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Well, you ask in Lakland Lovers Group so the answer is... bit predictable
True, but I have had both answers .Well, you ask in Lakland Lovers Group so the answer is... bit predictable
All depends on a sell or trade of my current bass in the classifieds. FYI here it is. Worth about 1900, but selling for 1700. Now on the block for the lowest I can take. Just in case one of you wants to trade one of your US laklands. Just in case .
For Sale - Pulling on Sunday - Last Call - Roscoe Century Standard 6 - 75 Shipped this weekend
The 55-94/02 is fantastic, I primarily used the north coil and full coil. the full coil had a fantastic quack when the blend was rolled back to it. The DJ5 is probably the most punchy, aggressive, funky, 70's sounding bass on the planet. But conversely, it's full warm and gentle depending on your attack and picking position. It's extraordinarily versatile.
However, I do miss the 55-02. When I start gigging again, I may pick up another one.
However, I do miss the 55-02. When I start gigging again, I may pick up another one.
I believe it was late 2005/early 2006.
I've played the Roscoes and the Lakland's side by side A LOT (worked in a shop that carried both) I'm a Lakland guy through and through, but the Roscoes are beasts. I'm not a huge fan of the smaller bodies on some of the Roscoes, but tone wise they are great... but... they're pretty modern sounding all the time. With lakland I can dial in modern tones AND get more traditional J and P style tones with a little eq tweak... opposed to someone upthread, I prefer to cut rather than boost to get that, (flat is generally my starting point anyway)
either way you go, you can't go wrong. Both are killer companies with AMAZING support.
I have been playing for 25 odd years, endorsed by Warrior, pretty much played them all (or ones I cared too). It's hard to beat a Roscoe's sound (and their low B), but as you stated, it is a modern Jazz. So obviously a Lakland 55-something should work just well looking for a different sound/feel.
Yes they do go fast...US quality at a great price!
Okay Lakland experts, is there any truth to the “golden era” of Lakland (around the turn of the century), or is it just sellers trying to get some extra $$$? Some of them have better figured woods than the newer ones, but other than that? For the record, my 55-94 is a 2012 and the birdseye on the fingerboard is slight, but there, and the quilt top is alright, but nothing crazy. My Bob Glaub 5 is an ‘09, and it seems to have a vintage tint to the neck, which is super sexy.
The reason I ask is there’s one on Reverb that I’m eyeing (and have missed out on before), but this will be the 4th time it’s been sold in 6 months, so I am hesitant.
The reason I ask is there’s one on Reverb that I’m eyeing (and have missed out on before), but this will be the 4th time it’s been sold in 6 months, so I am hesitant.
Some like TomP think so.
I've had older and newer US Laklands and they are all great quality...
Tabby (my favorite 5594) is early to mid 2000s.
My 5507 has a neck from the mid to late 2000s and it feels awesome.
All that being said...my favorite neck was on my CAR fretless 5594 I had for a bit. The body was newer but the neck was pre 2000... So maybe there is something to the turn of the century basses...
4x in 6 months is strange..... Maybe I'd stay away?
I've had older and newer US Laklands and they are all great quality...
Tabby (my favorite 5594) is early to mid 2000s.
My 5507 has a neck from the mid to late 2000s and it feels awesome.
All that being said...my favorite neck was on my CAR fretless 5594 I had for a bit. The body was newer but the neck was pre 2000... So maybe there is something to the turn of the century basses...
4x in 6 months is strange..... Maybe I'd stay away?
I think it’s mostly salesmanship. Awesome basses? Yes. Secret sauce that only Dan and Hugh had that went away when the Pirruccello‘s bought the company out? I don’t buy that for a second. I think in the early years fewer basses were produced, so they had a better choice of Birdseye Maple and body quilt and flame. At the time there wasn’t a luthier under every armpit, so there was more choice wood to go around. Does that make those 7 or 10 years that people call the “golden Era” equivalent to pre- CBS Fender? I don’t think so... I personally prefer the changes... the LH3 pickups and pres are In my mind better than the Bart’s... the new exotic tops are great, and the stable production means that we have both quality and quantity of great instruments.
I don’t think there are any bad ones, or any magic ones... if a turn of the century Lakland trips your trigger buy it, but don’t pay a premium just for the year.
Oh...there are a few....I've been lucky enough to own 1-2 and play/fondle a few others.
My 5507 is extra special Imho.
And the Osborn that they were building for Adam Clayton many years ago ( that he never played... Long long story) was " magic".
I remember walking into the shop and Carl Pedigo was all giddy.... He couldn't get me to the bass fast enough....he really didn't say much except.." here.. play this..."
I grabbed it and even before I plugged it in I was smiling.... It just felt like no other bass....it played like no other bass (really).....so so smooth.
Carl just looked at me and smiled and just said... " Right?".
I asked him what he did differently..... He said nothing special BUT he did mention that all of the Lakland employees felt that one was special.
I then asked who's it was and he told me....I was floored. I actually got to play a bass that belonged to Adam Clayton.
That was truly a special bass...unfortunately it was parted out later on with Adam taking the neck but getting a few new bodies along the way...
Carl said the bass never felt the same after switching out the body.
I do agree though.... Don't spend any extra.
I was just on Reverb to see if I could guess at the one you were talking about..... Couldn't come to a conclusion.
That being said...I found my DREAM Scheff 5er.....had a major GAS attack.... Which I have not had in a while...but the price is crazy $2999....nope... Can't do that!
I was just on Reverb to see if I could guess at the one you were talking about..... Couldn't come to a conclusion.
That being said...I found my DREAM Scheff 5er.....had a major GAS attack.... Which I have not had in a while...but the price is crazy $2999....nope... Can't do that!
The individual cuts of wood make the biggest difference. Because section of the cut wood has a slightly different grain, density, etc, two necks from one 8ft piece of wood can have totally different feels.
Any bass made from a CNC machine, as Laklands are, is a prime example as variations are minimized.
FWIW, my ugliest bass, the one I hate the looks of the most, one that I bought to resell, feels and sounds INCREDIBLE.
When you mate those two special pieces together, and you never know which ones are special until the end, its magic.
Any bass made from a CNC machine, as Laklands are, is a prime example as variations are minimized.
FWIW, my ugliest bass, the one I hate the looks of the most, one that I bought to resell, feels and sounds INCREDIBLE.
When you mate those two special pieces together, and you never know which ones are special until the end, its magic.
As has been with any Lakland I have played they are all fantastic. Its the necks. With that said I personally think the improvements that have been made are for the better. Better pickups for one. Don't believe the hype of the so called golden era. All Lakland are fantastic.
Unfortunately...me neither!
On a side note, I own 3 55-94s. 1 from 1997, 1 from 1999 with a 2009 neck and 1 from 2016. The '97 is just plain special! Great neck! The '99 with the '09 plays great and the neck on that bass is super! The '16 is a beautiful example of the quality that is Lakland.! All 3 play and feel and sound very similar to each other. Is there magic in the old ones? I don't know. I've never met one I didn't like!
Oh I’ll never dispute there are magic “ones” I just don’t ascribe to the thought that there were magic “years”...
- Sep 14, 2012
- 1,561
- 1,210
- 40
- Disclosures
- Reverend Guitars ; SIT Strings ; Trickfish Amplifiers ; LK Straps ; Rattlesnake Cables
I don’t know about magic ones but I can say I’ve never played a bad one... US or Skyline
Lakland 55-94 Deluxe 2002 Natural | Gear Locker
Of course, the shot by the pool makes it look better since it’s 10 degrees and snowing here
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