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LAKLAND USA VS SKYLINE?

#41
Hey McCartneyman,
I too have a Deluxe 55-94 and had a 55-01 as a backup. The differences in quality, components and tone were too severe so my 55-01 got no playing time, hence I've sold it. It was a nice bass, but after playing a USA Lakland's neck and weight and tone (need I go on) I couldn't justify keeping the Skyline. I'm going to get another 55-94 as a backup eventually, maybe a classic in shoreline gold with some really nice looking pickguard, but I won't go the Korean route again. And contrary to popular opinion, I think the difference in quality does justify the difference in price.
 
#42
grayhawk1853 said:
The way someone else here stated the difference is "A Skyline is all you'll ever need, an American is all you could ever want." I would agree with this.
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:cool:
I've owned both.
This quote, is right on.
Got a Skyline Joe Osborn.
Played and sounded great.
After playing it for two yrs.
I got a USA Glaub.
Once I played a USA lakland, I could not go back to the Skyline.
Don't get me wrong, the Skyline was very good.
But, the USA was that much better.
To me, it was worth the extra money.
 
#44
I bought my 55-94 deluxe from Bass Central back in 2001, and I have never looked at another bass since then. I have played a number of Skyline series basses in that time, and they are good midrange price basses in their own right. But compared to the balance, tone, and finished setup of the USA model, they are lacking. The USA model is well worth the additional money.

Robert
 
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#45
I've been wondering about this whole skyline vs usa for a while now. I've never played a usa lakland before only a skyline and was always impressed by the tone, feel, quality of build etc

I'm in the position where I'm able to buy a new bass and have ummed and ahhed about going for a usa or going for a lakland skyline and decided for what Im going to use the bass for i would go with the skyline. I need a good quality, great sounding bass that will hold up to heavy touring and if it gets damaged it's not the end of the world.

If it were a bass for studio use only then maybe i'd spend the extra bucks cos I knew it wouldnt get hammered on tour and i would look after it.

Also I just noticed that matt rubano from taking back sunday uses a skyline JO live which I think speaks for itself!!
 
#46
I've never held a USA neck, I wonder if the 1/4 sawn thing is worth it. With Aeros in my Sky JO, its competitive with all the upper end basses, and thankfully not as smooth as an active Sadowsky. I still long to try a US neck 5'er, butthe addage " They're 85% of the bass at 50% of the cost" is likely spot on. Some players ( particualrly pros) want that additional 15%, some just want the best. I would also prefer to pay US workers, but as an amatuer, its hard to justify the extra 2G's.
 
#47
I have two US 4-94s (a Deluxe and a Classic) and I have a Skyline 55-01. I spent a whole day at the Lakland shop just when the Skylines were coming out. Dan asked me to play the prototypes and give him my opinion- (all they had at the time was a 55-01 and a 55-02) as well as allowing me to play EVERYTHING that was in the shop that day.

The Skyline instruments are great, just wonderful But the US ones pretty consistently had that "something extra" that separates a great bass from an "OH MY GOODNESS! THIS IS GREAT!!!".

And even beyond that stupidly high level of consistency, my Deluxe 494 is one of only three basses in my entire 30+ years of playing (and 11 years of managing a guitar store) that said "Hi, honey- I'm home!". One of the others was a fretless Standard 494 I played that day in Chicago, the other is the Fender Vintage Series '62 P bass I got in April 1983)

So, if you play them and the differences don't speak to you, then go with the Skyline. But don't dismiss the US ones without spending some time playing them.

jte
 
#48
I agree with what BuffaloBass and JTE are saying above more or less. The Skylines can be 85% or better of what the USA model is, sometimes being almost identical. Then there's this something special about a USA model that you really can't put your finger on that makes it seem much better. I've seen some less-than perfect routing on the Skylines, along with better than average fretwork, but the USA stuff is typically VERY top notch across the board. It's nothing that would really come out in the tone of the instrument per se, at least not because of the USA/Skyline difference. Any two pieces of wood can sound different in either series.

As for the necks, both the US and Skyline 5 strings necks are graphite reinforced. Only the US 4 strings necks are reinforced.

Quarter sawn wood is desireable for stability, but flat sawn can be EXTREMELY stable if it's aged correctly before use, which the Skyline wood is. You don't hear about warping in either models with Lakland, so I wouldn't worry about that issue too much.

I hope to have US models some day instead of the Skylines just because I want them. But my 55-02 and 44-02 are STELLAR instruments. They cost about as much as any new Stingray as an example. If you've held a Stingray and are familiar with it's quality, the Skyline will be as good as that or better. Nothing to shake a stick at. Buy with confidence and save money. That's what I've done. For the price of 1 US model I have two Skylines and could afford to go out and buy most of a 3rd if I want.
 
#50
I have a skyline 55-01 and I love it. But if I ever got a chance to go USA, I would in a heartbeat. I bought the skyline from my former bass teacher because it was the cheap version of his USA (more or less). The sounds of a USA may be better, but there probably aren't that many who will notice it unless they compare them every day. Bottom line, play a Skyline through good equipment and play it well, and it will do everything your USA will, even if it is half as good at it.
 
#51
I just got my second 55-94 after holding out on buying any basses for 3 years. I came by it used from a friend, and it's a '98 that is well broken-in and plays even better than my '04. It's possible that I'll never HAVE to (although I'm sure someday GAS will get me) buy. The USA basses don't just blow away Skylines to me, they blow away anything else period. I've played Sadowsky's, Smiths, MTD's, Elricks, Zons, Pedullas, Modulus's, Nuesers, Warriors, Conklins, Roscoes, G&L's, Custom Shop Fenders, Foderas and any other high end basses that fall in the price range of the USA Laklands, some of them cost a lot more, and none of them fit me in every way like my 55-94's.

If I ever buy another bass, I'm sure it'll be another USA Lakland. I just don't like anything else anymore, and yes, everything I'm saying is very subjective and I'm not trying to say other people should feel exactly the way I do, but I have my dream bass times two and I'm rather happy about that.:D
 
#52
Mario Lewis said:
and this is only MY opinion, the skylines are cheaper for a reason....don't know if it's the electronics, the wood, the pups, or what, but the average USA 55-94 spanks the pants off any skyline any day. In tone, in feel, in mojo, call it what you want, but you get what you pay for. There is a reason the 55-94's cost more, and there is a reason they sound better. It's in the fingers and the tone.

They don't sound the same... the skyline's sound thinner and less meaty... could be my ears, but I've done the A/B thing at least 5 times looking for a reason to buy a Skyline and NOT hold out for a 55-94... everytime. I've come away with the same result... the 55-94's are simply better basses.
(quote).



I own a 44-02.
I have been playing bass for 48 years.
I really honestly cannot tell much of a difference at all between the 44-02 Skyline and the 44-94 USA.
The feel, sound, and playability (to me) are identical.
To me, a birds eye maple fingerboard does not sound any different that a standard maple fingerboard.
The fit and finish on the Skyline is as good as almost any other bass that I know of.
The pups and electronics are identical as well.
To me the difference in total value may be a couple of hundred dollars. Mostly due to the birds eye fingerboard. Certainly not $1500.
Someone said that a Skyline is all you will ever need.
I strongly agree.
Over the years I have owned quite a few really nice instruments.
The 44-02 Skyline is by far my all time favorite.
I play it every day and every gig.
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#54
Skylines are all you ever need, but the USA necks ARE noticeably nicer. I just got home from a gig, where I employed a USA JO with chi sonics. I doubt there will ever be a skyline even close to that USA JO, but it is all in marginal percentiles. I still own two skyline Laklands, and they kill. They absolutely stand up with the USAs. But they aren't better...
 
#55
jazzy grille said:
The USA takes the cake, but the skyline is better than most American Fenders I have ever played.
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Having been a Fender man most of my life (until recently), I can confirm that this is also my experience. Many of the Fenders I've owned were MIM's because the US quality (or lack thereof) was not worth the extra money. I found good MIM's and was alright with it. Then I tried a Lakland and fell in love with it. Fit, finish, neck profile... It was great! I finally got the chance to get one. I got a super deal from a great TB'er on a 2 week old Skyline, and I couldn't be happier. Not sure why I waited so long. Got a fretless AJ5 in the works, too. While the US models do offer a different level of quality, options, etc., I can't justify the expense when I'm so pleased with the Skyline I own.

The fret work on the Skyline is for lack of a better word perfect.
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Blows Fender out of the water.

Basically if you dont need a custom color dont hesitate to get a skyline.
Click to expand...

This statement resonates with me. If, however, you have the dough, and these extra differences are of great value to you, get a US model, but I can't imagine anyone not being at least reasonably content with a Skyline.
 
#56
Beaver

I'm a former Skyline Duck Dunn owner. Fit and finish was darn near perfect. The alder body and Lakland pickup was a little weak at the low end IMO, didn't really have the low end thump I wanted. It also weighed a ton. Sold it to save my back.

You guys had a gorgeous trans blonde Glaub for sale that I nearly pulled the trigger on, fortunately someone else did and saved me from myself. Seriously, though, $3K for a P bass? Pricey is an understatement... Does a US Glaub sound better than, say, a Lull P4 at just over $2K? I'm not sure about that. But I still would be seriously tempted by another trans blonde Glaub.
 
#58
I bought a '99 55-94 on a whim last year. I never have liked bolt-on necks or "turbo Fenders" of any sort, like, ever. So I was skeptical paying almost $2k for something I may hate, as the neck as been sanded down some and there were some visible dings and dents, but man, I LOVE this bass. It's a dark trans blue over a quilted maple top and it is just stunning. I can't say enough about it, really. The woods, the original Bart pickups and electronics, BEM fretboard dots, you name it, this has it. It's been my main ax since then for sure.
I had a 55-02 probably close to 10 years ago and I just really did not like it at all. This far removed I couldn't tell you why but it was just "ugh" and sold it quickly after. So, to me, it definitely is worth whatever you have to pay for a US model.
 
#60
I've owned both. I agree with the sentiments that sound-wise, you're really not going to hear much of a difference. It's all in the fit, finish and feel. And even then, I have a Korean Glaub with Fralin and everyone who plays it who's not familiar with the brand is flat out amazed at the sound and feel. But I owned a McFarland 4-94 I never should have parted with. I've never had a bass feel so natural and playable as that early Lakland bass. (Supporting TB and LOG member)
 

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