Lakland Owners Group #60

[Texan]

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

But you're a New Yorker...yous guys are just wierd!



What matters is that they are all Laklands, and we love them. To people like us there are two "F" words...

 

[Mrfstop]

+1 I agree totally

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. 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.

 

[Mrfstop]

ahhhh you are too kind.... just weird? not something worse? lol

Well as I said...from my personal exp with the various Skylines and USA basses Lakland makes...I did not see 80%....I would say 50% is more accurate and closer to the price difference.

So weird or not...dat be dat.

But you're a New Yorker...yous guys are just wierd!



What matters is that they are all Laklands, and we love them. To people like us there are two "F" words...

 

[Mrfstop]

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.

I gotta tell ya, I owned a beautiful shoreline gold Scheff Skyline...
I loved the bass...it was my first Skyline owned.

I loved the Scheff enough to then list it quickly sell it and use that money as partial payment for Doudes "Hands of God" USA Scheff.

I could right away tell " an incredible noticeable difference ".........it was night and day different.
One was a nice bass.
The other was an amazing bass that is truly hand crafted as a work of art.

 

[Mrfstop]

Accurate and well said across the board...
Could not agree more.
+100

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.

 

[MarkusBass]

Lakland exclusive posted on the LOG site

You guys forgot about this?

 

[Black Bart]

You guys forgot about this?

And they're Skylines

 

[Texan]

Well as I said...from my personal exp with the various Skylines and USA basses Lakland makes...I did not see 80%....I would say 50% is more accurate and closer to the price difference.

I don't disagree with that at all. I have had thousands of guitars go through my hands when worked for GC. The differences in the wood was something that I ALWAYS explained to customers (as I would pull at least 3 of the same model for them to try). With Fenders, you could ALWAYS hear a huge difference in tonal quality in the US versions of every model as well as the imported versions. The only guitars that do not exhibit this, IME, are high end hand made guitars and basses. Alembics, Pedullas, Handmade Warwicks, Elricks and US Laklands are consistently consistent in tone. The Skylines do have a slight variation between basses of the same model, but the difference is not as huge as it is in the US Fenders.

I got rid of a Skyline 55-02D because it was just TOO dark...I played one over the weekend, same electronics, still made in Indonesia, same maple fretboard...and it was even, bright, balanced and sounded great. Now I want a 55-02D again .

There has to be something with the aging/drying process of the wood, density of the wood or thickness of the top between Skylines and the US models that give for better consistency in the US versions.

 

[saltymonkey]

You guys forgot about this?

I'm personally not moved by any of those offerings. If they would have put a shorty neck on the traditional HB body I might be in trouble but i'm not loving that compact body shape. It's cool that they are coming out with new models though.

 

[MarkusBass]

Hmmm...I love it...It's like a Hofner Club bass.

 

[Mrfstop]

I hearz ya.
I personally have never been a fan of the F werd basses.
And the few skylines I have owned were very cool basses.
The Skyline Scheff was a killer bass for the $800 price paid in clean used shape.
Had I not been in position at that time to grab the rare US Scheff from Doude, I would guess I would still own that Awesome Skyline Scheff.
But I totally agree with ya about how it is a crap shoot when buying most basses out there as far as build and tone consistency. You could take 5 basses and they could all very well be much different.
Kind of like trying on 5 pair of jeans in the same size...hahahah!!

I don't disagree with that at all. I have had thousands of guitars go through my hands when worked for GC. The differences in the wood was something that I ALWAYS explained to customers (as I would pull at least 3 of the same model for them to try). With Fenders, you could ALWAYS hear a huge difference in tonal quality in the US versions of every model as well as the imported versions. The only guitars that do not exhibit this, IME, are high end hand made guitars and basses. Alembics, Pedullas, Handmade Warwicks, Elricks and US Laklands are consistently consistent in tone. The Skylines do have a slight variation between basses of the same model, but the difference is not as huge as it is in the US Fenders.

I got rid of a Skyline 55-02D because it was just TOO dark...I played one over the weekend, same electronics, still made in Indonesia, same maple fretboard...and it was even, bright, balanced and sounded great. Now I want a 55-02D again .

There has to be something with the aging/drying process of the wood, density of the wood or thickness of the top between Skylines and the US models that give for better consistency in the US versions.

 

[saltymonkey]

Hmmm...I love it...It's like a Hofner Club bass.

I can see that comparison. If it was fuller and boxier like a club bass I'd be in. I think the contouring on the small body is what turns me off. I'd like to see more pics of it. Do you know if it'll be offered in any other colors than sunburst? I know this will sound funny coming from me but it's too much like a hollow contoured Decade.

 

[MarkusBass]

Ha! That is funny! I'm sure there will be more photos. Sunburst is first...not sure about other colors.

 

[basspraiser]

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.

So "damn well made" that i like most Skylines better than most MIA Fenders or MIA MMs....i played a few fender P5s and my LOG bass blows them away in fit finish and sound

Although US Lakie necks do feel awesome

 

[basspraiser]

But you're a New Yorker...yous guys are just wierd!



What matters is that they are all Laklands, and we love them. To people like us there are two "F" words...

He is wierd...Viking fan and all....but ee love him gor it.

We are all wierd.....in one way or another....just ask anyone who met me....

 

[basspraiser]

I loved the Scheff enough to then list it quickly sell it and use that money as partial payment for Doudes "Hands of God" USA

The other was an amazing bass that is truly hand crafted as a work of art.

1 I REALLY wish that one was a 5er...went after it on 3 different occasions and finally got it when i made the full switch to 5ers....the neck (though perfect) was too narrow

2 US lakies are works of art

 

[basspraiser]

And they're Skylines

But COOL Skylines!

 

[basspraiser]

Hmmm...I love it...It's like a Hofner Club bass.

I do too....and i typically do not like short scale basses.....

The proto felt good in my hands!

 

[basspraiser]

I can see that comparison. If it was fuller and boxier like a club bass I'd be in. I think the contouring on the small body is what turns me off. I'd like to see more pics of it. Do you know if it'll be offered in any other colors than sunburst? I know this will sound funny coming from me but it's too much like a hollow contoured Decade.

 

[basspraiser]

That was supposed to be a surprised look but it did not translate on a droid...