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LAKLAND - USA vs skyline.

#61
I thought I would revive this thread to chime in!

I have a 2011 skyline 55-94 and used to own a 2006 US 55-94.

The most noticeable (and very important) differences to me are:

Fretwork (the US is a lightyears ahead on this)
Electronics ( US sounds very different to me, better balance)
Fit/Finish (neck pocket, fretends and detailing)
Tops and colors

To me, it is worth an extra $2000 for the US version, but i am in a financial position to make that call. If someone can afford a US Lakland and knows how they play and sound, there is no reason to buy a skyline unless you're just breaking into the Lakland market and want to get a feel.

The Skylines are incredible basses for the money, but the same comparison can be made with a MIM jazz bass vs. a MIA jazz bass.


If US laklands were not as far ahead of skylines as they are they wouldnt be selling them like hotcakes.
 
#65
Interesting thread.
Someone made the point about the Skylines being better value for money. I think so too, but they're also better value for money for Lakland! Somewhere there is an interview where the guys at Lakland revealed that due to the long manufacture time and labour costs of the US instruments, they weren't actually making much profit on each US Lakland that they sold. By essentially subcontracting manufacture of the bodies and necks and producing them in batches overseas, they were able to drastically reduce the build time and cost of each instrument, whilst keeping the electronics US-installed ensured that they could market the instruments based on sound and quality control would still be tight too.
The upshot of all this is that Lakland actually make a bigger profit on the Skyline series than they do on the US instruments. So technically, the US ones are better value for money than the skylines, but the fundamental price difference is still massive.

Long and short of it - Laklands are a fair price regardless of whether you opt for the US or Skyline instruments. The determining factor is not the quality of the end product, it's entirely dependent on what you're willing to spend. You're not going to go wrong either way. And even if you do get a lemon (they do slip out the door occasionally - it's bound to happen), Lakland are very very concerned with quality and customer satisfaction, so they WILL reply to any concerns. I had an electronics problem with my Skyline (interesting that the US-installed bit was the part that went wrong!), and I got a reply the same day telling me exactly what the problem was and sending me replacement pots so that a guitar tech could replace them under warranty. Whole thing was dealt with in days.

Now, decide what you want and what you can afford, buy it, and enjoy!

Cheers,
SoundSupport
 
#68
Methinks....from personal experience and ownership....

US JOs- way better than Sky (have owned 3 US and 3 Sky)

US 55-94 better than 55-02 but not as a significant as the JO (have owned 3 55-94s & 2 55-02s)

I had a Sky Glaub that was "ok" I played the crap out of US in a store in SF multiple times for many hours..US was way better sounding and feeling.

Have played 1 US DJ and owned 2 IMHO they are close

Have never played or owned a US HB...but damn I've owned 2 Sky HBs and they are Top notch and tonally very close to my US JO

For me the main difference in a US & Skylines is the necks..its hard to beat the US necks.
 
#69
I have four Skylines, and for the work I do (playing mostly in clubs and church on Sundays) there is no better tool for the job. I'm not going to bring a $3K instrument into a bar with drunken fools asking me to play 'Brown Eyed Girl' one more time.

Speaking of necks... I took a seriously hard look at the necks of my '02 JO-5 and my '11 44-60 this morning, inspecting every fret for finish and the seam between the board and the neck. Both of them were simply perfect, flawlessly smooth. Plek'd or not, the Skyline necks are amazing. I can't say the same for any of my Fenders, Musicmans, or Gibsons (except the RD Artist, but that's a whole different story).
 
#70
I Just got a 55-94 in a trade deal. I use to own a Skyline 55-02 (black w/ maple board) which I loved for its dynamic EQ and playability. I have to say now that I have owned both, there is a significant difference in not only the EQ quality, but in the overall feeling of the bass. My Skyline's tuners use to rattle, which isn't a huge deal, but my new 55-94 is from 1999 or 2000 and it feel extremely solid. It has a much tighter construction. Also the EQ is much cleaner, a little fatter, and much less buzzing. Could be the Bartolini pick ups. Both basses are not very loud in passive mode, which I always thought was weird about Laklands.... I place this USA lakland up on the same level with my Fbass BN5 which my old Skyline couldn't compare with. I was planning on selling it after the trade, but now that I have babied it a little, I dont think I can let it go. Its too sweet!
 
#71
100_1951.jpg


USA 55-94 from 1999 or 2000
 
#73
jumbodbassman said:
did a search on TB . CAn't seem to find any thread on a comparison of the us made versus indonesia . Especially the hollow bodies. any thoughts????
Click to expand...
I've never owned a skyline but I have played a few. I do own a 2004 lakland USA joe osborn bass and it's leagues beyond any of the skylines I played. The neck is incredible and rarely moves thanks to being 1/4 sawn, w/ graphite rods, and a thick rosewood fingerboard. It leaves my real usa fenders in the dust a
s far as fit/finish. The fretwork is impeccable, has vintage fret-wire which I prefer, and the neck finish is smooth as butter. The lindy fralin pups are great as well. I bought mine used around 2g's. This one, my 65 Pbass, and my 08 RW jazz and precision will never be sold.
 

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