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Lakland, why did you choose ?

#101
Gordon of Eden said:
One construction problem I noticed, On the back of the neck behind the nut I started to feel a small bump that progressively grew larger over the course of 6 months. I guessed it was an issue with the truss rod. I obviously sold it for much less than I paid.
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Did you call Lakland? They would ha ve repaired or replaced that neck for you. They replaced a defective neck (vibrating truss rod) on a 55-02 I bought second hand! Talk about good customer service. :)
 
#102
For me, a big part of it was bang for the buck. I actually sold an elrick and then picked up a 55-01 and don't miss the elrick one bit. The B-string was another big selling point for me. With the 55-01, I was able to get a hell of a bass AND a backup amp for less than what I sold my bass for used.
 
#103
JAUQO III-X said:
Just curious as to why you chose Lakland and what is it that you like most about the Lakland you chose.
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After years of playing drums behind bass players using 55-94s, I knew I wanted one. I didn't care about anything except how good they sounded to the rest of the band.


JAUQO III-X said:
And for those who once owned a lakland, why did you get rid of it?
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I had to face the reality that 19mm + 35" can't be made comfortable to my hands, no matter how great the neck shape is. I still miss all three of my Laklands and will be back in the saddle as soon as they start making 34" fivers.
 
#104
I own two Laklands.
A 55-01 and a Duck Dunn.
I wanted a nice 5 string a few years ago, money not a big object so went down to the bass centre and tried every 5 string they had. ended up buying the Lakland. Never heard of them before but the neck was what sold me. So easy to play and didn't need any setting up. And it was the cheapest 5 string in the shop. felt a bit cheated as i was prepared to spend double what it cost. Would have gone for a 55-02 if they had had one and didnt think of going to the Gallery at the time.

I got the DD because i wanted a P but was having a bit of trouble with P necks (yes, even though i love the 55-01 neck) so as this was a P with a Jazz neck it seemed ideal. and it is. didn't like the red when i saw it on line but its much better in the flesh.
 
#106
I had a skyline Bob Glaub which I bought used for about $700 about a year and a half ago. It was CAR and it lasted all of a month and a half before I asked me friend if he'd trade me his Frankenbacker for it.

I love P-basses and I'm very picky about them, and the Bob Glaub just didn't do it. I'm guessing it just didn't have that "Fender sound" which was what I was looking for. I wasn't digging the sound of the bass at all. It sounded thin to me. The sound of the bass lacked balls no matter how much I EQd it.

I had trouble getting the action the way I like it (medium-high) which didn't help either.

To top it off the finish started doing this weird bubble thing by the bridge around the edges of the pick guard.

Overall, I was disappointed in this bass.
 
#107
Yes I noticed finish issues as well on the 44-02. The finish job had drips that has been over sprayed around all the control knobs. The bass was the natural top and this may have shone things a little more. This may be common I just haven't seen this on anything else before or after. Not trying to bash but for 1300-1400 er um dollars I thought things could have been done a little better.
 
#111
I just recently bought a Lakland. I got an excellent deal on it. 8 bills out the door. But the biggest reason I went with Lakland is the tone. It suits well for R&B, funk, dance type stuff that I do on the side. However, I don't find it all that great for heavy metal. At least not yet.
 
#112
I have been kicking around the idea of getting a Lakland fretless ... 4-94. But - I am a jazz player, love my Jazzes and Jazz-like basses, especially the neck. I played a few 4-94's and they were very, very nice, but I am hesitating because the neck isn't entirely what I am used to.

Anyone else (esp. Jazz bass players) experience this? Did you or did you not get used to it? I saw one post where a player sold a Lakland for this reason, but are there any success stories?

I bought a Stingray awhile back ... I really wanted to like it, but couldn't get used to the neck, so I sold it shortly after I bought it. I am worried about the same thing happening here ...

Thanks ...
 
#113
I bought a 55-94 purely based on looks. It is basically a better looking Stingray, isn't it? I also thought it would sound amazing.

How it turned out? Looks and finish is great and it is comfy to play. It really is pretty in a quite subtle way, not in your face as some boutique basses are. Soundwise it is just another bass. Nothing special about it.
 
#114
I bought my Lakland Skyline JO5 because:

-- I wanted the classic vibe of a pure jazz bass with five strings
-- I prefer 35" scale
-- I was impressed with the reputation of Lakland
-- The Skyline basses represented excellent value

I am happy? Absolutely. I went through a BUNCH of jazzes trying to find mine, including three MIA JD5s. I would not trade my JO for all three of them together.
 
#115
hyperba55 said:
I have been kicking around the idea of getting a Lakland fretless ... 4-94. But - I am a jazz player, love my Jazzes and Jazz-like basses, especially the neck. I played a few 4-94's and they were very, very nice, but I am hesitating because the neck isn't entirely what I am used to.

Anyone else (esp. Jazz bass players) experience this? Did you or did you not get used to it? I saw one post where a player sold a Lakland for this reason, but are there any success stories?
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I own a fretless 4-94 and all I did was have Lakland taper the neck at the nut to that of a Jazz bass and trim some of the back of off it.
 
#116
Every time I start to lay out the design details for my dream bass, I realize that I've pretty much already got it in my 55-01. I might be slightly happier with a Lull P5, but overall I love everything about the 55-01 _EXCEPT_ the electronics.

Mine is one of the first 200 55-01's made. The original owner had the NTMB-L preamp installed with the MK-1 pickups. I've replaced the MK-1's with Nordstrand dual coils and I'm planning on getting a plain buffer (no active EQ) in there with passive controls and coil switches. Hopefully then I'll be truly happy with the bass. I like it and it's very close to being just right for me.

I'd still like to own the Lull, but I don't see myself getting rid of the 55-01 any time soon.

KO
 
#118
hyperba55 said:
I wasn't even aware that was an option. Do you mind letting me know how much they charged for it? How was the final product?

Thanks!
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I'm an Lakland artist but I don't think there's a charge to taper the neck up at the nut and I'm digging it, I've used it on several recordings and I'm not complaining at all.
 
#119
The feel and playability of all of my Lakland basses has been excellent. They are lightweight and very responsive with a wide array of usable tones. I have owned just about every model with the exception of the hollowbody and I have enjoyed them all. Currently I have a 55-94 and an older Dual-J. Great basses!
 
#120
I may be the minority here, but I like the bart sound. It is dark and woody but well defined. I've been through Warwicks, Spectors, Tobias, Fender, and own a Lull. These two are the basses for me. Active/passive, 3 band, boost/cut, smoth neck, coil tap, barts for $800 used, you can't beat it. And mine must weigh 7.5 lbs. After trading off my first one it was the only bass I missed so I quickly realized my mistake and got another. Plus for $800 used you don't feel its too expenseive to take to bars. Between this and my Lull I am gas free and need to change my signature.
 

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