There are a few special order 4494 blocked fretboards out there but not many....
I love the look of blocks myself.
I am sure Lakland will make one for you
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There are a few special order 4494 blocked fretboards out there but not many....
I love the look of blocks myself.
I am sure Lakland will make one for you
Being interested in gear and basses, I forget how little the general public actually knows about this stuff. I posted my 5501 on Facebook with a silly filter and lots of folks were very intrigued by it…including fellow bassists?! It seemed pretty obvious but apparently not? 
I've had a few of my Laklands refinished in metal flake, but none of them were -94s or -02s. Marty Bell is the king!
Being interested in gear and basses, I forget how little the general public actually knows about this stuff. I posted my 5501 on Facebook with a silly filter and lots of folks were very intrigued by it…including fellow bassists?! It seemed pretty obvious but apparently not?
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That's a crazy 5501!
Be warned--- I noticed a marked difference in the sound of my Stingray Classic, following the Marty Bell sparkle refinish. I do not know if they stripped the white paint before painting. And, Marty redid the sparkle after they got the design wrong. And, I'm not sure if they stripped it before that redo either.
So, my Stingray may have 3 layers of paint (1 thin and 2 thick). Either way, I had to redrill every hole due to the glitter paint filling them in completely. It was a major pain in the butt!!
The sound difference was that the crazy in your face brightness was muffled. I've seen others post and comment that a sparkle paint job is like throwing a heavy blanket over your rig. That's pretty much spot on, at least with my Stingray and the Marty Bell paint. I can still get the Stingray slap tone I want, when I need it, and there's a treble knob on both my bass and my amp. Plus, I don't like tweeters or that super bright sound. In fact, all my basses are wearing flats nowadays.
I’m sorry - you know that sort of reply is worthless without pics!
that’s a good shout actually
Wow, hadn't thought of that, but it makes sense.
Kind of seems counterintuitive, because when I think of metalflake sparkle basses, the one that springs immediately to mind is the old Modulus Flea bass, which was blue metalflake as standard.
And Flea has a famously bright sound (he's mellowed over the last 10-15 years though: nowadays I think he records mostly with a 60s Jazz).
Seems weird that a super-bright player's signature instrument would come in a paintscheme that dulls the treble response?!
Peace,
SoundSupport
Well, like I said... there's a chance my Ray has 3 layers of paint on it.
BTW, my band plays the RHCP version of Higher Ground. And, I'm easily able to get the Ray to sound like Flea's recorded track, which I think is his old late 70s Stingray. I just boost the treble a smidge more than before the refin. People always comment on how good that bass sounds when we play that song.
How do most guys in this group view the 55-01? I have a 55-02 and I really dig it, it's probably the best sounding Bass that I own right now; but I like variety, and I've been checking videos and sound clips of the 55-01 and I like what I'm hearing from the majority of the stuff that I've come across thus far. What are the Pros/Cons (if any) of the 55-01? ... I know it’s not like the 55-02, but I also know (from what I've heard), it's no "one trick pony" either. Thoughts?
Most things I have seen/read that some people who have tried the Lakland 55-01 and then try the Lakland 55-02, prefer the Lakland 55-02. I personally have not tried a Lakland 55-01, but love my 55-02.
I have both and prefer the 55-02 to 55-01. They both are immensely playable but I found the stock electronics in the 55-01 (Bart MK1) to sound thin and brittle to my ears. My 55-01 didn't get played much until I replaced the preamp with a Bart NTMB which breathed some life into the stock MK1 pickups and have since upgraded the pickups to Nordstrand Big Split singles and the entire bass has moved up the depth chart to be one of my top players.
As with everything, your mileage may vary.
you could find about 400 posts here on the pluses (and minuses) of the xx-01 bass.
I can help you by summarizing.
It's the "entry level" Lakland as to the lowest price in the model lineup.
A very good bass construction-wise. Easy to play and all that.
Mostly folks complain about the electronics/preamp.
Thus, many folks use the bass as a mod platform, adding better preamp is top priority.
As the Bartolini MK-1 pickups are soap bars of a fairly standard size, there are many choices as to improving those as well (Duncan, Nordstrand come immediately to mind).
if you find one that has good bones, feels good, and you're not wowed by the tone, just realize there are options out there to take it to the next level tone-wise.
I can help you by summarizing.
It's the "entry level" Lakland as to the lowest price in the model lineup.
A very good bass construction-wise. Easy to play and all that.
Mostly folks complain about the electronics/preamp.
Thus, many folks use the bass as a mod platform, adding better preamp is top priority.
As the Bartolini MK-1 pickups are soap bars of a fairly standard size, there are many choices as to improving those as well (Duncan, Nordstrand come immediately to mind).
if you find one that has good bones, feels good, and you're not wowed by the tone, just realize there are options out there to take it to the next level tone-wise.
There appears to be no difference between the necks and the bodies between the 01 and the 02 series. As mentioned above, the big difference is the electronics suite. The 02 models are outfitted with top-flight name brand equipment, the 01 series does not. The good stuff comes with a price tag, hence the difference.
If you choose to upgrade the pickups and preamp on a 01 series, you have a 100% professional level bass. It won’t be as glamorous as something that cost five times as much, but it will get the job done just as well.
If you choose to upgrade the pickups and preamp on a 01 series, you have a 100% professional level bass. It won’t be as glamorous as something that cost five times as much, but it will get the job done just as well.
I have a 55-94 Lined Fretless and a 55-02 Lined Fretless. The 55-94 has the Bartolini Pickups and Preamp while the 55-02 has the Lakland (Hanson?)Pickups and Preamp. The difference in sound between the two is there ( Lakland’s pickups and preamps are a bight brighter and more midrange forward) but out in the house they sound very similar. They were obviously going for a more Jazz Bass sound with the 55-01’s. So if you’re into that timbre then leave well enough alone.
If you really want to move up from the 55-02 then save your funds for a used 55-94 or 55-15. By the time you buy a 55-01, replace the pickups and preamp, upgrade the tuners, nut, and add a pick guard (optional) you could be within “spitting” distance of either of the Lakland USA models used. Alternatively, just enjoy the 55-02, it’s a stellar bass.
Just my take of course. When I purchased my Amber Flame 55-94 in 1999, they could be had for considerably less than $2,000.00.
Have to agree, I had a 44-02 and took the plunge and upgraded to a 44-94, never looked back, worth every dollar. Definitely my keeper bass.If you really want to move up from the 55-02 then save your funds for a used 55-94 or 55-15. By the time you buy a 55-01, replace the pickups and preamp, upgrade the tuners, nut, and add a pick guard (optional) you could be within “spitting” distance of either of the Lakland USA models used. Alternatively, just enjoy the 55-02, it’s a stellar bass.
Great advice and enabling by the last two posts 
Thanks guys, There's absolutely NOTHING wrong with my 55-02, I Love it and I have no plans on getting rid of it anytime soon - if ever, I just wanted something different, a little variety 
... So, Is the 55-15 the "American" version of the 55-01?
... So, Is the 55-15 the "American" version of the 55-01?
Thanks guys, There's absolutely NOTHING wrong with my 55-02, I Love it and I have no plans on getting rid of it anytime soon - if ever, I just wanted something different, a little variety
Not really. it’s a less expensive version of the 55-94 The differences are that your color options are limited, it’s an alder body which is a bit heavier, and fewer fretboard options. It’s a 55-14 not 15 I got the suffix number wrong.
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Thanks guys, There's absolutely NOTHING wrong with my 55-02, I Love it and I have no plans on getting rid of it anytime soon - if ever, I just wanted something different, a little variety
The 5514 is a more limited version of the 5594.... Just less options and no quarter sawn neck etc...
Consider it between a 5502 and a 5594..
