Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
I’m 51 days into my wait-time for the new USA 44-64 that’s being built for me. I’m curious about the Lakland precision pickup, since I haven’t heard one yet. I’ve read where someone said it’s most similar to the Lindy Fralin precision pickup. Is that an accurate statement? I do love the Fralin precision pickup, although the Aguilar AG 4P-60 has become my favorite, out of all the ones I’ve tried or used.
I played Fralin +5% pup in a MIM Fender and I have the custom 44-64 PJ now. The Lakland pickups definitely sound better to me but I would agree that there is some similarity. Heads above the standard Precision pup in my opinion.
I recently got a 2004 Skyline DJ5 in a trade. It came with a strange brown and white pickguard that was just not doing this beauty justice. Luckily it was just a sticker over the original white.
I decided to dress her up with a pearl pickguard. I’m partial to the white pearl, but I bought a black pearl as well.
What say you? White, white pearloid or black pearloid?
I decided to dress her up with a pearl pickguard. I’m partial to the white pearl, but I bought a black pearl as well.
What say you? White, white pearloid or black pearloid?
It's a hard choice between the perloids but personally I like the black perloid slightly more. It's more unique and makes the blocks and binding pop a little more. But it may look different in person and with various lighting.
Same build quality and superb feeling neck. Definitely a different sound from a P or J style bass, although it's been too many years since I sold mine to remember finer details. With the Decade's neck pickup being so far towards the neck, you're going to be able to get a fatter deeper tone than you should get from a passive J... somewhat like a P but warmer and woolier. And then, there's the bridge pickup that is right up on the bridge, giving you the option of adding in growl and bite. Others that are more equipped (verbally and aurally) will better describe what I'm trying to say.
As for feel, the Decade felt weird and hung oddly on me. When using a strap and standing, the short upper horn causes the Decade to hang to the left (on a right handed person) and leaves the left hand landing several inches up the neck (toward the bass body). So, if you closed your eyes and reached for the 7th fret, you'd land between the 10th and 12th. This is the same issue I've had when playing a Warwick Thumb. Also, my plucking hand couldn't find an anchor, due to the pickup placement. So, I would have had to install a thumbrest near the MM humbucker or P pickup area, if I'd kept it and used it as a main player. Oddly, I've not had the thumbrest issue yet with my Scheff... maybe I've become more adaptable lately, who knows.
I will be changing my pick-ups on my Skyline 44-64 Custom DD.
I had a SD PB II put in my 50's Classic MIM and it sounded great, but I am juggling between another one of those or a set of Fender 62's.
I prefer the older school P Bass sound with Flats.
I had a SD PB II put in my 50's Classic MIM and it sounded great, but I am juggling between another one of those or a set of Fender 62's.
I prefer the older school P Bass sound with Flats.
Try the Duncan SPB-1 . I had one in my Duck with flats and it was the perfect Stax/Motown sound.
old school P Bass with Flats, you say? I say...Lollar.
I think white pearl matches really nice with the block inlays.
Agree totally for the Lollar P pickups. Or Lindy Fralins based on your taste. Older Lakland models came with Fralins so you can get an idea of how they would sound on your bass.
I really appreciate your response. I totally understand what you are saying. From the few sound clips I checked on the web I would expect it to have a punchier and more aggressive P sound. But my main concern was what you said exactly about the feel - that it causes your hands to move further on the side and it may not be very pleasant or helpful while playing.
Some people have zero issues with Decades, Warwick Thumbs, Thunderbirds etc. I’m 6’4” with long arms and I still have issues with basses that require me to reach way out for the low notes, it just feels wrong to me.
I’ve settled in on the white pearloid for the DJ5 (see my post above).
Question: I want to replace the tuners with Hipshot Ultralite US. They over a couple of different sizes 1/2 and 3/8. Does it matter which one it get?
I was looking at these:
HB6 - 3/8
Thanks in advance!
Question: I want to replace the tuners with Hipshot Ultralite US. They over a couple of different sizes 1/2 and 3/8. Does it matter which one it get?
I was looking at these:
HB6 - 3/8
Thanks in advance!
Take no chances. Call Hipshot. They have great CS and know all the details of both the Skyline and US Lakland hardware. They can tell you if you can swap, and which ones will work.
I can't recall 100% but I believe the larger, 1/2" on the USA version. Done this a couple times and most recently on a BG5. If you get a chance just remove one string from the post, pull the nut and measure the outside of that and then you'll know for sure. Note too that you will most likely have to open all those holes up a bit. Imports w/ LIC versions are metric as I recall. Patience with a rolled up bit of 100-150 paper will get it done. Go slow, an easy. rotate not up and down. I have found those finished rather brittle.
I seem to recall Hipshot having some part for this... contacting them is probably best
The foreign hipshot tuners are slightly undersized compared to the US tuners IIRC. I had a skyline I wanted to add US tuners to once, and I ended up needing to sand the peg holes a millimeter or two to get them to fit. YMMV. +1 on confirming with Hipshot though. May have been user error.
Thanks so much for the comments. I will definitely call Hipshot today. The current tuners are quite hard to turn and they don't keep tune very well at all. My US 55-60 on average stays in tune for ~24-48 hours before I have to make adjustments (depending on my playing style). On the Skyline DJ5, I have to tune multiple times a day....
