Lakland Owners Group #69

[macribas]

In that article he is quoted as saying that the electronics in the Skyline instruments are installed in the USA which is not accurate. Not sure if he was bending the truth or quoted wrong.

I bet it was a wrong quote by the journalist. I did an interview with JP around the same time (asking pretty much the same questions), and I had my first experience in turning a conversation into a blog article... it's not easy. I'd send you the link but I published it in Portuguese.

 

[Bass Ape]

One the fence here about selling the DJ4 to fund a USA classic P. I really love the neck and the body on the DJ but I’m playing The Mule more and I’m itching for a traditional P. The Mule is basically a J style with soapbars and I really do not need two similar basses.

I know everyone loves the DJ here, does anyone have any practical experiance with a USA classic P bass? What I would really dig is a P with the Jazz neck.

 

[MaxSpinrun]

If I’m not mistaken, you can get a jazz neck on a P if it’s a USA order. Advantage of ordering a USA instrument. Customize to your wants. More money but worth it.

 

[Johnny Alien]

I bet it was a wrong quote by the journalist. I did an interview with JP around the same time (asking pretty much the same questions), and I had my first experience in turning a conversation into a blog article... it's not easy. I'd send you the link but I published it in Portuguese.

I would think that's the most likely scenario. Its easy to see how him saying something simple like "we put US pickups in them" could end up the way that it did.

 

[basspraiser]

Dan Lakin Selling a piece of history.

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He wanted 3x that much before on Reverb.

That seems a bit high as well ... But I joke about starting a Lakland museum... Maybe I should counter offer and see what he'll take!

 

[basspraiser]

In that article he is quoted as saying that the electronics in the Skyline instruments are installed in the USA which is not accurate. Not sure if he was bending the truth or quoted wrong.

Johnny

At one point that was true.

The bodies and neck and strings came from overseas but the electronics were put in at the Lakland factory.

I'm not sure if that is the case now though

 

[basspraiser]

I bet it was a wrong quote by the journalist. I did an interview with JP around the same time (asking pretty much the same questions), and I had my first experience in turning a conversation into a blog article... it's not easy. I'd send you the link but I published it in Portuguese.

You never published my interview

 

[Johnny Alien]

That was the way it happened in the early Korean days. Neck, tuners, body, bridge, and pickguard came from Korea. They would cut the strings off install the pickup(s) and electronics (pots and such) as well as a USA string tree. They would do all fretwork at that time by hand just like the USA line. Its not hard to see how that would be way too cost prohibitive to keep up. Dan has said before in interviews that one of the main reasons they wanted to go to in-house pickups is so they could have them installed overseas to save money. The PLEK came at the same time. Both helped remove the time the USA techs were taking and saving a bunch of cash.

 

[macribas]

You never published my interview

I know, I'm sorry....That would be even harder to put in an article format!

 

[basspraiser]

I know, I'm sorry....That would be even harder to put in an article format!

Just kidding;!!!

Thought you were going to do it as a video blog....

 

[JB Player]

Thanks Teahouse! It stands for Off Set, based on some very slight modifications to the body said to make it more "ergonomic" although I find the differences to be subtle, in the contours of the body. Outside of that, it is basically a supped up 44-01 with an upgraded bart HR 5.4 AP preamp and slightly different off-set body type, topped with a translucent colour scheme and black hardware - has a kind of uniqueness and feels great in the hands. No pictures yet, I couldn't take it home with me (was on my motorcycle), I pick it up next week. Attached is a stock picture.

Picked up the 44-OS today - really like the different feel and sound. Lots of fun exploring different sounds options with this one, and coming from my 44-02 - impressive passive sound as well, good and strong. Here are some pictures, although not the greatest light - sorry for duplicates. Different looking bass too. Like most Lakies, the neck and action both amazing and dead on - you got to love that.

 

[JB Player]

Sorry for the overly large pics guys!

 

[Bass Ape]

Oh my! Beautiful!

 

[FearNoEvil65]

Picked up the 44-OS today - really like the different feel and sound. Lots of fun exploring different sounds options with this one, and coming from my 44-02 - impressive passive sound as well, good and strong. Here are some pictures, although not the greatest light - sorry for duplicates. Different looking bass too. Like most Lakies, the neck and action both amazing and dead on - you got to love that.

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Congrats !! I like that they put the switch for mids on the outside, and that is actually a passive pull on the volume rather than just tone control bypass like on my 44-01.
The bass looks great but I wish it had a matching black headstock !

 

[trigger_happy]

Can I see how low action can your Laklands(particularly the 55-02) go? I'm not sure if mine can still go lower but even when my saddles are at the lowest, I still can't get it and will just buzz. My truss is tight already and was following the setup adjustment guides in youtube but I don't want to force it anymore. Just getting ideas/insights before I take it to a trusted luthier here in London.

Here's a pic of my bass:

 

[Thom Fioriglio]

Can I see how low action can your Laklands(particularly the 55-02) go? I'm not sure if mine can still go lower but even when my saddles are at the lowest, I still can't get it and will just buzz. My truss is tight already and was following the setup adjustment guides in youtube but I don't want to force it anymore. Just getting ideas/insights before I take it to a trusted luthier here in London.

Here's a pic of my bass:
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My action for my 3 Laklands is between G 4/64 and E 5/64. Below what they suggest

 

[Ric Vice]

Dan Lakin Selling a piece of history.

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While I love seeing this bass and have both a Lakland 55-94 Fretted and Lined Fretless. If I were to put one of mine up for sale. It would probably only get somewhere between $2,500 and maybe $3,000 for the lined fretless.

I think Lakland made their mark with the 55-94 more than they did with the 4-94's. Perhaps as the instrument accumulates more years on it's provenance it will become more valuable. Hard to say. Just my take of course.

I almost bought one of the early ones, but the five strings were what I wanted. That bass has probably been in a lot of famous players hands as a demo for NAMM though.

 

[nervous]

Can I see how low action can your Laklands(particularly the 55-02) go? I'm not sure if mine can still go lower but even when my saddles are at the lowest, I still can't get it and will just buzz. My truss is tight already and was following the setup adjustment guides in youtube but I don't want to force it anymore. Just getting ideas/insights before I take it to a trusted luthier here in London.

My preferred target action for all the Skyline Lakland basses I have owned (and honestly, ANY bass I have owned) with a slight mid neck relief, is 5/64 low B gently falling to G 4/64 on the G. 12th fret measure. Not every bass will take this and will fight a bit, most often with the B saddle being as low as they will go and still not quite there. That's a shimmable correction in most cases and sometimes I'll chase that and more often I'll just get to 5.5/64 and be happy because a shim can introduce it's own issues. Any higher and I find it a bit bothersome.

 

[Johnny Alien]

Its hard to tell by the photos but it looks like there is a bow to the neck. It looks like the strings are closer to the fretboard where it meets the body than at the 12th fret. But photos on the internet can be deceptive.

 

[Jamvan]

Can I see how low action can your Laklands(particularly the 55-02) go? I'm not sure if mine can still go lower but even when my saddles are at the lowest, I still can't get it and will just buzz. My truss is tight already and was following the setup adjustment guides in youtube but I don't want to force it anymore. Just getting ideas/insights before I take it to a trusted luthier here in London.

Here's a pic of my bass:
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I'm a heavy plucker (not quite like Geddy but close) so my action is usually in the 5/64-6/64 range on the B string going down to 4/64-5/64 on the G string.

Its hard to tell by the photos but it looks like there is a bow to the neck. It looks like the strings are closer to the fretboard where it meets the body than at the 12" fret. But photos on the internet can be deceptive.

I was going to mention that as well. Especially that first photo. Looks like you have a pretty good bow happening. Check the neck relief and make sure you're somewhere in the .008"-.012". I usually go with .012 again as I'm a heavy plucker.