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Lakland Owners Group #69

#19,121
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DannyBGood said:
Thanks. I figure the current actives are much different, given their pickup configuration. I don't like the tone of Laklands active basses, the 01, 02.. They sounded shrouded in a thick blanket. Perhaps due to the poles not being exposed and under some sort of housing? Hoping the Dj and 64 are more clear, open.
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I hear you-Laklands (both USA and Skyline) with the MM/J pup configuration are darker sounding to my ear than their passive offerings. That has no bearing on their passive basses, which IMHO sound more open. I have 2 Lakies, both passive, a USA 4464 tuned BEAD with the Lakland split coil and a USA 54JJ with their Chi Sonics (inspired by the 60s Hagstrom pups). The latter are optional on the USA models and have particularly pleasing upper mids/highs, without slacking below 100Hz. I have no intention of putting a pre in either one, ever. Necks to die for! (and I'll take this as an excuse to re-post pics of both ;). )
 
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#19,122
lomo said:
I have no intention of putting a pre in either one, ever. Necks to die for! (and I'll take this as an excuse to re-post pics of both ;). )
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And I always enjoy seeing pics of both. That 54JJ, isn't that a 34" scale? Or maybe I'm confusing with something else. Comment about the Chi-Sonics. I remember trying out a bunch of Laklands when a local store had a rep come in for a day. One of the basses was an all passive 55-60 with the Chi-Sonics and I remember when I first tried it, I wasn't really feeling the Chi-Sonics. It wasn't until after I went back and forth between that one and the other models (including various 44-60s, 55-02, 44-02) that they really started to growth on me. I understand what you mean about that upper mid/highs aspect to them.
 
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#19,123
Z-Bass said:
And I always enjoy seeing pics of both. That 54JJ, isn't that a 34" scale? Or maybe I'm confusing with something else. Comment about the Chi-Sonics. I remember trying out a bunch of Laklands when a local store had a rep come in for a day. One of the basses was an all passive 55-60 with the Chi-Sonics and I remember when I first tried it, I wasn't really feeling the Chi-Sonics. It wasn't until after I went back and forth between that one and the other models (including various 44-60s, 55-02, 44-02) that they really started to growth on me. I understand what you mean about that upper mid/highs aspect to them.
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Yes it was custom ordered by me, 34" scale, chambered (<8lbs!) passive/Chis. It has an enormous freq range....gets low/wide/deep if desired and very airy up top, with that OMG Lakie 5er neck. I find it inspirational to play. Right now I am torn up over it though. After 15 years of playing only 5s I have fallen into a BEAD 4 banger rabbit hole....it has changed the way I think of my lines and IMO simplified my playing for the better....and now I have a few really nice 5ers sitting idle. I posted my Elrick Icon 5 PJ FS in the hopes of moving that one out..... I have had numerous offers on it but so far none sweet enough to bite on. If the Elrick doesn't move in another week or 2, Clementine may be on the block ;(
 
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#19,124
Real Soon said:
Had a birthday recently and a bandmate got me a new set of strings. Timely as the old ones were teetering on death.. and the new ones are quite lively! I'll get a better photo but the DR Neon strings (in pink) seem to pop with any bass that has black in the finish. They sound fantastic, too.

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Great action shot!
 
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#19,125
lomo said:
View attachment 5181613 View attachment 5181614

I hear you-Laklands (both USA and Skyline) with the MM/J pup configuration are darker sounding to my ear than their passive offerings. That has no bearing on their passive basses, which IMHO sound more open. I have 2 Lakies, both passive, a USA 4464 tuned BEAD with the Lakland split coil and a USA 54JJ with their Chi Sonics (inspired by the 60s Hagstrom pups). The latter are optional on the USA models and have particularly pleasing upper mids/highs, without slacking below 100Hz. I have no intention of putting a pre in either one, ever. Necks to die for! (and I'll take this as an excuse to re-post pics of both ;). )
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Two beauties!!!!

Love em both
 
#19,126
lomo said:
Right now I am torn up over it though. After 15 years of playing only 5s I have fallen into a BEAD 4 banger rabbit hole....

If the Elrick doesn't move in another week or 2, Clementine may be on the block ;(
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I get it. I keep trying to get motivated to take my 55-94 to a gig. But, I end up taking #11 (4-94 tuned BEAD). I just enjoy playing my 4 strings so much more than any 5 that I have or try out.
 
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#19,127
JEDI BASS said:
I get it. I keep trying to get motivated to take my 55-94 to a gig. But, I end up taking #11 (4-94 tuned BEAD). I just enjoy playing my 4 strings so much more than any 5 that I have or try out.
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I’ve got 3 Laklands - DJ-4, 44-02 and a 44-64. If I wanted to string them BEAD would I need to file the nut or would it be ok as is?
 
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#19,128
lomo said:
View attachment 5181613 View attachment 5181614

I hear you-Laklands (both USA and Skyline) with the MM/J pup configuration are darker sounding to my ear than their passive offerings. That has no bearing on their passive basses, which IMHO sound more open. I have 2 Lakies, both passive, a USA 4464 tuned BEAD with the Lakland split coil and a USA 54JJ with their Chi Sonics (inspired by the 60s Hagstrom pups). The latter are optional on the USA models and have particularly pleasing upper mids/highs, without slacking below 100Hz. I have no intention of putting a pre in either one, ever. Necks to die for! (and I'll take this as an excuse to re-post pics of both ;). )
Click to expand...

Beauties!

Love em both
 
#19,128
Thom Fioriglio said:
I’ve got 3 Laklands - DJ-4, 44-02 and a 44-64. If I wanted to string them BEAD would I need to file the nut or would it be ok as is?
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I didn't want to mess with my nut, and I prefer narrow gauge strings, so it was simply a matter of selecting a very light 5 string set & tossing the G. For flats I use La Bella Low T flats (the set with the 118B) and for rounds Rotosound Swing Bass (the hard to find set with the 120B). Both fit perfectly without nut filing. I am just a couple of months into the BEAD thing, and am still exploring other options.......there's a relatively cheap D'Addario 4 string set with a 120E ; I emailed them asking if it can be tuned BEAD and if they don't know I may just try out a s set and see. I suspect most 5 string sets with a 120 or smaller B will be fine. I find narrower strings have more definition, especially the B and E.....and I prefer the finger feel. If you want a 125/130 B and proportionately thicker EAD, you’ll have to file the nut for optimal setup.
 
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#19,133
macribas said:
Are we talking about the same bass?

This was mine, I paid Pat Wilkins to refinish it. It's not burgundy, it's black cherry. I called it "rubro negro" in honor of my soccer team in Brazil.

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That’s the one. Max made up the name LOL. I think it’s more the color of some super thick blood. As a Med Tech, blood is my business so something blood colored doesn’t turn me off in the least.
 
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#19,135
macribas said:
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It’s the closest (even though the fretboard is rosewood- Traci’s is BEM) to my beloved Traci. Traci was the queen of all 55-94s, for me anyways. Rubro Negro is her equal, definitely prettier (don’t tell Traci). I just have a special fondness for Traci since she was my first Lākland and shared so many good times with me.
 
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#19,139
Jamvan said:
It's shoulder season. Make sure you're checking on your BEM necks. Mine took 1 1/2 turns of the truss as the strings we're bottomed out and it was tuned a full step high.

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Beautiful bass! I'm not sure what shoulder season is (here in Texas we only have 2 seasons: warm and hot). But my basses are often tuned up. Never understood why.
 
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#19,140
macribas said:
Beautiful bass! I'm not sure what shoulder season is (here in Texas we only have 2 seasons: warm and hot). But my basses are often tuned up. Never understood why.
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Up here in the nort’, it’s that short season in between winter and summer. I can’t really call it spring or fall because it’s so short!

Basically a fairly quick change in temps and humidity. It’s usually very impactful on the neck of this bass as the BEM board is not very rigid.
 
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