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Lakland Shoreline? What?

J

jazzy bass man

Oct 25, 2004
120
0
36
Ann Arbor, MI, USA
#1
When I was in Japan recently with my school jazz combo we got a chance to wander (mostly because our teacher was off getting plastered). On one of the nights I ended up in a guitar shop for a little while. I wasn't thinking they would have anything nice other than maybe some Japanese fenders. I discovered to my suprise that a good chunk of their stock were "Laklands," but instead of being marked "skyline" they were marked "shoreline" series. They didn't seem like cheap copies but still...
Any body know anything bout this :confused:
 
#6
Korean made Skylines arent sold in Japan
ESP (the distributor in Japan) asked Lakland if they could make Laklands here

Shorelines are a little better than the Skylines
I think the biggest difference between Skylines and Shorelines is that they have graphite in the necks
 
#10
Rvl said:
Korean made Skylines arent sold in Japan
ESP (the distributor in Japan) asked Lakland if they could make Laklands here

Shorelines are a little better than the Skylines
I think the biggest difference between Skylines and Shorelines is that they have graphite in the necks
Click to expand...

5-string skylines have graphite bars in the necks, too.

Where are the Shorelines set up? In Chicago like the Skylines, or in Japan? I'm betting the latter -- wouldn't make sense to ship them across the Pacific twice. I'd love to try one, though.
 
#13
Fender Japans are between $400-700
USA Laklands are $4000+

I was a little disappointed that the Korean models were never released in Japan. I asked a friend at ESP "Why they didnt buy the Korean models ?" He said that "They would have to do setup and quality control on each bass again and they felt they could do better"

I ordered a ShoreLine Glaub and found the neck and volute to be a lot stockier than the USA Glaub. I never tried the Korean models
 
#16
Shorelines are very good basses. I would say better than Skylines. They are quite on par with US Laklands in terms of make, fit and finish (I've had 2 of each), and have the same pickups and preamps. But they are limited in features and are not sent to US to be set up. However, ESP takes very good care of them.

I've had two, a SL4-94 and SL55-94. Note their model indices differ from those of Skylines. My understanding is that the hardware is akin to that of Skylines, but the wood types are neither ones used in US nor in Skylines. Shorelines also come in alder.

note the Fuji logo and matte hardware:
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SL 55-94 classic (alder), top, and US 55-94 std., bottom:
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In the past, it was a very good thing to get one for it was like an intermediate step between Skyline and US at close to the price of a Skyline. After the yen -to -dollar ratio changed that much, getting a Shoreline may be too expensive

Lastly, note that ESP also makes Skyline Japan Laklands that differ from those that we are used to. They have other woods (like, the deluxe comes in ALDER with a maple top), other pickups and electronics, and other model names, see below:
http://www.espguitars.co.jp/lakland/skyline/index.html

My understanding is that these Skylines by ESP are something like Edwards or mid-grade LTDs: made in ESP facilities in China etc. and set up and tested in Japan

I would get another Shoreline any day, but would like to play a Skyline by ESP before getting one.
 

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