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Lakland Skyline 55-02 review

Chef

Chef

In Memoriam
May 23, 2004
41,814
18,945
65
Columbia MO
Disclosures
Staff Reviewer; Bass Gear Magazine
#1
Bought this from Chrisp2u here at TB. He claims he used it, I think it's pretty dang mint. Took it right out of the fedex box and striaght to work. My impressions after a 3 hour outdoor private party with a 5 piece jazz/blues/rock band:

1) Skyline quality is nothing to sneeze at. I have a Skyline hollowbody as well, and both reek of quality. Fretwork, electronics, quality components, the whole nine yards.
2) Maybe it's because my exposure to active basses has been limited to G&L, but for those who say the Barts are "too smooth, too tame, etc," I gotta disagree. With whatever rounds Chris had on this bass, there's plenty of zing, growl, smack available. I played with blend biased towards the neck pup just a tad, the MM switch in the middle (both coils on), bass backed way down past center, mids flat, treble turned down past center. Man, if you guys are playing this active with treble cranked and need more aggressive, you're really different than me. And if you're playing with the bass past the center detent in active mode, gawd help your cabs. The + side of the bass pot is huuuge.

Well, that's it til after work Thursday night with a more full on rock band, but for now, I'm a really really impressed and happy camper. See my profile for other basses my brain is comparing to internally;)

alan
 
#2
And I forgot the pic:
 

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#5
Chef said:
2) Maybe it's because my exposure to active basses has been limited to G&L, but for those who say the Barts are "too smooth, too tame, etc," I gotta disagree. With whatever rounds Chris had on this bass, there's plenty of zing, growl, smack available. I played with blend biased towards the neck pup just a tad, the MM switch in the middle (both coils on), bass backed way down past center, mids flat, treble turned down past center. Man, if you guys are playing this active with treble cranked and need more aggressive, you're really different than me. And if you're playing with the bass past the center detent in active mode, gawd help your cabs. The + side of the bass pot is huuuge.
Click to expand...

I agree. I've never quite understood the whole "Politeness" thing about Bart pups/preamps. I find them to be capable of a very smooth, even tone, but boost the mids and play closer to the bridge and you'll have some major growl and punch, with great low end.

Chef said:
Anyone using flats on theirs?
Click to expand...

Me! I had a set of TI flats on my 55-02. The only word to describe the tone is HUGE. From the low B to the high E# on the G string. Every string, every fret has this outstandingly gutsy tone, with phenomenal clarity. Perfect for fingerstyle and tapping. These strings are amazing.

Now I have a set of rounds (Sadowsky's) on the 55-02 just for a change, but I'm yearning to switch back to the TIs.
 
#7
Nice bass! Congrats! If you like flatwound strings and a big, fat, punchy tone, those Barts are amazing sounding. I think the 'polite' comments on those pickups involve the treble response and upper mid grind versus a more 'J-style' pickup. But they are punchy as all getout!
 
#9
Zach: yes it does, thanks;)

Running some further setup on it this morning to change if from "Chris's bass to my bass" I noticed that the fretboard has a pretty big radius on it compared to some of my other basses... Didn't notice that at all playing it, and must say, I'm very at home on the Lakland 5 neck. It feel a little chunkier than my Reverend 5's, but not at all in a bad way. I'll have to get out calipers and measure some stuff tonight just for fun.
 
#14
I bought a new 55-02 last December. Initially, I was awe-struck with the look, feel and quality of this instrument - amazing! In fact, after one week, I thought I had found my "grail" bass! Except for one little detail....the sound. Meek, mild, sorta....well, almost wimpy.

Try as I might, I couldn't get there...by itself, it wasn't bad. With my band, however, this baby would get covered up faster than I could believe. I wound up, on several occasions, sticking my ear about 4' away from my 200W amp just to hear myself.

Tried everything - changed the settings on the toggle switch in the electronics compartment, changed strings, messed with the EQ settings on the amp - some of these actions helped but still didn't get me where I wanted to be.

Finally, I traded it, to a fellow TB'er, for a G&L L2500. All I can say is, ZOWIE! NOTHING covers this baby up - truly an amazing sound. Best I've ever heard from a bass (although my Yammie BB415 comes REAL close)!

I realize this post might seem like a diss of the 55-02, but really it isn't meant to be. Just another example of "different strokes for different folks". The TB'er that got my 55-02 really seems to like it, and I'm undoubtedly in the minority here with respect to how the 55-02 sound is perceived. But would I turn back the clock and "undo" the trade if I were able? Not a chance.
 
#15
Lakland has just changed over to their own pickups
in order to give a more agressive sound to the bass.
Sort of in between the Barts and the Duncans. I think
this will make a great bass even greater. Its a good
reason to order a new bass, even though the wait time
is rediculous. I think the 55-02 is about to become
even more popular. jmho
 
#16
Ancient; I have a G&L2500 as well. I sure can't see the 55-02 getting buried in the mix in comparison. My amplification is lots different than yours. I used the 55-02 for the first time last night at a large outdoor venue, piano, bass drums, sax, two guitars...I was definately not lost in the mix.
YMMV, of course, and the 2500 is a fine piece of gear;)
 
#17
Chef said:
Bought this from Chrisp2u here at TB. He claims he used it, I think it's pretty dang mint. Took it right out of the fedex box and striaght to work. My impressions after a 3 hour outdoor private party with a 5 piece jazz/blues/rock band:

1) Skyline quality is nothing to sneeze at. I have a Skyline hollowbody as well, and both reek of quality. Fretwork, electronics, quality components, the whole nine yards.
2) Maybe it's because my exposure to active basses has been limited to G&L, but for those who say the Barts are "too smooth, too tame, etc," I gotta disagree. With whatever rounds Chris had on this bass, there's plenty of zing, growl, smack available. I played with blend biased towards the neck pup just a tad, the MM switch in the middle (both coils on), bass backed way down past center, mids flat, treble turned down past center. Man, if you guys are playing this active with treble cranked and need more aggressive, you're really different than me. And if you're playing with the bass past the center detent in active mode, gawd help your cabs. The + side of the bass pot is huuuge.

Well, that's it til after work Thursday night with a more full on rock band, but for now, I'm a really really impressed and happy camper. See my profile for other basses my brain is comparing to internally;)

alan
Click to expand...

I'm confused... on the Lakland website it states:
Preamp
Lakland LH3
Pickups
Lakland MM-J Config

I thought the Bartolini pickups and preamp were on the 55-01 bass? Please advise. I was going after a used 55-02 specifically to get different pups, because I have two other basses with the Bartolini setup and I wanted something different.
 

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