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Lakland Owners Group #69

#21,141
Not specifically a Lakland question but more of a regional question. Who in the Chicago area is the best at refinishing beat up basses?

Now, for a more Laky centered comment. I'm having some unbelievable GAS over 2 basses in the classifieds. One is a 55-60, looks mint, for $1150 ( if someone here would buy this so i do not have to) and the other is a beat to crap Mike Lull Non reverse thunderbird with an oversized body, built by mike lull himself for $2850.

The problem is I do not need either of these basses and I would have to liquidate anther bass from my wall. I'm thinking I could save the $ and maybe not liquidate a bass and buy the lakland, it's a great bass but nothing special, or I could grab a piece of history, although I would need to spend money on doing a refin.

Or I should just chill, that doesn't sound like any fun though.

So, refinishers in the chicago area?
 
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#21,142
Bass Ape said:
Not specifically a Lakland question but more of a regional question. Who in the Chicago area is the best at refinishing beat up basses?

Now, for a more Laky centered comment. I'm having some unbelievable GAS over 2 basses in the classifieds. One is a 55-60, looks mint, for $1150 ( if someone here would buy this so i do not have to) and the other is a beat to crap Mike Lull Non reverse thunderbird with an oversized body, built by mike lull himself for $2850.

The problem is I do not need either of these basses and I would have to liquidate anther bass from my wall. I'm thinking I could save the $ and maybe not liquidate a bass and buy the lakland, it's a great bass but nothing special, or I could grab a piece of history, although I would need to spend money on doing a refin.

Or I should just chill, that doesn't sound like any fun though.

So, refinishers in the chicago area?
Click to expand...
I have no experience with them, but 3rd Coast does refins…

Chicago Guitar Repair - Third Coast Guitar Repair Service
 
#21,143
Bass Ape said:
Not specifically a Lakland question but more of a regional question. Who in the Chicago area is the best at refinishing beat up basses?

Now, for a more Laky centered comment. I'm having some unbelievable GAS over 2 basses in the classifieds. One is a 55-60, looks mint, for $1150 ( if someone here would buy this so i do not have to) and the other is a beat to crap Mike Lull Non reverse thunderbird with an oversized body, built by mike lull himself for $2850.

The problem is I do not need either of these basses and I would have to liquidate anther bass from my wall. I'm thinking I could save the $ and maybe not liquidate a bass and buy the lakland, it's a great bass but nothing special, or I could grab a piece of history, although I would need to spend money on doing a refin.

Or I should just chill, that doesn't sound like any fun though.

So, refinishers in the chicago area?
Click to expand...

You would have to ship but Pat Wilkins is the man!

He used to do all of the paint for Lakland until they brought it in house.

He has done one refin for me and my Carlos and Laklands were all painted by him.

He does great work
 
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#21,144
Bass Ape said:
Not specifically a Lakland question but more of a regional question. Who in the Chicago area is the best at refinishing beat up basses?

Now, for a more Laky centered comment. I'm having some unbelievable GAS over 2 basses in the classifieds. One is a 55-60, looks mint, for $1150 ( if someone here would buy this so i do not have to) and the other is a beat to crap Mike Lull Non reverse thunderbird with an oversized body, built by mike lull himself for $2850.

The problem is I do not need either of these basses and I would have to liquidate anther bass from my wall. I'm thinking I could save the $ and maybe not liquidate a bass and buy the lakland, it's a great bass but nothing special, or I could grab a piece of history, although I would need to spend money on doing a refin.

Or I should just chill, that doesn't sound like any fun though.

So, refinishers in the chicago area?
Click to expand...


PS... Just but the 5560.....:)
You won't regret it..:)
 
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#21,146
Bass Ape said:
Not specifically a Lakland question but more of a regional question. Who in the Chicago area is the best at refinishing beat up basses?

Now, for a more Laky centered comment. I'm having some unbelievable GAS over 2 basses in the classifieds. One is a 55-60, looks mint, for $1150 ( if someone here would buy this so i do not have to) and the other is a beat to crap Mike Lull Non reverse thunderbird with an oversized body, built by mike lull himself for $2850.

The problem is I do not need either of these basses and I would have to liquidate anther bass from my wall. I'm thinking I could save the $ and maybe not liquidate a bass and buy the lakland, it's a great bass but nothing special, or I could grab a piece of history, although I would need to spend money on doing a refin.

Or I should just chill, that doesn't sound like any fun though.

So, refinishers in the chicago area?
Click to expand...

I’ve heard good things about Chicago Fret Works. I’ve used them for other things in the past like leveling, rolling fingerboard edges, new nuts, (about the only things I don’t do at home). They do great work and have decent turn around times. I’ll have to check out that other place mentioned though, just to keep future options open.
 
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#21,147
ejschultz said:
I’ve heard good things about Chicago Fret Works. I’ve used them for other things in the past like leveling, rolling fingerboard edges, new nuts, (about the only things I don’t do at home). They do great work and have decent turn around times. I’ll have to check out that other place mentioned though, just to keep future options open.
Click to expand...
It looks like a refin is $500 - $1200. The Lull is priced under 3K making the least expensive Lull in any market I can find and bonus that its a 5r. I would have to get it refinished too, not really digging the current matte black.
 
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#21,148
Bass Ape said:
It looks like a refin is $500 - $1200. The Lull is priced under 3K making the least expensive Lull in any market I can find and bonus that its a 5r. I would have to get it refinished too, not really digging the current matte black.
Click to expand...

GuitarPaintGuys - Custom Guitar Finishing does really nice work at decent pricing but the turnaround is loooong. Could currently be 12 months or more before you see it back. My last guitar body was just shy of 12 months start to finish.

And another is ROWYCO KUSTOMS - Home Page who is well loved in many circles for quality work.

I had had some conversations with them and their turnaround may be considerably better.

And another that did one Lakland I had a while back: Marty Bell
 
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#21,151
basspraiser said:
You would have to ship but Pat Wilkins is the man!
Click to expand...

I cannot stress this enough. Pat Wilkins used to be great but his work and service is terrible now. I cannot even begin to tell you how many huge mistakes he made on my last refinish and instead of apologizing or trying to make it right he blamed it all on me and wanted to charge me to rectify it. I made this comment in a guitar forum and three other people were in the same situation with him at this point. He is getting older and doesn't take on much work so I won't try to smear his years of good service but trust me....don't send anything to him at this point.
 
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#21,158
Bass shot from backstage - Newton, NJ
IMG_2944.jpeg

IMG_2952.jpeg
 
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