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Lakland Owners Group #69

I'm looking to order my first Lakland, Classic Series Dual J, direct from Lakland so I can get choosey with the options. I'm still saving up, but hoping to put in an order in the next month. I play 5 string, and a lot of the B string above the fifth fret so I can play vertically instead of horizontally (if that makes sense). I've heard Lakland has killer B strings, so extremely intrigued by this. I currently have a Schecter Studio 5, which is a 35" scale, so no issues on scale length. I play rock, blues, funk, and want something that is versatile. Mostly play with a pick, but some finger style, and hope to one day get proficient at slapping. I actually prefer passive, a single tone knob is way easier to adjust live than messing with a 3 band EQ. Once I get this I will probably rarely play the Schecter and might even sell it.

Concerns:
  • Mostly played P Basses, even put an EMG40 P pickup on my 5 string Schecter and love the way P's sound, I've played Jazz's in the store, but never gigged with one. I do really like how they sound both at a store and Youtube demos, but just nervous I'm not going to jive with jazz. Probably over analyzing this.
  • String spacing on my Schecter is narrow, I think 16.5 mm. I have a 4 string Fender P Bass that is 19mm and don't find that too difficult to switch between. Is moving to 19mm on a 5 string a huge difference or something that is easily adaptable? I can imagine slapping is easier with 19mm, but for playing with a pick, not sure how much of a difference it is.
  • I've never played a Lakland. None of the stores around my area (Portland, OR) seem to carry them. I've seen plenty of demos, good reviews all around, but spending this kinda money on something that can't be returned that I've never played is nerve racking. I am probably over analyzing this too. Or am I?
  • Weight - My Schecter is ~9.5 lbs, and at the end of a 3 hour set starts to feel pretty heavy. Hoping that the Lakland won't be any heavier, but I've seen Skylines as high as 11 lbs.

Desired Config:
  • Lake Placid Blue - Semi-Gloss (ideally non-metallic, but looks like that's the only option for this color)
  • Fingerboard: Maple
  • Pickguard: Black and/or Tortoise Shell
  • Hardware: Chrome - (maybe black? I can't decide)
Potential Upgrade:
  • Schaller strap locks
    • Not sure if these are available, but figured might as well ask to have them factory installed

If you're used to playing P basses, a dual J may be either a revelation or a disappointment at first. Either case it may take some time to recalibrate your ears and get used to how that set up reacts to your playing and sounds. As other have said, B string is as about solid as it gets. Regarding the string spacing, you'll have to see for yourself. I wish I could tell you one way or the other but it's such a personal preference. I've tried 19mm spacing a number of times and decided it doesn't work for me on a 5 string. I prefer a tighter string spacing on 5 strings, somewhere around 17-18mm. I know that sounds subjective but its something that I realized over time.

Regarding weight, as Lomo said, if you're ordering a USA model then that should be something you can request. Otherwise, it's a crap shoot. I've seen/played Skylines that are super light and some that have the density of dying star. As far as color goes, if you're going with blue, look into their ice blue metallic. I don't typically gravitate towards blue but I have this on my 44-60 and love this color. The metallic is subtle and there are elements of silver in there. Under certain lighting different hues pop out a bit.

Otherwise very exciting. Good luck and let us know what you decide.
 
When I got my US 44-60 earlier this year, I posted here saying it was a great feeling bass but had some aesthetic issues. Well, I dropped it off at Lākland and they worked on it. The logo on the headstock had some funky bubbling. They replaced the logo and it now looks perfect. I also had some issues with the finish on the body. They resprayed the body but it appears they only resprayed the front of the body. I noticed today while playing near an open window in the sunlight. The seafoam green they sprayed is slightly lighter than what was on there. They also didn't really smooth out the edges and blend it well. You can literally feel the rough texture under the clear coat. Would you guys reach back out to them and say something? I feel for almost $4k new, it should be perfect in every way, not just playability (with which I have zero complaints).
35CA2B74-ECC4-41A3-84BD-DC991E97BDAD.jpeg
93B6B137-B224-4ADA-9947-0132412198E8.jpeg
 
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When I got my US 44-60 earlier this year, I posted here saying it was a great feeling bass but had some aesthetic issues. Well, I dropped it off at Lākland and they worked on it. The logo on the headstock had some funky bubbling. They replaced the logo and it now looks perfect. I also had some issues with the finish on the body. They resprayed the body but it appears they only resprayed the front of the body. I noticed today while playing near an open window in the sunlight. The seafoam green they sprayed is slightly lighter than what was on there. They also didn't really smooth out the edges and blend it well. You can literally feel the rough texture under the clear coat. Would you guys reach back out to them and say something? I feel for almost $4k new, it should be perfect in every way, not just playability (with which I have zero complaints).View attachment 5074861 View attachment 5074862

Yes.. Reach back out.... Tell them the issues...

I'm sure they'll make your happy
 
When I got my US 44-60 earlier this year, I posted here saying it was a great feeling bass but had some aesthetic issues. Well, I dropped it off at Lākland and they worked on it. The logo on the headstock had some funky bubbling. They replaced the logo and it now looks perfect. I also had some issues with the finish on the body. They resprayed the body but it appears they only resprayed the front of the body. I noticed today while playing near an open window in the sunlight. The seafoam green they sprayed is slightly lighter than what was on there. They also didn't really smooth out the edges and blend it well. You can literally feel the rough texture under the clear coat. Would you guys reach back out to them and say something? I feel for almost $4k new, it should be perfect in every way, not just playability (with which I have zero complaints).View attachment 5074861 View attachment 5074862

Sorry to hear that. I'm picky with basses, especially expensive ones !! If it's not to inconvenient, I'd most likely get back with Lakland and try to get it fixed. Good luck !
 
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Yes.. Reach back out.... Tell them the issues...

I'm sure they'll make your happy

Yeah, I just don’t want to be that squeaky wheel. I hate doing that. I just feel defeated after selling off some other nice basses to afford this one and then having dumb cosmetic issues with it. I’ll reach back out after the holiday.

That all being said... I'm not seeing it.... But I'm on my phone not a PC.

LOVE LOVE LOVE the color BTW

My camera had a really hard time capturing it. It’s very visible in bright lights but my camera kind of picks it up and makes it look like a glare instead of the color variance. If I try to take a pic in standard lighting, it doesn’t show at all. And the sea foam green is really a cool color. I kept telling myself my next bass would be a green of some sort.
 
Sorry to hear that. I'm picky with basses, especially expensive ones !! If it's not to inconvenient, I'd most likely get back with Lakland and try to get it fixed. Good luck !

They’re fairly local to me. I’m about 40 minutes outside Chicago with no traffic. When I drove up there Thursday to pick this up (I didn’t see the coloring in their shop), it took me about an hour and a half, thanks to our crazy traffic and endless construction.
 
They’re fairly local to me. I’m about 40 minutes outside Chicago with no traffic. When I drove up there Thursday to pick this up (I didn’t see the coloring in their shop), it took me about an hour and a half, thanks to our crazy traffic and endless construction.
That’s sadly going to be the norm for the next few years, all the expressways are getting torn up… but I agree with the others, get it right otherwise it’ll bug you… they do good work, but mistakes happen… and $4k ain’t chump change ;)
 
I went to a semi-local blues jam last night, haven’t been in awhile (actually being in a band takes a lot of my musical energies, but we practiced Monday night this week so I got the itch). There’s a guy videoing the performances, which is pretty cool. Can’t hear me very well, but my 55-94 looks good ;)





There was another bass player with a JO5/55-60, sounded great and he was a real good player too- talked to him for a little bit, nice guy. You can hear him better than me. 2 of the 5 bass players had Laklands.





 
That’s sadly going to be the norm for the next few years, all the expressways are getting torn up… but I agree with the others, get it right otherwise it’ll bug you… they do good work, but mistakes happen… and $4k ain’t chump change ;)

I just wish they would have waited to tear up the Kennedy after they finished the Tri-State. I travel a lot around Chicagoland for work and cutting through the city became my go-to route to bypass the O’Hare and construction traffic on 294. Now I don’t have a good route for when I have to get to the Waukegan area.

But back on topic, you’re right. It’ll drive me nuts knowing it’s there. It’s one thing if it’s damage that I caused or bought it used. It’s different when it went in for a couple small factory blemishes and comes out a different shade of green on just the front. The people there seem pretty cool. I had about a 30 minute talk with John when I dropped it off and a good chat with Leo when I picked it up. I don’t know of too many company presidents who’d talk with a regular guy like me. It’s not like I’m some famous musician. I thought that was pretty cool of him.
 
Perfecting the paint process would be a nightmare! I’ve had a taste of it and prefer to send my bodies off to someone else for relic’d nitro. That way the paint isn’t perfect right from the start.

The bubbling logo thing has happened to me too. It happens when the tru oil finish hasn’t dried completely prior to applying the decal.
 
I just wish they would have waited to tear up the Kennedy after they finished the Tri-State. I travel a lot around Chicagoland for work and cutting through the city became my go-to route to bypass the O’Hare and construction traffic on 294. Now I don’t have a good route for when I have to get to the Waukegan area.

But back on topic, you’re right. It’ll drive me nuts knowing it’s there. It’s one thing if it’s damage that I caused or bought it used. It’s different when it went in for a couple small factory blemishes and comes out a different shade of green on just the front. The people there seem pretty cool. I had about a 30 minute talk with John when I dropped it off and a good chat with Leo when I picked it up. I don’t know of too many company presidents who’d talk with a regular guy like me. It’s not like I’m some famous musician. I thought that was pretty cool of him.

Is you live in the area you do know that there is nothing but construction 9 months out of the year

It's your tax dollars and toll money at work :)

I try to avoid going into the city at all costs. It is almost an hour for me to get to Lakland but that is a pleasure drive
 
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Well, I shot another email out to Lākland regarding the finish issues. I sent them 30 MB of attachments trying to show the issues. Hopefully they’re willing to keep helping me out. I’m not expecting any response until Tuesday at the earliest. I hate being a pain in the ass but not as much as I hate trading in quality gear and spending a good chunk of change on top of it to acquire what I always thought of as my dream bass to find it has dumb issues that I can’t get over.
 

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