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Lakland Owners Group #69

#7,761
bassdood said:
Best years (or any years to avoid) for a Lakland 55-02?

I'm a 5-string player, and like narrow necks (such as ~ 1.8" at the nut), and like active basses. Am very curious to try a 35". Looking to buy my first Lakland, and am thinking 55-02. I know that the earlier models didn't have the Lakland pre-amp; not sure if the pups also changed. Any advice on which years to look for, or to avoid? (I looked, and didn't find a thread on this.)

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I haven't tried the Lakland 35" because I'm playing 4 string but I do have a 35" Modulus Q4 to compare with my 34" Lakland 44-64 PJ. The main difference for me is on the 35" I tend not to stretch far enough near the nut. Shows up with fast passages as an occasional fret chatter.

So I'm staying with 34" and 4 string and converting the Modulus to a BEAD for the occasional song that can use the sub E notes. YMMV probably depending on hand size, etc.
 
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#7,762
Mohawk said:
I haven't tried the Lakland 35" because I'm playing 4 string but I do have a 35" Modulus Q4 to compare with my 34" Lakland 44-64 PJ. The main difference for me is on the 35" I tend not to stretch far enough near the nut. Shows up with fast passages as an occasional fret chatter.

So I'm staying with 34" and 4 string and converting the Modulus to a BEAD for the occasional song that can use the sub E notes. YMMV probably depending on hand size, etc.
Click to expand...

As other 5-bangers can attest to, one of the great things about having a B string is not just the occasional sub-E note, but rather, that by shifting over one string, you can play at the same octave, higher up on the neck. The fatter strings will give you a beefier tone (if desired) on your entire riff over that chord. Plus, being higher on the neck means playing where the frets are closer together, which can make it easier to play fast passages. And, it enables an easy low-fifth on the B string off of any root note played on your E string. (Think of all the times you use the E string for a low fifth off a root that is on the A string.) After you get used to having a B string, I find that there are very few songs where I am not using it. And only a small minority of that is for sub-E notes.
 
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#7,763
bassdood said:
As other 5-bangers can attest to, one of the great things about having a B string is not just the occasional sub-E note, but rather, that by shifting over one string, you can play at the same octave, higher up on the neck. The fatter strings will give you a beefier tone (if desired) on your entire riff over that chord. Plus, being higher on the neck means playing where the frets are closer together, which can make it easier to play fast passages. And, it enables an easy low-fifth on the B string off of any root note played on your E string. (Think of all the times you use the E string for a low fifth off a root that is on the A string.) After you get used to having a B string, I find that there are very few songs where I am not using it. And only a small minority of that is for sub-E notes.
Click to expand...
I started playing bass with a 5-string and I agree completely. The advantage of the B-string has always been hand positioning, not necessarily the use of the lower notes. For this reason, I find it very hard to play a 4-string.
 
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#7,764
Lovep said:
I started playing bass with a 5-string and I agree completely. The advantage of the B-string has always been hand positioning, not necessarily the use of the lower notes. For this reason, I find it very hard to play a 4-string.
Click to expand...
And as an added bonus, if your guitarist likes to drop tune, and plays songs in his nominal E (real D#, etc), you don't have to re-tune or have a separate differently tuned bass on hand.
 
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#7,765
bassdood said:
As other 5-bangers can attest to, one of the great things about having a B string is not just the occasional sub-E note, but rather, that by shifting over one string, you can play at the same octave, higher up on the neck. The fatter strings will give you a beefier tone (if desired) on your entire riff over that chord. Plus, being higher on the neck means playing where the frets are closer together, which can make it easier to play fast passages. And, it enables an easy low-fifth on the B string off of any root note played on your E string. (Think of all the times you use the E string for a low fifth off a root that is on the A string.) After you get used to having a B string, I find that there are very few songs where I am not using it. And only a small minority of that is for sub-E notes.
Click to expand...
Interesting detail I hadn't thought of.
 
#7,766
bassdood said:
Best years (or any years to avoid) for a Lakland 55-02?

I'm a 5-string player, and like narrow necks (such as ~ 1.8" at the nut), and like active basses. Am very curious to try a 35". Looking to buy my first Lakland, and am thinking 55-02. I know that the earlier models didn't have the Lakland pre-amp; not sure if the pups also changed. Any advice on which years to look for, or to avoid? (I looked, and didn't find a thread on this.)

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I am not a 5 stringer but I have owned my fair share of Laklands. IMHO the “Dan Era” builds from ‘00 to ‘06 was when the shop really hit it’s stride. Again that’s MO, YMMV.
 
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#7,767
Tom P said:
I am not a 5 stringer but I have owned my fair share of Laklands. IMHO the “Dan Era” builds from ‘00 to ‘06 was when the shop really hit it’s stride. Again that’s MO, YMMV.
Click to expand...

Possibly true for US models. The OP was asking about the Skyline series. Some people believe the Korean versions (earlier) were superior than the Indonesian versions (later)...I've had both and both are fantastic.
 
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#7,775
Mohawk said:
Unfortunately you guys are making me really think about getting a 5 string now. I may have to sell a couple of basses and pick one up. Well it is a new year. Hope I'm not falling into the Lakland a year club. Lol.
Click to expand...
@Mohawk , When I switch back to a 4-string, I feel like I am playing a crippled instrument. That's not an exaggeration. And I am not some hot shot player, either.
 
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