Lakland Owners Group #69

[kmd88]

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.

Thank you. This is good info. Sounds like those Nordstrands may be helping to add more of that high mid grind and aggressive character that I am looking for. I do find that my 55-14 sounds similar with the pre amp set flat and engaged or turned off in passive mode. I am thinking the neutral character comes from the pickups. Sounds like swapping them may be worth the try. Although you have the Bart pre in that bass, I would definitely not consider the Bart electronics to be aggressive in my fretless. I have no intention of modding that particular bass though, being that it is a vintage Lakland.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

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.
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IMO the best passive J style bass money can guy. My main player in an olympic whit/rosewood 4460 with the stock Lakland pickups and conentric pots. I play hundreds of gigs a year on that thing and it has never let me down. Great in the studio too. I've used on everything from singer/songwriter records to metal records and it always sounds perfect.

 

[flashgod]

Hey Lakland Lovers,
Just my 2 Cents of these wonderful instruments.
I made a P bass shootout with mainly Fender Models from Squire to MIM and MIA and the Lakland Skyline 44-64.
All Fender models had certain issues towards playability, handling and sound.
Only Lakland could offer an ideal price/product mix, which satisfied my needs.
In conclusion, I have chosen Lakland also because of the Pickups.
I like them because they are very hot and vintage voiced at the same time.
A lot of people in this room tend to swap the Lakland pickups for several reasons.
Basically that’s fine and I can understand the will to optimize your sound.
Speaking about me, I would never change the PuP´s in favor for EMG´s, Bartolini´s or whatsoever.
The stock PUP´s are good enough and fit into the overall high quality appearance (even the Skyline Series).
A low budget Squire for example would become immediately a new Pick Up installed to improve the sound.
But honestly, why changing the Pickups in a Lakland bass? Is there really something to improve?
I think we all bought these instruments for the same reason:
They are one of the finest instruments around.

 

[JEDI BASS]

Hey Lakland Lovers,
Just my 2 Cents of these wonderful instruments.
I made a P bass shootout with mainly Fender Models from Squire to MIM and MIA and the Lakland Skyline 44-64.
All Fender models had certain issues towards playability, handling and sound.
Only Lakland could offer an ideal price/product mix, which satisfied my needs.
In conclusion, I have chosen Lakland also because of the Pickups.
I like them because they are very hot and vintage voiced at the same time.
A lot of people in this room tend to swap the Lakland pickups for several reasons.
Basically that’s fine and I can understand the will to optimize your sound.
Speaking about me, I would never change the PuP´s in favor for EMG´s, Bartolini´s or whatsoever.
The stock PUP´s are good enough and fit into the overall high quality appearance (even the Skyline Series).
A low budget Squire for example would become immediately a new Pick Up installed to improve the sound.
But honestly, why changing the Pickups in a Lakland bass? Is there really something to improve?
I think we all bought these instruments for the same reason:
They are one of the finest instruments around.

I have both versions of the Lakland P pickup in my Carlo. And, although I favor the Vintage Hot one over the Neopunch, it’s only because of placement. I’ve had a Neopunch in another bass years ago, and I liked it back then too.

 

[RDW]

First foray into Lakland territory - 55-14. I know it lacks the fancy top and fingerboard, but I am blown away by the features, how nice it plays, and I really dig the black and maple combo. I've liked Lakland's aesthetics since they came out in the 90's, but never spent any time playing one. Tried a used 55-02 a few weeks back and was hooked. Got this over the weekend and couldn't be happier.

 

[OnederTone]

First foray into Lakland territory - 55-14. I know it lacks the fancy top and fingerboard, but I am blown away by the features, how nice it plays, and I really dig the black and maple combo. I've liked Lakland's aesthetics since they came out in the 90's, but never spent any time playing one. Tried a used 55-02 a few weeks back and was hooked. Got this over the weekend and couldn't be happier.
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You’d be happier if you put a tort guard on it ;-)

 

[Lovep]

You’d be happier if you put a tort guard on it ;-)

Ugh!!! Don’t do that to this beautiful bass!

 

[nervous]

Ugh!!! Don’t do that to this beautiful bass!

Agreed! What's the between the 55-14 and 55-02? They really look the same to me.

 

[RDW]

Agreed! What's the between the 55-14 and 55-02? They really look the same to me.

As far as I know, the only difference is the 55-14 is made in Chicago.

 

[nervous]

As far as I know, the only difference is the 55-14 is made in Chicago.

So it's a USA model you have? If so the question would shift to the difference between the 55-14 and the 55-94 I guess.

 

[RDW]

So it's a USA model you have? If so the question would shift to the difference between the 55-14 and the 55-94 I guess.

The 55-14 is the stealth model . No fancy top wood on the body and no birdseye on the fret board, therefore a lower price point.

 

[RDW]

You’d be happier if you put a tort guard on it ;-)

Now that's funny!

 

[JEDI BASS]

Agreed! What's the between the 55-14 and 55-02?

55-14: Quartersawn maple neck with oil finish. Body wood is alder. Plain Maple or rosewood fretboard. Made in Chicago.
55-02: Not quartersawn maple and satin poly finish. Body wood is ash. Import. Laurel fretboard on newer basses, instead of rosewood. Some limited runs have ebony.

So it's a USA model you have? If so the question would shift to the difference between the 55-14 and the 55-94 I guess.

55-14: Alder w/ no fancy top and typically opaque finishes, although I've seen some bursts pop up. No birdseye fretboards.
55-94: In the past- swamp ash w/ fancy maple tops. Now- many wood combinations available upon request. Birdseye, and other fretboard woods available upon request.

 

[MattLplaysBass]

55-14: Quartersawn maple neck with oil finish. Body wood is alder. Plain Maple or rosewood fretboard. Made in Chicago.
55-02: Not quartersawn maple and satin poly finish. Body wood is ash. Import. Laurel fretboard on newer basses, instead of rosewood. Some limited runs have ebony.

55-14: Alder w/ no fancy top and typically opaque finishes, although I've seen some bursts pop up. No birdseye fretboards.
55-94: In the past- swamp ash w/ fancy maple tops. Now- many wood combinations available upon request. Birdseye, and other fretboard woods available upon request.

The 55-14’s have hipshot licensed tuners and skyline bridges as well, if we’re really getting specific

 

[MattLplaysBass]

For those of you who don’t FB (or didn’t see it because of their terrible algorithms)

 

[JEDI BASS]

The 55-14’s have hipshot licensed tuners and skyline bridges as well, if we’re really getting specific

I had not heard that. In my opinion, they should have used the US Hipshot tuners and bridge! I mean, the bass still lists for over 3k, after all.

 

[MattLplaysBass]

Agreed, but they gotta’ make $$$. I am not disparaging the licensed tuners and skyline bridge, for the record, just pointing it out.

 

[Lovep]

Agreed, but they gotta’ make $$$. I am not disparaging the licensed tuners and skyline bridge, for the record, just pointing it out.

I’ve never really bought into the concept of the 55-14 vs 55-02...they have very minor differences that don’t justify the huge price difference.

Seems to me this is a way to increase profits by making Skylines in the US. Prices are higher to pay for labor...there’s your price difference.

 

[overbybr]

The Skyline series of basses may be the best Quality per $$ in the entire bass guitar industry, especially the *-01 / *-.02 series.

 

[projectapollo]

Does anybody else think the model numbers on the Lakland products are really confusing? Its like you need a product decoder to shop intelligently.