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Lakland Owners Group #69

#19,161
Jamvan said:
Tru oil the fretboard as well? I’d never heard that before. But if it helps calm this sucker down, I’m all in.
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From what I’ve been told, the US BEM boards don’t get sealed with any paint, meaning they get the hand rubbed oil treatment just like the quartersawn shaft wood. The few basses I’ve built with maple boards got the tru oil treatment and came out looking and feeling like US Lakies.
 
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#19,163
davidak said:
I haven`t had US Lakland for ages - spent most of the time with Sadowskys and even Fenders. But now I had luck to find a beautiful 44-51M, which is model I always liked. Having extremely comfortable J neck, weighting 8,4lb and build from beautiful pieces of ash and maple, this can become my no1 now. Sound is very tight, but still vintage (I put Fralin pickup in), playability is exceptional. Only flaw is, that fretboard probably shrunk a bit in dry conditions and this makes fret edges bit sharp, but this might go back to normal in central european conditions. Anyway I smoothen it a bit with some luthier tools, all good.

Trans white finish is surprisingly thin, its possible to feel surface of the wood, if you know what I mean.

Last but not least - very good example of newer Lakland (2018) - I always prefered the older ones, but this one has all what I would expect from 100% US Lakland.

Oh, did I forget to mention, its beautiful..?

View attachment 5183252 View attachment 5183254 View attachment 5183255 View attachment 5183256 View attachment 5183257 View attachment 5183258 View attachment 5183259 View attachment 5183260
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Great looking Bass!

Really love the color combination
 
#19,165
davidak said:
I haven`t had US Lakland for ages - spent most of the time with Sadowskys and even Fenders. But now I had luck to find a beautiful 44-51M, which is model I always liked. Having extremely comfortable J neck, weighting 8,4lb and build from beautiful pieces of ash and maple, this can become my no1 now. Sound is very tight, but still vintage (I put Fralin pickup in), playability is exceptional. Only flaw is, that fretboard probably shrunk a bit in dry conditions and this makes fret edges bit sharp, but this might go back to normal in central european conditions. Anyway I smoothen it a bit with some luthier tools, all good.

Trans white finish is surprisingly thin, its possible to feel surface of the wood, if you know what I mean.

Last but not least - very good example of newer Lakland (2018) - I always prefered the older ones, but this one has all what I would expect from 100% US Lakland.

Oh, did I forget to mention, its beautiful..?
Click to expand...

That's gorgeous! So I guess I haven't been paying attention. I just read about the "M" version of this bass. I had no idea this existed. The J-neck and the body contouring makes an already appealing bass even more appealing...to me at least. Regarding the fretboard shrink, I'd just have a tech file those fret end a bit and that usually takes care of it. That's happened to a few of my basses over the years but but quickly remedied.
 
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#19,166
davidak said:
I haven`t had US Lakland for ages - spent most of the time with Sadowskys and even Fenders. But now I had luck to find a beautiful 44-51M, which is model I always liked. Having extremely comfortable J neck, weighting 8,4lb and build from beautiful pieces of ash and maple, this can become my no1 now. Sound is very tight, but still vintage (I put Fralin pickup in), playability is exceptional. Only flaw is, that fretboard probably shrunk a bit in dry conditions and this makes fret edges bit sharp, but this might go back to normal in central european conditions. Anyway I smoothen it a bit with some luthier tools, all good.

Trans white finish is surprisingly thin, its possible to feel surface of the wood, if you know what I mean.

Last but not least - very good example of newer Lakland (2018) - I always prefered the older ones, but this one has all what I would expect from 100% US Lakland.

Oh, did I forget to mention, its beautiful..?

View attachment 5183252 View attachment 5183254 View attachment 5183255 View attachment 5183256 View attachment 5183257 View attachment 5183258 View attachment 5183259 View attachment 5183260
Click to expand...

A classic beauty! Congrats!!!!
 
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#19,167
I have owned many Lakland basses, and DJ5 specifically, over the years but here's something I have not seen before and I am baffled. Recently purchased an excellent condition 2016 DJ5 in LPB. I was surprised to see that it still had the protective plastic on the original white pearloid pickguard. I expected to see the usual glossy new PG finish but what I found was a flat/matte finish. I have previously encountered pickguards with two protective plastic layers which I initially thought this might be. But if it is I cannot find an edge to peel that. It does not look bad, just something I am curious was standard at some point, or is anyone else has experienced? Or have any thoughts as to why?

IMG_4232.jpg


IMG_4231.jpg
 
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#19,168
nervous said:
I have owned many Lakland basses, and DJ5 specifically, over the years but here's something I have not seen before and I am baffled. Recently purchased an excellent condition 2016 DJ5 in LPB. I was surprised to see that it still had the protective plastic on the original white pearloid pickguard. I expected to see the usual glossy new PG finish but what I found was a flat/matte finish. I have previously encountered pickguards with two protective plastic layers which I initially thought this might be. But if it is I cannot find an edge to peel that. It does not look bad, just something I am curious was standard at some point, or is anyone else has experienced? Or have any thoughts as to why?

View attachment 5185116

View attachment 5185117
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I too owned many DJ5s in my lifetime, and still own two. I've only seen that in the white pearloid pickguards. I had a hunch this was not a protective film meant to be removed, and I wasn't brave enough to pull it off. Thanks for satisfying my curiosity. :)
 
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#19,169
IMG_8993.jpeg


Leo at Lākland got me hooked up with a pearl pickguard for my 44-60. Now, my debate: do I switch out the VTVT controls for a standard VVT setup? I’m also contemplating a pickup swap. The stock neck pickup doesn’t appear to be reverse wound, just reverse polarity. With a pickup cover on, this would never be an issue. Without the cover, contact with the pole pieces makes quite a bit of noise due to the capacitance of the pickup. I play a lot over the neck pickup so it’s kind of an issue for me. I could reverse the wiring on both pickups and make the bridge pickup the noisy one, or swap them out for a set with a RWRP neck pickup.
 
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#19,170
nervous said:
I have owned many Lakland basses, and DJ5 specifically, over the years but here's something I have not seen before and I am baffled. Recently purchased an excellent condition 2016 DJ5 in LPB. I was surprised to see that it still had the protective plastic on the original white pearloid pickguard. I expected to see the usual glossy new PG finish but what I found was a flat/matte finish. I have previously encountered pickguards with two protective plastic layers which I initially thought this might be. But if it is I cannot find an edge to peel that. It does not look bad, just something I am curious was standard at some point, or is anyone else has experienced? Or have any thoughts as to why?

View attachment 5185116

View attachment 5185117
Click to expand...
I’m pretty sure I peeled that off my DJ. It’s been a min though l, so I don’t really remember. I do know it’s not there now and the pickgaurd is nice and shiny.
 
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#19,171
ejschultz said:
Now, my debate: do I switch out the VTVT controls for a standard VVT setup? I’m also contemplating a pickup swap.
Click to expand...

Just my opinion, but less is more. The VTVT stacked set up is aesthetically more pleasing than three knobs. What would be the advantage of switching to the standard set up-- are you a knob turner?

As to the pick up swap, I'm sure other opinions will follow.

BTW, love the white pearl guard-- it pops so nicely.
 
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#19,172
Yummy Notes said:
Just my opinion, but less is more. The VTVT stacked set up is aesthetically more pleasing than three knobs. What would be the advantage of switching to the standard set up-- are you a knob turner?

As to the pick up swap, I'm sure other opinions will follow.

BTW, love the white pearl guard-- it pops so nicely.
Click to expand...

I do agree that the stacked knobs are more aesthetically pleasing. They’re just not as user friendly for on-the-fly adjustments. I have a 920D pre-wired control plate that I had for a different bass a few years back. I gave that bass to my brother and he wanted stacked knobs so I pulled the 920D plate and gave him a set of stacked knobs. I actually have a set of Seymour Duncan QPs as well. I’m not sure they’re the sound I’d want, but I’d try them out first before buying something just to save some money.
 
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#19,173
ejschultz said:
View attachment 5185459

Leo at Lākland got me hooked up with a pearl pickguard for my 44-60. Now, my debate: do I switch out the VTVT controls for a standard VVT setup? I’m also contemplating a pickup swap. The stock neck pickup doesn’t appear to be reverse wound, just reverse polarity. With a pickup cover on, this would never be an issue. Without the cover, contact with the pole pieces makes quite a bit of noise due to the capacitance of the pickup. I play a lot over the neck pickup so it’s kind of an issue for me. I could reverse the wiring on both pickups and make the bridge pickup the noisy one, or swap them out for a set with a RWRP neck pickup.
Click to expand...

That's gorgeous!

I like the stacked knobs personally
 
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#19,174
IMG_8995.jpeg
Well, I did it. I swapped everything out. I have the 920D VVT plate and the Quarter Pound pickups in there now. The pickups are dead quiet when touched, unlike the stock pickups. The sound is slightly scooped, which is what they’re known for. It isn’t overdone and it probably will work well for my purposes. I’ll be able to tell probably after a couple weeks of use. The VVT is much quicker for dialing in the tones I’d want; it’s what I’m used to. I did swap the .047 cap for a .022 cap before putting the 920D plate in. I didn’t try it with the .047 cap in this bass. I remember it rolling off a little too much with these pickups though so I preemptively swapped it. I like it. Also, someone asked a few posts back about the wiring and caps used. Here’s the original plate after removing it.
 
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#19,176
I have a Lakland 44-02 and I am curious if anyone strings their 44-02 or 44-94 with Flatwounds. It’s been a while since I’ve used flats on my bass. I’ve seen videos of EBMM Stingray’s with flats and kind of dig the tone. I know they are different basses but are both active. Anyone use flats on their Lakland active bass and if so, what recommendations? Thanks.
Thom
 
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#19,179
Thom Fioriglio said:
Thanks. Cobalt flats is what I was thinking. I’ve used those in the past and like the sound. Other flats like Chromes and LaBella’s were too dull for me.
Click to expand...
Yes!! Just try to keep them clean and dry. I was putting them on all my main players. And, they have formed brownish oxidation fairly easily. I don't want to call it "rust" cause the oxidation is not rough feeling. They also start to deaden up when the oxidation starts to form. All in all, I'd say their sound lasts maybe as long as DR steels last. So, unfortunately... I'll probably start looking for another set of flats, or reluctantly try to go back to roundwounds. I just don't think I'll find another set of flats as bright as Cobalts. And, I'd hate to have to get used to rough feeling rounds under my fingers!
 
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