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Lakland Shorty!

#41
honestjohnny said:
Holy...!! $4K for a production short-scale! Even reduced from MSRP that's still close to $3K.
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Why should a "production short-scale" be any cheaper than a "production long-scale"? If that's what you're implying, I fail to see the logic in it, but I do agree that US Laklands are expensive. I'm sure they are worth every penny, but still, they're too dear for me. So, I'll only start really wanting a short scale Decade once they're available as Skylines, if they ever will be... :)
 
#42
Street price is 30% off of list for Lakland, generally, so that'd be $3080. Not cheap, that's for sure, but it's not $4k. Just an FYI.

Oooh, "I can buy X number of SX basses for the same price as a boutique", that's never been used before.
 
#43
Yup, I'm out too. $3000 is too rich for my blood.

I have a SX shortscale J and SX shortscale P. I spent about $200 modding the J and now its pretty nice.

I also have my custom Stambaugh shortscale that should be finished August/September which should kill all GAS for basses (hopefully!).

That said, I was really hoping this shorty Decade would be an option. Its hard to find an off the shelf *quality* shortscale and I was thinking the Decade ss would be perfect. Really you gotta wonder on the price. If the bass was $1200 etc they'd surely sell way more of them and in the end make more money (?).

Who knows maybe a couple years from now they may pop in the Classifieds for alot less.
 
#45
::::BASSIST:::: said:
Yup, I'm out too. $3000 is too rich for my blood.

I have a SX shortscale J and SX shortscale P. I spent about $200 modding the J and now its pretty nice.

I also have my custom Stambaugh shortscale that should be finished August/September which should kill all GAS for basses (hopefully!).

That said, I was really hoping this shorty Decade would be an option. Its hard to find an off the shelf *quality* shortscale and I was thinking the Decade ss would be perfect. Really you gotta wonder on the price. If the bass was $1200 etc they'd surely sell way more of them and in the end make more money (?).

Who knows maybe a couple years from now they may pop in the Classifieds for alot less.
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If it was $1200, they'd be losing money out the wazoo. I guess they'd make it up on volume?:D
 
#47
lousybassist said:
Why should a "production short-scale" be any cheaper than a "production long-scale"? If that's what you're implying, I fail to see the logic in it, but I do agree that US Laklands are expensive. I'm sure they are worth every penny, but still, they're too dear for me. So, I'll only start really wanting a short scale Decade once they're available as Skylines, if they ever will be... :)
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Actually, I don't see how anyone can be willing to pay thousands for a few slabs of wood with strings and an electromagnet. Especially musicians, who typically don't make a lot of money. Producers and companies can charge whatever they want. This thing's construction just doesn't seem that special to me compared with the Birdsongs that Scott Beckwith makes and it definitely doesn't look any better than a Fender Mustang, Squier Bronco or *gasp* an f---ing SX. Snobs.
 
#48
honestjohnny said:
Actually, I don't see how anyone can be willing to pay thousands for a few slabs of wood with strings and an electromagnet. Especially musicians, who typically don't make a lot of money. Producers and companies can charge whatever they want. This thing's construction just doesn't seem that special to me compared with the Birdsongs that Scott Beckwith makes and it definitely doesn't look any better than a Fender Mustang, Squier Bronco or *gasp* an f---ing SX. Snobs.
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You ever play a Lakland?
 
#49
honestjohnny said:
Actually, I don't see how anyone can be willing to pay thousands for a few slabs of wood with strings and an electromagnet. Especially musicians, who typically don't make a lot of money. Producers and companies can charge whatever they want. This thing's construction just doesn't seem that special to me compared with the Birdsongs that Scott Beckwith makes and it definitely doesn't look any better than a Fender Mustang, Squier Bronco or *gasp* an f---ing SX. Snobs.
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What Showdown said. Have you even seen one in person, or are you rendering your judgments based on a picture?

"Snobs"? No one here said a negative word about SX or inexpensive basses in general. Get the chip off your shoulder.
 
#50
GregC said:
What Showdown said. Have you even seen one in person, or are you rendering your judgments based on a picture?

"Snobs"? No one here said a negative word about SX or inexpensive basses in general. Get the chip off your shoulder.
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Exactly. I have an SX and an OLP so I'm not a snob, but if he had ever played a Lakland he would not compare them to SX or Squier. He's kind of a reverse snob.


I like my SX, but comparing it to my Laklands is like comparing a Volkswagon to a Ferrari. They both have 4 wheels, an engine and a steering wheel, and will get you from point A to point B, but otherwise there is no comparison.
 
#51
Showdown said:
Exactly. I have an SX and an OLP so I'm not a snob, but if he had ever played a Lakland he would not compare them to SX or Squier. He's kind of a reverse snob.
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I've owned several early Laklands and I still have one. Honestly, it didn't take anything more than one of my DIY setups and a fret end dressing to make the Bronco neck on my project shown here previously play as well as my Lakland.
 
#52
Showdown said:
...comparing a Volkswagon to a Ferrari. They both have 4 wheels, an engine and a steering wheel, and will get you from point A to point B, but otherwise there is no comparison.
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In this example, both will get you from A to B, comfortably. Is the difference worth the additional $$$? I don't think so, but it's your money. I have never played a Lakland, I'd love to compare, but I can't afford the Lakland and they don't sell them at GC or wherever and I'm not going to order one for $2-3K. I've never driven a Ferrari either, but I don't think it's that simple. We're talking about the difference between two 4 door mid-size sedans, power everything, etc. It's only going to be fine details that very few people will notice and the status associated with each that makes the difference. And really what pisses me off is the status thing. If I suck, I will suck on anything, Lakland, SX, whatever. Similarly, I'm sure your preferred bass god could take my SX and sound great. Heck it's just the Decade body with a short neck on it as an afterthought! How is that better than a short-scale by design Birdsong or, on the low-end, an SX?

Appologies, I got upset because someone jumped on me about suggesting an SX J or P, with mods to Ms. Haden. Those are the only maufactured "classic" looking short-scale basses that I know of. Of course, I also suggested a custom Birdsong, which I think is very Ferrari-ish. I don't know her financial situation or how well Todd Rundgren pays, even if he is an international act. I was just trying to be helpful. Sorry for derailing the thread.
 
#53
honestjohnny said:
In this example, both will get you from A to B, comfortably. Is the difference worth the additional $$$? I don't think so, but it's your money. I have never played a Lakland, I'd love to compare, but I can't afford the Lakland and they don't sell them at GC or wherever and I'm not going to order one for $2-3K. I've never driven a Ferrari either, but I don't think it's that simple. We're talking about the difference between two 4 door mid-size sedans, power everything, etc. It's only going to be fine details that very few people will notice and the status associated with each that makes the difference. And really what pisses me off is the status thing. If I suck, I will suck on anything, Lakland, SX, whatever. Similarly, I'm sure your preferred bass god could take my SX and sound great. Heck it's just the Decade body with a short neck on it as an afterthought! How is that better than a short-scale by design Birdsong or, on the low-end, an SX?

Appologies, I got upset because someone jumped on me about suggesting an SX J or P, with mods to Ms. Haden. Those are the only maufactured "classic" looking short-scale basses that I know of. Of course, I also suggested a custom Birdsong, which I think is very Ferrari-ish. I don't know her financial situation or how well Todd Rundgren pays, even if he is an international act. I was just trying to be helpful. Sorry for derailing the thread.
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Dude, if that is all you had actually done, I wouldn't have criticized your post. But whatever, it's over. Peace.

honestjohnny said:
Holy...!! $4K for a production short-scale! Even reduced from MSRP that's still close to $3K. You could have a really nice customized Birdsong from Scott for half that, or who knows how many modified SX's. I'm sure that Lakland logo makes it sound better, though. :rolleyes:
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#54
Since I love the way a Lakland sounds and plays I have two options...

1) Wait for the skyline,

2) Keep looking out on the classified section....

Hopefully one or the other becomes a reality soon.... :)
 
#55
Unless I won the lottery, I would never buy a bass for $3200. This is because I can order a custom Stambaugh shortscale with all the details that I want such as rosewood lam top on a mahogany body, zero fret, no face dots, classical guitar style headstock, thumbrest as an extension of the neck etc etc etc.

That is just what I've done and it will cost me about $1200 less.

Keep in mind I know exactly what I want and since its so hard to find a good quality off the shelf shortscale bass, ordering a custom is the only way to really get it.

That said, those decades do look really nice.

If only I won the lottery!
 

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