That’s exactly what I like to hear! Would you mind being specific about what you think is better regarding the newer builds? What things in your opinion have Lakland improved on since the 90’s?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
I meant the shop has gotten better, with repeatable and consistent processes. They brought everything in house, CNC, painting, electronics, etc. Instruments are equally good.
They are mostly assembled in Indonesia.
I believe there are still some models that have electronics put in in the US but I cannot verify what models.
I know from a previous inquiry that I did that everything is checked in Chicago and quality controlled before being shipped to a dealer.
I am checking on the pleking question.
I don't know the answer to that offhand. Once I hear I will let you know. Hope you have a great long weekend.
I had the same questions not that long ago, having owned many great playing and sounding Skylines, I wanted to experience a new USA. So, I just had a new 55-94 delivered - the build and finishing, playability, sound and weight (only 8.1 lbs) has exceeded my expectations - my only previous reference point in build comparaison was from a formerly owned 2003 44-94 - both of equal quality, both played and sounded outstanding - they are different basses, but the necks and finishes equally stood out. In fact, it gave me confidence to order a second USA, a 44-64 PJ
- stay tuned for a report and pictures upon arrival later next month.
Here's the answer I just received
"Skylines have been Plek’d since we bought the machine. In fact , we bought the machine for Skylines, since the USA basses are hand filed. We have since started Pleking the USA Classics. "
So yes!
Just wow. What a lovely community here. I didn't expect to have an answer directly from Lakland!
Don't ever underestimate the power of the Doude (@basspraiser)
Nothing can really compare with a hand built bass. The Skyline 55-02 lined fretless I owned played great. The 55-94 lined fretless is my primary bass The neck feels better in my hands and under my fingers. The balance and body are really comfortable. The finish is translucent.I had the same questions not that long ago, having owned many great playing and sounding Skylines, I wanted to experience a new USA. So, I just had a new 55-94 delivered - the build and finishing, playability, sound and weight (only 8.1 lbs) has exceeded my expectations - my only previous reference point in build comparaison was from a formerly owned 2003 44-94 - both of equal quality, both played and sounded outstanding - they are different basses, but the necks and finishes equally stood out. In fact, it gave me confidence to order a second USA, a 44-64 PJ
Almost nobody uses those pickups in passive, unless you have an external pre with the gain cranked up. That's how the circuit was designed.In this case I have a question about the LH3 preamp. Why the 50k balance pot for passive pickups?! That's the reason the passive mode is so low, isn't it?
The balance pot replacement with 250k will be my first tweak when I get my 55-02.
The stock LH3 blend pot is a low-impedance 50k ohm component. It is wired directly into the preamp's low-impedance input stage. This value is mathematically matched to the active circuitry so that the voltage dividing action provides a smooth, gradual transition between the neck and bridge pickups.
If you swap that out for a high-impedance 250k ohm pot (intended to give the pickups breathing room in passive mode), you introduce a massive resistance mismatch to the active circuit. Because the preamp expects a 50k ohm maximum load, a 250k ohm pot causes the signal to bunch up at the very edges of the knob’s rotation.
In active mode, you will experience an extreme, non-linear taper—turning the blend knob 80% of the way will result in almost no audible change, and then the final 20% of rotation will aggressively dump the signal of the opposing pickup.
Why do they use a 250k volume pot then? Also, the preamp has an input buffer anyways, therefore in theory it is not affected by the input impedance in any way.
I will not be surprised that balance is more useful with 50k though.
In any case I will report my results and comparisons.
Volume comes after the circuit so it would not affect anything.
As for the input buffer, although I am an electrical engineer, I am not claiming I'm an expert on preamps. But in my experience, the buffer cannot save what happens before it. That's why preamp makers like John East make active blends.
Sure, please do report your findings! The world needs experiments! But I wouldn't have high hopes. If this was viable, I would think a few more people would do it in the 20+ years this preamp has been around.
Never understand the knowledge of Macribas!
He knows his stuff!!!
He knows his stuff!!!
Yep! Marcel is always droppin knowledge!
So 55-02 and 55-94 etc all suffer from low out in passive?
Well, it depends on the electronics. Earlier 94s and 02s had Bartolini pickups which are more usable passive.
But I wouldn't call it "suffer". The Lakland system wasn't designed to be used in passive mode. Passive is just there in case your battery fails mid set.
