Lakland Owners Group #69

[Johnny Alien]

For the record I have never done anything to my USA necks. Same with the Music Man guitars I own. None of them ever needed it. I don't "think" I am abusing my instruments.

 

[macribas]

For the record I have never done anything to my USA necks. Same with the Music Man guitars I own. None of them ever needed it. I don't "think" I am abusing my instruments.

I've only owned one Classic US Series but it had the same "rough" neck as described by @warptheory. Definitely different than the regular USA Series necks.

I didn't keep it long enough to bother doing anything to it. But I did treat a Skyline neck with the "method" described in this thread a few times and it is a pleasure to play.

 

[JB Player]

So surprising to hear about the "rough" feel on the classic - maybe wear from the previous owner? I have never had a classic or a USA (I wish, here in Canada so much more expensive), but the 3 Skylines I have had all had silky smooth necks, although they were bought new.

 

[JB Player]

Got the 55-14 from GC, and it is in immaculate shape, played great out of the box after a quick tuning. B string is the best I’ve played.

Been playing with it a bit and just have noticed a few things, nothing bad, but just curious what people think.

It’s sounds pretty dark, maybe that’s just me coming from a Sadowsky as my main bass which are probably brighter than most basses. The sound isn’t bad or anything, just neutral. Haven’t adjusted the mid EQ at all, and maybe setting that to something like 900 or 1100 would brighten it up a bit.

The neck plays great, but has kind of a rough, almost gritty feel to it. All my other basses, Sadowsky, Fender, and Schecter have smooth glossy necks. Maybe the 55-14 has a satin finish and I’m just not used to it. It’s also unusual that it’s not uniformly the same texture along the length of the neck. The wood almost felt raw or unfinished. Maybe the previous owner took some steel wool to it to make it a more satin finish. I applied some Howard’s Orange Oil and Feed n Wax, which did smooth it out but didn’t really change the texture. Maybe it just needs some more coats of the wax. Theirs nothing visibly wrong with it, just a texture I’ve never felt before.

Played it tonight at a small quick gig and it felt great, just getting used to the sound and how to dial it in.

Anyways, here’s some glamour shots.

View attachment 5227872 View attachment 5227874 View attachment 5227875 View attachment 5227876 View attachment 5227877 View attachment 5227878

Really nice bass Warp! great find! congrats!

 

[g4string]

Lakland uses Beechwood Casey Tru-oil gun stock oil. So if your neck is rough, hit it with some light steel wool, apply a few coats of oil, let it dry overnight, sand again with steel wool, then repeat the process of applying oil/sanding several 2-3xs. This should get a silky smooth well protected neck.

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[Johnny Alien]

That is what Music Man uses but I thought that Lakland used something different. I think it would work fine though.

 

[g4string]

That is what Music Man uses but I thought that Lakland used something different. I think it would work fine though.

Years ago this is what I was told by Carl Pedigo. Or so I recall

 

[Johnny Alien]

In case anyone is interested there is a really affordable Ashdown J bass at Music Go Round. These are really close to Classic Laklands. Its a giveaway price for this quality.

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[Jardell]

I have luck to own Joe Osborn 5 US model. What a bass! Perfect shape and sound. Very happy.

 

[JEDI BASS]

Years ago this is what I was told by Carl Pedigo. Or so I recall

Same. Carl should know all too well.

 

[31HZ]

Got the 55-14 from GC, and it is in immaculate shape, played great out of the box after a quick tuning. B string is the best I’ve played.

Been playing with it a bit and just have noticed a few things, nothing bad, but just curious what people think.

It’s sounds pretty dark, maybe that’s just me coming from a Sadowsky as my main bass which are probably brighter than most basses. The sound isn’t bad or anything, just neutral. Haven’t adjusted the mid EQ at all, and maybe setting that to something like 900 or 1100 would brighten it up a bit.

The neck plays great, but has kind of a rough, almost gritty feel to it. All my other basses, Sadowsky, Fender, and Schecter have smooth glossy necks. Maybe the 55-14 has a satin finish and I’m just not used to it. It’s also unusual that it’s not uniformly the same texture along the length of the neck. The wood almost felt raw or unfinished. Maybe the previous owner took some steel wool to it to make it a more satin finish. I applied some Howard’s Orange Oil and Feed n Wax, which did smooth it out but didn’t really change the texture. Maybe it just needs some more coats of the wax. Theirs nothing visibly wrong with it, just a texture I’ve never felt before.

Played it tonight at a small quick gig and it felt great, just getting used to the sound and how to dial it in.

Anyways, here’s some glamour shots.

View attachment 5227872 View attachment 5227874 View attachment 5227875 View attachment 5227876 View attachment 5227877 View attachment 5227878

Your description of the tone is spot-on. I find Laklands to be a bit dark and smooth. The B-string on my 55-94 is monstrous -- just flat-out "bigger" than that of any other instrument I've ever played (Zon, Fbass, Sadowsky, Smith, Roscoe, etc.).

FWIW, I smoothed its neck with sandpaper (long before I read of anyone else doing so on TB) and left it unfinished, and it made a huge difference in the comfort and vibe of the instrument. Mine was already worn on the back (I bought it used in the Classifieds), so it was easy for me to consider doing. Highly recommended.

 

[basspraiser]

Never seen a JO like this before

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Wow... Custom order for sure!

 

[Johnny Alien]

Thanks! Perhaps they changed it at one point. In older posts I have seen the official statement from Lakland is that it was tung oil that they used vs the gunstock oil.

 

[Bass Ape]

Either oil would work fine for the job.

 

[krfoss]

I'm thinking of converting my 5502 into a fretless by replacing the neck with a fretless. Does anyone own a fretless 5502 (with barts) and can speak to their experience with the sound? Does this bass do a sufficient fretless sound, or would I be better served by looking at other basses to get a good fretless tone?

 

[basspraiser]

I'm thinking of converting my 5502 into a fretless by replacing the neck with a fretless. Does anyone own a fretless 5502 (with barts) and can speak to their experience with the sound? Does this bass do a sufficient fretless sound, or would I be better served by looking at other basses to get a good fretless tone?

I have a couple of 5594 type fretless basses that sound awesome.

I think that you would like it and the sounds that it will produce

 

[Stranger Danger]

Question for the fretless fans: what kind of music do you find yourself playing with the fretless? Are you giving them regularly?

 

[Holdsg]

I used to play bluegrass, folk, Americana on the Fretless, that is, before getting the Beeg Fretless (upright).

 

[g4string]

I love fretless. One of my first real basses was back in the 90’s. I had an ibanez atk fretless. I played it on everything

 

[Jari Kurri]

I started on fretless in 2019, mainly to change things up when I was playing at church. I liked it so much that I upgraded to a Skyline 44-02 and I still dig playing it. Apart from working out Pino basslines here and there, I'm primarily using it for P&W as it fits well for what we play. I've been devoting most of my practice time to my fretted lately so my fretless skills are at a (low) plateau.