Lakland Owners Group #69

[Stedkey]

As long as you don't want to run the strings through the ferrules in the body, then you have lots of better choices than the Lakland's. I like the sound and feel of D'Addario Half Rounds, Ernie Ball Slinky Colbalt Flats, and Thomastick Jazz Flats.
Just my take of course, if you're a round wound player others can suggest what which ones you can try. Just my take of course, I'm a DB player so round wounds just don't feel right under my fingers.

I’m a fan of flatwounds also. I’ve had good results with D’Addario XLs and Rotosound 77s.

 

[Joeykun]

Happy New Year to the LOG!

 

[JB Player]

I just wanted to thank everyone who helped me make my decision to purchase the 2010 Lakland 44-94. $2000 is the most I have ever spent on a bass, but man, this bass is worth it. The craftsmanship and attention to detail, and that neck, is just top notch. For a 2010, it's in pristine condition. I am absolutely pleased and any doubts I had about making such an expensive purchase are gone. So thanks everyone! I appreciate your help. Oh, and it also came with a G&G hardshell case.

One questions, I put on a set of DR Sunbeams that I had but was thinking of giving the Lakland Nickel Bass String 45-105 set a try. Anyone have any experience with them?

Also, if anyone is interested in a 2007 44-02 in very good shape for $900 with a Lakland hardshell case, let me know.

Here are some pictures of the 2010 44-94 in quilted maple tobaccoburst.
View attachment 4919604View attachment 4919605View attachment 4919606View attachment 4919607

Beautiful bass Thom, good going for staying the course and scoring that beauty! Congratulations and thanks for sharing your experience, but also for demonstrating all the differences and nuances that some of us wonder (or dream) about in acquiring a US Lakkie.

 

[Jon Draffan]

After talking about 'avoiding it' I have gone down the 44-01 upgrade-rabbit-hole. I found myself looking at, and seriously considering, picking up a 44-02 because of the pickups... but then I remembered that Bartolini puts all of it's coil shapes in the MK soap bar housing... and there are lots of options. I decided to go with a P in the neck and an Original voiced dual-coil Humbucker in the bridge. The bass is going to look exactly the same (my avatar) but is going to have a Noll TM3 pre-amp and a PH pickup config. I'm excited and trepidatious about how this is going to work out (*bites nails).

Thanks to anyone who has read this far... and since you are here...
I'm thinking about asking the luthier who is doing the work to put in a switch, but can't decide what it would do...? series-single coil-parallel for the bridge? Series-Parallel for both pickups?

Any ideas?

 

[Thom Fioriglio]

Beautiful bass Thom, good going for staying the course and scoring that beauty! Congratulations and thanks for sharing your experience, but also for demonstrating all the differences and nuances that some of us wonder (or dream) about in acquiring a US Lakkie.

Thanks so much. Glad to share my experience if it helps others decide on what to get. And your post about Canadian prices was one of my deciding factors. I quoted you when telling my wife about my decision to buy it. Not that she would have said no, she's supportive and awesome and took the trip to Jersey with me. So thanks for sharing your opinions as well. It's a good group here on LOG.

 

[Jon Draffan]

After talking about 'avoiding it' I have gone down the 44-01 upgrade-rabbit-hole. I found myself looking at, and seriously considering, picking up a 44-02 because of the pickups... but then I remembered that Bartolini puts all of it's coil shapes in the MK soap bar housing... and there are lots of options. I decided to go with a P in the neck and an Original voiced dual-coil Humbucker in the bridge. The bass is going to look exactly the same (my avatar) but is going to have a Noll TM3 pre-amp and a PH pickup config. I'm excited and trepidatious about how this is going to work out (*bites nails).

Thanks to anyone who has read this far... and since you are here...
I'm thinking about asking the luthier who is doing the work to put in a switch, but can't decide what it would do...? series-single coil-parallel for the bridge? Series-Parallel for both pickups?

Any ideas?

UPDATE: I had a nice talk with Frank the tech at Best Bass Gear and if any switch goes in, it will be a 2-way series/parallel for the bridge. The Original Dual Coil when split is a very basic single coil, and I’m allergic to 60 cycle hum

 

[Jon Draffan]

UPDATE: I complained about the false advertising and David A who I was communicating with, is going to send me a gig bag. Cool of them to make it up to me and I recommend Chicago Music Exchange as a solid place to buy an instrument

Update 2: Never got a gig bag, in fact never even got a response to my email query about it. So I withdraw my recommendation to shop at Chicago Music Exchange. CME... Boooo!

 

[gonzalo-tello]

Hello Guys! i'm new here, just wanted to share the custom pickguard that I made for my 55-02. I think that I need this extra support when slapping and let my fingers rest when plucking, so I was checking some pickguards and came out doing it by myself with a dremel, no experience at all but looks good, I don't have the proper tool to de the bezel but it's ok.

 

[Holdsg]

I like it, you could always just hand sand it to a smoother edge?

 

[gonzalo-tello]

I like it, you could always just hand sand it to a smoother edge?

Yes, I did that, it's ok and confortable, but the 45 degree bezel that most of the pickguard has, I cannot do that

 

[Holdsg]

if you like it, then you're good.

 

[Jon Draffan]

Hello Guys! i'm new here, just wanted to sh.....
...but looks good, I don't have the proper tool to de the bezel but it's ok.

Love the shape, and the sparkles are perfect with those blocks! Definitely classes up the situation.

 

[Steve88]

Yes, I did that, it's ok and confortable, but the 45 degree bezel that most of the pickguard has, I cannot do that

I've added a bevel with a plain razor blade. It takes a little bit to finish but works pretty well. You just need to keep a consistent angle through the process.

 

[basspraiser]

Update 2: Never got a gig bag, in fact never even got a response to my email query about it. So I withdraw my recommendation to shop at Chicago Music Exchange. CME... Boooo!

Booooo.

Not good.... At all

 

[basspraiser]

Hello Guys! i'm new here, just wanted to share the custom pickguard that I made for my 55-02. I think that I need this extra support when slapping and let my fingers rest when plucking, so I was checking some pickguards and came out doing it by myself with a dremel, no experience at all but looks good, I don't have the proper tool to de the bezel but it's ok.

View attachment 4923928 View attachment 4923929

That looks great!

Love the way that bass looks!!

 

[JEDI BASS]

Hello Guys! i'm new here, just wanted to share the custom pickguard that I made for my 55-02. I think that I need this extra support when slapping and let my fingers rest when plucking, so I was checking some pickguards and came out doing it by myself with a dremel, no experience at all but looks good, I don't have the proper tool to de the bezel but it's ok.

View attachment 4923928 View attachment 4923929

Pickguard making is a pain, even with routing tables and bits for making the bezel. Good job using the dremel. I’ve done the same, a couple years ago, and the pickup routes are the hardest to get correct.

 

[JB Player]

Nice Gonzalo and welcome to the LOG! Nice pickguard addition, and nice 55-02 custom - the inlay blocks and finish on the customs are pretty sweet.

 

[BassAgent]

It's in!

 

[Jamvan]

It’s now 2023 and I have to admit, since going on a multi-year binge and purge, I haven’t bought/sold/flipped a Lakland since April of 2022. Have I reached Lakland Nirvana or is there something wrong with me?

This was the last one to enter the stable.

 

[Holdsg]

I'd love to reach that Nirvana, someday