With the poly fingerboard coat??
Actually I planned on doing that as well... Well, buying an ebony fretless board and having it refretted
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Actually I planned on doing that as well... Well, buying an ebony fretless board and having it refretted
Yeah, I need to call Pat and ask how to take it off without sanding. Should be awesome!
Pat's the man
If it's poly and you don't want to use chemicals, I would go with a heat gun to remove the finish, but be careful, you don't want to scorch the wood or heat up the glue too much between the fingerboard and neck.
So my new 44-64 hybrid P showed up in the Fedex yesterday. I took it to a recording session last night, and it absolutely killed! It has a huge P bass tone, I would say the Hanson pickup gives it a traditional Pbass vibe whcih I am digging, perhaps with more definition and clarity than a Fender, but the J Pickup is really special. It may be the only soloe'd bridge pickup that sounds good to my p bass loving ear, and dialed in with the P pickup gives it edge and definition. A very usable tone in the studio, big, round clear as a bell, and punchy as a mother. I have another session on Monday and I think it will work well for that one as well. I was also surprised at how much I liked the slap tone with both pickups full on, as usually I only like the slap sound on active basses.
This is also the first bass with a J neck that I have EVER had, and I since I have short sausage fingers I noticed less playing fatigue than even on my Spectre 4 string. Great sustain, even on C# on the G string. Overall a very impressive instrument that does everything a Fender should do, but better, in slightly more modern way, and much more to my taste. Very impressed! I could see that a US made with the quartersawn neck with the graphite stringers would have a few advantages, but I have always felt having no graphite in the neck gives you a more vintage punch.
Only thing I see myself changing is adding a hipshot D-tuner, and if I could find a guy to make one, a gold anodized pickgaurd (love that look) but I may not touch a thing.
One final comment, how many basses can you buy direct mail, and it shows up perfectly setup and intonated good enough to do a session with that same day? Amazing job by both Lakland and Sweetwater on the deliver and setup. Oh, and the pleked neck with the vintage sized frets is so awesome. That alone is reason enough to buy this bass.
This is also the first bass with a J neck that I have EVER had, and I since I have short sausage fingers I noticed less playing fatigue than even on my Spectre 4 string. Great sustain, even on C# on the G string. Overall a very impressive instrument that does everything a Fender should do, but better, in slightly more modern way, and much more to my taste. Very impressed! I could see that a US made with the quartersawn neck with the graphite stringers would have a few advantages, but I have always felt having no graphite in the neck gives you a more vintage punch.
Only thing I see myself changing is adding a hipshot D-tuner, and if I could find a guy to make one, a gold anodized pickgaurd (love that look) but I may not touch a thing.
One final comment, how many basses can you buy direct mail, and it shows up perfectly setup and intonated good enough to do a session with that same day? Amazing job by both Lakland and Sweetwater on the deliver and setup. Oh, and the pleked neck with the vintage sized frets is so awesome. That alone is reason enough to buy this bass.
Why remove the finish? I have a friend that fretted a Pedulla Buzz and I believe he kept the coating on the fingerboard. I think the work was done by Pedulla.
Well...this guy went on to give us some great recordings with that bass. He's played it for many years and has managed to wear through the poly finish on the body, an astronomical feat in my book. Check him out at Doug Johns > SuperFunky Bass Music . The fretted Buzz is responsible for the lion's share of the bass tracks on all of his discs. I will forgive him for his transgression!
Anyone here rockin' Lakland strings on their babies?
I remember liking the stock Lakland strings my US Lakie came with almost 5 years ago.
Then I used mostly DR Hi Beam strings.
Nowadays I'm feeling like Hi Beams are lacking in the bottom and mids so I'm curious in going back to Lakland strings.
Any thoughts?
Be warned, the Lakland stock strings and the strings that they sell on their website are different. The strings on the site have a tapered B string. This is not listed on the site or the packaging. It might not be a big deal to you, but I hate tapered B's.
I have two shows this weekend, one tomorrow and one Sunday early afternoon. 5 basses in the arsenal, 4 Laklands and one that I made. Both shows are at the same venue and I can't decide which two basses to take. I don't want to have the same basses at both shows. Yes, I know, first world problems. What to do, what to do.
Really? My US Lakland and my old Korean Skyline came with tapered B's from Lakland.
I know the current Skylines ship with D'Addarios but US should be Lakland strings
I bought two 55-01s in the last 3 years, both had regular B's. I bought a used DJ5 a few weeks ago that was only two months old and it has a normal B. I had a package of Lakland Nickles, the B was tapered, contacted Leo and he confirmed that all of the sets that they sell are tapered. Not sure why they use two different styles on the B.
Yep, but the packaged strings from Lakland were D'Addarios too. The colored balls proved that.
I love this report! Congratulations, engedi1
I am over the moon with Laklands...I just feel that the design details, build quality, set up, aesthetic, and, now, their above and beyond customer service, makes for the ultimate vintage-style bass experience.
IMHO
I am over the moon with Laklands...I just feel that the design details, build quality, set up, aesthetic, and, now, their above and beyond customer service, makes for the ultimate vintage-style bass experience.
IMHO
Can I ask for some Lakland owners opinion? I have a DJ 4 w a j-Retro installed and I believe it is the most excellent bass i've ever owned.
This brings me to my Fender AM Deluxe Jazz... I love this bass too but think the DJ is better for me. Just my opinion. I want to keep the Fender because it has a totally different color/look compared to the DJ. There is a 44-60 I like with the same 3TSB and bonus blocks/binding that I like alot, but I have a few questions first...
In regards to Tone and Feel, how different is a 44-60 compared to a DJ? or is there much difference? Just a straight-up comparison, as I have no where close to try one.
I believe Fender is alder and the DJ and 44-60 are ash. I think that might help my tone jones a little.
I know tone is subjective, but I'm sure I can find an answer from you guys. Thanks!
This brings me to my Fender AM Deluxe Jazz... I love this bass too but think the DJ is better for me. Just my opinion. I want to keep the Fender because it has a totally different color/look compared to the DJ. There is a 44-60 I like with the same 3TSB and bonus blocks/binding that I like alot, but I have a few questions first...
In regards to Tone and Feel, how different is a 44-60 compared to a DJ? or is there much difference? Just a straight-up comparison, as I have no where close to try one.
I believe Fender is alder and the DJ and 44-60 are ash. I think that might help my tone jones a little.
I know tone is subjective, but I'm sure I can find an answer from you guys. Thanks!
The DJ4 is going to give you a more 70s jazz tone. The 44-60 is going to give you a 60s tone.
I've used the DJ5 for my first two sets tonight and I'm so impressed with the versatility and responsiveness of the controls. Rolling off the neck pup just a tiny bit really brings the growl and rolling the bridge pup back just a bit really gives that throaty P Bass sound. I love it. I'm not sure that the 55-02 is going to get played tonight...
Played an outdoor gig today with a big band.
Here's a shot of my rig.
Dat neopunch P bass tone doe! mmm
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Here's a shot of my rig.
Dat neopunch P bass tone doe! mmm
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Thanks Texan, That's perfect, as I need a 60's tone, but that's all? Necks are same shape?
Would anyone care to chime in if the 44-60 will give the Fender Deluxe a run for it's money?, or not? I never played a 44-60 and it's Made In Indonesia whereas my DJ is MIK.
The necks are similar.
Comparing to a Fender Deluxe is a different story. If it's an American deluxe, then it's going to be a hard comparison. Some of the deluxe I've played were fantastic, some we're not better than a Squier. The big difference is the preamp in the bass vs the 4460 not having one. Of you are planning to put a pre in the 4460 and do the neck treatment, the the 4460 Will most likely kill the deluxe. If the deluxe is Mexican, then the 4460 will kill it stock.
Also, I can't tell a difference in quality between the Korean and Indonesian basses from Lakland. To qualify that statement, I've done quality control for over 10 years and I'm very picky. I also have both Indonesian and Korean Laklands.
Comparing to a Fender Deluxe is a different story. If it's an American deluxe, then it's going to be a hard comparison. Some of the deluxe I've played were fantastic, some we're not better than a Squier. The big difference is the preamp in the bass vs the 4460 not having one. Of you are planning to put a pre in the 4460 and do the neck treatment, the the 4460 Will most likely kill the deluxe. If the deluxe is Mexican, then the 4460 will kill it stock.
Also, I can't tell a difference in quality between the Korean and Indonesian basses from Lakland. To qualify that statement, I've done quality control for over 10 years and I'm very picky. I also have both Indonesian and Korean Laklands.
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