Lakland Owners Group #69

[Jim C]

Still haven’t had a chance to swap out the pickups in my 55-01, but lately I’ve been contemplating also swapping out the Glockenklang 3-band that is in it for an Audere. I just wish there were more and higher quality sound samples of the Audere’s.

I have a 4401 and have spent hours searching.
Seems like the majority of folks say pre first and then pups if that doesn't do it for you.
For the money, the Audere offers the perfect form factor at a really good price point.
I think I will try them as the J bass guys all seem to love them.

However, I'm most interested in what 4401 and 5501 owners think!
Anybody with first hand preamp swap experience with soap bars?

 

[nervous]

I have a 4401 and have spent hours searching.
Seems like the majority of folks say pre first and then pups if that doesn't do it for you.
For the money, the Audere offers the perfect form factor at a really good price point.
I think I will try them as the J bass guys all seem to love them.

However, I'm most interested in what 4401 and 5501 owners think!
Anybody with first hand preamp swap experience with soap bars?

Well, I'll start with the 55-01. I had a lovely spalted version that I built with a set of Nordstrand Fat Stacks and a Pope preamp. I did not love installing the Pope pre and in the end did not love the pre as much as I'd hoped. Nice unit, subltle and musical, very refined to me. I found the output a bit low for my liking as well. It just didn't wow me. Those pickups are fine as well. I am a big NOordstrand pickup fan and have used them in many forms in my DJ5's and PJDJ 5's over the years. They really suit me. And those paired with the East pre has been high on my all time favorties list. I did on one ossacion pair a Nordstrand hum cancelling J set with an Audere Z something pre and that was impressive as well, but in a very differemt way. It was very 'musical' if that maks sense. Adjustments are again subtle but right. The East just has more muscle on all counts and that's just what I like I guess, not that it's not musical as well, just a different flavor of musical.

All that said, my only current functioning bass right now is a 55-02 with all stock USA Lakland PU and pre and for the first time in a very long time I have no desire to gut it or change anything.

 

[Silverpen]

I have a 4401 and have spent hours searching.
Seems like the majority of folks say pre first and then pups if that doesn't do it for you.
For the money, the Audere offers the perfect form factor at a really good price point.
I think I will try them as the J bass guys all seem to love them.

However, I'm most interested in what 4401 and 5501 owners think!
Anybody with first hand preamp swap experience with soap bars?

Skyline 55-01, here:

I have a set of Nordstrand Zen Blades, which I installed with a Nordstrand 3B-5A (had to look that last up...). Very clean. Generally Modern sounding, full stop. Switchable low/medium midrange control, stacked treble and bass knobs. And it also has a Tone knob, which can be dialed down for a more vintage vibe. {I originally thought that would be used when the bass is in passive mode... but no - It's basically a Vintage~Modern sweep control}.

Tone wise, it naturally leans more to a no-noise modern Jazz bass sound than a humbucker bass. I can also get a reasonable P-bass tone by panning the Pups to around 90~95% neck, cranking the (500Hz, I think) mids up, and rolling the Tone knob to what I dubbed as 'vintage'. Set like that, it has a decent - though not exactly 'correct' - P growl**. You can get a VERY wide range of sounds out of it, for sure

The install was pretty straightforward, as I had ordered it pre-wired directly from Nordstrand. I do have a small complaint, though: {100% understanding that, electrically & sonically, it makes no difference} The wiring used is very thin, and the insulation a little tough: This combination made it VERY difficult for my wire strippers to clean the ends without breaking the actual wire. I could have taken it to a tech, but I'm stubborn. So I used the loom as factory supplied, stuffing the long, long leads into the control cavity rather than cutting them to proper length.

Overall, it's a better pre than the stock (hissy treble) one. Worthwhile upgrade, and the mid control made the bass more versatile for sure. But I'm not blown away by it, either.

**{Mentally, I still have my eyes out for a Skyline 55-64: But those seem to be quite rare - either not many made, or those that have them are absolutely NOT selling them. Can't justify the USA made pricing for my VERY hack skill level, unfortunately...}

 

[PraiseBassing]

I have a 4401 and have spent hours searching.
Seems like the majority of folks say pre first and then pups if that doesn't do it for you.
For the money, the Audere offers the perfect form factor at a really good price point.
I think I will try them as the J bass guys all seem to love them.

However, I'm most interested in what 4401 and 5501 owners think!
Anybody with first hand preamp swap experience with soap bars?

I already have a Glockenklang 3-band preamp in it. It had it when I bought it. Have just been thinking about the extra mid control.

 

[JEDI BASS]

Edited...

Btw...no offence against Lakland's specialty top basses....

They get some of the best figured wood out there and they look gorgeous!!!

Do you “think” you got it right? ;-)

 

[JEDI BASS]

Edited...

Btw...no offence against Lakland's specialty top basses....

They get some of the best figured wood out there and they look gorgeous!!!

The other side of that is folks like me that find their favorite tones from swamp ash bodied basses. I don’t know that I’d necessarily want a top to add flavor. Feel free to send me basses so I can do a study.

 

[MaxSpinrun]

Yes.

That's what he says .. And I think they do

I have heard that before about top thickness effecting tone, but the question is how thick exactly does the top have to be to influence tone? The thicker the top is, the more expensive it would be.

 

[basspraiser]

I have heard that before about top thickness effecting tone, but the question is how thick exactly does the top have to be to influence tone? The thicker the top is, the more expensive it would be.

Not sure of the exact thickness required to effects tone.. And yes... It adds cost... And weight.

The top of my fretted Bubinga brother is approx half the total thickness of the body.. And it does add weight.

The fretless is about 1/4 of the thickness is the body as Carl needed wood for the fretboard....

Yes there's is a tonal difference.. But there are several differences between the 2 so I am sure the difference is not "just" due to the difference in the thickness of the top.

One is alder and the other is ash... Again a recommendation from Carl for the tone.

 

[MaxSpinrun]

Not sure of the exact thickness required to effects tone.. And yes... It adds cost... And weight.

The top of my fretted Bubinga brother is approx half the total thickness of the body.. And it does add weight.

The fretless is about 1/4 of the thickness is the body as Carl needed wood for the fretboard....

Yes there's is a tonal difference.. But there are several differences between the 2 so I am sure the difference is not "just" due to the difference in the thickness of the top.

One is alder and the other is ash... Again a recommendation from Carl for the tone.

Wow. That must have been an eye opening experience to be able to work that closely with Carl on your builds.

 

[basspraiser]

Wow. That must have been an eye opening experience to be able to work that closely with Carl on your builds.

It was a great experience....

 

[rmayer]

I finally got my first Lakland, after my good friend @chrisbmets has been telling me about them for a few years. This one's a USA made 44-60 Classic with a few factory upgrades. It has a lighter weight Ash body, has a rear rout in case I ever decide to go with an active preamp (also cut out a few ounces), dual concentric pots like the Vintage model, a great tortoise guard and dark rosewood board. The finish is their Tobacco Burst. It feels and sounds as great as it looks. Very happy to have a passive Jazz with single coils again.

 

[flashgod]

Duckin‘ around.

 

[basspraiser]

I finally got my first Lakland, after my good friend @chrisbmets has been telling me about them for a few years. This one's a USA made 44-60 Classic with a few factory upgrades. It has a lighter weight Ash body, has a rear rout in case I ever decide to go with an active preamp (also cut out a few ounces), dual concentric pots like the Vintage model, a great tortoise guard and dark rosewood board. The finish is their Tobacco Burst. It feels and sounds as great as it looks. Very happy to have a passive Jazz with single coils again.
View attachment 3582954 View attachment 3582956 View attachment 3582957 View attachment 3582958

Congrats!

I suspect it won't be your last..

 

[kmd88]

Hello Lakland Owners!

I am a bit of a lurker here on TB and I rarely post. There is so much useful info here that I rarely feel the need to chime in. I have a question for you all but first let me show you my Laklands! I am lucky enough to own a 55-14 and very early (1997) 55-94 fretless. Pics below!

These are amazingly well made instruments and as a born and raised Chicagoan, I am very proud to play and rep them out here in LA! The guitarist in my band has described the fretless as the nicest sounding fretless he has ever heard.

The 55-14 is my main bass and I'll be gigging it tonight. What I am finding though, is that my MusicMan Stingray 5 (1988) fits the sound of my band the best. For live shows though, I am more comfortable on the 35 scale and 19 mm spacing of the Lakland. While I do think the Hanson Pickups are very nice sounding, I am debating a pickup swap to suit my specific needs.

After doing some research here on TB, I am thinking of swapping out for a quad coil musicman style and humbucking jazz Nordstrand pickup. My question to you is has anyone made this mod? I am planning to keep the LH3 pre but I am wondering if the pickup swap will make that much of a difference. If inclined, please let me know your experiences and your opinions on the perceived changes.

I do not feel that I am improving the instrument but more so trying to suit my want of getting more of that aggressive Stingray character (to suit me). I would hope to retain some of the versatility of the instrument. I hope to and look forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions.

Thanks TB!

 

[Lovep]

I

I finally got my first Lakland, after my good friend @chrisbmets has been telling me about them for a few years. This one's a USA made 44-60 Classic with a few factory upgrades. It has a lighter weight Ash body, has a rear rout in case I ever decide to go with an active preamp (also cut out a few ounces), dual concentric pots like the Vintage model, a great tortoise guard and dark rosewood board. The finish is their Tobacco Burst. It feels and sounds as great as it looks. Very happy to have a passive Jazz with single coils again.
View attachment 3582954 View attachment 3582956 View attachment 3582957 View attachment 3582958

I have the 5-string version and it’s the bass that I hope to pass down to my kids. It’s really really good!

 

[basspraiser]

Hello Lakland Owners!

I am a bit of a lurker here on TB and I rarely post. There is so much useful info here that I rarely feel the need to chime in. I have a question for you all but first let me show you my Laklands! I am lucky enough to own a 55-14 and very early (1997) 55-94 fretless. Pics below!

View attachment 3583716 View attachment 3583718

These are amazingly well made instruments and as a born and raised Chicagoan, I am very proud to play and rep them out here in LA! The guitarist in my band has described the fretless as the nicest sounding fretless he has ever heard.

The 55-14 is my main bass and I'll be gigging it tonight. What I am finding though, is that my MusicMan Stingray 5 (1988) fits the sound of my band the best. For live shows though, I am more comfortable on the 35 scale and 19 mm spacing of the Lakland. While I do think the Hanson Pickups are very nice sounding, I am debating a pickup swap to suit my specific needs.

After doing some research here on TB, I am thinking of swapping out for a quad coil musicman style and humbucking jazz Nordstrand pickup. My question to you is has anyone made this mod? I am planning to keep the LH3 pre but I am wondering if the pickup swap will make that much of a difference. If inclined, please let me know your experiences and your opinions on the perceived changes.

I do not feel that I am improving the instrument but more so trying to suit my want of getting more of that aggressive Stingray character (to suit me). I would hope to retain some of the versatility of the instrument. I hope to and look forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions.

Thanks TB!

First of all :. WELCOME and a great pair of basses!!!

In some cases a pickup switch may help.

I'd you really like the MM sound... You may be able to get Lakland ( or Carl Pedigo) to make you a 5576....

Just a thought... The pickup is in the exact spot as a mm.

 

[silence.speaks]

Hello Lakland Owners!


The 55-14 is my main bass and I'll be gigging it tonight. What I am finding though, is that my MusicMan Stingray 5 (1988) fits the sound of my band the best. For live shows though, I am more comfortable on the 35 scale and 19 mm spacing of the Lakland. While I do think the Hanson Pickups are very nice sounding, I am debating a pickup swap to suit my specific needs.

After doing some research here on TB, I am thinking of swapping out for a quad coil musicman style and humbucking jazz Nordstrand pickup. My question to you is has anyone made this mod? I am planning to keep the LH3 pre but I am wondering if the pickup swap will make that much of a difference. If inclined, please let me know your experiences and your opinions on the perceived changes.

I do not feel that I am improving the instrument but more so trying to suit my want of getting more of that aggressive Stingray character (to suit me). I would hope to retain some of the versatility of the instrument. I hope to and look forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions.

Thanks TB!

I'll chime in. I also have a stock 55-14 and a 55-02 with Nordstrand pickups and a Bartolini NTMB preamp. I find the 55-14 to be more 'polite' and neutral and the 55-02 is more 'aggressive' and grindy. I use the 55-02 when I want to use distortion or cut through the mix. I'm not sure if it's more the pickups or the pre and I've never played a Stingray so I can't compare the two. When I sweep the blend knob on the 55-02 I can definitely hear a change in tone whereas on the 55-14 it is very subtle.

 

[MTN.bass72]

Duckin‘ around.
View attachment 3583086

Love my Duck!

 

[kmd88]

First of all :. WELCOME and a great pair of basses!!!

In some cases a pickup switch may help.

I'd you really like the MM sound... You may be able to get Lakland ( or Carl Pedigo) to make you a 5576....

Just a thought... The pickup is in the exact spot as a mm.

Thanks! I may consider this when the scratch is available. I have seen these in older used adds and they do look sweet!

 

[flashgod]

Love my Duck!
View attachment 3583969

Good choice bro! Team Lakland