

 

[Black Bart]

When you say 'indian slap,' do you mean like Jayen Varma, or is there another 'Indian slap' technique?

Yep, ala Jayen. I think I mentioned this to you a few hundred posts back, no? Maybe another logger?

EDIT: It was during the whole taping drumsticks to your fingers discussion that I mentioned Jayen.

 

[Black Bart]

Thanks for the review. Very thoughtful and useful descriptions.

No worries, figured if I was curious about these, there may be others as well and given the slipping G string scenario I was having, the 44-02 was the easy choice to try them out on.

Sidenote: G string is still staying in place and is doing well with the higher tension of these strings.

 

[roadkill2309]

Yep, ala Jayen. I think I mentioned this to you a few hundred posts back, no? Maybe another logger?

EDIT: It was during the whole taping drumsticks to your fingers discussion that I mentioned Jayen.

I had totally forgotten about that. Heh... whups.

 

[Mrfstop]

Not real sure on the level of difficulty on a job like like this, but I'm with ya on the toppin the top to switch the switch.

I'll be installing a, wait for it... Audere classic 4 band in the 44-07 in my family portrait above to avoid this procedure & put all low/hi mid adjustments at my fingertips.

hahaha " wait for it"....LOL

 

[Mrfstop]

Congrats on the Decade.
Looking forward to seeing the Refin version.

And here is the new one! Not a Glaub this time. Tomorrow or Sat. I am going to ship the neck off to Pat to spray the headstock natural. All those that know me know that I am not a painted headstock fan. I got a good enough deal (really good) that I can get the refinish done and still be under typical used value.

Sorry for the sub-par iphone photo.

 

[Mrfstop]

Ok need the wisdom of you old school Lakland experts.

I am considering picking up a Lakland skyline Dudepit LE II bass with the factory loaded single Dark Star.

It is supposed to have a "matching Headstock".

BUT, I found out from someone that theirs has a Plastic on the headstock matching the bodies paint color.
And that theirs is not a painted headstock at all????????
They said the plastic on theirs has thin fine cracks in the plastic????
Not clear if it is a thin sheet of plastic cut to fit the headstock?
Or if it is a plastic thin laminate?
or just what it really is.

Have asked around a wee bit, But wanted to try to get the actual factual 411 from you guys who most likely know all about this limited edition bass.

Please let me know ...having bass held...thanks

 

[saltymonkey]

The only one of my former Lakies I regret selling is my DPLEII. Don't know about the headstock. Looked like paint to me. Could be that the poly finish on the headstock is just cracking. But I would buy that bass. Now.

 

[mfromwhere]

I've posted my bass here before, but yesterday I defiled it with some neon yellow DR's.

Already plays and sounds better than with the d'd's that were in it when I bought it.

Was a little nervous when I opened up the strings and saw how bright they were, but I dont think the look is too too outrageous.

 

[RumbleBeeAL]

Ok need the wisdom of you old school Lakland experts.

I am considering picking up a Lakland skyline Dudepit LE II bass with the factory loaded single Dark Star.

It is supposed to have a "matching Headstock".

BUT, I found out from someone that theirs has a Plastic on the headstock matching the bodies paint color.
And that theirs is not a painted headstock at all????????
They said the plastic on theirs has thin fine cracks in the plastic????
Not clear if it is a thin sheet of plastic cut to fit the headstock?
Or if it is a plastic thin laminate?
or just what it really is.

Have asked around a wee bit, But wanted to try to get the actual factual 411 from you guys who most likely know all about this limited edition bass.

Please let me know ...having bass held...thanks

Do it! The DPLEII is a keeper!

I'd bet the owner is mistaken and you will likely find the "Clearcoat" is what is showing age. Simple fix.

 

[Johnny Alien]

Ok need the wisdom of you old school Lakland experts.

I am considering picking up a Lakland skyline Dudepit LE II bass with the factory loaded single Dark Star.

It is supposed to have a "matching Headstock".

BUT, I found out from someone that theirs has a Plastic on the headstock matching the bodies paint color.
And that theirs is not a painted headstock at all????????
They said the plastic on theirs has thin fine cracks in the plastic????
Not clear if it is a thin sheet of plastic cut to fit the headstock?
Or if it is a plastic thin laminate?
or just what it really is.

Have asked around a wee bit, But wanted to try to get the actual factual 411 from you guys who most likely know all about this limited edition bass.

Please let me know ...having bass held...thanks

I am not sure I understand what they are implying. It should have a standard painted headstock.

How many of these were actually made? I know that there was a high percentage of factory issues with these and I am not sure that 30 basses actually made it out into the wild.

 

[Mrfstop]

The only one of my former Lakies I regret selling is my DPLEII. Don't know about the headstock. Looked like paint to me. Could be that the poly finish on the headstock is just cracking. But I would buy that bass. Now.

I like the idea of having another Darkstar bass.
That is why I want it.
But I was taken back when I found out the headstock was not painted. According to this store who has one for sale..
The store owner told me they just had the laminate or whatever re glued back on the bass. And it has slight cracks in the plastic, to quote the guy.

 

[Mrfstop]

This is quoting what was in the stores email reply to me when I wrote asking about that bass.
---------------------------------------------------------
" The "matching head stock" is not paint, its an
overlay. We just had ours glued back on.there is a teeny split
in the plastic. Not bad at all but I have to point it out. It seems to be happening on a lot of Skylines. "
-----------------------------------------------------------
what the heck does he mean " a lot of skylines"???
this is weird man...hahaha!!

I am not sure I understand what they are implying. It should have a standard painted headstock.

How many of these were actually made? I know that there was a high percentage of factory issues with these and I am not sure that 30 basses actually made it out into the wild.