LAKLAND

[texaspirate]

im a Lakland owner and fan. I bought my first 55-94 at rainbow Guitars in Tucson Arizona in 1999. Always told my wife to bury me with it.

I bought a NAMM piece this year also in buckeye Burl. Gorgeous

I stopped by the factory in Chicago this week and just wanted to say a special thanks to Leo , Joe, Carl and all the guys. Wonderful people. Absolutely first class.

This is REAL craftsmanship... hand built with incredible care .

I've been an owner and fan, now a friend as well Love these guys...

Salute! And ROCK ON LAKLAND!!!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I am a Lakland fan too. I have never owned a USA Lakland, but I have had great luck with my Skylines, I plan to make my DJ5 a bass I play until I can play no more.

 

[pudge]

Love my lakland.

 

[GregC]

Very cool. I've been a fan since discovering Lakland shortly after joining TB a decade ago. I have 3 US Lakies and a Skyline. I have only been by once in the past year or so (to see Carl only, as it was a Saturday), but have been to the shop many times. It's run by a bunch of great guys.

 

[pudge]

I had 2 others Both were skylines, a 44-64 and a decade.Loved the decade but .......wanted a shorty 1 pickup version,so I put one together.Warmoth 30" neck, custom alder body with 1 chisonic.It's getting an electronics upgrade (waiting for the pot's to come in. Great little bass!

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

im a Lakland owner and fan. I bought my first 55-94 at rainbow Guitars in Tucson Arizona in 1999. Always told my wife to bury me with it.

I bought a NAMM piece this year also in buckeye Burl. Gorgeous

I stopped by the factory in Chicago this week and just wanted to say a special thanks to Leo , Joe, Carl and all the guys. Wonderful people. Absolutely first class.

This is REAL craftsmanship... hand built with incredible care .

I've been an owner and fan, now a friend as well Love these guys...

Salute! And ROCK ON LAKLAND!!!

You have two Laklands and no pictures? Sounds suspect to say the least.

 

[Eilif]

Lakland is really good people. My 55-01 was my main for quite a number of years. Been to the shop quite a few times for various reasons and they're really welcoming. Of personal interest to me. two of Lakland's owners are Pedal Steel players which means that Lakland probably has 10% of the PSG players in the city.

Not sure if my Carlo (4-94 style by Carl Pedigo with some twists) is considered a Lakland, but it came from basement of the Lakland Factory. As nice as the 55-01 was, it hit the block almost as soon as I bought the Carlo.

Lakland is also notable for the many way's they've been bringing the produciton into their Chicago location over the past few years. When many other companies outsource neck/body production, and/or finish work, electronics, etc, Lakland now does all that in-house and builds their own pre's and winds their own pickups!

I'm a Lakland fan for life.

 

[Chasarms]

I've had some really nice ones. I just can't acclimate to the neck feel of their five strings. I can't stand the narrow nut.

 

[spufman]

Got my first ('98 4-94) about a year ago and it is just a wonderful instrument. It is the most responsive bass I've ever played and the neck is a joy. There are subtle little design choices that all really come together. I love it.

 

[texaspirate]

Oh PHOTOS , per request ...

 

[Nunovsky]

Love my lakland.

I love your Lakland too.

 

[chris_b]

I bought a US Lakland 55-94 off Ebay in 2003. At that time all I knew about them came from a 5 string bass guitar shoot-out in a bass magazine, which (if I remember correctly) Lakland won.

That was enough for me! I don't remember what I was thinking, but spending that much on an unknown instrument was pretty fool hardy.

Anyway, I dodged a bullet on that one, it is a fantastic playing and sounding bass. According to Dan it is a very early 5er with the 1st generation Bart pickups and pre.

It's 20 years old and still going strong.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Yeah, I've been using 4-94s for many years. Great basses.

 

[bhoff5150]

That burl is amazing. Congrats on a very special and unique axe!!

 

[Texan]

I'm down to two. My DJ5 and upgraded 55-01 are simply amazing, every Lakland I've owned was amazing.

 

[Gord_oh]

I had 2 others Both were skylines, a 44-64 and a decade.Loved the decade but .......wanted a shorty 1 pickup version,so I put one together.Warmoth 30" neck, custom alder body with 1 chisonic.It's getting an electronics upgrade (waiting for the pot's to come in. Great little bass!

Is this what I made the harness for?

 

[bassbully]

I lucked into a 55-01 in the late fall. I have only seen one Lakland in my neck of the woods for sale in my life. I had just joined a nu- country band and wanted a 5 for it.
I tried quite a few and was on the fence until I called a local shop, who just took in this Skyline the night before.
With a trade and a little cash its mine. I love this bass, the best five I have ever played and with a new Preamp its sounds amazing. Lakland fan forever.

 

[FunkBear]

I've had my Skyline 55-01 for a few years now. About eight years ago, back when I was in college, I went to the local Sam Ash and tried out pretty much every bass on the wall. They only had one Lakland (I think it was a 44-01) and it was my favorite bass in the store; I resolved to buy one as soon as I had the money. Fast-forward a few years and I dropped my first real tax break after starting my career on a brand new 55-01. Thing was a monster right out of the box and has been my main since I got it.

 

[interp]

I've owned several USA Laklands (55-94's and a Joe Osborn). They've all been wonderful instruments.

I first heard about Laklands from Dan Lakin, who came to my house in Southern Illinois to buy a Kubiki that I had advertised in the newspaper. I had no idea who he was, but he told me he was in the process of starting a company in Chicago to build basses. Really nice guy!

 

[bassbully]

I've had my Skyline 55-01 for a few years now. About eight years ago, back when I was in college, I went to the local Sam Ash and tried out pretty much every bass on the wall. They only had one Lakland (I think it was a 44-01) and it was my favorite bass in the store; I resolved to buy one as soon as I had the money. Fast-forward a few years and I dropped my first real tax break after starting my career on a brand new 55-01. Thing was a monster right out of the box and has been my main since I got it.

If I remember Sam Ash was a Lakland dealer for awhile. I went to this SA in the city north years ago when getting into bass playing. I played a ton of bases and drove those guys nuts I bet.
I spied a bass there that looked different and very sexy looking. I think it was a 55-02 (cant recall) but it was a USA Lakland that I do know.
As soon as it hit my hands I was in love, it played and sang like no other bass in that store. My heart crashed when I saw the price tag. I have played a ton of basses since that day and few still remain in my mind like that one USA Lakland did about 15 years ago.