Lakland Skyline pricing is baffling to me

[MMiller28]

How do they justify charging $1,200-1,500 for a bass made in Indonesia when you can buy an American bass from other companies for the same price? I love the concept of the 55-02, but I can't convince myself to spend $1,500 on a bass made in Indonesia when I paid $100 less for my MIA Fenders.

Not trying to cause a ruckus...I'm genuinely curious.

 

[Jamarvic]

How do they justify charging $1,200-1,500 for a bass made in Indonesia when you can buy an American bass from other companies for the same price? I love the concept of the 55-02, but I can't convince myself to spend $1,500 on a bass made in Indonesia when I paid $100 less for my MIA Fenders.

Not trying to cause a ruckus...I'm genuinely curious.

I'm a big fan of Skylines also, they're great instruments, but I won't pay those prices either for an Indonesian made or Chinese made bass.
I usually like to buy used anyway.

 

[Snakeman1066]

the only difference between a Skyline and the standard Lakland are location, flat sawn vs. quartersawn (and carbon rods).... ash vs. alder.......otherwise the specs are identical

and unlike other companies that use an offshore factory.......the parts are then sent back to Chicago where they are fitted, assembled, plekked and inspected in the U.S. by the same people who put together the U.S. models...

and in case some of you don't know the same factory that makes parts of LTD/ESP also provides the skyline parts

Invalid Link Removed

 

[Wallace320]

I'm not sure but, for instance, 5502 electronic is it completely made in the US then assembled in Indonesia? Conversely 5501 is sensitively less expensive for Bartolini mk1 pickup/electronic I think are released abroad too

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[PortlandBass77]

I've been wondering also.... I could never justify paying that much for one of those, especially when Sire is widely considered on par with the Skyline Series and around $1000 less.....

 

[JonKim]

Why buy a foreign car over domestic? Sometimes offshore products are a lot better than the stuff that comes off the assembly line here in the states run by jimbob

 

[mpdd]

my lakland skyline fascination ended when i had to sell mine for 265 dollars to gc to pay my property tax, really nice bass, but seriously the resale on them outside of tb is atrocious

 

[Woofer]

Country of manufacture does not directly correlate to quality of product. Gibson is US made, but I'd take an Epi over the domestic offering any day.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Skylines bodies and necks are made in Indonesia, and except for the 55-01, their electronics are USA made and are installed in Chicago. The hardware is Hipshot, the same Fender Deluxes, and it is not cheap. The final Plek nd other fretwork and set up is done in Chicago too.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

my lakland skyline fascination ended when i had to sell mine for 265 dollars to gc to pay my property tax, really nice bass, but seriously the resale on them outside of tb is atrocious

What kind was it, and where did you sell it. You would get far more than that on TB.

 

[Mr.Ace]

Try a used 55-14.

 

[mpdd]

What kind was it, and where did you sell it. You would get far more than that on TB.

bob glaub - black with rw board, got it used on tb, that's the only reason i'm not still upset about it, my gf bought me a used LB100 to replace it, same style, but with a maple neck

 

[DWBass]

What kind was it, and where did you sell it. You would get far more than that on TB.

Or even Craigslist. You ain't gettin' jack selling to GC. Years ago, I tried to sell my brand new Lakland 55-01 and they offered me less than $400. I told them to go suck it!

 

[4StringsEnough]

Some folk choose a bass depending on where it's made. Or the name on the headstock. Others choose a bass because it's a fantastic instrument.

I'd choose Lakland Skyline over Fender USA any day of the week. YMMV.

 

[MobileHolmes]

They are equal to or better than a fair number of American basses at the same price piint, and a fair chunk of the work is done here anyway. I have no problem with the pricing

 

[HalfManHalfBass]

I've had 2 Skylines (both 5 strings: a Joe Osborne and a 55-01) and both developed neck problems. I won't be buying another at ANY price again -and that's for sure.

Peace,

Rob.

 

[BigBigGuy44]

I had two of the older Lakland basses - a Duck Dunn and Darryl Jones. They each had better fit and finish then two USA made G&L's that I bought at about the same price point.

 

[BassKraz]

my lakland skyline fascination ended when i had to sell mine for 265 dollars to gc to pay my property tax, really nice bass, but seriously the resale on them outside of tb is atrocious

Shame on GC for taking advantage of you when down on your luck. That bass should of been worth
far more. Some used Squiers might possibly go for that price.

 

[Iridescentone]

Skylines bodies and necks are made in Indonesia, and except for the 55-01, their electronics are USA made and are installed in Chicago. The hardware is Hipshot, the same Fender Deluxes, and it is not cheap. The final Plek nd other fretwork and set up is done in Chicago too.

Well, when you say "hardware" you're referring to just the tuners. My Skylines always came with Hipshot "licenced" tuners, which are cheaper than the real USA Hipshots. Is that still the case with the Indo Skylines? And what about USA Fenders...USA machines, or the cheaper imported stuff?

 

[Iridescentone]

the only difference between a Skyline and the standard Lakland are location, flat sawn vs. quartersawn (and carbon rods).... ash vs. alder.......otherwise the specs are identical

and unlike other companies that use an offshore factory.......the parts are then sent back to Chicago where they are fitted, assembled, plekked and inspected in the U.S. by the same people who put together the U.S. models...

and in case some of you don't know the same factory that makes parts of LTD/ESP also provides the skyline parts

Invalid Link Removed

Presumably you not referring to the LTD/ESP stuff that's Made in Korea?