Wondering if you can help steer me in the right direction. I am looking for my #1 bass as I can't have a herd of basses. Lakland really piques my interest as well as Ibanez Premiums. For $1500 what Lakland would you recommend to someone who wants a 5 string and plays anything from metal to jazz/blues. Kinda uncertain about the 55-02 as it seems like a lot going on. I might just get a cheap P someday and invest in a really nice J style bass now.
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Any Lakland will do in terms of sound. If you can't play one, and if your used to a tradition feel, go with the DJ5, if you don't mind the larger body go with any 55 model in your price range.
I just checked the classifieds and saw two 55-02s a couple hundred less than your price limit.
If you're going to be playing a wide variety of styles, I'd say the 55-02 is the absolute right choice. Can cop great P, J, Ray, and it's own unique tone with just the pickup selector and split switch. Add in some mild adjustments to the EQ and you've got tonal nirvana.
(Did I oversell that? I may have oversold that...)
Would the DJ5 sound good for hard rock/metal? How is the neck? Is it easy to play fast lines on it or is it? Wish I could try one in person...
Welcome to TB! I recommend checking out this video--not to try to sell you on the 55-02, but to judge the versatility of the pickups and preamps for yourself.
Yes
The neck is fast and comfortable
Yes.. Easy to play
If you just want a J bass....this is a great way to go but the 5502 is more versatile.
Also...to let you know... The DJ has a body that is smaller than a fender J.
If you want the same size you have to go to a 5560 model
I changed the bass, mid and treble knobs to smaller than standard.
Don't be uncertain. Lakland makes many fine basses. The 55-02 is a great example of a versatile guitar that will serve you well in any setting! The only problem I have found is once you get one, another is always next on the list.
Yup. Had many with different pickup/preamp/string combos and used them in all situations. It’s my current #1. Stock Pickups, Audere 2 band pre, Dunlop Super Brite SS strings through and GK MB variant. Fabulous.
sj_bass
Supporting Member
NBD - just got this gem from fellow TBer @masoncole and she is beautiful! I missed my old 55-02, but this one will get a LOT more use since I’m mostly playing 4-stringers nowadays.
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Back in the summer my wife and I were about to move from the Midwest back to sunny SoCal and I figured I would sell a few basses and have one made for me from Lakland and it would ship to my new address when we got there. So here we are and I received these pictures from John at Lakland,who is a great guy to deal with. The bass ships out on Monday.
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Congradulations beautiful bass, love the design. I have often thought of doing the same and just have one bass with all I'm wanting in an instru, what are the pickups and electronics?
Wow, beautiful! I've thought about a Tele style with T bird pickups myself.
The pickups are Thunderbucker 66 and it’s a dual stack knob passive volume and tone like the 44-60 basses.
If you’re ever considering having one made and have the patience and the scratch I highly recommend it, John was really enthusiastic about doing it the way I wanted.
If you’re ever considering having one made and have the patience and the scratch I highly recommend it, John was really enthusiastic about doing it the way I wanted.
reminds me of a Mike Lull PT4, and I've owned a few of those. very nice.
