FWIW
My first gen Skyline has satin saddles. Also has other US components, I believe. Part’s is part’s, they say.
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FWIW
My first gen Skyline has satin saddles. Also has other US components, I believe. Part’s is part’s, they say.
I have a 1yr old US 44-64 with satin saddles. Think it is model dependent. Don't remember what my 55-94 had, but there is a white one with matching headstock and MOP inlays floating around TB somewhere to verify.
I seriously have a bit of bass envy. That does not happen very often. Usually
I can appreciate a very nice instrument for what it is, but this, is something special.
I can appreciate a very nice instrument for what it is, but this, is something special.
Okay, so I have actually been looking for one of these (55-64 with a J pickup) for a while but they never come up for sale used. And to build a new one would be over $5k the way I want it according to their configurator. They stopped making the Skyline version years ago and I wanted a USA one anyway, but it doesn't look like people ever part with them.
I also wanted another 5 string P/J bass and this and a Mike Lull were right at the top of the list. I didn't want an active bass for this one as I have 3 super nice active basses to get those tones. The Mike Lull was almost $6k the way I would have configured it. shag. Not gonna spend that much.
But, I was browsing Sweetwater and saw that Lakland sent them a couple of the USA Classic series 55-64s. They aren't even on the Lakland website as an option so I didn't know they existed. Definitely got my interest. The only downside was both of them were reliced. Not a huge fan of the whole relic craze. But this also had an option that you can't get on the USA Classic series if you order it (I called and talked to thrm and tried). Roasted maple neck. I have really become a fan of the feel of roasted necks. So smooth and easy to play. So I debated just ordering one from Lakland with the standard non-roasted neck in Inca Silver, but it would have been $300 more, less optioned, and the wait time is 8 months. Decided to go with the here and now. If I absolutely hate the relic finish, I will replace the hardware with non reliced hardware and get it refinished by Pat Wilkins or someone. I imagine it will grow on me though. Plus I got this one for under $3k before tax, so about half the price of the other basses I was lusting after.
Fret job is absolutely fantastic though. Amazing feel, no dead spots, no high frets, basically perfect. Had to adjust the action a little bit to my taste (like I do with every bass) so a quick twist of the truss rod and saddle height adjustment and BOOM!
This thing is BUTTAH. Exactly what I was looking for. Killer P bass tones. Dial back the tone and play through the Tyler fliptop and it's motown thump from hell. Killer J bass bridge tones for that really middy Jaco thing. And both pickups on is a monster rock tone. Played it with a pick and some dirt and it just crushes.
Really happy I went with this one instead as the neck is absolutely perfect. Still in the Honeymoon first night phase, but I know a keeper when I play it by now. Plus the whole point of me offloading 7 basses recently was to consolidate and upgrade, so what the hell, right?
I also wanted another 5 string P/J bass and this and a Mike Lull were right at the top of the list. I didn't want an active bass for this one as I have 3 super nice active basses to get those tones. The Mike Lull was almost $6k the way I would have configured it. shag. Not gonna spend that much.
But, I was browsing Sweetwater and saw that Lakland sent them a couple of the USA Classic series 55-64s. They aren't even on the Lakland website as an option so I didn't know they existed. Definitely got my interest. The only downside was both of them were reliced. Not a huge fan of the whole relic craze. But this also had an option that you can't get on the USA Classic series if you order it (I called and talked to thrm and tried). Roasted maple neck. I have really become a fan of the feel of roasted necks. So smooth and easy to play. So I debated just ordering one from Lakland with the standard non-roasted neck in Inca Silver, but it would have been $300 more, less optioned, and the wait time is 8 months. Decided to go with the here and now. If I absolutely hate the relic finish, I will replace the hardware with non reliced hardware and get it refinished by Pat Wilkins or someone. I imagine it will grow on me though. Plus I got this one for under $3k before tax, so about half the price of the other basses I was lusting after.
Fret job is absolutely fantastic though. Amazing feel, no dead spots, no high frets, basically perfect. Had to adjust the action a little bit to my taste (like I do with every bass) so a quick twist of the truss rod and saddle height adjustment and BOOM!
This thing is BUTTAH. Exactly what I was looking for. Killer P bass tones. Dial back the tone and play through the Tyler fliptop and it's motown thump from hell. Killer J bass bridge tones for that really middy Jaco thing. And both pickups on is a monster rock tone. Played it with a pick and some dirt and it just crushes.
Really happy I went with this one instead as the neck is absolutely perfect. Still in the Honeymoon first night phase, but I know a keeper when I play it by now. Plus the whole point of me offloading 7 basses recently was to consolidate and upgrade, so what the hell, right?
Incidentally, Sweetwater still had one of these available as of this morning.
Lakland USA Classic 55-64 PJ Aged Bass Guitar - Sonic Blue, Sweetwater Exclusive
Thanks for sharing the story here. I really dislike relic'd basses as much as I dislike my daughters buying jeans with holes in them already. It does not really shock my senses on this axe though. It looks like your bass was made for a specific sweetwater order.
Hey Juggy! Nice bass. Met you at a bass get together in Denver a couple thousand years ago!
Follow-up from my noisy bass (last post, I promise):
A luthier ran a grounding wire that was absent and perhaps should have been done in-factory. It did not resolve the noise, but corrected some buzzing. The usual single coil hum is present, but doesn't bother me at all. I don't think I'm going to attempt shielding....we'll see. The cavities all have the shielding paint, so I'm wondering if copper will be an added benefit.
At this point, it's pretty much silent with fingers anchored to a string. The noise creeps in a little when slapping. I rarely play with a pick...so we'll see how how that goes. There's also a gnarly buzz when touching the exposed poles on the neck pup. Forget playing in dirty power. I don't think I will ever record with this bass.
At the end of the day....best 5er I've ever played (I've tried so many to get to this point). I might mod the pups in the future, but I really love the sound of the stocks.
I was going to purchase a Skyline 44-64 Custom PJ, but I admit I have been a little turned off by my experience.
A luthier ran a grounding wire that was absent and perhaps should have been done in-factory. It did not resolve the noise, but corrected some buzzing. The usual single coil hum is present, but doesn't bother me at all. I don't think I'm going to attempt shielding....we'll see. The cavities all have the shielding paint, so I'm wondering if copper will be an added benefit.
At this point, it's pretty much silent with fingers anchored to a string. The noise creeps in a little when slapping. I rarely play with a pick...so we'll see how how that goes. There's also a gnarly buzz when touching the exposed poles on the neck pup. Forget playing in dirty power. I don't think I will ever record with this bass.
At the end of the day....best 5er I've ever played (I've tried so many to get to this point). I might mod the pups in the future, but I really love the sound of the stocks.
I was going to purchase a Skyline 44-64 Custom PJ, but I admit I have been a little turned off by my experience.
After swapping in my Fralin pups, I took them out. I like them, but I actually really like the Lākland pups. I ended up taking some copper shielding tape, folding into 1/3s, and sticking it over the pole pieces on the back of the pickup (folding it assures part of the tape with no adhesive is touching the poles). I then placed another piece about halfway over that folded piece to secure the folded side down to the poles. I soldered a lead onto the folded side and measured from each pole to the end of that lead for continuity. That lead is now grounded internally to the bass. The noisy pole pieces are caused by capacitance. The capacitance is caused by the hot wire being the inside wire and the ground being the outside wire of the winding. If the pickup was wound the other direction, this wouldn’t happen (which is why the bridge pickup does not have noisy poles). I now have a solid ground from each pole to ground on the neck pickup. I can touch the poles all day long with no noise now. It was a somewhat tedious fix but well worth it.
What's happening!? You still have that vintage Jazz and the Walter Woods?Hey Juggy! Nice bass. Met you at a bass get together in Denver a couple thousand years ago!
God, that has to be 20 years ago. How are you?
After seeing the post ilustrating the diff between the skylines, USA Classic and the US models, I'm sold on shielding and grounding all the cavities. Honestly this is not a put off of the brand becuase there are differences in easch line and of course we pay more for bells and whistles, like shielding.
So it makes sens that the least expansive line has lesser quality sheilding. And, as bonus I can spen 10 bucks and an hours worth of time to add the quality instead of paying 2x for a bass that already has shielding.
I'm NOT buying the LOG bass! I'm NOT buying the LOG bass! I'm NOT buying the LOG bass! I'm NOT buying the LOG bass! I'm NOT buying the LOG bass! I'm NOT buying the LOG bass! I'm NOT buying the LOG bass! I'm NOT buying the LOG bass! I'm NOT buying the LOG bass!
But I will post a pic of my #1 from a festival we played earlier this summer.
View attachment 5194378
Great picture!
PS .. Don't buy the log bass
I also have the Lakland vintage pickups in mine and love it
Mine's here to stay as well
USA passive models don’t have any shielding. None. Zilch. Nada. Leo told me they only shield the active basses.
Log bass has SoldGreat picture!
PS .. Don't buy the log bass
