Lakland Owners Group #69

[cv115505]

I got to take a picture of all the babies before we packed up to move. Left to right:

US 44-14
US 55-14
US 44-60
Skyline Decade with humbuckers

 

[nervous]

expect (no offense Lakland) to be underwhelmed by the tone due to poor pickups. Get some Nordstrands or Bart soaps in there pronto. IMO and YMMV

There's certainly a mixed bag of reviews on the electronics. I'll be curious and am fully willing to play with it. Looking back through this forum last night some have said its the preamp that is the weak link in this model, that the pickups paired with a better pre is a nice combo. Or, is the pre fine and OK paired with a better set of pickups? Many have simply pulled everything and replaced with USA Bart bits, or a Bart/Lakland pairing. As I mentioned it will come with a set of Nordstrand Big Splits so that initial quick swap is easy.

 

[Eilif]

expect (no offense Lakland) to be underwhelmed by the tone due to poor pickups. Get some Nordstrands or Bart soaps in there pronto. IMO and YMMV

I would suggest a different tack. If the tone isn't what you want try swapping the pre first.

There's certainly a mixed bag of reviews on the electronics. I'll be curious and am fully willing to play with it. Looking back through this forum last night some have said its the preamp that is the weak link in this model, that the pickups paired with a better pre is a nice combo. Or, is the pre fine and OK paired with a better set of pickups? Many have simply pulled everything and replaced with USA Bart bits, or a Bart/Lakland pairing. As I mentioned it will come with a set of Nordstrand Big Splits so that initial quick swap is easy.

I think the consensus is pretty solid at this point that the pickups are actually quite good but the pre is the weak link. I asked Carl Pedigo about it an he said that alot of folks who mess with the guts end up coming back to the original MK pickups with the Lakland preamp.

Of course many folks will have their own taste in pickups, but it does seem that swaping the preamp is a much better place to start. I don't think I've heard of anyone who ended up satisified with new pups and stock pre.

From personal experience, my 55-01 sounded good enough stock and was my main player for years. However, I got the passive Chi bug and decide to go passive with Chi's. Finally got a passive harness in it that I liked but by that time I had my Carlo and I didn't dig the 55-01's heavier weight anymore so I put everything back stock and sold it and the chi's.

If I had it to do again I think I'd just take Carl's advice.

One additional point I'd add is that Ibanez appears to have the same opinion as Carl. You can still find the MK pickups on some very good sounding Ibanez basses, but they are now paired with an improved preamp of Ibanez' design. I don't dig the soundgear style or skinny necks at all, but I can't deny that it's a very nice sounding combination.

 

[inthebassclef]

I personally like Lakland passive pickups. Wasn't crazy about their active setup, had a 494. But my 4460 sounds amazing

 

[Holdsg]

I would suggest a different tack. If the tone isn't what you want try swapping the pre first.

I think the consensus is pretty solid at this point that the pickups are actually quite good but the pre is the weak link. I asked Carl Pedigo about it an he said that alot of folks who mess with the guts end up coming back to the original MK pickups with the Lakland preamp.

Of course many folks will have their own taste in pickups, but it does seem that swaping the preamp is a much better place to start. I don't think I've heard of anyone who ended up satisified with new pups and stock pre.

From personal experience, my 55-01 sounded good enough stock and was my main player for years. However, I got the passive Chi bug and decide to go passive with Chi's. Finally got a passive harness in it that I liked but by that time I had my Carlo and I didn't dig the 55-01's heavier weight anymore so I put everything back stock and sold it and the chi's.

If I had it to do again I think I'd just take Carl's advice.

One additional point I'd add is that Ibanez appears to have the same opinion as Carl. You can still find the MK pickups on some very good sounding Ibanez basses, but they are now paired with an improved preamp of Ibanez' design. I don't dig the soundgear style or skinny necks at all, but I can't deny that it's a very nice sounding combination.

I can totally support this as well.
It's been a while since I played a stock '01

 

[Eilif]

I can totally support this as well.
It's been a while since I played a stock '01

Stock isn't a bad instrument at all. Maybe a bit harsh, but nothing that can't be tamed with the onboard EQ. However, I think the problem is that the -01 series electronics and pups are compared against two sets of instruments

1. The rest of the Lakland Skyline lineup which is so dialed in, and all of which have USA pickups and electronics and most of which are in-house Chicago made that it's a stark contrast.

2. Other instruments in it's price range. While I'll put the build quality (an the whole package for that matter) of a 55-01 against anything in it's class, other makers have moved a beyond the MK1 Pre and Pups combination. I mentioned earlier the Ibanez instruments at the same price point use MK1 pups with an improved proprietary preamp but even beyond that you can get an Ibanez for $150 less than the 55-01 with Nordstrand (albeit overeas made) designed pickups. All this to say the state of the art for electronics in instruments at this price point has moved beyond the '01's and that is unfortunate.

I'd really like to see Lakland do a simplified version of their LH preamp for offshore production and put it in the 55-01, but I'm also equally possitive that even that would me notably more expensive than the MK1 pre which has been in production for a decade and a half now.

 

[jnslprd]

Any Joe Osborn skyline owners have string recommendations?

 

[inthebassclef]

Any Joe Osborn skyline owners have string recommendations?

Ti jazz rounds
Sound amazing in a 4460

 

[overbybr]

Any Joe Osborn skyline owners have string recommendations?

Kalium Strings

 

[OnederTone]

Any Joe Osborn skyline owners have string recommendations?

DR lo-Riders.

 

[Lovep]

DR lo-Riders.

Ditto! I also use the DR Pure Blues

 

[inthebassclef]

Ditto! I also use the DR Pure Blues

Lo riders do sound good on a 4460 as well. Also flats sounds really nice too. So low tension La bellas or TI jazz

 

[Tewest86]

My special JO5. The previous owner had it routed for a preamp and side jack. It has an Aguilar preamp and Fender SCN pickups. I added the maple fretboard neck.

 

[mark beem]

Gentlemen! I'll likely me moving my Skyline 55-02 soon and wanted to give everyone here a heads-up first, in case you or someone you know may be interested. 2016 model in excellent / practically mint condition. Don't worry! I'll still be in "The Family". My customized 55-01 fretless and 55-64 aren't going anywhere..

 

[rjz]

I assume you all keep track of Lakland posts in the classifieds, but just in case here's a Skyline Hollowbody I'm selling. I should put emphasis on the OBO...

For Sale - Lakland Skyline Hollowbody Fretless

 

[jnslprd]

Thanks everyone for the string recommendations gonna try the DRs first since they are cheap. I am using D'adario NYXLs on my 4-94 now and liking them,but not sure how they will be on a jazz bass.

 

[Tom P]

Nice US Glaub with a Darkstar - no relation to seller, just a find.
US Lakland 44-64 Bob Glaub with Hammon Dark Star Pickup

 

[overbybr]

Nice US Glaub with a Darkstar - no relation to seller, just a find.
US Lakland 44-64 Bob Glaub with Hammon Dark Star Pickup

Gorgeous!!

 

[gotfunk21]

... Any one know how to date the serial number? There is 9 digits to it.

First 2 digits are the year.
Or buy it flowers and take it to dinner! Get it?! Get it?! Wwha wwwwha

 

[Lovep]

My 2013 US 55-60 arrived this afternoon! I already have a Skyline version that I use with round wounds. The US version is strung with flats and sounds and feels incredible!