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Lakland Owners Group #69

#7,421
Good Morning Everyone!

Let me start by saying I've been a Spector guy for almost a decade, currently own 2 fantastic US Bolt-ons, and have never really bonded with the more traditional Jazz or Precision body shape. Of the thousands that I've tried, there have only been a very small number that have made me truly GAS for one. ...that was until yesterday...

Yesterday, I played a US 44-64 that blew my mind. It was effortless to play, was extremely musical/reactive and sounded amazing!! I played it for over 45 minutes, all while checking out other Laklands/Fenders/Sadowsky's etc, and it was the best instrument in the store, IMO. Doing a bit of research, I noticed there are 44-64's advertised as 'Classic' and 'Vintage', with ~ $1000 price difference between the two. Are these two distinctly different models or the same instrument with different branding during a price increase? If they are different models, what are the differences?

Also, How consistent are the necks of the US models? I'm a big fan of how this one feels, but honestly not too thrilled about the color. If they are pretty consistent, I may just one save a bit more and order one. However, color doesn't mean all the much to me in the long run if this is one of the 'special' ones.

Either way, I'm going back to the store today...
 
#7,422
Gougedeye said:
I must be looking in the wrong place. I will take a closer look tonight. Too bad Lakland doesn't make a 5 string Hollowbody.
Click to expand...

I agree...been asking them for a while.

I also asked Carl to build me one.

The " issue" ( from what I understand) would be the tension from the B string may pull up the bridge.

I know there are some 5 string HBs out there... But Lakland due not like the sound of the B ( from what I understand).

In order to get the B string sounding the way they want... The tension may be too great....

If sure love one though
 
#7,423
5string_phunk said:
Good Morning Everyone!

Let me start by saying I've been a Spector guy for almost a decade, currently own 2 fantastic US Bolt-ons, and have never really bonded with the more traditional Jazz or Precision body shape. Of the thousands that I've tried, there have only been a very small number that have made me truly GAS for one. ...that was until yesterday...

Yesterday, I played a US 44-64 that blew my mind. It was effortless to play, was extremely musical/reactive and sounded amazing!! I played it for over 45 minutes, all while checking out other Laklands/Fenders/Sadowsky's etc, and it was the best instrument in the store, IMO. Doing a bit of research, I noticed there are 44-64's advertised as 'Classic' and 'Vintage', with ~ $1000 price difference between the two. Are these two distinctly different models or the same instrument with different branding during a price increase? If they are different models, what are the differences?

Also, How consistent are the necks of the US models? I'm a big fan of how this one feels, but honestly not too thrilled about the color. If they are pretty consistent, I may just one save a bit more and order one. However, color doesn't mean all the much to me in the long run if this is one of the 'special' ones.

Either way, I'm going back to the store today...
Click to expand...

Buy this one and have it painted. Cheaper than a new bass and satisfaction with the bass is guaranteed.
 
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#7,424
5string_phunk said:
Good Morning Everyone!

Let me start by saying I've been a Spector guy for almost a decade, currently own 2 fantastic US Bolt-ons, and have never really bonded with the more traditional Jazz or Precision body shape. Of the thousands that I've tried, there have only been a very small number that have made me truly GAS for one. ...that was until yesterday...

Yesterday, I played a US 44-64 that blew my mind. It was effortless to play, was extremely musical/reactive and sounded amazing!! I played it for over 45 minutes, all while checking out other Laklands/Fenders/Sadowsky's etc, and it was the best instrument in the store, IMO. Doing a bit of research, I noticed there are 44-64's advertised as 'Classic' and 'Vintage', with ~ $1000 price difference between the two. Are these two distinctly different models or the same instrument with different branding during a price increase? If they are different models, what are the differences?

Also, How consistent are the necks of the US models? I'm a big fan of how this one feels, but honestly not too thrilled about the color. If they are pretty consistent, I may just one save a bit more and order one. However, color doesn't mean all the much to me in the long run if this is one of the 'special' ones.

Either way, I'm going back to the store today...
Click to expand...

Congrats on discovering Lakland! Hold on....you are in for quite a ride.

Are you sure the difference is not US manufactured vs import?

That is usually the major cost difference.

$1,000 is about the difference on the used market between the 2.

The necks on the US models are VERY consistent....and very comfy.

I'm with Tom...buy this one and have Pat Wilkins paint it....He can do it pretty reasonably.

We need pics once you have it in hand!
 
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#7,425
5string_phunk said:
Good Morning Everyone!

Let me start by saying I've been a Spector guy for almost a decade, currently own 2 fantastic US Bolt-ons, and have never really bonded with the more traditional Jazz or Precision body shape. Of the thousands that I've tried, there have only been a very small number that have made me truly GAS for one. ...that was until yesterday...

Yesterday, I played a US 44-64 that blew my mind. It was effortless to play, was extremely musical/reactive and sounded amazing!! I played it for over 45 minutes, all while checking out other Laklands/Fenders/Sadowsky's etc, and it was the best instrument in the store, IMO. Doing a bit of research, I noticed there are 44-64's advertised as 'Classic' and 'Vintage', with ~ $1000 price difference between the two. Are these two distinctly different models or the same instrument with different branding during a price increase? If they are different models, what are the differences?

Also, How consistent are the necks of the US models? I'm a big fan of how this one feels, but honestly not too thrilled about the color. If they are pretty consistent, I may just one save a bit more and order one. However, color doesn't mean all the much to me in the long run if this is one of the 'special' ones.

Either way, I'm going back to the store today...
Click to expand...
The differences between the Classic and the USA 44-64 (which they are now referring to as Vintage= dang marketing!) are pretty minimal. Both are made in the USA, have quarter sawn maple necks with graphite reinforcement bars. the classics have limited colors and just white pickguards, only alder bodies, regular maple (not birdseye) fingerboards (the vintage have ebony dots, not sure about the classics), the rosewood boards on the vintage have maple dots, not sure about the classics. The pickup is the same Lakland/Hanson p pickup with passive electronics. The tuners are Hipshot licensed ultralites on the classics and hipshot usa full size on the vintage. I read somewhere that the bridge is the skyline bridge on the classics, but I am not 100% sure on that (or if there is even a difference). Both the classics and vintage offer string through body ferrules as well. Also, the classics don’t come with the chrome pickup cover/bell.

Hope that is helpful. I’ve got 2 US 5 strings and danged if they aren’t pushing the rest of my basses to the back of the rotation the more I play them.
 
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#7,426
5string_phunk said:
I noticed there are 44-64's advertised as 'Classic' and 'Vintage', with ~ $1000 price difference between the two. Are these two distinctly different models or the same instrument with different branding during a price increase? If they are different models, what are the differences?
Click to expand...
I found some pricing info on the Lakland website. I believe the difference to be differences in the options. Classic series has limited options. Vintage series offers some customization...? I'm no expert, just a devoted fan!
Welcome to Lakland
 
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#7,427
Thanks for the feedback guys! The one's I've seen labeled Classic have been around $2250 and the ones I've seen labeled 'vintage' are around $3300. Each time they were definitely US builds.

I agree the neck is what really stuck out as incredible. Add that to the plek job and it plays like buttah!! I played several different makes and models yesterday and this one is the one I went back to each time.

As for the color, I'm can overlook it for the right bass. But, it's growing on me the more I stare at the pic I took of it yesterday! ...and if I can get it at the price I think I can get it for, I could have it refinished and still be much cheaper than a new build...but that'd be a ways down the road!
 
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#7,428
MattLplaysBass said:
The differences between the Classic and the USA 44-64 (which they are now referring to as Vintage= dang marketing!) are pretty minimal. Both are made in the USA, have quarter sawn maple necks with graphite reinforcement bars. the classics have limited colors and just white pickguards, only alder bodies, regular maple (not birdseye) fingerboards (the vintage have ebony dots, not sure about the classics), the rosewood boards on the vintage have maple dots, not sure about the classics. The pickup is the same Lakland/Hanson p pickup with passive electronics. The tuners are Hipshot licensed ultralites on the classics and hipshot usa full size on the vintage. I read somewhere that the bridge is the skyline bridge on the classics, but I am not 100% sure on that (or if there is even a difference). Both the classics and vintage offer string through body ferrules as well. Also, the classics don’t come with the chrome pickup cover/bell.

Hope that is helpful. I’ve got 2 US 5 strings and danged if they aren’t pushing the rest of my basses to the back of the rotation the more I play them.
Click to expand...

Gougedeye said:
I found some pricing info on the Lakland website. I believe the difference to be differences in the options. Classic series has limited options. Vintage series offers some customization...? I'm no expert, just a devoted fan!
Welcome to Lakland
Click to expand...

Thanks for confirming!!

This is the site I stumbled on that had me scratching my head...seemed like most of the differences were cosmetic.

Link Removed
 
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#7,429
MattLplaysBass said:
The differences between the Classic and the USA 44-64 (which they are now referring to as Vintage= dang marketing!) are pretty minimal. Both are made in the USA, have quarter sawn maple necks with graphite reinforcement bars. the classics have limited colors and just white pickguards, only alder bodies, regular maple (not birdseye) fingerboards (the vintage have ebony dots, not sure about the classics), the rosewood boards on the vintage have maple dots, not sure about the classics. The pickup is the same Lakland/Hanson p pickup with passive electronics. The tuners are Hipshot licensed ultralites on the classics and hipshot usa full size on the vintage. I read somewhere that the bridge is the skyline bridge on the classics, but I am not 100% sure on that (or if there is even a difference). Both the classics and vintage offer string through body ferrules as well. Also, the classics don’t come with the chrome pickup cover/bell.

Hope that is helpful. I’ve got 2 US 5 strings and danged if they aren’t pushing the rest of my basses to the back of the rotation the more I play them.
Click to expand...

Excellent Description.....
 
#7,430
5string_phunk said:
Thanks for the feedback guys! The one's I've seen labeled Classic have been around $2250 and the ones I've seen labeled 'vintage' are around $3300. Each time they were definitely US builds.

I agree the neck is what really stuck out as incredible. Add that to the plek job and it plays like buttah!! I played several different makes and models yesterday and this one is the one I went back to each time.

As for the color, I'm can overlook it for the right bass. But, it's growing on me the more I stare at the pic I took of it yesterday! ...and if I can get it at the price I think I can get it for, I could have it refinished and still be much cheaper than a new build...but that'd be a ways down the road!
Click to expand...

Please show us the Pics!
You know the old saying “....or it did not happen”
 
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#7,433
5string_phunk said:
Thanks for confirming!!

This is the site I stumbled on that had me scratching my head...seemed like most of the differences were cosmetic.

Link Removed
Click to expand...


Just checked with Leo at Lakland... This is a legit site!

They are going custom as an option!

I've had Carl Pedigo " custom option up" a few basses I just love
 
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#7,435
Lammchop93 said:
There’s a local store near me that has a 55-02 that just plays like a dream. I want it, but the 19mm string spacing is just too much for me. I’m a 16-17mm player all the way. are there any options for me to achieve this with a Lakland?
Click to expand...

I texted Leo to find out.... Will let you know

Wow.. He was quick... Sorry no other spacing options since they only have 1 bridge
 
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#7,438
Gougedeye said:
I wonder if you could just change out the saddles to threaded ones?
Click to expand...
That might work but he would also have to re-drill the string feed through holes in the bridge for the spacing he wants. Might also need the jazz neck spacing at the nut to have tighter spacing along the whole length of the string. And with the tighter spacing as you approach the heel end of the neck the outer strings would be inset from the sides of the fretboard by a couple of millimeters. So that might be weird. Hmmm.
 
#7,440

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