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Lakland Owners Group #69

#20,941
Working on a project tempted to pursue,mostly because of the Lakland Skyline Daryl Jones signature on the neck headstock. Luthier has it and having to route the neck pocket out to fit a Warmoth jazz body. Took a chance on it so hoping will come together. Previous owner installed the neck,but not being a luthier had decided to turn over to a luthier before he sold to me. Now the luthier that I am having putting together is having to correct some mistakes,I think now.
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#20,943
This bass is the half-brother of an early Lakland, custom made by a cofounder of the company, Hugh McFarland. It was on the shelf at my local music store for years. Played it a year ago, thought it was awesome, but couldn't find a reference anywhere on the internet to a "McFarland" guitar company. So I let it sit there, but my friend at the shop told me who Hugh McFarland is. A few days later and after a deep dive into the origins of Lakland Basses, I picked it up. Ebony fingerboard. Exquisite neck. Bartolini PUs and preamp. Contoured / very unique neck heel. It shares many characteristics with a Lakland. I'm told that Hugh McFarland lives nearby, so while I didn’t get it from him directly, I have I confidence this is his work product. I can't find reference to another "McFarland" branded bass anywhere, so I wonder if this is a one-of-a-kind instrument!
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#20,945
Trinidad said:
This bass is the half-brother of an early Lakland, custom made by a cofounder of the company, Hugh McFarland. It was on the shelf at my local music store for years. Played it a year ago, thought it was awesome, but couldn't find a reference anywhere on the internet to a "McFarland" guitar company. So I let it sit there, but my friend at the shop told me who Hugh McFarland is. A few days later and after a deep dive into the origins of Lakland Basses, I picked it up. Ebony fingerboard. Exquisite neck. Bartolini PUs and preamp. Contoured / very unique neck heel. It shares many characteristics with a Lakland. I'm told that Hugh McFarland lives nearby, so while I didn’t get it from him directly, I have I confidence this is his work product. I can't find reference to another "McFarland" branded bass anywhere, so I wonder if this is a one-of-a-kind instrument! View attachment 5374197 View attachment 5374199 View attachment 5374201 View attachment 5374200
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Very very cool!
Congrats on a one of a kind bass!
Love it
 
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#20,947
Anyone using LaBella Low Tension Flats on their fretless? Not heard a lot about these in the usual flats discussion but digging deeper they seem to have a very solid fan base. So I installed a set tonight on my recently converted 55-02 and wow they feel very nice. The lower tension solved my truss rod maxed out issue from the GHS Pressurewounds and moved everything back into a nice range of adjustment. I was afraid these might be too loose or floppy but the string tension is very much like the usual nickel rounds I have played. And man are they smoooth!

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#20,949
Holdsg said:
yep, LTF's (or TIs) are pretty much all I have on basses these days.
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I have read that the LTF are essentially a 'poor man's TI" and in a lot of sound samples they are hard to distinguish from one another. I guess the LTF construction is similar as well. Curious to hear your comparative experience with the two.

The flats thing is all new to me but they're a lot more versatile than I gave credit to, which you all already knew...
 
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#20,951
I recently changed the strings on my fretless 55-02 from TI Jazz Flats to Dogal Hellborg rounds (my first attempt at rounds in more than 30 years).

The 55-02 and I never became friends, despite being extremely tweakable and strung with TI flats (my favorite strings - installed on almost every electric bass I own).

I was about to start a 7-month RV trip and took the 55-02, figuring I'd know after 7 months whether the experiment was a success or a failure.

At the end of that trip, I reluctantly switched to another bass for the next trip. But, I've been thinking about my Lakland during the whole trip.

When we reach "home base," the Lakland is coming with me! :)
 
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#20,952
I'm hard pressed to find much difference between LTFs and Tis. I mean, there might just be a bit more growl out of the Tis, but it's very hard for me to distinguish. So for less $, I prefer the LTFs. I have the Tis on 2 of my "lifer" basses, my JPJ Fender Jazz, and my Sire 5-string P bass. oh, and I'm currently experimenting with Pyramids on my Spector, and they are nice, but I'm still preferring the LFTs or Tis.
 
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#20,958
Chrome Dome said:
Well just got the Lakland/Warmoth project back,and really liking way it came together. Here is the finished project after luthier did the mods Aguilar pickups and the Audre 4 band preamp installed. Not real good and taking pictures. Really sounds awesome and the Lakland neck is what makes it for sure!View attachment 5376621 View attachment 5376622 View attachment 5376623 View attachment 5376624 View attachment 5376625
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Great job and mods, looks stellar and I bet it sounds amazing too! congrats!
 
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