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Lakland Owners Group #68

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#921
overbybr said:
If you're (and I don't specifically mean you, Greg) willing to pay for a new bass, then maybe this is a decent price. It also relative to your income and/or perception of value. I think it's silly to pay that much money for an instrument when you can locate a similar-enough one for less that's been gently used (even less for one that's been heavily used like Old Joe).

I also admit that if you want an instrument made to your specifications by a top tier manufacturer, you'll pay for it...and I think you should have to pay extra.

Ramblings from the cobwebs and spiders in between my ears...

If ever there was a bass that should be $4k, I'm inclined to believe Lakland can produce it and impart $4k worth of value into it!
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No doubt, it's a lot of money. All depends on your budget and desires, of course.
 
#922
GregC said:
So you were quoting list price? Come on, man! We all know that is meaningless.

The prices I quoted above are MAP, which is what Lakland lists on its site.

The prices for the 44-AJ and the 55-AJ exactly match the prices of a 4-94 and 55-94 with Deluxe tops. Both the -94 and AJ series have the LH-3, two pickups and a quilted top, so I'd say the AJs are priced right where they should be. And Lakland sells plenty of the 94s.

I think the issue is that Lakland isn't known for active Js and is thus having a tough time breaking into that market.
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Both Bass Club Chicago and Bass Central show them at over $4k. Not MSRP, their asking price. I'm sure there is room for movement, but they don't list 4-94 and 55-94 models with that type of starting price unless they have a fancy wood top (which is not equivalent to a flame top).

They certainly are known for J-Basses, so why should going active make a huge difference?

Why have not even many of the Lakland die-hards added a US AJ to the collection?

I'd actually like to see some photos of US AJs in colors other than red and charcoal. Anyone?
 
#924
boristhespider9 said:
Both Bass Club Chicago and Bass Central show them at over $4k. Not MSRP, their asking price. I'm sure there is room for movement, but they don't list 4-94 and 55-94 models with that type of starting price unless they have a fancy wood top (which is not equivalent to a flame top).

They certainly are known for J-Basses, so why should going active make a huge difference?

Why have not even many of the Lakland die-hards added a US AJ to the collection?

I'd actually like to see some photos of US AJs in colors other than red and charcoal. Anyone?
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Took a quick look at the AJ on Bass Club's site, it has blocks and binding. That's always cost hundreds more on US models--I thought everyone knew that.

I'm not an active-bass guy myself, so I can't speak to that. But there's also an appearance difference not seen on Lakland Js before--the quilted top, lack of control plate and the knob layout.
 
#925
GregC said:
Took a quick look at the AJ on Bass Club's site, it has blocks and binding. That's always cost hundreds more on US models--I thought everyone knew that.

I'm not an active-bass guy myself, so I can't speak to that. But there's also an appearance difference not seen on Lakland Js before--the quilted top, lack of control plate and the knob layout.
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I doubt that price is what is keeping it from selling... In my opinion, as predominately a J bass guy, J's never seem to look right with fancy tops or no pickguards. I know that there are some companies that sell a few of them, but their more traditional looking Js definitely outsell the fancy, more modern looking ones. I think that Lakland would be better to just add the LH-3 system and blocked necks to standard 44-60s and call those the AJs.

Fancy wood tops are definitely something that has to be a preference of the owner and building basses stock with flame or quilt tops really has not been that popular for anyone, at least in the US market. Remember the Fender QMT and FMT series? They didn't sell very many of those either...
 
#926
lowendmafia said:
I doubt that price is what is keeping it from selling... In my opinion, as predominately a J bass guy, J's never seem to look right with fancy tops or no pickguards. I know that there are some companies that sell a few of them, but their more traditional looking Js definitely outsell the fancy, more modern looking ones. I think that Lakland would be better to just add the LH-3 system and blocked necks to standard 44-60s and call those the AJs.

Fancy wood tops are definitely something that has to be a preference of the owner and building basses stock with flame or quilt tops really has not been that popular for anyone, at least in the US market. Remember the Fender QMT and FMT series? They didn't sell very many of those either...
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Great points. Sadowsky, for example, seems to move truckloads more of the traditional-looking Js than the ones without pickguards and control plates.
 
#927
This one just arrive! This is my very first, brand spanking new USA Lakland!

44-14

ImageUploadedByTalkBass1392230347.471575.jpg
 
#929
GregC said:
Great points. Sadowsky, for example, seems to move truckloads more of the traditional-looking Js than the ones without pickguards and control plates.
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To me the AJ's were geared to compete with Sadowsky. If the Skylines had the LH3 Pre and Hanson pups, I would buy one. I really like them, but I don't want to drop another $300 off the bat to swap the pups and pre.
 
#935
Texan said:
To me the AJ's were geared to compete with Sadowsky. If the Skylines had the LH3 Pre and Hanson pups, I would buy one. I really like them, but I don't want to drop another $300 off the bat to swap the pups and pre.
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boristhespider9 said:
I agree. I played a nice Skyline AJ that felt good, but I can't stomach that cheap MK-1 preamp.
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They do have the Hanson pups, just not the pre.

The 44-AJ Skyline costs $39 more than a 44-60 Skyline, so the MK-1 pre is virtually free.
 
#936
GregC said:
They do have the Hanson pups, just not the pre.

The 44-AJ Skyline costs $39 more than a 44-60 Skyline, so the MK-1 pre is virtually free.
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The MK-1 is not a bad pre, but I would think that Lakland would benefit from using the LH3 in the 44/55-AJ's and develop their own pup for the 44/55-01's. It would be a slight price increase, but it would set them a part from Ibanez and other companies that use the Bart MK1 setups. IME any bass with the Bart MK1 pups and pre sounds like other brands with the same. I think that the 44/55-01's would be viewed in a different light if the off shore Bart stuff was replaced with in-house Lakland/Hanson electronics.

Just my skewed $.02
 
#937
There are even folks at Lakland who describe the MK-1 as "harsh sounding." I also agree that every bass that has it sounds similar.

It's not a good pre, it's just cheap. The Skyline AJ deserves better.

Still, no photos of a US AJ in a different color? There's got to be someone out there who shelled out the cash.
 
#940
I still think the main issue with the AJ line is that the tops aren't very nice compared to some of the other brands with fancy tops.

I have one, and I do like it (MK-1 was not to my liking so put a Sadowsky with VTC in) but the top isn't 'high quality' figured wood IMO. I've seen a lot of them, but obviously some are better than others. I got a really sweet deal on one so the top wasn't much of an issue for me.
 
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