Lakland Owners Group #69

[JEDI BASS]

I also need to stick a toothpick in the strap pin at the bottom of the bass. I keep having to tighten the screw (swapped out for Dunlops).

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She’s a beauty!

Slather some wood glue on the toothpick and sink the screw before it dries. I’ve done this on some older beater basses before and never had to mess with them again.

 

[davidak]

Interesting comparison

 

[JEDI BASS]

With same pickups, electronics, strings, and woods... they should sound nearly identical. The switch to US from import is more about the feel of the neck and overall fit n finish improvements, IMO and IME.

 

[davidak]

Of course, I would prefer US Lakland any day and for a reason. If it all would be about sound only, I would play Variax bass

 

[Jamvan]

Interesting comparison

Hey, did you used to do all the Angeldust Guitar videos?

 

[JEDI BASS]

Of course, I would prefer US Lakland any day and for a reason. If it all would be about sound only, I would play Variax bass

Don’t get me started on the Variax!! Before I found Lakland, I bought a 5 string new and the floor unit (was it called a POD?) and the special cable. You can mimic a “real” bass but you sound just as fake as the word mimic implies. I can’t say enough negative things about that junk of a bass and effects unit!

Now, I play real basses with real pickups! And I play through amps with real tubes and actual speaker cabinets. I’ve been told I have the best tone in east TN multiple times. I tell them they should get out more LOL, cause I have local favorites that I think sound even better.... and they play through real gear too.

Variax is $#!+ !!!

 

[Tom P]

Stay warm Douglas! - it's heading my way.....

 

[basspraiser]

Interesting comparison

Proves 2 things:

1) Skylines are just as great sounding as the US models.....( Due to same electronics,)

2) Playing technique is everything...a good player is a good player.. Whatever they play!

 

[metron]

I am a proud new owner of a Decade going back 2.5 weeks. Mine's a Skyline, picked up in a trade.

I put up a NBD post back then. I've played with it at rehearsal once and found it to be a lot bassier than my usual SB-2. The neck pickup really fattens things up. I did some recording this weekend with it as well and had to dial back the bridge and tone to smooth things out. The song called for a mellower sound and with the bridge PUP and tone dimed, it was too much.

It seems to get a barky/shouty tone when everything is maxed out. Using some finesse with the dials will really tame the sound you're getting. I'm excited to hear the recordings back. Hope to have some rough tracks by the weekend.

The physical aspect of the bass is a little weird. When I played a Sterling, resting on the bridge PUP was no big deal. Then I moved to an SB-2 and rode the bridge for a long time. Somehow, over the years, I've morphed into resting where a P-bass pickup sits. It's comfy!

Then this Decade rode into my life and now I have to be very thoughtful about where thumb placement is as it will definitely color the sound of your tone, which is impacted even more with the dials.

Initially I was thinking of flipping this bass to fund another one, but the more I play it, the more I'm starting to appreciate what it can do.

But I may need to lower the PUPs; I'm a heavy plucker and if I'm not careful, I get a lot of clicking and clacking. I also need to stick a toothpick in the strap pin at the bottom of the bass. I keep having to tighten the screw (swapped out for Dunlops).

Here she is, the good ol' transparent burgundy Skyline:

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I agree with your assessments. I’m interested to hear how lowering the pickup works out, if you have a chance to post about it.

Looks great and Im glad you are at least starting to dig it!

 

[bassburner]

I'm finally in the club with my 44-64 Custom. Some 760FLs and it sounds amazing especially with the Shuttle 9 that I just picked up.

 

[JEDI BASS]

I'm finally in the club with my 44-64 Custom. Some 760FLs and it sounds amazing especially with the Shuttle 9 that I just picked up.

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Congrats!! Beautiful bass! And Genz Benz amps have been my main workhorses for the last 10+ years. I love ‘em!! I used to have two Shuttle 6.0s powering two Bergs (NV215 and NV425). Now I have a much smaller gig rig: Streamliner 900 paired & 2 Aguilar DB112NTs. I love the tubie-ness of the Streamliner! I hear the new Genzler solid state amps are amazing. But, I’m not ready to give up the tubes yet.

 

[Holdsg]

@basspraiser, @Gecko 5, @ everyone else suffering nature's wrath, stay warm my friends!

 

[3bc]

@basspraiser, @Gecko 5, @ everyone else suffering nature's wrath, stay warm my friends!

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pretty much! mail didn't even come yesterday, and it was about 0. -15 today and -20 tomorrow, can't imagine we'll see them again til friday or saturday.

 

[3bc]

Hey, did you used to do all the Angeldust Guitar videos?

That was my quick comparison video and no, I was not involved in the angel dust vids. Those were really well produced! Mine was done after a bottle of wine and at 1 in the morning if the handful of clammed notes were not a great indicator...

 

[basspraiser]

 

[basspraiser]

@basspraiser, @Gecko 5, @ everyone else suffering nature's wrath, stay warm my friends!

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Thanks Gman!
I hear you guys are getting a cool wave as well...a buddy of mine from Oakland said his kids needed a jacket to go to school this morning

 

[Drkwdsman]

Quick question, contemplating trading my Lull P5 35” for a Lakland 44-60. One, I haven’t played a four string in about 20 years and I Have gotten pretty used to the 35” neck.

Do any of you guys switch in and out with 4 to 5s pretty regularly? Notice much difference.

FYI all my current basses are 5 string 35” including two Laklans. My thought and my wife’s is that I won’t play it since it’s a four string.

 

[3bc]

Quick question, contemplating trading my Lull P5 35” for a Lakland 44-60. One, I haven’t played a four string in about 20 years and I Have gotten pretty used to the 35” neck.

Do any of you guys switch in and out with 4 to 5s pretty regularly? Notice much difference.

FYI all my current basses are 5 string 35” including two Laklans. My thought and my wife’s is that I won’t play it since it’s a four string.

That will be a lot to adjust to.

I had some adjusting going from a 4 string Warwick to a 4 string lakland because of string spacing and 24 vs 22 frets.

But I am a 4 string only guy so I say go for it!

 

[Gougedeye]

Do any of you guys switch in and out with 4 to 5s pretty regularly? Notice much difference.

I used to switch between 4 string and 5 string all the time. I never really noticed any problem. I think your wife is right, however, if you are a 5 string player, the 4 string will sit. Mine do.

 

[JEDI BASS]

Quick question, contemplating trading my Lull P5 35” for a Lakland 44-60. One, I haven’t played a four string in about 20 years and I Have gotten pretty used to the 35” neck.

Do any of you guys switch in and out with 4 to 5s pretty regularly? Notice much difference.

FYI all my current basses are 5 string 35” including two Laklans. My thought and my wife’s is that I won’t play it since it’s a four string.

I played 6ers, then 5ers from 1992 ‘til around 5 years ago when I decided I was going to start enjoying the greater variety of 4 strings, vintage and modern. I also wanted the freedom on stage that a 4 string gives me. I do not have any issue playing my 35” 5er after playing my 34” 4s. I don’t enjoy my 5er as much anymore... it has an extra string that I just don’t need LOL.