Make Me Like Lakland

[JoeVictim]

You may not like either. It took me getting a high end Warwick to realize I did not like active basses. I sold the Wick and am back to my passive Jazz.

+1 on trying it first, if you can.

 

[Joebone]

Go try them yourself and see what you dig.

I've had L-2000's, an L-2500, several USA Lakland 4-94 and 5-94, and a Lakland Bob Glaub.

I like the notion of G&L, but I could never get my sound from those ceramic-magnet pickups. Some of the axes were players, some, particularly from the late '80's, were not so hot, and I did encounter some inconsistent fretwork.

Every single USA Lakland was unbelievably well built, with fret and neck work to die for. All of them played like butter. Ultimately, I've veered elsewhere due to frustration with the pre-amp on the 94 series (both Bartolini and LH3) and not digging 35" for 5-string. But it turns out I'm a two-band kind of guy (Sadowsky, Pedulla, old Stingray); YMMV.

Can't speak from experience as to the offshore Laklands, and let's recognize the cost differential of the USA Lakland as compared with USA G&L...that superior workmanship is what you're paying for. But it's there, if you want it.

I may yet end up with a Lakland some day, now that they are making 34" 5-string basses.

A superb company, and they seem to be great people, even with new management.

 

[Tom Howland]

If you like a well made, great playing and sounding bass.
You might like a Lakland.
I've owned 5 Lakland over the years.
My USA Decade with Darkstars, and my 2007 USA Glaub are as good as any bass I've owned.

 

[Liam Wald]

Why would you think that it is up to anyone to make you like something?
Personally, I could care less what you like.
My guess is that the only people who would care whether or not you like Lakland are the people selling them.

 

[doctormoose87]

cheers all. gonna have to play one as ya'll suggest.

 

[peledog]

If you like the Streamer, try a Spector too. See what you think.

The Corvette $$ is tempting, but I'm paying off a Forte. Used to have a Corvette 5 Standard Active MIG - didn't do anything for me.

 

[Ric5]

Make Me Like Lakland

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Actually I am happy if you like them or don't like them ... They are good basses though ...

 

[Showdown]

I think that if you need to be talked into a bass that bass probably isn't for you. When you find the right bass no one will have to make you like it.

 

[Thumper]

If weight is an issue, the Laklands are usually lighter (that's why I don't have a G&L).

 

[cassius987]

I've played lots of the Fender "upgrade" copies and the only thing to date that gave me pause was a Lull P4 that was truly magnificent. Other than that I feel like you may as well just get a good Fender by testing several; there are plenty that will keep up with and exceed your Laklands, etc. Lakland has probably been my least favorite of the Fender-styled bunch, the necks always feel strange to me and I don't usually care for the tone compared to a similar model by a different builder. I don't get the hype.

 

[doctormoose87]

@Liam*Wald.
Maybe I should have thought of a better title for this. I'm after opinions on Lakland in comparison to the G&L.

 

[Spiritfield]

I'm a big fan of G&L's; love Lakies too...

For you I would recommend the 44-02

(shameless plug )

 

[pablomigraine]

While the G&Ls are highly underrated basses, the Laklands are a cut above. I have heard skeptics refer to Laklands as the "Jack of all trades, yet master of none". I view this as a positive. I have a couple of basses, some a specialty basses for very specific purposes.... including my delicious Marco custom for my metal band, but the Lakland is my EVERYTHING bass.

For me, in terms of sound, flexibility, playability, and overall quality.... the Laklands do Fender J-Bass better than Fender does, they do Musicman as well as Musicman does, they do vintage as well as vintage does, and so on and so forth. Just fantastic basses.

Save yourself a few bucks and get the 55-02.

 

[kraigo]

My 55-01 has been down for the count for a few months now - electronics. I haven't been motivated enough to fix it yet. It's got Nordstrand DC's in it. It has the NTMB-L preamp.

I prefer passive instruments, since the bum electronics are more likely to be that the preamp died I should be able make it work for me.

Anyway, it's not a compelling instrument for me right now, but when I go through designing my perfect fretted five in my head, I realize that the 55-01 is pretty much it, so I've held on to it. What I'm playing is a rotation of my five string fretless Noguera Expression, the Ibanez Artcore with and SGD dual coil neo pickup and my Tokai '57 P-Bass reissue fro 1986.

Sometime this winter I'll pull apart the electronics on the Lakland and decide whether or it still speaks to me. Honestly I'm happy with my current rotation.

The 55-01 is a great bass and I've had it for around eight years or so, I think. But it may not be compelling enough to keep.

KO

 

[pbass62]

I just purchased a 2001 built 4-94
The first thing I noticed was how fast the neck was.
you need to play and decide for yourself what fits your needs the best.
Both are very good basses and will not go wrong either way.

 

[Toastfuzz]

the Laklands do Fender J-Bass better than Fender does

Hahaha this is a great comment

 

[pablomigraine]

My 55-01 has been down for the count for a few months now - electronics. I haven't been motivated enough to fix it yet. It's got Nordstrand DC's in it. It has the NTMB-L preamp.

I prefer passive instruments, since the bum electronics are more likely to be that the preamp died I should be able make it work for me.

Anyway, it's not a compelling instrument for me right now, but when I go through designing my perfect fretted five in my head, I realize that the 55-01 is pretty much it, so I've held on to it. What I'm playing is a rotation of my five string fretless Noguera Expression, the Ibanez Artcore with and SGD dual coil neo pickup and my Tokai '57 P-Bass reissue fro 1986.

Sometime this winter I'll pull apart the electronics on the Lakland and decide whether or it still speaks to me. Honestly I'm happy with my current rotation.

The 55-01 is a great bass and I've had it for around eight years or so, I think. But it may not be compelling enough to keep.

KO

I'll buy it!!

Hahaha this is a great comment

awww shucks....

 

[kraigo]

I'll buy it!!

I may take you up on it. It seems a shame, but for the most part I'm fine with four strings. I need to hear the Nordstrands without a preamp and with a coil switch installed.

KO

 

[Southpaw5]

Especially if you had swindled that private citizen out of $1600.

Giving out things like address and phone numbers are the questionable acts. I'd be furious if a company gave a private citizen my information.

Curiously, how would you feel if YOU had been the one ripped off?

legal or not, they might have done what was RIGHT

 

[basspraiser]

I do wish their colors on the Skyline series was a bit more expansive, but that's a minor complaint.

JP and Bo are issuing "special limited edition" Skyline runs each year on specific models....

last year (2010):

teal
inca silver

this year (2011):

trans white
blue trans deluxe (quilted)

2012? I hear an announcement will be made before the end of the year...all GREAT colors IMHO!