Lakland Owners Group #69

[Holdsg]

Thank you, Doude.

 

[Jon Draffan]

I'm still not 100% sold on the 44-02. As I said, it's the first bass I pick up, but I am not sure if it's because I really do like it, or if I am trying to convince myself I like it. If that makes sense. I do love the single volume and blend knobs. Those are super convenient and it is definitely a punchier tone. The 44-02 is also a pound lighter than the DJ-4 and I appreciate that. It's also the first active bass I have owned and there are definitely advantages to the active set up. I also found that I prefer the 44-02 at home and for recording, but the DJ-4 when jamming with friends. I think it's the simplicity of the plug and play of a passive bass. And it looks cooler.

The DJ-4 has sentimental value to it (my first Lakland and modeled after Adam Clayton's DJ-4) and I couldn't consider selling it. But, if I were to have only one bass, I think it would be the 44-02. If anyone has had similar experiences, please share.

I actually have spent 30 years buying and getting dissatisfied with basses... Just recently I was GASsing for a 44-02 when I found good deal on a 44-01, customized it to my preferences(at least as good, if not better than a 44-0) and then figured out that I am solidly a JB guy. The highly modified 44-01 is on sale ar Reverb, and the DJ4 is what I use for recording, jamming. practicing... everything.

So, opposite \_(",)_/

 

[Jon Draffan]

I too have a heavily modded 44-01. Pre and pups. Totally different than 44-02 or a J. That being said, I can get very J like tones because of the Big Singles and 4 band pre. For true J tones I grab my J. I still have my plans for a specific 44-02 because of it’s versatility. I’m sure it will be the one I pick up the most when I’m done modding it. 44-02 has the neck and body shape I like the most.

Are the 44–01 and the 44-02 the exact same bass with different pick up routes?

 

[basspraiser]

Are the 44–01 and the 44-02 the exact same bass with different pick up routes?

The body shape and neck are the same yes.

The electronics are totally different

 

[Johnny Alien]

Why did Lakland move to the headstock truss access on the Skyline Decade? I assume its related to cost savings but the Lakland headstock doesn't look right with it.

 

[JEDI BASS]

Why did Lakland move to the headstock truss access on the Skyline Decade? I assume it’s related to cost savings but the Lakland headstock doesn't look right with it.

Moving the truss access to the headstock was smart. It’s a design improvement. With less than an inch between the neck heel and the pickup route, putting a truss access there weakened the wood too much.

 

[Johnny Alien]

They still do it on the USA ones.

 

[JEDI BASS]

They still do it on the USA ones.

US Decade (trans-orange) vs Skyline (white). See the difference?

 

[Z-Bass]

US Decade (trans-orange) vs Skyline (white). See the difference?

It looks like they moved the pickup closer to the neck? That would explain why they had to move the truss rod adjustment (not much room) but I'm not as familiar with this model. Did they move the pickup on these models or is that trans-orange have a custom pickup positioning?

 

[Johnny Alien]

Its hard to tell on the image of the orange one because its blurry but yeah the pickup looks further back and it has a full truss route. What I am familiar with is the pickup moved toward the neck with the music man style truss wheel (as shown below). I haven't seen other photos that look like that orange one. From what I remember both the USA and Skyline used the truss rod wheel and then at some point the Skyline moved to a headstock access. If they moved the pickup toward the bridge on the USA line that is something I was unaware of. I would still be curious why they wouldn't modify the Skyline to be the same as the USA model. Its getting weirder. haha

This is what is on the Lakland website right now:

 

[Z-Bass]

Its hard to tell on the image of the orange one because its blurry but yeah the pickup looks further back and it has a full truss route. What I am familiar with is the pickup moved toward the neck with the music man style truss wheel (as shown below). I haven't seen other photos that look like that orange one. From what I remember both the USA and Skyline used the truss rod wheel and then at some point the Skyline moved to a headstock access. If they moved the pickup toward the bridge on the USA line that is something I was unaware of. I would still be curious why they wouldn't modify the Skyline to be the same as the USA model. Its getting weirder. haha

Regardless of where the truss rod adjustment is located, I think I'm now intrigued by this model.

 

[Johnny Alien]

The Decade is a very cool bass!!

 

[Mpacificar]

Hey LOG,

I’m in search of a PG for my 2000 55-94.
Spoke to Leo and he said the sizing a little different from todays 55 PG jig.

Please and thank you

 

[JEDI BASS]

Its hard to tell on the image of the orange one because its blurry but yeah the pickup looks further back and it has a full truss route. What I am familiar with is the pickup moved toward the neck with the music man style truss wheel (as shown below). I haven't seen other photos that look like that orange one. From what I remember both the USA and Skyline used the truss rod wheel and then at some point the Skyline moved to a headstock access. If they moved the pickup toward the bridge on the USA line that is something I was unaware of. I would still be curious why they wouldn't modify the Skyline to be the same as the USA model. Its getting weirder. haha

This is what is on the Lakland website right now:

There had been some cases of the wood busting from nothing more than minor headstock bumps. So, they moved the US Decade’s pickup back some, and have now changed the truss access to headstock on the Skyline. Smart design changes to remedy a problem. Can’t fault Lākland for that.

 

[Johnny Alien]

There had been some cases of the wood busting from nothing more than minor headstock bumps. So, they moved the US Decade’s pickup back some, and have now changed the truss access to headstock on the Skyline. Smart design changes to remedy a problem. Can’t fault Lākland for that.

I'm not faulting them (except maybe for having outdated information on their website) BUT I think moving a pickup which is a major tonal change is an odd choice. What's odder is that they didn't solve the problem in the same way for both the USA and Skyline basses. Anyway my opinion is that the truss rod access on a Lakland headstock looks terrible and they should have avoided it (like they did on the USA line).

Side note: I have never heard of anyone having a decade damaged in that way.

 

[Btbp]

Not so sure about any changes, unless it's to US models, my Skyline is a pretty old one, more than 10 years, and and the pickup is in the same place.

 

[basspraiser]

NBD!

Not a Lakie so not posted in this thread but it was made by Mad Man Music (our very own Jedi bass!)

And man!!! Is it sweet!

MAD MAN P51 NBD!

 

[JEDI BASS]

I'm not faulting them (except maybe for having outdated information on their website) BUT I think moving a pickup which is a major tonal change is an odd choice. What's odder is that they didn't solve the problem in the same way for both the USA and Skyline basses. Anyway my opinion is that the truss rod access on a Lakland headstock looks terrible and they should have avoided it (like they did on the USA line).

Side note: I have never heard of anyone having a decade damaged in that way.

Seen it and discussed it with them.

 

[Jamvan]

The band I'm in just released another single today. This was an unusual recording for us as it was all done remote and didn't include the full band. Jake (vocals, acoustic) and Ash (fiddle, keys) recorded the brunt of the song and then asked me to add some bass to it.

They sent me the file and my signal chain was:

Cherryburst 55-94 w/Barts and Lakland medium steels => OVNIFX Smoothie compressor => Noble DI => Focusrite Clarett 4Pre => Logic Pro

This is such an understated song, I kept having to go back and re-record my part, removing more and more of what I was doing to keep my parts simple and out of the way. It turned out pretty dang good if I do say so myself.

Please give it a listen if you are so inclined.



While we have ~12 songs recorded (at this point), Jake, my BL, is choosing to only release singles over the course of 2023 rather than packaging them into a full album. A sign of the current attention deficit state of modern music consumption.

 

[basspraiser]

Very cool Jamvan!

I know what you mean....you want to "add alot" but sometimes taking away is adding....

GREAT accompaniment!