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Lakland Owners Group #69

#15,101
Drummerboy2 said:
Thanks, this is good info. I do have a Mesa D800+ that adds a touch of warmth that I like. I was going to get the Aguilar TH preamp to mate with my Crown XLS 2502 power amp. I already have a MXR 81 for the Fender Jazz and Ray4 for a slightly cleaner sound. Can always pick up a TH preamp if I determine I need one. I still need to play around with the Carvin and Mesa heads to see what I get out of them with my basses and cabs before jumping on to a TH preamp.
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The TH preamp is a fatally flawed product IMO. The TH magic is finding the right blend of gain and drive that gives you the amount of warmth and grit that you're after. The preamp doesn't have a drive control that you can dial in, it has a drive circuit you turn on or off. the off setting is, well, off. the on setting is too aggressive to be usable unless you really want a light version of overdrive. the magic is somewhere in the middle, where it starts to roll off some lows and some highs, and saturates the sound but before it sounds like an overdrive pedal. I would recommend buying a used TH500 and using that as a preamp, or a 350 to use as a DI box, vs. the pedal. and then you have the bonus of an extra head around if you need it.
 
#15,102
3bc said:
The TH preamp is a fatally flawed product IMO. The TH magic is finding the right blend of gain and drive that gives you the amount of warmth and grit that you're after. The preamp doesn't have a drive control that you can dial in, it has a drive circuit you turn on or off. the off setting is, well, off. the on setting is too aggressive to be usable unless you really want a light version of overdrive. the magic is somewhere in the middle, where it starts to roll off some lows and some highs, and saturates the sound but before it sounds like an overdrive pedal. I would recommend buying a used TH500 and using that as a preamp, or a 350 to use as a DI box, vs. the pedal. and then you have the bonus of an extra head around if you need it.
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Thank You for the info but I don't need another head especially one that costs over $800 just for a control function. My Carvin BX1500 has a Drive control and my Mesa D800+ has a voicing control. I can use the Drive control off the Carvin to add anything else I may need to go with the TH Preamp IF I decide to get it. I may have what I'm looking for already with the gear I have, just need more playing around with the controls. The Carvin did have some notes on how to do that with the BX1500.
 
#15,103
Hello all, decided to sell all my basses and just go with one… Skyline 55-60 custom. What an amazing bass.
3CC0E04C-5B6E-45BD-98A5-793DB509FC8A.jpeg
 
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#15,104
Cracker7 said:
Hello all, decided to sell all my basses and just go with one… Skyline 55-60 custom. What an amazing bass.
View attachment 4399588
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Well if you can have just one, then you picked a beauty. Is the string spacing on a 5 string Lakland 55-60 the same as it is on the 55-94. I just wondering since 4 string Jazz necks tend to be

narrower than Precisions ect.
 
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#15,107
Drummerboy2 said:
Thank You for the info but I don't need another head especially one that costs over $800 just for a control function. My Carvin BX1500 has a Drive control and my Mesa D800+ has a voicing control. I can use the Drive control off the Carvin to add anything else I may need to go with the TH Preamp IF I decide to get it. I may have what I'm looking for already with the gear I have, just need more playing around with the controls. The Carvin did have some notes on how to do that with the BX1500.
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The drive control adds saturation, then grit, then distortion, as it gets turned up. But it also rolls off transients and high and low frequencies in a very musical, tube like, old school way. It does something Mesa and carvin don’t do. Is that something that you need? Perhaps not, only you can decide. But don’t assume the amps you have will offer a similar functionality because they will not. Also, the interaction between the drive and gain controls on the TH is the single best part of it. You don’t get that on the pedal, which is why I said it’s fatally flawed, it’s missing the standout feature that makes the TH such a wonderful, unique and popular product. I got my TH500 for 500 bucks used.
 
#15,108
jmain said:
Agree, that's one beautiful bass. I've had a couple different JO5 and 55-02 basses, and DJ5 (have a 55-02 right now), and 99% sure the string spacing and the neck radius remains the same on these. Super comfortable.
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Actually the Skyline DJ5 has a 12" radius and 21 frets while all other Lakland 5ers (including the US DJ5) have 22 frets and 10-13" compound radius. String spacing is the same 19mm all around.
 
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#15,109
3bc said:
The drive control adds saturation, then grit, then distortion, as it gets turned up. But it also rolls off transients and high and low frequencies in a very musical, tube like, old school way. It does something Mesa and carvin don’t do. Is that something that you need? Perhaps not, only you can decide. But don’t assume the amps you have will offer a similar functionality because they will not. Also, the interaction between the drive and gain controls on the TH is the single best part of it. You don’t get that on the pedal, which is why I said it’s fatally flawed, it’s missing the standout feature that makes the TH such a wonderful, unique and popular product. I got my TH500 for 500 bucks used.
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I really appreciate the info and advice. I just can't see getting another head for just this and that I may not use it that much for that function. If I do want some warmth it's a little and not too much. I just don't want 3 heads, I have 2 already and I think that enough beside I have the MXR M81 which is a clean sounding pedal paired with my Crown XLS 2502 amp. Thanks again.
 
#15,111
Drummerboy2 said:
I really appreciate the info and advice. I just can't see getting another head for just this and that I may not use it that much for that function. If I do want some warmth it's a little and not too much. I just don't want 3 heads, I have 2 already and I think that enough beside I have the MXR M81 which is a clean sounding pedal paired with my Crown XLS 2502 amp. Thanks again.
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All good brother. If you set everything flat, most class D heads sound more or less the same, even when soloed let alone in a mix. Differences are there but they are much more subtle than the difference between sets of strings, or even where on the bass you pluck the strings. Once you start tweaking the EQ and settings that are unique to that specific head is when the personality starts to really show. The EQ on the Th is nice, but not so unique or special that it makes sense as a purchase when your Mesa is already a very fine amp. Buying the th amp sounds overly redundant and wasteful for your situation. Just trying to save you some money because I think the pedal will be equally or more redundant based on what you have and what the pedal lacks.
 
#15,112
3bc said:
All good brother. If you set everything flat, most class D heads sound more or less the same, even when soloed let alone in a mix. Differences are there but they are much more subtle than the difference between sets of strings, or even where on the bass you pluck the strings. Once you start tweaking the EQ and settings that are unique to that specific head is when the personality starts to really show. The EQ on the Th is nice, but not so unique or special that it makes sense as a purchase when your Mesa is already a very fine amp. Buying the th amp sounds overly redundant and wasteful for your situation. Just trying to save you some money because I think the pedal will be equally or more redundant based on what you have and what the pedal lacks.
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yes, I understand and really appreciate it. Like I said I think I have the right amps and basses to cover all the tones I may ever need. But, you know how that goes, anything can change at any time. :)
 
#15,119
3bc said:
Holy cats, I thought my mono bag was a little spendy. Do you know what the difference in protection between this and a mono bag might be?
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I have a couple of mono M80s and the Sadowsky version of Access stage 5. The access is heavier but my preferred go to gig bag for gigs and especially for longer haul gigs if I have to store my bass with lots of other equipment for the ride. However, for quick practices I use my mono for the weight savings. I am looking at ordering an Access Stage 5 but getting it up over the Canadian border with duties taxes and currency exchange is making it pretty expensive.
 
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