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Lakland Owners Group #60
- Thread starter smperry
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Maybe it's more akin to pushing rope, or nailing jello to a tree....
hahahaha +1
( would love to see a youtube video of someone trying to nail jello to a tree )
Can see why you are still loving it..
Truly stunning bass!
Truly stunning bass!
Still loving my Lakland. It's been about 1 year and 7-8 months since it was made.
Roger at jeannies pick guards makes some and i think they also do some in house....why?
I believe this is true. I asked Brian about getting a guard for my 55-60 Custom and he said they can do it, but I would have to send my current guard in to get the fit right.
very nice! waiting for pics
Posted one here a while back http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/lakland-owners-group-60-a-936443/index33.html#post13665163
Hmmm...
EDIT: Just did a search, there's plenty of examples and it's not as fun as you would think.
Yep, just ordered two this morning.
Can someone describe the differences between the US-made and Skylines?
I'm about to be a Lakland noob (expecting delivery of a 2011/12 44-02). I'm asking because I've never played a US bass but when I have played the (2) Skylines, I would not have known they were not Made in the USA, based on the excellent quality, fit and finish. (I guess the quarter sawn neck should be more stable over time.)
What I'm getting at is, how much better can the US basses be, especially for the money?
I'm about to be a Lakland noob (expecting delivery of a 2011/12 44-02). I'm asking because I've never played a US bass but when I have played the (2) Skylines, I would not have known they were not Made in the USA, based on the excellent quality, fit and finish. (I guess the quarter sawn neck should be more stable over time.)
What I'm getting at is, how much better can the US basses be, especially for the money?
I got this from Dan Lakin himself when I asked him the same question a few years back: The Skylines are 80% the bass the US models are at 50% of the price.
IOW, if you're looking for "value" and a high quality bass then the Skylines are for you. If you want one of the best basses made and price is not an object then go US.
He also said the biggest diff was how the necks were constructed and finished. Though I can't remember what he meant by "constructed and finished".
I imagine it's the quarter sawn neck and perhaps the finish, both of the neck and body. If you are really jonesing for a particular color, you could get a refinish on a Skyline and you would probably be 85% there.
There are some other differences as well. Having owned both, the quarter sawn neck just "feels" different to me, both in fit and finish and (I don't want to open a huge debate here - Markus
) but I can feel a difference in how the neck resonates. They also use US tuners (not licensed) on the neck, bone nuts and the way the neck meets the body is definitely more refined. The necks are more "paired" with the body and not just attached as they are made en masse.
The Skylines are a great value, but for me the US models just feel more "finished" and solid. There is also the choice - to some degree - of body wood and weight, which for me is a big plus as I prefer Swamp Ash over Alder.
Don't expect an incredible noticeable difference and then I think you will appreciate the subtleties.
The US Laklands use premium woods, parts, and are made with extra care by hand, and also have custom options.
IME it just feels more like a premium bass whereas the Skyline feels like a damn well made bass for its price.
Having owned both, the quarter sawn neck just "feels" different to me, both in fit and finish and (I don't want to open a huge debate here - Markus
No...I agree for sure.
I've not owned a US model as I haven't personally felt the need for the extra expense since the right Skyline gets close enough at a fraction of the cost. IMHO, comparing US to Skyline is subjectively dependent mostly on the Skyline in question. Sometimes the routes and finishes might not be quite a clean as others, where every single US Lakland I've touched was always impeccable in all regards. So searching for the right Skyline is important.
That aside, I think comparing any two instruments tonally is a crapshoot honestly. I've had multiple Skyline 55-02's, DJ's (4 and 5 stringe) and few different 44-02's. In the same series, it's often amazing how tonally different any two instruments can be. I'm talking about comparing one 55-02 to another 55-02 for example. One can seem rather bright and growly, while another leans toward a rounder tone with a more relaxed top end, even though they are the same spec, same electronics, etc.
This isn't unique to Skylines at all. The same phenomenon holds true in other brands. As with anything, the accuracy for making comparisons really comes down to the sample size I think, and folks shouldn't draw any firm conclusions having only compared 1 or 2 instruments. There are a couple of 55-02's that I wish I had back, and a few others that, if they were the only 55-02's I had ever owned, I probably wouldn't ever be interested to try them again.
That aside, I think comparing any two instruments tonally is a crapshoot honestly. I've had multiple Skyline 55-02's, DJ's (4 and 5 stringe) and few different 44-02's. In the same series, it's often amazing how tonally different any two instruments can be. I'm talking about comparing one 55-02 to another 55-02 for example. One can seem rather bright and growly, while another leans toward a rounder tone with a more relaxed top end, even though they are the same spec, same electronics, etc.
This isn't unique to Skylines at all. The same phenomenon holds true in other brands. As with anything, the accuracy for making comparisons really comes down to the sample size I think, and folks shouldn't draw any firm conclusions having only compared 1 or 2 instruments. There are a couple of 55-02's that I wish I had back, and a few others that, if they were the only 55-02's I had ever owned, I probably wouldn't ever be interested to try them again.
USA: bone nut, incredible necks with Birdseye Maple or East Indian Rosewood with Birdseye Maple dots, back of neck is a hand rubbed oil finish with a thin wax coating, quarter-sawn maple necks, real hipshot hardware, and overall attention to detail. USA basses are almost always lighter than Skylines and if ordering one you can request lightweight and they'll hand-select it for you.
Skylines have a plastic nut, regular Rosewood or Maple fretboards, the back of the neck is a satin finish that doesn't feel nearly as nice as the oil/wax finish, flat sawn maple necks, hipshot licensed hardware, and are sometimes heavy (mostly the J & P styles).
I've had a Skyline Duck Dunn, 44-01 and a 44-02 and played many others. Got rid of them and now own a USA Joe Osborn and USA Bob Glaub (with the 1.5" neck). Both amazing and super-light. They are they ones I'm grabbing from the collection if the house is flooding.
Skylines are nice, but once you go USA, it's hard to go back. They feel luxurious.
Skylines have a plastic nut, regular Rosewood or Maple fretboards, the back of the neck is a satin finish that doesn't feel nearly as nice as the oil/wax finish, flat sawn maple necks, hipshot licensed hardware, and are sometimes heavy (mostly the J & P styles).
I've had a Skyline Duck Dunn, 44-01 and a 44-02 and played many others. Got rid of them and now own a USA Joe Osborn and USA Bob Glaub (with the 1.5" neck). Both amazing and super-light. They are they ones I'm grabbing from the collection if the house is flooding.
Skylines are nice, but once you go USA, it's hard to go back. They feel luxurious.
Anyone able to set up a test? For example, get someone who knows how to play but isn't a career bassist and may not be familiar with Lakland. Give them a US and Skyline version of the same bass (natural DJ4, for example) and see what they notice by inspection. Then ask them which is the US model. I would be curious to see the result
IME, the Skyline feels, plays and sounds better than an American Fender of any breed. So I'm sold on Skylines.
I've played US Lakies and could not tell a huge difference. Certainly not enough to make me want to spend the extra money, but that's just me. I drive a 12 year old car with 208K miles because it's paid-off and runs well and feels right to me, just like the Skylines feel right to me.
I've played US Lakies and could not tell a huge difference. Certainly not enough to make me want to spend the extra money, but that's just me. I drive a 12 year old car with 208K miles because it's paid-off and runs well and feels right to me, just like the Skylines feel right to me.
IME, the Skyline feels, plays and sounds better than an American Fender of any breed. So I'm sold on Skylines.
I've played US Lakies and could not tell a huge difference. Certainly not enough to make me want to spend the extra money, but that's just me. I drive a 12 year old car with 208K miles because it's paid-off and runs well and feels right to me, just like the Skylines feel right to me.
+1 on all your points!
But heck, if I had the money I'd own about 30 USA Lakies.
Well lets see...
I have owned 3 skylines...
And have owned 6 US Laklands.
I still own 4 US laklands.
IMO, the Skylines I owned were not 80% of the US laklands I have owned or still do.
But that is just my humble opinion
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