Lakland Owners Group #69

[basspraiser]

I know. There was a time I thought Daphne or Seafoam would be the living end. I ended up waiting because I couldn't make up my mind on which color. During that time the burst ended up growing on me.

order a seafoam or Daphne to accompany it....

 

[basspraiser]

Funny. For me, Daphne, seafoam and orange are the triumvirate. The truth is that I love sunburst, but the fact that it is iconic to the point of being (IMHO) somewhat generic leads me elsewhere. Different strokes.

I agree...but "classic" is sometimes...well..."classic"......I always call it "70s Retro-Sunday" when I bring my 3 TB BG5 and my fretless natural JO5 (both with tort guards) to church on the same day.....

hmmm....maybe this Sunday will be retro...

 

[basspraiser]

As much as I love sunburst, there is truth in your words. But, I'm very critical of the burst quality and the burst on that Glaub is the best burst I have seen on any 44-64 model.

agreed....a burst done well is GREAT....but a burst done "sorta" really sucks...IMHO...that is a good one.

 

[basspraiser]

Man! I have not had this many compliments on any other bass I have ever owned, and this is a humble sunburst P. Thanks for all the kind words!

funny thing is that I get compliments from the ladies EVERY time I bring in the 3TB GB5 Or the Ice blue JO5...those 2 get the most compliments ever....

 

[basspraiser]

Beautiful. I love the look of a solid color P with white guard.....it has the vibe of elegant simplicity....everything one needs, and nothing one doesn't I'm gonna mod a 5501 in that image....

good job....and that is a classic!

I had one just like that.... should not have sold it "but had to".

 

[basspraiser]

You know the answer is always Delano
But I'm going to have to give you a demerit for posting a picture of Tom "The Teeth" Cruise.

yup...that would be definitely edited out "on the other forum"....

at least there is nothing stuck in his teeth..... if you don't get it...don't ask.....

 

[basspraiser]

AFAIK doesn't the 4/55-64 come with Hanson 'Vintage P' pickups? Possibly post 2012.

They are very different from the Neo Punch. Supposedly more similar to Fralins.

nope..neopunch is standard....vintage is optional.....

 

[basspraiser]

thanks all for the help-

The tone is very-much that perfect hollow-vintage P tone, so I'm guessing they must be the Fralin pickups- I pulled 'em up to look but there were no markings underneath. They definitely look like the standard alnico design with the polepiece magnets. The bass is a bit darker than I'm used to coming from a Ric and an Alembic-equipped P, but sounds so sweet that I may just leave it as is and get some more aggressive strings (I haven't had a rosewood fretboard on a bass for years either). My second alternative is to flip in a G&L P pickup, as those have always done me well in the past (but don't do that hollow vintage sustainy tone to the same degree.

It is actually the first non- see through finish I've had on a bass in maybe 6 years, but I really dig it. The light minty/yellowy pickguard really sets it off (hard to photograph in the shadows!).

I LOVE the Fralin ....mine had it and I turned it into a PJ....with a Fralin Split J...sounded GREAT! Missed it a ton unitl I got my BG5 with Vintage PJ configuration......just as kickingly great as the fralins!

Sorry you find it "dark".....I did not find the Fralins "dark"...but coming from where you did, I can see it......

you have to admit the 44-64 has a more comfy neck that a RIC (am I opening a can of worms here?????)

I loved the sound of a RIC....finally bought one...a really GREAT sounding bass...but the neck was not comfortable for me....had the BG PJ and the RIC together for a wile...the RIC have way to a DJ4 and the rest (as they say)...is Lakland history...

 

[basspraiser]

Got home and the date code suggests 2004, so the Fralin is most likely the one- hard to fathom that being ten years ago. Yikes!

yup...but it looks BRAND new.... gotta love it!

 

[basspraiser]

Received my Hollowbody 30 last night. And I also traded emails with the guys at Lakland. There is some misinformation out there so let me clarify (you tube, retailers).

The bass ships with stainless steel round wounds
The pickups are not chi sonic but what they call vintage single coils with a chrome plated cover
A case is not included but available

It's a cool little bass, I slapped on a set of flats unfortunately I only have light gauge long scale strings at the house. So I'm not sure I'm getting the best out of the bass just yet. A short scale set of Labella deep talking flats is on it's way. There was a little tag on the bass that said it was Plek'd in Chicago, it's set up out of the box pretty nice but when I get the right set of strings on I'll really dial it in.

I really think this bass is going to give me the vibe I'm going for, thus far I can pull out a nice hollowbody tone with both pickups on and the tone up. favoring the neck pickup and rolling off the tone gets that Gibson mudbucker type tone. The shortscale doesn't seem to be an issue at all and you don't have that awkward feel of a full size hollowbody. Give me some time and I'll have a better feel for it.

Interesting....I thought it shipped with flats...the first ones did.

The pickups are a "type" of Chisonics....called "vintage CHis".....similar construction - sort of.....

will be interested to hear more....

 

[basspraiser]

One of the guys in the Jules/Monique thread posted this video which is the original inspiration for looking at a bass like this. This is an Epiphone batwing, just a very unique tone combined with great playing and feel. In looking for more info and sound clips on this bass I also came across a bunch of info on the Harmony H22 Batwing.

True neck pick up, short scale, hollowbody....The Lakland Hollowbody 30 just seems to be a good choice we'll see.

I dig it.....alot...the batwing was a "bit of an influence" for the short-scale HB.....

 

[basspraiser]

Jeannies is back, btw

saw that.....wonder if this guy was an apprentice?

Anyone order one? more importantly, anyone talk to him?

 

[basspraiser]

I can totally cop the vibe in the clip I posted. Neck pickup, tone rolled off. If that's all the bass could do I would have been happy. To get there you really have to have a soft touch with the right hand. Digging in gives this bass a totally different and wonderful over driven tone. The right hand sensitivity may also have something to do with having long scale strings on the bass. I ordered a set of short scale light gauge black Nylon Labellas and extra light deep talking Labella flats hopefully I will have them soon. I've got a pretty extensive string box but nothing short scale. I tend to spend a bunch of time figuring out what strings really work for a bass, it takes a bit longer with flats as they have to settle in. Hoping I figure this out once and never have to change them again.

I've owned a bunch of USA Lakland's over the years but never a skyline. You can see the difference in the tuners and bridge saddles. They don't seem to be chrome plated but more of a silver paint? I'm not sure it is going to matter at all otherwise I'd consider swapping them. The neck and headstock have that really new white wood look to them, I wish they used a bit of vintage tint but it's totally just an opinion cosmetics really aren't that important and the neck feels great. The center of the burst on the body has the slightest of green hue which I now can see in the photos online as well, is that how a burst on mahogany looks?

Just some observations the bass plays and feels wonderful and with your eyes closed you'd think you were hearing an active bass, with a boat load of pedals through a tube amp. It is very cool!

the tuners and bridge are chromed...not painted....I agree on the "white wood" look....but wood is getting scarce and these are priced "right".....as an aside, these are Korean made...

 

[basspraiser]

Hey guys! My 55 94 arrived and it kills. I love the feel and the Bartolini pickups are awesome. I am not completely sold on the preamp, though. My other bass is a Fender Jazz with the Sadowsky pre in it and I love it. I just think I want a little more versatility with this bass. I'm thinking about putting in the Mike Pope 4-band with tone control.

I have a couple of questions for those who have done this mod. First, did you have to modify the control cavity to fit all of the components and two batteries? I measured 1 1/4" which is what I think the pope needs. Just want to be sure. Also, does the tone control work in active mode as well, like the Sadowsky? Any other tips or ideas if I want to try to do the install myself?

Thanks a lot to anyone who can offer some advice.

I am not a "huge" Bart fan myself....If you want "versatility" start out with replacing the Pre-amp with an LH3...that might give you what you want...if that does not work, put in LH3 pickups...to me, this combo is heaven....or close anyways.....VERY versatile and not as "dark" as Barts.

 

[voodoobassist]

saw that.....wonder if this guy was an apprentice?

Anyone order one? more importantly, anyone talk to him?

I've searched for the new jeannies,...no luck on the googler,.....the ebay link is dead,.....anyone have a link, or do you just call to place an order now???

 

[basspraiser]

We're waiting for the Doude,
We're waiting for the Doude,
We're waiting for the Doude

Sung to Love And Rockets - Waiting For The Flood. I'm thinking we're about due for an imminent Doude Wave, so make sure you have your water wings and wellingtons ready.

OK OK...so I am bit late...sorry...weekend was busy:

1) taught the first of 6 - four hour webmasters i somehow got "suckered into"
2) saw my daughter play bells at church Saturday night
3) Played Sunday late-service (my daughter sang at the early service (but I could not get myself up and running to get there in time)
4) Watched the GB Pack kick Bears butt...
5) did some work Sunday evening.

that is my wave excuse....

 

[basspraiser]

I had my first gig with the 55 94 last night. Halfway through the first song, our sound man got my attention and gave me the universal hand sign for "your new bass sounds freaking incredible". He's a good bit cranky most of the time, but he's a good dude and knows his stuff. Anyway, the whole band loved the way the Lakland sat in the mix. Mind you, they were in love with the tone from my DLX Jazz V with Aguilar 70's single coils and Sadowsky preamp. Aa amazing as that bass sounds, the Lakland just fits...every situation. We do a huge variety of covers and this bass nailed everything I was going for. Electronics aside, it just responds to my articulation a lot more than the fender. I feel like this bass can actually keep up with me when I go fro staccato patterns and faster passages.

I already ordered the Pope 2.2stk with tone control and will drop it in, when it arrives. I'm not sure I don't love the Bart pre, but I need to see what something else sounds like to decide.

awesome!!!! Laklands do that to sound guys....I get the same reaction...b ut now they are spoiled because that is all I play (90% of the time....except for my acoustics)

 

[basspraiser]

I played a Skyline 44-02 today in a shop. I was very surprised because it's probably 5lbs lighter than my 2009 55-01 Skyline. The shop owner said that Lakland has a new technique for drying the wood that makes it lighter. He also said the reason my bass is heavier is because I wasn't fully dried so the tone won't be as good. Are either of these statements true?

ahhhh...never heard of that....sales pitch????

regardless...they use good wood...even on the Skylines....

 

[basspraiser]

So, why are the new basses so much lighter then? Not arguing, I just want to know.

My source (Carl Pedigo) told me that "good wood" is getting pretty rare and that is sells at auctions.....he says it all depends who shows up at the auctions and who is willing to pay. He says that (often) contract manufacturers (such as who is making the most recent Skylines) happen to get as good if not better wood than the "boutique guys" because they out bid them.

I too have been VERY impressed with the weight on the more modern Skylines....

Lakland DOES get specs on the wood the contract manufacturer has on hand and DOES "spec" certain wood for their production......so they have control over their product....ain't that grand!?

 

[basspraiser]

What about the DS Dudepit that keeps making the rounds? Or was that closer to 11 lb?

There is a BG at the shop which tops 13. lbs...really....they will never sell it...it just is there for decoration.