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Lakland Owners Group #69

#22,701
To me, as good as the Skylines are, the wild weight variations are something they need to look at. As in...don't accept heavy product from their body supplier, period. Let a few leak out for those who like a 10+ pound 4 string, but for the rest of us adults who don't like lifting basses over the low 9s, it's a no-go.

I understand price point, but getting light alder isn't difficult, especially if you look at northwestern suppliers. It's EVERYWHERE, cheap, and excellent quality. I am not sure if they ship wood from the US for them to make the bodies from, but wherever they are sourcing their wood, a lot of it is just too dang heavy to be used as a daily driver, 4" wide strap or not.
Since finding good ash is hard to source, roast it! It takes serious weight out, and if it's under a solid finish, I'd pay an extra hundred for a light DJ4 in some limited different colors. How much would Asian labor charge to roast some wood?

Also..color variants? Small batch some vintage colors on the 44-02s with pickguards! Candy Apple Red, Surf Green, Tahitian Coral...smallest batch the factory will run, and people would eat them up like potato chips! Much like the old Dude Pit CAR DJ4s (or any other model).

Seriously, a special run of LIGHT 44-02s in vintage colors with a guard would be a no-brainer!! I am personally tired of seeing natural, black, inconsistent sunburst, etc. Obviously, the US line offers those things (like it was previously stated), but freshening up the Skyline series would generate a bunch of interest. Thoughts?

FWIW, I was at Dan's first NAMM show with his 44-94, and spent 4 days showing and playing that bass for EVERYONE I could, vendor and spectator alike! Owned 3 Hugh-carved-neck early top-jackers. Been a Lakland fan and owner since literally Day 1.
 
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#22,703
Matt Power said:
Also..color variants? Small batch some vintage colors on the 44-02s with pickguards! Candy Apple Red, Surf Green, Tahitian Coral...smallest batch the factory will run, and people would eat them up like potato chips! Much like the old Dude Pit CAR DJ4s (or any other model).

Seriously, a special run of LIGHT 44-02s in vintage colors with a guard would be a no-brainer!! I am personally tired of seeing natural, black, inconsistent sunburst, etc. Obviously, the US line offers those things (like it was previously stated), but freshening up the Skyline series would generate a bunch of interest. Thoughts?
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I couldn't agree more. I really think their original -94 shape is where they could get things moving. A 44-02 in light weight alder with classic colors would sell
 
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#22,704
Johnny Alien said:
I think a similar spec'd USA 55-94 is around $800-900 more than the 55-14. It just is so close that I don't see the argument for both existing. Just my opinion of course
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No I get it. Just different consumer preferences. For me where a bass is made is very important, but I can't go that high on one, over 4k. It's not about ability to pay, just a barrier I have. If there were no used 55-14's I was going to buy new, but neither was an option, I'd be playing a Sadowsky German Metroline right now.
 
#22,705
I get that completely. In thinking about it, if I was in charge for a day, I think I would pursue the following this path......discontinue the Classic line and replace it by importing the Shoreline series. The current currency rate prices the 44-94 at about $2400. The 44-14 is $3100. If you could import them at around that current price or even better you would have a top of the line MIJ Lakland at only a few hundred more than a Skyline. In fact you could use ESP to replace the entire Skyline line to. Rebrand the Skyline Japan series as the new "Skyline". So the Skyline series would be a budget series with non-USA electronics, the Shoreline series would be a high quality Japanese mid-tier and the USA series would be the high end option. I guarantee its not nearly as easy as I just laid out. :laugh:
 
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#22,706
Johnny Alien said:
I get that completely. In thinking about it, if I was in charge for a day, I think I would pursue the following this path......discontinue the Classic line and replace it by importing the Shoreline series. The current currency rate prices the 44-94 at about $2400. The 44-14 is $3100. If you could import them at around that current price or even better you would have a top of the line MIJ Lakland at only a few hundred more than a Skyline. In fact you could use ESP to replace the entire Skyline line to. Rebrand the Skyline Japan series as the new "Skyline". So the Skyline series would be a budget series with non-USA electronics, the Shoreline series would be a high quality Japanese mid-tier and the USA series would be the high end option. I guarantee its not nearly as easy as I just laid out. :laugh:
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And I would not buy any of those basses. I only bought the skyline to try out the format. I'm the 2500-3500 US-made bass customer. You don't want to sell me a bass? I don't buy imported instruments 9 out of 10 times.
 
#22,707
At that price range you will get priced out of Lakland pretty soon with their current offerings. I don't want that to be the reality but it is. The absolute cheapest Classics are around $3300 and that is the passive offerings. I give it a year or two until that increased to be at your cap. And its never going down. So its not that I don't want to sell you a bass its just that the market won't allow it pretty soon. Imports are the only way to get into the $1500-2k game these days unless you are as big as Fender. And their new Road Worn Precision from Mexico is $1600.
 
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#22,713
59jazz said:
Bartolini pups with the Lakland pre. Also, what Bartolini pre is used in the early 44-02's? Thanks.
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bartolini.net

Lakland - Bartolini Pickups & Electronics

The Lakland 4-94 and Lakland Skyline 44-02 used Bartolini MM42K3 and 9K-S3 Pickups and the NTMB-L Preamp. These models have been replaced by the MM42CBJD3 and 9CBJD-S3 and NTMB+FL Preamp. The Lakland 55-94 initially used Bartolini MM52K3 and 59K-S3 Pickups and the NTMB-L Preamp up until June...
bartolini.net bartolini.net
 
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#22,714
Ok...dig it. Like the Dude Pit days...Lakland listens!! For real, no sheepish hands-up, but FOR REAL would buy a Skyline with a pickguard in a run of vintage colorS (plural S) on a 44-02? Like a Burgundy Mist, Seafoam Green, Sherwood, Candy Apple Red, Shoreline Gold, etc...If we could get 25 committed people, perhaps we could show Lakland there is legit interest and get it done like the old days of Steve Barr and the Dude Pit!

I am not sure what their cost on a minimum order special color run might cost them, but we can reach out to Lakland and show them this thread...see if there is $ in the project for them!

HANDS UP if you would literally spend the cash on a 44-02 in a vintage Fender color with a pickguard!!
 
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#22,719
All this discussion about what to and what not to buy. Prices are up because costs are up. I agree, through, that it’s hard to justify north of $2k for a Skyline, especially when I bought this 55-14 brand new in 2019 for well below $2k. Just got to keep your eyes peeled and move on ‘em when a unicorn pops up.

And my #1 gigging bass is a 11.5 lb, Skyline 55-60 that I completely love and can’t step away from for very long without it beckoning me to play it again. Stable. Sounds great. Comfortable…with a wide strap. Oh, and it cost me $600 used. 😉

FullSizeRender.jpeg


So while understanding broad generalizations, sometimes when you remove your biases, you may find that perfect bass, regardless of where it was built.

Just play.
 
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#22,720
Anybody have some experience with the Skyline Decade Active series? I have someone in my neck of the woods selling one for a decent price - I have been partial to "modern" sounding basses, MM/J and Barts, just curious what an active Chisonics set up would provide on this different body type, intriguing.
 

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