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Lakland Owners Group #56

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#381
Hey guys I'm the proud to say that I just picked up a Lakland 55-01 from a fellow TB'er. The MK1 pre has been replaced with a Bart NTMB pre. The original MK1 pickups are still in. Any suggestions for replacement pickups. I was thinking US Barts or Hanson Chi-Sonic's.
 
#382
woodsideh said:
Hey guys I'm the proud to say that I just picked up a Lakland 55-01 from a fellow TB'er. The MK1 pre has been replaced with a Bart NTMB pre. The original MK1 pickups are still in. Any suggestions for replacement pickups. I was thinking US Barts or Hanson Chi-Sonic's.
Click to expand...

Nordstrand Big Singles/Big Splits are pretty popular as an upgrade for these. I do have a Big Single equipped bass but it's not a Lakland. They should be a direct drop in.
 
#385
woodsideh said:
Hey guys I'm the proud to say that I just picked up a Lakland 55-01 from a fellow TB'er. The MK1 pre has been replaced with a Bart NTMB pre. The original MK1 pickups are still in. Any suggestions for replacement pickups. I was thinking US Barts or Hanson Chi-Sonic's.
Click to expand...

Per our PM discussion, I feel you should be quite happy with the Drop-In ChiSonics - now available from Hanson:
Link Removed <--Click here!

Reported pricing as follows for pickups only
Set of 2 - $250
Single pickup - $135

Gary (HoldsG) should be able to tell you how he likes the 4-String models in his recent upgrade.
 
#386
I sent my 2007 55-02D back to Lakland last week because the sound was not right. Leo called me a few minutes ago, they replaced the preamp and harness, FREE OF CHARGE!!! It's shipping out today! What a company! performing warranty work on a 5 year old bass that I bought second hand. How can you not like this brand?

BassPraiser, Thanks for you help. You played a major role in this!
 
#387
woodsideh said:
Hey guys I'm the proud to say that I just picked up a Lakland 55-01 from a fellow TB'er. The MK1 pre has been replaced with a Bart NTMB pre. The original MK1 pickups are still in. Any suggestions for replacement pickups. I was thinking US Barts or Hanson Chi-Sonic's.
Click to expand...
As already suggested, you've got a few different ways you can go with this, and all of them are good.:) It depends what you're after tonally. My guess is the Nordy pickups will be the most aggressive-sounding, the US Barts will probably be the smoothest, and the Chis will be in between but towards the growly side. Perhaps someone has experience with all three? I've only had the Chis.
 
#388
Texan said:
I sent my 2007 55-02D back to Lakland last week because the sound was not right. Leo called me a few minutes ago, they replaced the preamp and harness, FREE OF CHARGE!!! It's shipping out today! What a company! performing warranty work on a 5 year old bass that I bought second hand. How can you not like this brand?

BassPraiser, Thanks for you help. You played a major role in this!
Click to expand...
Excellent! That's the Lakland customer service I know and love. Glad Doug could help, he's the man--just don't tell him I said that.;)
 
#389
The drop-in chis are a great replacement for the MK-1s. demonstrably better pickups. Check out the "stable" section LOG site if you're interested in sound clips (of the 4-string version) with the LH-3 preamp.
 
#390
I'm going to be the 'oddball' and suggest playing with the MK1 pickups for a while before modding right off the bat. You may find that you really like them after you play them for a while. I've never found a reason to change the pickups or the pre in my -01 series basses (and I have 4 of them). The NTMB will be a bit smoother and have a different 'voice', but the MK1 pickups are not bad at all.

woodsideh said:
Hey guys I'm the proud to say that I just picked up a Lakland 55-01 from a fellow TB'er. The MK1 pre has been replaced with a Bart NTMB pre. The original MK1 pickups are still in. Any suggestions for replacement pickups. I was thinking US Barts or Hanson Chi-Sonic's.
Click to expand...
 
#391
JazznFunk said:
I'm going to be the 'oddball' and suggest playing with the MK1 pickups for a while before modding right off the bat. You may find that you really like them after you play them for a while. I've never found a reason to change the pickups or the pre in my -01 series basses (and I have 4 of them). The NTMB will be a bit smoother and have a different 'voice', but the MK1 pickups are not bad at all.
Click to expand...

I like having differing opinions expressed, thats OK with me.
The part of the 44-01 I liked least was the pre-amp, that's the achilles heel.
So yes, I agree that the NTMB would be an upgrade from that for any PU chosen.
I also agree that the MK-1s are pretty good pickups, but I think there are much better jazz-style pickups out there.
I feel the same way about the Hanson Vintage PUs in a DJ I once owned. Too tame for my taste.
If you want more of a vintage sound, I have found that, for my ears, its a toss-up between the Fralins and Nordies. I have also liked the Lollars in Nash basses I have tried at stores, but never owned one.
If you like a more modern sound, I think the chi-sonics stack up well versus EMGs or other hi-fi PUs. And when paired with the LH-3, that combination just works for me.
I'm looking forward to hearing what single-coil chis sound like fully passive. They're going to be installed as an upgrade in my on-order Skyline DJ4. I bet they won't be quite the same as the active-bypass on my 44-01, at least that's what I'm hoping for.
Lots of excellent choices out there, find what you like, and play the XXXX out of it!
 
#392
JazznFunk said:
I'm going to be the 'oddball' and suggest playing with the MK1 pickups for a while before modding right off the bat. You may find that you really like them after you play them for a while. I've never found a reason to change the pickups or the pre in my -01 series basses (and I have 4 of them). The NTMB will be a bit smoother and have a different 'voice', but the MK1 pickups are not bad at all.
Click to expand...

+1

I kinda like the mk1's for a lot of the music we play. And as long as you don't over-scoop the preamp, it does a great job as well. For me, I run it almost flat with just a slight (1/8) bump in the lows.

Try it, you just might like it too...
 
#393
JazznFunk said:
I'm going to be the 'oddball' and suggest playing with the MK1 pickups for a while before modding right off the bat. You may find that you really like them after you play them for a while. I've never found a reason to change the pickups or the pre in my -01 series basses (and I have 4 of them). The NTMB will be a bit smoother and have a different 'voice', but the MK1 pickups are not bad at all.
Click to expand...
sj_bass said:
+1

I kinda like the mk1's for a lot of the music we play. And as long as you don't over-scoop the preamp, it does a great job as well. For me, I run it almost flat with just a slight (1/8) bump in the lows.

Try it, you just might like it too...
Click to expand...
You guys raise good points. For all the folks who mod their -01s, there are plenty of others who seem to dig them stock.
 
#394
That's usually what I do as well... I never tweak the preamp itself too much... I rely on pickup panning for big tonal changes. At extreme settings the MK1 can definitely be harsh. I'd like to hear the MK1s with an LH-3... has anyone done that yet?

sj_bass said:
+1

I kinda like the mk1's for a lot of the music we play. And as long as you don't over-scoop the preamp, it does a great job as well. For me, I run it almost flat with just a slight (1/8) bump in the lows.

Try it, you just might like it too...
Click to expand...
 
#396
So I slapped a set of EB Cobalt Slinkies (50-105) on my 4-94 over the weekend and tried them out in a full band context last night at a rehearsal with a cover band I'm subbing for.

The sound is pretty darn good - I was copping some great roundwound tones. For example, we did "Walk this Way" by Aerosmith and I was able to replicate that growl almost perfectly that you hear on the recording by favoring the front pickup. Sound-wise, they're in between nickel and steel strings IMO. Good brightness, but not overly zingy. I imagine they'll sound even better to my ear once they die a bit.

My only complaint is the tension. The strings are way tighter than I like. My truss rod is maxed out to get the relief in the neck where I like it and they feel stupid taut.

Anyone who used or uses Cobalts - do they slacken up a little bit in time or do they stay tight like this for the life of the string? It might be a deal breaker for me, which is sad to say because I like the sound.
 
#398
I've had a set on for a little over a month, and they do seem to have slackened up a bit since then. Still bright, but not as taught. About on par with the GHS Boomers, Rotosound Nexus and DR Dragonskin strings I have on my other basses - gauges 45-105.
 
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