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Lakland Owners Group #69

I’ve never owned a bass long enough for rust to set in. I suppose there is a time and place for everything.

I've got to either start turning over my basses much more quickly or improve (start?) wiping everything down after playing. Lots of summer outdoor shows in the humidity and sweat on this one.

5E532AB8-BBAD-46A9-8C88-4FEB6BD37F9F.JPG
 
So my 55-02d has been my main bass for several years. And just in the last month or so, it has started eating batteries. One that would normally last three months or so, is lasting for a practice. Maybe three hours. My luthier guy opened it, took one look at the pc board in the preamp and said "I can't do anything with something that used to be fine and suddenly isn't on that." So, am I going to have to ship my bass to Chicago? How do we do this?
 
So my 55-02d has been my main bass for several years. And just in the last month or so, it has started eating batteries. One that would normally last three months or so, is lasting for a practice. Maybe three hours. My luthier guy opened it, took one look at the pc board in the preamp and said "I can't do anything with something that used to be fine and suddenly isn't on that." So, am I going to have to ship my bass to Chicago? How do we do this?
I'm sure they can ship you a preamp
 
So my 55-02d has been my main bass for several years. And just in the last month or so, it has started eating batteries. One that would normally last three months or so, is lasting for a practice. Maybe three hours. My luthier guy opened it, took one look at the pc board in the preamp and said "I can't do anything with something that used to be fine and suddenly isn't on that." So, am I going to have to ship my bass to Chicago? How do we do this?

Wrap in bubble wrap
Put into a case or sturdy gig bag
Wrap and put into a box that is meant for a bass case ( you should be able to get one from GC etc)

JJ (JEDIBASS) is a master packer....I'm sure he'll have some input for you
 
So my 55-02d has been my main bass for several years. And just in the last month or so, it has started eating batteries. One that would normally last three months or so, is lasting for a practice. Maybe three hours. My luthier guy opened it, took one look at the pc board in the preamp and said "I can't do anything with something that used to be fine and suddenly isn't on that." So, am I going to have to ship my bass to Chicago? How do we do this?
i would find someone else to take it to. If it's the battery draining, chances are it's the output jack, or the wiring attached to it.
 
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All this talk about necks moving, you guys have me all freaked out. I only oil the finger board once a year. One coat. Living in the harsh north west, maybe I should do it more? That said, I don't feel like most my basses change much beyond a quarter turn. My cheap Yamaha has never needed an adjustment. The neck on that model was pretty famous for being rock solid. My stingray neck, however, is done for.
Hope my new DJ5 cooperates. They have graphite rods, correct?
 
All this talk about necks moving, you guys have me all freaked out. I only oil the finger board once a year. One coat. Living in the harsh north west, maybe I should do it more? That said, I don't feel like most my basses change much beyond a quarter turn. My cheap Yamaha has never needed an adjustment. The neck on that model was pretty famous for being rock solid. My stingray neck, however, is done for.
Hope my new DJ5 cooperates. They have graphite rods, correct?
All USA models have graphite rods, and all Skyline 5 strings have them. No Skyline 4 strings have them, as far as I know.
 
All USA models have graphite rods, and all Skyline 5 strings have them. No Skyline 4 strings have them, as far as I know.
So is there really a major difference between say a 44-64 pj, or a Fender American Performer PJ? All I can find is that the Fender body is Alder, and Lakland is ash....but that's it. All the other specs match up. Am I really gaining anything with a Lakland neck on a 4 string over a Fender? What is it about a skyline neck that will benefit me?
I'm on the fence about loving/hating Fender btw. I do like my fender jazz, but get frustrated with it sometimes.
 
I don't think y'all have a lot to worry about with your necks. I have owned many Laklands and this particular one, my 1998 55-94 with a beautiful birds eye maple board, does NOT act like any of the others I have. Many of them don't require any adjustments ever. A few require a small tweak of the truss every now and again. But this one, for whatever reason, just has a very active neck. It's an anomaly. It's not the norm.

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I plan to do a Tru Oil seal of it as soon as I work up the courage to do so. Oh, and find the instructions that have been posted in this thread about twelve times. :thumbsup:
 
I don't think y'all have a lot to worry about with your necks. I have owned many Laklands and this particular one, my 1998 55-94 with a beautiful birds eye maple board, does NOT act like any of the others I have. Many of them don't require any adjustments ever. A few require a small tweak of the truss every now and again. But this one, for whatever reason, just has a very active neck. It's an anomaly. It's not the norm.

View attachment 5187496

I plan to do a Tru Oil seal of it as soon as I work up the courage to do so. Oh, and find the instructions that have been posted in this thread about twelve times. :thumbsup:
Nice fam pic! Beautiful
 
I too have a '98 55-94 with BE fretboard. Got it new in '98. Of course the build quality is outstanding and the playability is second to none. The first six months or so I had it, it would not hold a setup for even a couple of days without needing a truss rod adjustment. Plus being on tours didn't help matters with constant climate changes etc.
I called Dan and explained what was happening. He told me that was not normal and shouldn't have to adjust it on an almost daily basis. He said send it to him at Lakland and he'll make it right.
I sent it and he DID make it right. The neck which is quartersawn had some runout in the grain....meaning instead of being a uniform straight grain pattern from heel block to headstock this one made a right turn from the middle of the neck to the right side of the neck and ran off the neck and it was a drastic turn. So they replaced the neck. The old neck also had a very, very heavily birdseyed fretboard. The new neck fretboard had less BE and the neck itself a perfectly straight quartersawn pattern.
The problem was solved for me and Dan and the Lakland guys went out of their way to make it right. That was MY isolated situation and circumstance. Lakland necks are very stable. BE fretboards in general can be a bit sensitive to humid/dry climate changes though.
 
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Hello all! Looking for some potential pickup recommendations. I haven't used my Skyline 44-60 in a while. It has the standard Lakland pickups and passive V-V-T setup. I haven't been as happy with the overall sound of these as they've always been low output and somewhat harsh sounding at high volume gig levels. Full disclosure, I have tinkered around with setup and pickup height over the years. I was looking through options from Nordstrand and Delano but find myself overwhelmed with choice. I have Nordstrand 70s wound singles in my DJ4 and really do like the openness and clarity of these but not sure I want a duplicate sound in basses. I've considered the Nordy Big Blade J pickups. I've also thought about getting the Delano JMVC Jazz Bass Humbucking Series for some extra pizazz. I'd like to keep this a passive system. Would appreciate any feedback on those that have modified their 44-60 pickups with desired results. Thanks in advance!
 
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