Modding Lakland 44-02 for MM tone

[koppinjo]

As the post implies, I have a Lakland 44-02 with the LH-3 pickups and preamp. I like the feel of the bass and it’s very light which I prefer, however I’m not really able to dial in a tone that I love. I’m considering either replacing the guts or selling it and buying a MM. overall I’ll save money if I mod, but I’m not sure whether it’s the pickups or pre, and am not sure which options to go with. I’m going for a MM tone. The main issue with the less expensive MM options is that they tend to all be boat anchors.

I’m looking for input on preamp/pickup options for the 44-02 to get a MM sound if possible.

Any input is welcome!

 

[T. Brookins]

Pickup position is 99.9% of the tonal character. Plane off the top quarter inch, install bookmatched top, reroute the mm pickup hole and redo the round over. A follower bit will trim the neck pocket. Refinish. Should take a weekend with the right router bits. I’ve done it with great results.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

As the post implies, I have a Lakland 44-02 with the LH-3 pickups and preamp. I like the feel of the bass and it’s very light which I prefer, however I’m not really able to dial in a tone that I love. I’m considering either replacing the guts or selling it and buying a MM. overall I’ll save money if I mod, but I’m not sure whether it’s the pickups or pre, and am not sure which options to go with. I’m going for a MM tone. The main issue with the less expensive MM options is that they tend to all be boat anchors.

I’m looking for input on preamp/pickup options for the 44-02 to get a MM sound if possible.

Any input is welcome!

I love my 44-02 but it took me a bit to get used to the preamp and switching. It will never sound like a Musicman though, as the pickup isn't in the right place. You can get in the ballpark but that's it. Thankfully I have a Stingray 5 for when I want that tone.

The Lakland wasn't aggressive enough for me at first but I find with bright SS strings (I use SIT Foundations in stainless), and some EQing from my amp, I can get it more aggressive.

If I was to mod I would probably go with Nordstrand or Aguilar personally

 

[jlo95]

I play a 55-94 and a Stingray, and I’d have to agree with the above. Only a music man will sound like a music man. So, if that’s what you’re after, I’d encourage you to try the real thing and see if you like it.

That said, a lakland will get you close. I think both Nordstrand and Aguilar sell MM style pickups that more closely resemble that sound and design than the lakland MM bridge pickup. That said, you’ll sacrifice versatility.

For me, when I’m on stage, I can get close enough to a stingray tone by selecting the middle coil position, boosting the lows slightly, and putting my fingers above the bridge pickup. In my experience the right hand plucking technique and placement is as important to the tone as the pickup location and electronics.

I hope this is helpful,
Cheers!

 

[Ric Vice]

Lakland used to offer a Music Man pickup as an option, even at that, it didn’t sound like a Music Man.

 

[Ach]

As the post implies, I have a Lakland 44-02 with the LH-3 pickups and preamp. I like the feel of the bass and it’s very light which I prefer, however I’m not really able to dial in a tone that I love. I’m considering either replacing the guts or selling it and buying a MM. overall I’ll save money if I mod, but I’m not sure whether it’s the pickups or pre, and am not sure which options to go with. I’m going for a MM tone. The main issue with the less expensive MM options is that they tend to all be boat anchors.

I’m looking for input on preamp/pickup options for the 44-02 to get a MM sound if possible.

Any input is welcome!

I plan to do the same. Next month I buy 55-02 with an idea to make it sound as close as possible to EBMM Stingray.

Based on my research the primary tone shaping factors for MM sound are the following:

1. Pickup position - Lakland has it half an inch closer to the bridge, which will affect the sound by making it more bright. Also the 35" scale does not play in my favour.

2. Pickup kind, I plan to upgrade for Nordstrand MM5.4 (and a noiseless J NJ5S), which I expect to sound slightly darker than the EBMM. I hope it might counter the previous effect slightly.

3. EBMM Stingray has a pronounced +18dB peak at 4kHz (tha famous Stingray sizzle), which is a result of interplay of the pickup's total inductance (~0.7H) and the input capacitance of the preamp of 2.2nF to ground. My simulations show that adding a similar capacitor to the MM pickup will make similar effect even in passive mode. The issue is that this capacitor will affect the J pickup as well making it sounding muddy, I am yet to decide how to isolate this effect while keeping the coil selections switch, the balance knob and the active/passive function of the bass.

4. Lows roll off. MM stingray has aggressive lows roll off below ~60Hz. I think I will not be implementing this feature as it would require modifying the LH3 preamp, which I plan to keep intact.

I will try to keep this thread updated.

If you just want to emulate the sound with external EQ without modifying the bass start with the following:
- 12dB/octave shelf below 60Hz.
- very narrow boost +18dB at 4kHz.
- 12dB/octave highs roll off after 5kHz.
- mid cut at ~300Hz per your own taste.

 

[T. Brookins]

Your more vast equalization characteristics mostly apply to the modern three band EQ, and not the classic two band, which is more neutral with a top and sparkle, and a more extended low end that many of the players who are privy to it, prefer, much like the LH3… Neutral. Coil inductance would seem to have a more nominal effect on resonant peak than the built in contour and highpass filtering of the 3 band 3eq. Pick up placement is the single most effective way to get a more Music Man Stingray-like tonal character. You could move the MM pick up into the correct position, and fill the remaining backspace with a piece of Ebony cut into the shape of the void and fastened with pick up screws, kind of like a pickup blank or extension of sorts.
Location, location, location.

Good fortune!

 

[Ach]

Your more vast equalization characteristics mostly apply to the modern three band EQ, and not the classic two band, which is more neutral with a top and sparkle, and a more extended low end that many of the players who are privy to it, prefer, much like the LH3… Neutral. Coil inductance would seem to have a more nominal effect on resonant peak than the built in contour and highpass filtering of the 3 band 3eq. Pick up placement is the single most effective way to get a more Music Man Stingray-like tonal character. You could move the MM pick up into the correct position, and fill the remaining backspace with a piece of Ebony cut into the shape of the void and fastened with pick up screws, kind of like a pickup blank or extension of sorts.
Location, location, location.

Good fortune!

Correct. Agreed on all your notes.

I am targeting the 3EQ EBMM preamp. However, the EBMM 3EQ characteristics try to mimic the MM 2EQ when set +50% on bass and treble. But I agree the 2EQ (at least according to simulations online) seems to have less roll off in highs. Also, I think for the oldschool MM sound (when set flat) one could just drop in the era correct pickups with no other alterations (given the pickup location is correct).

Everything about the coil inductance effect on the EBMM sound I have learned from that Video.

 

[Ric Vice]

I learned a lesson years ago when I bought a G&L 1000. After I played it for a while I wanted it to sound like a Music Man and play more like my 59 Precision Bass. So I replaced the pickup with a Bartolini Music Man ( Delanos, Aguilar, and Nordstrands et. al. didn’t exist back then) I had the neck re-fretted with thinner frets I.e. older fenders. I even bought a fretless neck from G&L to see if I liked that. The end result was I sold the bass. Lakland’s ( I own two 55-94’s) sound like Lakland’s and either you enjoy that ( I definitely do) or you don’t. If the Lakland 55-75 had sold well they would still be making them. Just my take however. My friend who was a Musicman devotee had one and he sold it.